Catherine’s POV
I opened my eyes slowly, the world a blurry haze for a second, and then I blinked again, a bit harder, because what I saw made my entire body jolt.
Gabriel was sitting right in front of me, staring at me. I could even feel his hand in my hair.
He froze the moment my eyes snapped open, and what seemed like guilt and surprise appeared on his face, almost comical. He instantly pulled his hand back as if my hair was burning him.
"Oh— I, um... I wasn’t expecting you to wake up right now," he said, his voice cracking in a way that made him look younger than his age. "I just wanted to grab a pillow."
If he needed a pillow, he could have just taken it, right? Not bury his hand in my hair.
I pushed myself up, my eyes blinked in confusion, until they dropped to what was under my head... and under my arm. Oh shit!
I was lying on one of his pillows and hugging the second one like a damn teddy bear.
"Oh my gosh— Gabriel, I’m so sorry," I said quickly, scrambling upright. "I didn’t even realize I was using both of them."
He let out a low laugh. "Don’t worry, I’m not angry."
Feeling a bit ashamed, I sprang to my feet. "I should leave, I’ve discomforted you enough."
"No, no," he cut in immediately, lifting both palms as if calming a wild animal. "Relax. I only came in to grab a pillow. You were already curled around both like... that." He cleared his throat, and his cheeks slightly turned pink. "It would’ve been a crime to wake you."
I blinked at him, still mortified, but he didn’t give me room to argue. He stood, walked over to the table by the window, picked up a tray, and brought it back to the bed.
When he placed it in front of me, I saw rice, chicken, and a warm-looking bowl of soup.
"When they brought the food up," he said gently, "you were knocked out. I didn’t want to wake you, so I decided to leave it here and let you sleep."
I hesitated. "Gabriel, you really don’t have to—"
"Don’t talk much, just eat," he said simply. "Please."
Oh my! Gabriel was so cute. I nodded, awkwardly smoothing my hair, then I began to eat.
Halfway through the plate, I glanced up, just to check if he was doing anything, and caught him staring straight at me.
He didn’t even try to pretend otherwise. He chuckled in a slow and warm tone.
"You must have been really hungry," he said.
I rolled my eyes in shyness. "Yeah, well, I haven’t eaten anything since morning, if you must know. I’ve basically been surviving on oxygen and stress."
Gabriel laughed and it made his eyes crinkle a bit while making something flutter stupidly in my stomach.
"What time is it?" I asked, shoving a spoonful into my mouth.
"Five p.m."
I choked a little. "FIVE?! As in... evening five?"
"Yes," he said, amused.
Oh, perfect. Amazing. I had been in Gabriel’s room for HOURS.
What if Julian had been looking for me?
What if he walked around the whole house searching?
What if he figured out I was here and assumed something stupid?
My stomach twisted but then I remembered what he did and immediately changed my thoughts to... he could go fuck himself.
After finishing the last bite, I stood and wiped my mouth with the napkin.
"Thank you," I said softly. "For the food... and letting me sleep in your room... and not letting me starve to death."
Gabriel stood too. "Anytime."
I turned toward the door, hand already on the knob—
"Catherine?"
I paused. His voice was a little too gentle.
I turned to look at him.
"If those girls ever bother you again..." he said, meeting my eyes, "come to me please."
I smiled that real, involuntary one and nodded, then, because my brain never takes anything seriously, I lifted two fingers to my head and saluted like a soldier.
Gabriel burst out laughing. I opened the door, still smiling and what I saw made me freeze. Or rather... who I saw.
Julian was walking down the passage, probably eading toward his room.
He saw me, I saw him and suddenly we were locked in this stupid staring contest, neither of us moving, neither of us blinking. I could already feel my anger rising and boiling, because he had the audacity to look at me like I had done something wrong.
I was ready to march past him without a word and that was when Lucy appeared from behind him like an annoying spirit summoned to ruin my life.
The moment she spotted Julian holding a boxed gift, she lit up.
"Oh my world, is that for me?!" she squealed.
Before he could say anything, she grabbed it straight from his hand.
I just stood there.
Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
He could buy Lucy a gift. Lucy, who he tagged as just a friend. But me? Nothing. He’s never even given me single stupid chocolate bar.
I clenched my jaw, spun around, and stormed straight into my room before my anger could embarrass me in public.
The door shut behind me with a loud thud.
I grabbed my phone from the bed, opened YouTube with murderous speed, and typed: "how to get over a man fast."
Hundreds of videos popped up.
Female motivational speakers.
Psychologists.
Therapy TikToks.
Breakup coaches.
I stared at them and suddenly felt ridiculous, embarrassed and pathetic.
"Fuck that," I muttered, tossing my phone onto the bed.
I paced the room once, twice, then picked my phone again because apparently I had no self-control.
This time, I typed: "how to get physically strong enough to fight two girls at the same time."
A dramatic shift, yes. But it felt necessary because if Lucy and those other girls wanted to test me again, I wanted to be READY.