STRINGS BETWEEN US

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

She blinked once.

KD didn't stop.

Didn't even look at her.

He just walked past her like she was nothing more than a shadow in a sunlit courtyard.

But I saw it. So did the rest of the Council members stationed nearby.

The Vice President? Was shook.

I didn't even try to hide my smirk.

As we continued our walk through the courtyard, the usual chaos of students and booths buzzed in the background, but there was a quiet, almost peaceful air between us. KD's presence seemed to soften, his cold exterior still faint but almost forgotten in the face of his relaxed, carefree smile.

"What?" I asked, glancing up at him as we walked. "Something on my face?"

He smirked, looking down at me with a glint in his eyes. "No. I'm just wondering how I ever fell for the girl who punches me first and asks questions later."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress the smile tugging at my lips. "You didn't have a choice, remember?"

He laughed, the sound like sunlight breaking through the clouds. "True. I'm still not sure what I did to deserve you, but I'm glad I did."

"Better be glad," I teased, nudging him lightly with my elbow. "You're getting used to this now. No backing out."

"No intention of backing out," he said smoothly, leaning just a little closer as if to keep me within his orbit. "It's not my fault you're so irresistible."

"You're annoying," I shot back, unable to keep my grin hidden.

"I know," he replied, with a wink.

The smile on my face softened, my heart picking up speed as we walked through the marketplace. Everywhere we went, it felt like the world was just a little brighter, a little more alive.

We passed by a booth selling colorful, fluffy cotton candy, and I noticed KD eyeing it with interest.

"Want some?" I asked, gesturing to the pink cloud of sugar.

"You're offering me cotton candy?" He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Are you trying to bribe me?"

"Maybe. Just to see if you'll indulge."

He chuckled and walked up to the booth, reaching for his wallet. "Fine, but only because you asked."

He paid the vendor, and as I took a small bite of the cotton candy, I noticed KD's eyes on me, still amused. "You're dangerous with that sugar."

I didn't even look at him as I teased back, "You'll survive. You've survived worse."

We kept walking, winding our way through booths, and I could feel his gaze on me, steady and warm. It felt different—no scheming, no cold distance. Just us, in the middle of this festival, where nothing else mattered.

At some point, we stopped by a stall with little handcrafted charms hanging from the ceiling, and KD picked up a small keychain shaped like a sun, its edges shimmering.

"This one's perfect," he said, looking at me.

I took the charm, running my fingers over it lightly. "What's that for?"

"Something to remember the day by," he said softly, handing it to me. "A token for your summer boy."

I didn't say anything, but I could feel my heart flutter. "You're insufferable," I muttered again, but it was softer this time, as I accepted the charm, slipping it into my pocket.

As the evening drew to a close, the sun dipping low and the lights in the courtyard starting to twinkle against the night, I looked up at him again.

"Still not a bad way to spend the night, huh?"

He met my eyes, his expression unreadable for a moment before a soft smile crept across his face. "Definitely not. This is the KD I want to be for you. No ice. Just... this."

I didn't know what to say to that. There was too much I wanted to say, but in this moment, nothing seemed to fit right.

So I just leaned in and kissed him—quiet, simple, but full of all the words I couldn't say.

"You're mine now, Riyee," he murmured against my lips as we pulled away.

"Yeah," I whispered, resting my forehead against his. "And I'm never letting you go."

This wasn't the KD they feared. This wasn't the President they obeyed. This was him. The one I spent my summer with.

The one who melted quietly—

For me.

And for the first time, I didn't just feel seen.

I felt chosen.