STRINGS BETWEEN US

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO: OF SUMMER BOYS, STOLEN MORNINGS, AND THE WALK THAT SHOOK SOLE

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO: OF SUMMER BOYS, STOLEN MORNINGS, AND THE WALK THAT SHOOK SOLENCIA

RIYEE's POV

I opened the door—and froze.

And of course it had to be him.

Standing there like some ridiculous summer daydream turned real—Khaizer Dylan Dela Vega, in the flesh, with messy hair and a face that should come with a warning label.

His black hair wasn't its usual President-style, no. It fell in soft, tousled waves across his forehead, the kind of lazy curl that framed his annoyingly sharp, almost cat-like eyes—light haszel, dangerous and way too good at holding mine hostage. His lips curved just slightly, like he knew exactly what he was doing to my pulse. A silver hoop glinted on one ear, and there was this chunky chain around his neck that really had no business looking that good on him.

And then there was the outfit—ugh.

A loose, pale blue button-down, worn open over a ribbed white inner shirt that clung just enough, like the breeze knew who it wanted to flirt with. Sleeves rolled up like it was nothing, light-colored pants sitting perfectly on him like some beach-chic magazine cover. He looked like he strolled straight out of a seaside film.

I blinked. Once. Twice.

Seriously?

This was not the stupid Ice President KD—the one with polished shoes, an ironed collar, and a death glare that could kill Wi-Fi.

This... this was the KD I knew. The one I spent my whole summer with. The one who made silence feel safe and chaos feel like home.

And just to make things worse—he smiled.

I should've slammed the door. Instead, my traitor of a heart went: oh no.

I stared at him. Stunned. Bewildered. Silently betrayed by my own taste.

"So... you decided to show up like it's summer?" I muttered under my breath, heart tightening in half-annoyance, half—ugh, I wasn't going to name it.

KD just smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe like he wasn't turning the hallway into a fashion ad. "It's festival season. Thought I'd drop the whole Ice President act... just for now."

I narrowed my eyes. "No council duties?"

"I ditched the council for today," he said breezily. "Delegated everything. They'll survive."

Long pause.

And then—

"I need to make up for my absence to my girl." He grinned. "We're going on a date."

I glared. "I'm not your girl."

"You are," he said matter-of-factly. "Sort of. I like you. You like me. Feelings mutual. We're unofficially together now."

I didn't answer that. I just sighed and stepped back into my room. "I still need to get dressed."

"I'll wait," he replied—and then walked in like he owned the place.

Ten minutes later, I stepped out in my usual all-black look—cropped turtleneck, pleated skirt, boots, and one too many silver pins in my hair.

KD looked up from where he was sitting at my desk chair, spinning slowly.

"You're really going out looking like that?" I asked, giving him a pointed once-over. "Not in your usual 'terrify the school' get-up?"