Chapter 227 227

Chapter 227 227
~ Jason ~

Today was the day I had been waiting for ever since I learned the truth.

No more pretending everything was normal. And no more letting Kiara avoid the questions that had been stuck in my head.

I needed to know why she had hidden the fact that she was K from me all these while. More than anything, I wanted to hear the truth from her own lips. My heart wouldn’t be at peace until I did.

I leaned against the wall outside the library, pretending to scroll through my phone while I kept glancing at the door.

A few feet away, Jasmine stood watch.

She caught my eye and gave me a quick, urgent nod before hurrying over.

“She’s coming!” Jasmine whispered.

Without waiting for my reply, she rushed around the corner and hid behind a vending machine, where she could watch without being seen.

I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and tried to calm my racing heart.

I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders.

When Kiara finally walked into the hallway with her bag over one shoulder, my heart gave a hard thump.

Before she could walk away, I stepped in front of her and gently, but firmly, took hold of her wrist.

“Jason? What are you doing?” she gasped, her eyes wide with surprise.

Without saying a word, I led her away. I didn't stop until we reached a quiet corner near the stairs.

“Jason, let go of me,” Kiara said, trying to pull her arm free.

I let go, but I didn’t step back. I stayed right in front of her, making sure she couldn’t avoid looking at me.

“What do you gain by lying to me, Kiara?” I asked, unable to hide the hurt in my voice.

Kiara blinked and took a small step back. “Lying about what?”

“About not being K,” I said, taking one slow step closer. “You can’t deny it anymore. I know you’re living with Kendra. Everything finally makes sense.”

Kiara’s face turned cold, hiding the panic I had seen only a moment before.

“So now you’re invading my privacy?” she said, crossing her arms. “You really have no self-control, Jason. I need to go.”

She tried to walk past me, but I quickly stretched out my arm and placed my hand against the wall beside her, blocking her way.

“Privacy?” I said with a small, knowing smile. “Now you want to talk about privacy? Where was that five years ago when you went through my photos on my phone? Remember that?”

“No, I didn’t!” Kiara shot back, her voice rising before she could stop herself. “I only looked at a few pictures, and that was only because—”

She suddenly stopped talking.

Her eyes went wide, and she froze. A look of horror spread across her face as she realized she had just admitted the truth.

I let out a quiet chuckle.

“Why did you stop?” I asked with a teasing smile. “Go on. I’m listening.”

Kiara swallowed hard, her cheeks turning pink. She looked down and bit her lip.

“Jason, please,” she whispered. “I really need to go home.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll let you go,” I said. “But first, answer a few questions. And look me in the eyes when you do.”

Kiara hesitated. Her long eyelashes fluttered before she finally looked up at me.

“What questions?” she asked quietly.

"Why did you run up to me the very first day you transferred to this school?" I asked, watching her face closely. 

Just as I expected, she looked away.

“I… I think I made a mistake,” she stammered.

“Oh, so I look like a complete stranger to you now?” I teased, unable to hide my smile. Her stubbornness was strangely cute.

“Then why won’t you look me in the eyes, Kiara?”

“I am!” she insisted, even though her eyes stayed fixed on my tie.

“Is that all you wanted to ask?” she whispered. “Can I go home now?”

“I’m not done,” I said.

I took another slow step until only a breath separated us. The sweet scent of her perfume wrapped around me, making it even harder to think straight.

“Look me in the eyes and tell me you never missed me,” I whispered. “Tell me that not once in the last five years did you think about me.”

Kiara said nothing.

Her lips parted, but no words came out. Her lower lip trembled as she stared at me, her eyes filled with emotions she couldn’t hide.

Slowly, I reached for her hand before she could pull away. Our fingers brushed, sending a warm shiver through me. I gently lifted her hand and placed it over my heart.

“Do you feel that?” I whispered, never taking my eyes off hers. “Tell me why my heart loses control every time you’re close to me. Or is your heart beating just as fast as mine?”

A deep blush spread across her cheeks, turning her face a beautiful shade of red. The moment she realized how close we were, panic flashed across her eyes.

