Chapter 5 Chapter five

~AM I IN TROUBLE?~

No matter how uncomfortable things became, I would survive this place. Even if I had to sit in the same classroom with people who looked at me like I didn’t belong here.

When the class was finally over.

I was still processing Jenna’s words when she suddenly began packing her things.

“Have you seen your dorm room yet? Or met your roommate?” she asked casually.

I slid my notebook back into my bag and shook my head. “Uh… I’m not staying in the dorms,” I said quickly. “My parents think it’s better, my sister and I don’t stay there for now.”

“Oh, cool,” she said, nodding. Then her eyes lit up again. “Your sister? Is she in this class too?”

My stomach tightened slightly.

“Uh… yeah,” I answered, forcing a small smile. “She is.” I silently prayed she wouldn’t ask anything else.

Jenna smiled warmly. “I wish you were my roommate. You seem cool.”

A soft laugh escaped me as I stood up.

“You barely know me.”

“Exactly,” she said confidently. “Mysterious and cool.”

Before I could respond, I noticed two male students standing very close beside my desk.

They weren’t part of the lecture.

One of them tilted his head slightly.

“You need to come with us.”

My fingers tightened around my bag strap instantly.

My eyes flicked across the room, I noticed Kai was already leaving calmly through the side aisle, completely unbothered.

My throat went dry.

“Why… and who are you?” I stuttered. “And why do I have to come with you?”

The second boy stepped forward, his tone colder.

“When we get there, you’ll see.”

Then his voice hardened. “Now.”

A wave of tension spread across the classroom.

I slowly lifted my shoulder bag, my heart pounding so loudly I could hear it in my ears.

Jenna stood immediately. “I’ll go with her—”

“No,” one of them cut sharply. “Just her.”

That made my stomach drop further as heads were already turning and whispers started again.

‘Isn’t that the girl from earlier?’

‘The one who talked back to Alec?’

‘Oh… they’re taking her already?’

A few students even laughed under their breath.

‘Guess the twins are about to teach her a lesson.’

‘Finally someone put her in her place.’

Mockery followed like poison in the air.

My legs felt heavier with every step I took as I followed them out of the classroom.

I didn’t want to look at anyone, but I still did.

Maddie was sitting a few rows ahead, watching and looking annoyed, like she hated that I was even spotted.

I swallowed hard and kept walking.

A girl near the aisle leaned toward her friend and spoke loudly enough for me to hear.

‘I heard she’s adopted. Someone should petition the school to stop accepting less privileged students into KG.’

A few students laughed and nodded in agreement.

My chest tightened painfully, but I didn’t stop. I just kept walking behind the two boys, my grip on my bag tightening with every step.

And for the first time that day…

I wasn’t sure if I was being taken somewhere because of what I did.

Luckily, we only had one lecture for the day or maybe luckily wasn’t the right word.

We left the Philosophy department building, and the two boys guided me forward without saying much. I walked behind them, my grip tight on my shoulder bag, every step feeling heavier than the last.

And then I noticed it.

A small crowd had started forming behind us.

Students followed at a distance, whispering excitedly like this was entertainment—not concern, not curiosity, just entertainment.

I caught fragments of their voices.

‘This is going to be good.’

‘I heard Alec doesn’t let things slide.’

My stomach twisted.

They weren’t worried for me, they were just waiting to see what would happen to me.

As we crossed deeper into the campus, the architecture shifted again, more exclusive, more restricted. Fewer students. More security.

Then I saw a massive banner stretched across a building ahead. It’s Alec. Standing on ice in full hockey gear, holding a trophy above his head while his team jumped on him in celebration.

The image was loud even in silence. He really wasn’t just a student here, he was the star, the King’s pride. The type of person a whole school orbit could revolve around.

My throat went dry.

We kept walking until we reached a completely separate complex within the campus. A huge modern structure with glass walls and guarded entrances.

Inside, I could see it all at once, a café with students lounging like it was a luxury lounge. A fully equipped gym. An indoor hockey shop with jerseys and equipment on display.

And beyond that, a massive stadium structure visible through glass corridors. At the entrance stood two tall students in uniform, arms crossed, blocking access like security guards.

No one entered without permission.

I swallowed hard as we approached. Above the main entrance, bold letters were engraved into the structure:

‘King's Knight’

So this was their territory. The hockey world inside King’s College. One of the boys beside me pulled out an access card and swiped it.

The doors unlocked with a soft beep as they stepped aside but didn’t follow me in. Instead, they stayed behind, blocking the entrance as other students tried to peek in and were immediately stopped.

“Only her,” one of them said flatly.

My chest tightened.

I stepped inside alone. The moment I crossed the threshold, the atmosphere changed completely.

It was so quiet here.

The hallway opened into a massive indoor stadium, and my breath caught instantly.

The hockey rink stretched wide like something out of a professional league arena. Above it, glass panels reflected bright white lights that made everything feel unreal.

And then I saw them.

Kai was seated high on the viewing bench, calm as ever, drinking water like he was waiting to be entertained.

Alec was on the ice in full gear, skating smoothly, stick in hand, moving with sharp, controlled precision like he owned the entire rink.

Then, at the exact same time, both of them stopped, turned their heads, and landed their eyes on me.

My breath hitched instantly.