"She's lonely, you know."
Alden didn't reply. He just leaned back on his couch.
Such simple words… yet they said more about her than anything he'd realized in months.
He tried to remember the last time he truly spent time with her.
Not while she watched him from afar.
Just… time. Together.
Maybe a walk. Watching the stars. Letting her fly freely across the sky.
Nothing came to mind. Because he had never done that.
He had friends. He had people to talk to.
And even he had asked her to stay hidden, to never let herself be seen, to act like she didn't exist.
He thought that was protection. He thought that was love.
Now it felt like a cage.
And he was the one who built it.
He looked at Kyun—curled up beside Amyra, her feathers slightly puffed and her beady red eyes staring at the wall like he wasn't even there.
The guilt twisted deeper than he expected.
"…Kyun," he hesitated.
She didn't look at him.
"I…" he paused. "I'm sorry."
Kyun just let out a single chirp.
He couldn't tell if that meant "I heard you" or "go die."
Alden's lips twitched but he didn't say anything more. He couldn't just accept her to forgive him within a day.
He turned to Amyra, whose calm smile hadn't faded.
"Thanks, Amyra," he said quietly. "And… I hope you'll keep Kyun's origin a secret."
Amyra's smile widened.
"Sure, I can do that," she said.
Then added, too casually. "But I have a condition."
Alden's shoulders stiffened.
His gaze sharpened ever so slightly but he kept his voice casual. "What do you want?"
Amyra leaned back slightly, tilting her head like it was no big deal.
"Don't look so serious. It's simple." She smiled sweetly. "Go on a date with me. Three times, actually."
Her cheeks flushed—just a little.
Alden blinked. Once. Twice.
"What do you mean?" He asked, even more guarded than before.
He didn't like where this was going. His brain began searching for an escape hatch, anything to derail this conversation.
But Amyra was already speaking.
She took a breath. Her smile was still there but there was something fierce behind it now.
"I know, you know how I feel, Alden." Her gaze didn't waver. "And I've decided not to hide it anymore."
"I get it—you don't feel the same way. At least not yet." Her voice dropped just slightly, sincere and resolute. "But I'm not giving up."
"I will make you mine."
Alden didn't know what to say just out of sheer disbelief.
Deny it? Laugh it off as a joke? Pretend he hadn't heard her?
Amyra didn't wait for him to reply, she got up from the couch and walked toward the door, each step deliberate.
"Hey wait—" Alden tried to stop her.
Then, without looking back, she spoke one final time. "Time to wait is over… my dear."
The door clicked shut behind her.
In the hallway just outside Alden's apartment, Amyra stood.
Her heart thundered in her chest—wild and unrelenting.
I actually confessed.
The second the door clicked shut behind her, she let go of the calm façade—spinning in place like a child, barely suppressing the squeal rising in her throat.
She bounced on her heels, practically dancing her way to the lift.
She knew he didn't return her feelings. Not yet.
But that didn't mean she had to keep hiding hers. If anything, she should've done this long ago.
A giggle slipped out—then another.
She slapped her cheeks lightly, trying to calm down.
Today wasn't even the plan. She'd meant to confess tomorrow. At the banquet.
But when she saw him just now—with an opportunity.
Something in her heart cracked and flooded out before she could stop it.
She hugged herself tightly as the lift doors opened.
Still, a shadow crossed her expression.
Asking for dates in exchange for a secret…
It made her feel gross and selfish.
That wasn't who she wanted to be.
But what else could she do?
She would never actually expose Kyun. Not in a million years.
The dates… were just a way to be near him.
Even if she had to twist fate a little to make it happen.
She stepped into the lift, still smiling to herself.
Three dates, she thought. That's all I need.
Just three… to change everything.
She had waited so long, played it safe for too long. If she'd waited any more, she would've burst.
He didn't need to love her now. He just needed to see her—as more than a classmate… and perhaps slightly more than a friend.
Amyra stepped out into the quiet hallway of her personal floor, her face composed once more.
The butterflies didn't stop. But her resolve was steady.
I'm going to make every second count.
Even if it hurts later.
Back in Alden's room.
Alden stared at the door like it had just slammed shut on a hurricane.
What the hell just happened?
He still couldn't wrap his head around it.
He had talked to her this morning—casually.
She was normal. Calm. Maybe a little too bold while she asked him to accompany her to the banquet but definitely not seconds away from dropping a romantic bomb in the middle of his living room.
She could've asked for five, ten—hell, twenty. She had leverage. She knew about Kyun. But she only asked for three.
What was she really planning?
He sighed and leaned back.
He had known for a while that she liked him—more than liked, maybe.
But he'd hoped it would pass.
And today proved that it wasn't a passing phase or a childish crush.
He hadn't saved her from anything. Hadn't been charming. Hadn't done anything worth falling for.
…Does she see something I don't?
He scratched the back of his neck, gaze shifting to the window.
"…Or maybe I'm just really damn good-looking," he muttered dryly.
He didn't know what would come next. But he knew, for once, he'd have to face it.
If you've been enjoying the chaos in this book, you're definitely going to want to check out my new series — it's got the same wild energy and maybe even more unhinged moments.
I waited until I had a decent number of chapters before dropping it here and now felt like the right time.
It's still in its early phase, so your feedback would really help shape where it goes. Let me know what you think.
And don't worry, I'm not dropping this book. Regular updates will continue as always.