Chapter 2

[Is Lucas finally about to strike back?]

[Sophie's in trouble now. That glare from Lucas is absolutely savage.]

[Quick, Abigail, jump in and save the scene. Though Sophie's being reckless, I don't actually want to see her get shredded by Lucas.]

"I-I just remembered that my dog's sick. I need to go check on him right now," I panicked and blurted out, making up an excuse on the fly.

Lucas shot me a skeptical look, obviously not buying it." Since when do you have a dog?" he asked.

I froze. Lucas knew I was allergic to anything furry.

"W-well, just recently," I stubbornly insisted, trying to sound convincing. "I just got him and didn't get a chance to tell you."

He didn't say a word and stared at me in silence as if he could see right through me, straight to the panic deep inside.

I could feel sweat starting to bead on my forehead, my palms growing clammy. I could even hear my own heart pounding, hammering in my ears.

"Sophie," Lucas suddenly called out, his voice soft, with a mesmerizing tone I'd never heard before.

I shivered instinctively.

"What's really going on?" Lucas asked, taking a step closer. I instinctively backed away until my back hit the cold wall.

He leaned in, and I stopped breathing. The crisp mint scent on him, mixed with that fresh, boyish vibe, felt like an invisible net, holding me captive.

His fingers, carrying a hint of coolness, gently touched the beads of sweat on my forehead.

[This is such an epic moment. What's Lucas going to do now?]

[No way! Is this the prelude to his villain arc?]

[Abigail, your Lucas is about to become a villain thanks to that wicked Sophie.]

I shoved him away so hard that even I was shocked by my own strength.

"Don't touch me," I screamed, my voice cracking with a fear I couldn't control.

Lucas stumbled back, looking lost for a second, and a hint of pain flashed across his face.

[Sophie is savage.]

[Lucas is totally thrown off. That reaction is not right.]

[Sophie, you're so dead. You really got Lucas mad this time.]

I didn't bother to check his reaction. Taking advantage of his unsteady stance, I shot out of the classroom like a bolt of lightning. I heard Lucas's deep voice calling after me, but I didn't dare look back.

I ran like my life depended on it. All I could think about was getting away from Lucas, escaping this world that was about to drag me into a disaster.

I burst out of the school building, flew through the gates, and didn't slow down until I finally reached my neighborhood.

Still gasping for air, I grabbed my phone. My hands were shaking so badly that I could barely hit the right buttons as I dialed my mom's number.

"Mom, I want to stay at Grandma's for a while," I said, my voice thick with tears. Even I could hear how pitiful I sounded.

My mom sounded confused on the other end. "What's up? Why do you suddenly want to go to Grandma's? Isn't that the place you always whine about because there's no Wi-Fi?"

"I-I miss Grandma," I blurted out, throwing out an excuse, but inside, my brain was spinning.

Grandma's place was in the next city, somewhere I hardly ever went. There was no Lucas, no Abigail, and absolutely zero of those cursed comments.

It was the perfect safe haven.

My mom couldn't refuse me, especially since Grandma hadn't been feeling well lately. When I said I wanted to go take care of her, she was actually pretty happy about it.

"Alright, go pack up. I'll book you a train ticket for tomorrow morning," she said.

"No. I want to leave right now," I insisted, almost barking out the words.

My mom was stunned for a moment but finally gave in. "Okay, whatever you want. I'll book the soonest train I can find."

After hanging up, I rushed home and frantically stuffed a few clothes into my bag. My heart was racing, and all I could think of were those comments screaming "tragic ending."

I had to leave. The sooner, the better.

I didn't even have time to write my parents a proper note. I scribbled a message on the dining table: Gone to Grandma's. Don't wait up for me.

Dragging a plain suitcase behind me, I slipped out of the house like a thief.

At the entrance to my neighborhood, a familiar car was parked. Lucas's driver was waiting there.

My stomach dropped. Was he here to chase me down?

I quickly hid behind some bushes, barely daring to breathe.

The driver looked like he was waiting for someone. He peeked out, scanned the area, then ducked back inside.

I quietly slipped around the car and snuck out of the neighborhood from another direction.

I managed to flag down a cab and headed straight for the train station. The whole way there, I kept praying Lucas wouldn't realize I'd bailed, and praying that the tragic ending those comments kept predicting would never happen.