Chapter 3 She's Off Limits.

[YUKI]

The car slowed to a stop, and my heart started racing before I could tell it not to.

This was it.

Delta High.

“Have a good day, Miss Yuki,” The driver said gently as he stepped out to open the door for me.

“Thank you,” I replied, bowing out of habit before quickly catching myself.

I adjusted the strap of my bag and stepped onto the school grounds. Everything felt… loud. Students everywhere, laughing, talking, walking in groups and I suddenly felt very aware of how small I was.

My mind, annoyingly, drifted back to him.

Kade.

His voice. The way he said my name.

The look in his eyes when he said he wanted to get to know me more.

What did he even mean by that?

And what feelings was he talking about? Feelings just… appear like that?

My face warmed just thinking about it.

I shook my head quickly.

I walked into the main hallway and slowed to a stop, staring at the signs above.

Block A… Block B… Block C…

“Which way is Block C?” I whispered to myself, turning slightly in place.

“Hey there, new girl.”

I startled and turned toward the voice, my grip tightening on my bag strap.

A girl stood there with her arms crossed and a curious smile on her face.

“Hello,” I said softly.

“You’re new, right?” she said. “I haven’t seen you around, and trust me, I know everyone in Delta High.”

I blinked, then nodded quickly. “Y-Yes. I just enrolled.”

She smiled wider. “Knew it.”

“I’m Ella, by the way,” she said, sticking out her hand.

“Oh—!” I quickly shook it. “I’m Yuki. Nice to meet you.”

“You’re really polite,” Ella laughed. “I like you already.”

My cheeks warmed. “Th-Thank you.”

She glanced at the schedule in my hand.

“We’re in the same class,” she said. “And since it’s not time yet, I’ll give you a tour before you get completely lost.”

Relief washed over me. “Really? That would be nice.”

“Come on,” she said, turning down the hallway.

---

Ella kept talking as we walked, pointing things out as if she’d been doing this forever.

“That’s the science wing,” she said, turning slightly. “Over there’s the cafeteria. Trust me, the food tastes better than it looks.”

I nodded, trying to remember everything. “So… the library is near Block B, right?”

“Exactly,” Ella replied. “You’re doing great for a first day.”

By the time we turned another corner, the noise changed.

We stepped into the main lounge.

It was huge. Open space, couches, tables, students everywhere. This place felt alive in a way the orphanage never was.

Then the noise shifted again.

“Kade is here!”

“Oh my goodness, did you see his haircut?”

“He looks insane today.”

“I swear he gets hotter every week.”

I blinked.

Huh?

I turned toward the source of the commotion.

“Is he… some sort of big shot?” I asked quietly. “Student council president or something?”

Ella laughed like I’d just told a joke. “Council president? Oh please.”

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “Kade is the prince charming of Delta High.”

Prince… charming?

I followed her gaze.

He was walking into the lounge with two other guys, confidence written all over him. He looked completely different than he was at home.

Girls were already staring. Some whispering. Some not even pretending to hide their flirty attitude.

I noticed Ella too.

She was… drooling.

Before I could say anything else, a girl approached him. She didn’t hesitate as she reached up and kissed him on the lips like it was normal and worse, he kissed her back with the same tempo.

My chest tightened.

“Oh, great,” Ella muttered casually. “He’s on to the next one. That’s the fourth girlfriend this month. But, well… he’s hot, so it’s understandable.”

Fourth Girlfriend? This month ?

My stomach twisted.

Girlfriend?

If he has a girlfriend, then why did he kiss me? Why did he look at me like that yesterday?

I watched as his arm looped around the girl easily, like it was second nature.

Something inside me sank, slow and heavy.

Then it happened.

He looked up and the minute his eyes scanned the crowd, it landed on me.

Our eyes met across the lounge.

And then, he winked.

Heat rushed to my face, down my neck, everywhere. I felt it on my skin like I’d been touched without being touched at all.

Girls screamed around us, losing their minds, clearly thinking the wink was for them.

But I knew better.

My heart started pounding so loudly I was sure Ella could hear it.

What are you doing, Kade?

What am I doing?

I shouldn’t care. I barely knew him. And yet…

Why did I wish it was me in his arms instead of that girl?

Why did my chest ache at the thought?

What was this feeling that made my hands tremble and my heart race like it wanted to escape?

I looked away quickly, pressing my lips together, trying to calm myself.

But no matter how hard I tried, my heart refused to listen.

“Let’s go,” Ella said quietly, tugging my sleeve.

I nodded, grateful for the excuse. We turned to leave the lounge..

“Hey, Yuki.”

I froze.

That voice.

My heart skipped so hard it actually hurt. Slowly, I turned around. The lounge felt suddenly silent, like the air had thickened.

Kade was walking toward us, his two friends trailing behind him.

Every step he took closer made my chest tighter. He stopped right in front of me.

Whispers broke out immediately. I could feel eyes on my back, on my face, on everything.

“You aren’t going to act like you didn’t see me, are you, Yuki?” He said, his voice low, amused.

I swallowed.

That voice again. Why did it sound so different here?

“You know her, bro?” one of his friends asked, looking between us.

He leaned closer, smirking. “She’s pretty. Can I have her?”

My breath caught. I took a step back without thinking.

Before I could say anything, Kade moved.

“I better not see either of you around her,” He said calmly, but there was something in his tone that made the feeling different.

“As long as she’s in this school, no guy has the right to approach her.”

My eyes widened.

Huh?

“Huh?” one of them echoed. “Bro...”

Kade turned slightly, his gaze sweeping across the lounge. The noise died down even more.

“Did you all hear me?” He said, voice firm.

Then he looked back at me.

“This girl,” He said, placing his hand lightly on my head in a small, almost gentle pat. “Yuki.”

My heart jumped at the contact. He looked down at me then, really looked at me.

“She’s off-limits.”

Off… limits?

My chest tightened, confusion swirling inside me. I found my voice before I could stop myself.

“Off-limits?” I asked softly. “Kade, what are you saying? Are you saying I can’t… have friends?”

The words came out smaller than I intended.

What did he mean by that?

His lips curved slightly, not a smile, not quite serious either.

“Not exactly, darling,” He said. “But I felt the necessity to put a tag on what’s mine.”

Mine. Did he just call me his?

What is he doing?

What does he think this is?

And worst of all…

Why did a small, dangerous part of me feel shaken in a way that wasn’t entirely fear.

I didn’t know whether to step away from him, or get closer to him.