She quickly pulled her hand away and took a step back until her back rested against the wall.

I closed the distance again, stopping just in front of her.

"I know Kendra is the one telling you to keep your distance," I said, my eyes searching hers. "But you can push me away if being this close to me genuinely makes you uncomfortable."

She didn’t push me.

She simply stood there, trapped between the wall and my gaze as our eyes remained locked on each other.

“It’s crazy,” I whispered, my voice full of emotion. “Five years ago, we met by accident and now I can’t imagine my life without you. Meeting you that day was the best thing that has ever happened to me. It felt like fate brought you into my life. And no matter how hard I try, my heart always finds its way back to you.”

A single tear slipped down Kiara’s cheek.

“Jason… please, stop,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

“Why?” I asked gently, my own heart aching. “Everything I’m saying is true.”

I took another slow breath.

“I never knew it was possible to love someone this much. I’ve never felt this close to anyone before. No matter how many times I try to explain it… words are never enough.”

Kiara let out a shaky breath. A small, tearful smile appeared on her face.

“You… you weren’t this sweet before,” she said shyly. “What changed?”

“I guess I grew up,” I said with a playful grin. “And I became a handsome, charming guy too.”

Kiara laughed through her tears.

I took one small step closer until our school jackets lightly brushed against each other.

“You have no idea how much I missed you,” I whispered. “There were so many times I wished I could hold you, kiss you and tell you how I really feel.”

I looked down at her lips, then back up to her eyes. "Punch me if you hate what I'm about to do."

Kiara didn't move. Instead, she slowly closed her eyes.

Taking that as my chance, I leaned in and gently kissed her. It was soft, slow, and full of everything I’d been holding back for the past five years. 

Kiara slowly lifted her hands, clutching the front of my shirt while she kissed me back.

When I finally pulled away, I braced myself for a slap or a lecture. Instead, Kiara kept her eyes closed for a moment, as if she wanted to hold on to the feeling just a little longer. 

When she finally looked at me, there was no anger in her eyes.

Without saying a word, she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me close, burying her face against my shoulder. 

She held me tightly, and in that embrace, I knew she had been waiting for this moment just as much as I had.

"I missed you so much, Jason," she sobbed.

I wrapped my arms tightly around her waist and lifted her slightly off the ground. Burying my face in her hair, I pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

“I missed you too,” I whispered, holding her even closer.

“Oh my God!” Someone shouted.

Kiara and I turned toward the entrance of the hallway.

Jasmine stood there with a huge grin on her face.

But she wasn’t alone.

A crowd of students had gathered outside. Several of them were already holding up their phones, recording everything they had just seen.

“My brother is actually in love!” Jasmine squealed as she ran toward us.

I spread my arms with a proud smile, fully expecting a congratulatory hug.

Instead, Jasmine walked right past me as if I didn’t exist.

She threw her arms around Kiara, hugging her tightly.

I stared at them, completely ignored.

“Seriously?” I muttered.

Without letting go of Kiara, Jasmine peeked at me over her shoulder with a mischievous grin and lowered her voice.

“Well, Romeo,” she whispered, “half the school is watching. Don’t just stand there looking handsome. Make it official before they get bored.”

I blinked as it finally sank in.

I looked at the crowd, then back at Kiara. Her face was so red it looked like she might disappear from embarrassment.

Jasmine was right.

The secret was out. There was no hiding it anymore.

I took a slow breath, trying to calm the butterflies going wild in my stomach. Then I gently took Kiara’s hands in mine.

“I don’t usually get nervous,” I admitted. “But right now I’m really nervous.”

I looked into the eyes of the girl I had searched for… the girl my heart had never forgotten.

“Kiara,” I said, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it, “will you be my girlfriend?”

The entire place erupted.

Cheers, screams, whistles, and loud clapping echoed through the hallway.

“Yes! Say yes!” someone shouted.

Jasmine was the loudest of all, jumping up and down with both hands in the air.

Meanwhile, I didn’t hear any of it.

My eyes never left Kiara’s face.

Holding my breath, I waited for the answer that would either make my heart soar or break it.