Chapter 3

The train pulled out on schedule. Sitting by the window, I watched the scenery whiz by, finally feeling a bit at ease.

I took out my phone, about to text my mom to let her know I was okay.

But as I opened WhatsApp, those bright red comments popped up again, covering my screen.

[Sophie ran away.]

[Lucas is going crazy. He turned the whole school upside down looking for Sophie.]

[Sophie outsmarted Lucas for the first time. This is gonna be fun to watch.]

[Wait, Lucas's phone tracker says Sophie's on the train. Is he going to chase after her?]

[Lucas is about to go on a wife-chasing rampage. Okay, maybe not his wife, but he's seriously panicking.]

My hand shook, and I almost dropped my phone.

Lucas was looking for me? He was going crazy trying to find me? And he even tracked my location?

I jerked my head up, staring at the connecting door between the carriages.

No way. Was he really going to chase after me?

The train sped along, the steady rumble echoing through the carriage, but I was restless and anxious.

Those comments were like alarm bells, ringing in my ears and setting my nerves on edge.

Was Lucas going to chase after me? My childhood friend, who had always been cold and impatient with my "rules," was going crazy looking for me? How was that even possible?

Shouldn't he be glad I was gone, so he could finally focus on Abigail?

[Come on, don't kid yourself. Lucas's possessiveness over Sophie is written in his bones.]

[Lucas grew up with Sophie and a bunch of dudes around him. He has zero clue how to deal with girls, so of course he gets weird around her.]

[He's not impatient. He's shy and stubborn. Haven't you noticed how his ears turn red every time Sophie tries to tell him what to do?]

The comments left me stunned.

Shy? Stubborn? Possessive? Were they really talking about Lucas?

I tried to recall. Lucas's ears really did get a little red sometimes.

Every time I grabbed his collar and forced him to button it all the way up, he'd protest and act annoyed, but the tips of his ears always turned red.

I always figured it was because I was getting on his nerves, or he thought I was too much of a hassle. Maybe I was wrong about him.

I felt a strong sense of disorientation, like the Lucas I'd known for seventeen years was nothing but a fake image.

[I think it's true. Lucas has a crush on Sophie, but he has no idea how to show it, so he keeps acting awkward and trying to get her attention in the weirdest ways.]

[Turns out Sophie, the so-called villainess, is actually the one Lucas cherishes most, his secret obsession.]

[Sophie, look back. Lucas is coming after you.]

Another wave of comments popped up on my phone screen, this time with a tiny location icon.

[Lucas is already on the train. He's in the carriage right next to yours.]

My heart lurched, and I snapped my head toward the door connecting the carriages.

He was in the next carriage?

I squeezed my phone so hard that my nails nearly dug into my palm.

Lucas was really here. He actually came after me.

My mind was a total mess. If what those comments said was true, and if Lucas really had a thing for me, how did he see all those things I did as the villainess?

Was it something he secretly enjoyed? Or was it a chain he was happy to wear?

I couldn't let myself think about it. All I knew was that I had to hide.

I took a deep breath, stood up, and tried to look like nothing was wrong.

I made my way to the bathroom, locked it from the inside, and pressed myself against the door, trying to catch my breath.

The tiny space felt like it was closing in on me, making it even harder to breathe.

[Sophie's gone into hiding. LOL.]

[Lucas, come and get her already.]

[This is turning into a real-life game of cat and mouse.]

I stared at the comments, feeling like crying.

What was I supposed to do? If Lucas really showed up, how was I supposed to look him in the eye? And if he dragged me back, what was I supposed to do when Abigail showed up?

I didn't want to end up as cannon fodder.

I closed my eyes, my mind racing.

Maybe I could pretend to be sick. Yeah, that was a good plan.

That way, even if he found me, he'd worry about my health first, not question me about why I ran off.

I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would make me look sickly enough to fool anyone.

Then I grabbed my phone and started searching for "tips to convincingly fake being sick on a train."

The comments popped up again: [Sophie's stirring up trouble again.]

[Is she trying to bait Lucas into taking the fall?]

[Come on, Sophie. Lucas won't be fooled by your tricks.]

I stared at the comments, so annoyed that I almost smashed my phone.

Were these guys Lucas's fans or something? Why were they always against me?

I took a deep breath, telling myself to stay calm.

No matter what those comments said, I was still going to give it a try.

Just then, someone started banging urgently on the door. "Sophie, are you in there?"

That was Lucas's voice. He was right outside.

My heart skipped a beat. How did he find me?

There were a few other people in the restroom with me.

"Who is it?" a lady snapped, sounding impatient.

"I'm the girl's friend," Lucas replied, his voice worried. "She's not feeling well, and I'm concerned."

"If she's sick, then come out already. Don't take up the toilet when she doesn't need it," the lady said grumpily.