Bound in Shadows

My phone buzzed somewhere under my pillow, dragging me out of whatever half-dream I was having.

Eyes barely open, I reached for it, squinting at the screen. Two messages.

First one: Kai.

"Morning, sleepyhead. Did you get any sleep at all? You looked exhausted yesterday. Don't skip breakfast, okay? Math is first thing today — see you there?"

I smiled, still half-asleep.

Kai. Always so careful with me. Always checking in.

Sometimes I wondered if this was what love felt like — quiet, safe, familiar.

Then the second message: Arya.

"If you're late, it's 100% my fault for keeping you up. GET UP!"

I blinked. Then I saw the time.

Shit. I was late. Like really late.

I jumped out of bed, barely looked in the mirror. Red eyes, messy hair — I didn't have time to care. Tied my hair up in a rough ponytail, grabbed whatever clothes I could find, and dashed out of my room.

Downstairs, Mom was setting breakfast. Dad behind his newspaper, as usual.

"Running late again?" Mom called without looking up.

"What a surprise," Dad added, flipping a page.

"I don't have time for this!" I shouted, slipping on my sneakers.

"At least take a piece of toast—" Mom tried, but I was already out the door.

By the time I made it to class, math had already started.

I slipped into my seat, head down, hoping not to draw attention. The teacher, Mr. Lewis, barely glanced my way — too busy scribbling numbers on the board.

I tried to focus, I really did, but it was impossible. My brain was still foggy from sleep, my eyes kept wandering to the window, counting the clouds like it was some profound escape.

And then Mr. Lewis cleared his throat.

"Since some of you are struggling, I've decided on a partner project. I've listed the pairs on the board. Find your name and your partner."

Groans filled the room. I sighed, pulling myself together to read the list.

Scrolling down, I found my name.

Mira – Eymen

I froze.

No. That couldn't be right.

I stared at the name next to mine, like reading it wrong would change it.

But there it was. Eymen.

I lifted my head — slowly, cautiously.

And there he was.

Back row. All black clothes, messy dark hair that looked like he barely cared.

But his eyes... his eyes were impossible to ignore.

Dark, deep, intense. Like they could see right through me.

I'd heard the rumors — that he was dangerous, unstable, someone to stay away from.

The name I'd heard whispered around the school since the day he arrived.

“The new guy? Yeah, he's... not someone you wanna mess with."

"He's hot but seriously messed up."

"Keep your distance, Mira. Seriously."

But no one said anything about how... handsome he was. The kind of handsome that made it hard to breathe.

His jawline was sharp, his lips pressed in a serious line, like he hadn't smiled in years. There was something cold about him — distant. Like he didn't belong here, in this classroom, in this life.

And yet...

I couldn't stop looking.

There was a part of me that wanted to turn away, to listen to the warnings.

But another part — a louder, stubborn part — wanted to know more.

Who was he?

Why was he looking at me like that?

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach.

Fear? Maybe. But it wasn't just that.

It was curiosity.

It was something I couldn't name.

Next Chapter: Under the Streetlights - She wasn't supposed to hear it. But she did and deep down, she knew it was about her...