Chapter 65 The victory night
Lila stared at it, heart knocking against her ribs. She felt frozen, not terrified, not calm, just suspended between both worlds like someone holding their breath underwater.
She shouldn’t go.She knew she shouldn’t.
But if she didn’t show up, wouldn’t that prove she was scared? Wouldn’t that please whoever was watching her?
Her fingers trembled as she locked her phone. The hallway felt quiet in a strange, heavy way like something unseen was leaning against the walls.
Her thoughts tangled.
What if he’s there? What if Damian or Asher notices something? What if Nora’s right and I’m cursed with this hair, this face, this life
Her phone buzzed again.
This time it was Asher calling.
She exhaled shakily and answered, “Hello?”
“You’re coming, right?” His voice was steady, but she could hear the tightness under it worry mixed with frustration. “Tell me you didn’t forget. Damian won’t shut up about it.”
Lila swallowed the fear sitting like a rock in her throat. “I… I’m getting ready.”
“Good,” he said. “Don’t make me stand alone in this place any longer.”
And just like that, he hung up.
Lila stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her face looked pale, her hair slightly messy from nervous hands pulling at it.
“Get it together,” she whispered to herself.
If she didn’t go, Asher would ask why. Damian would be disappointed. The rumors about her being fragile, strange, or dangerous would grow again. No, she had to show up. She had to pretend to be normal.
She pulled out a simple short gown made with a soft fabric, dark blue, reaching mid-thigh. When she slipped it on, she felt strangely exposed but also alive. She let her hair fall around her shoulders, brushed lightly to keep it from looking wild.
One last look in the mirror.
Her cheeks were flushed from nerves. Her eyes held too many stories. But she was still standing.
She grabbed her little purse and stepped out of the room before she could change her mind.
The party was already loud when she reached the residence house, the music was vibrating through the walls, laughter spilling out every time someone opened the door. The sky outside was dark, the campus glowing faintly under the lamp posts.
When she stepped inside, the room froze.
Eyes shifted. Heads turned. Voices quieted for a second too long.
She felt every stare as if they were hands pressing into her skin.
Asher stood in a corner, stiff and annoyed, looking like he’d been dragged there by force. The moment he saw her, his eyes widened not in judgment, but something close to surprise. Maybe even relief.
Before she could take another step, she heard Damian’s voice cut through the music.
“Lila?”
She turned.
Damian stood near the drink table, a red cup in hand. His eyes softened instantly, a bright smile breaking across his face as he made his way toward her swiftly, almost too fast.
“Wow,” he breathed as he reached her. “You came.”
He barely waited for an answer before pulling her into a warm, excited, and protective hug. Lila stiffened for a heartbeat, then melted slightly into the familiar safety of his arms.
Behind them, a couple of guys had started walking over, looking eager to get her attention. Damian shot them a look, a very clear back off look and they stopped in their tracks.
Lila stepped back, cheeks warming. “Congrats again,” she said softly.
Damian’s grin widened. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
She nodded but avoided his eyes. She still felt the weight of that message pressing at the back of her mind.
Asher appeared behind her then, arms crossed. He didn’t smile. “Are you okay?”
She nodded quickly, too quickly. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
She wasn’t. Not even remotely. But she didn’t want to show it, not here, and not now.
She shook off the thought and lifted her chin a little. “Let’s just enjoy the night.”
Asher gave her a long, searching look. But he didn’t press.
Thank God, she thought.
He would've dragged her out of the party if he knew.
Damian returned a moment later with two drinks, one for her, one for himself. “Come on,” he said, leaning closer with a playful smile. “Dance with me?”
Lila blinked. “Dance?”
“Yeah.” He nodded toward the living room area where people were moving to the beat, swaying against one another. “It’s a party. And you’re not hiding in a corner the whole night.”
She hesitated. Dancing meant attention, all eyes would be on her and people would whisper about it.
But Damian looked so genuinely excited, his smile so open that she couldn’t say no.
“Okay,” she muttered, feeling a shy smile tug at her lips.
He took her hand gently and led her to the crowd, weaving through bodies and warm lights. The music throbbed through the floor, into her shoes, into her pulse. For a moment, she forgot everything else, the notes, the boxes, the shadow following her life.
Damian placed his hands lightly on her waist, guiding her into movement. His touch was gentle, careful, like he didn’t want to startle her.
“You’re good,” he teased.
She laughed. “I’m terrible.”
“You’re perfect,” he said, voice low.
Her cheeks warmed again.
As she spun lightly, she caught Asher watching them from across the room. He wasn’t angry, he was more concerned, almost guarded. She gave him a small smile, telling him silently that she was okay.
But she wasn’t fully okay.
Because even with the loud music and crowd, she kept looking over her shoulder.
Expecting someone to be watching. They danced for a while and stopped, Damian had to go back to his teammates. Lila walked towards Asher with a forced smile on her face.
The night shifted suddenly.
A loud voice cut through the music.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Damian?!”
Everyone turned.
Tessa stood near the hallway, her red hair curled and glossy, her face bright with anger. She was the girlfriend of Damian’s best friend. Lila recognized her from campus events, she was always loud, and always confident.
Tonight, her rage filled the whole room.
Damian frowned. “Tessa? What’s going on?”
“What’s going on?” she repeated, voice rising. “You’re going around telling people I wanted to sleep with you?”
The room went silent.
Damian froze. “What? That’s not.”
“Oh, don’t lie.” Tessa stepped closer, jabbing a finger into his chest. “You told Micah I was all over you after practice. That I was trying to get into your bed. You think I don’t hear things?”
Damian’s expression hardened. “I never said that. And you know Micah’s been insecure for weeks. Why would I…”
“Oh please,” she snapped. “You’ve been jealous since day one.”
“Jealous?” Damian’s eyebrows shot up. “Of Micah?”
“Yes. Because he has what you want.”
Her eyes floated to Lila intentionally, slowly and Lila’s stomach dropped.
A few people gasped. Whispering began immediately.
Damian stepped forward. “Cut it out, Tessa. You’re drunk.”
She pushed him back, voice shaking now with more than anger. “I’m not drunk. You’re a liar. I don’t want anything to do with you!”
She turned sharply, storming out.
The door slammed so violently the music skipped.
Silence fell.
Every eye moved to Damian.
His jaw was tight, his breath shaking. He turned to Lila just briefly and she saw something like hurt flicker through his eyes before he looked away.
Asher stepped beside Lila, his voice low.
“That’s what I’ve been warning you about.”
She shot him a look. “Asher, stop. Damian is harmless.”
He gave her the same expression her mother used to give when Lila insisted she wasn’t cold while shivering, are you sure you know what you’re saying?
But Asher said nothing.
Instead, he sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck.“I just don’t want you mixed up with things that could hurt you.”
Lila felt her chest tighten. “Not everything is dangerous.”
“Some things are,” Asher murmured.
She looked away, not wanting to argue. Tonight was already too heavy.
Damian disappeared into a side room, probably looking for Micah to clear the misunderstanding.
The music eventually resumed, though softer now, people whispering quietly in corners.
Lila exhaled slowly, her heart still unsettled.
She was about to continue talking to Asher when she noticed movement near the door.
A tall figure in a dark jacket slipping out of the party.
Quietly and unnoticed.
Except for her.
Her stomach twisted sharply. Who is that?