STRINGS BETWEEN US

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: OF FALLS TOO REAL, ARMS THAT STAYED, AND THE BOY I WISH

Crap.

"What's next? Hashtag: CatchMeIfYouKhaizer?" I groaned.

"Hey, that's witty," Errol laughed. "I already made graphics."

"I'm not laughing."

From a few tables away:

"It's true, they said Pres approached the guys. Told them not to court Rielle!"
"Protective boyfriend vibes!"
"Maybe they've been together for a while. Just kept it secret!"

I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly blacked out.

"Rielle," Jodie leaned in, "Be honest—even just a little, did you feel giddy?"

"If I felt giddy, then maybe I would've asked for help every day," I deadpanned. "Maybe I should trip every period. So we get new updates."

They laughed.
I drank water like it was tequila.

I avoided everyone.
By 6 PM, I was right where I needed to be.

The terrace.

Dark. Quiet. No questions. No smiles.

I curled into the corner, hoodie on. Phone buzzing nonstop.

Then—
A soft thud.

"You've only been here five seconds and already, it feels like I came to the right place," he said.

"KD, leave," I muttered.

"Too late. I'm already here."

He climbed over the divider. Sat not too close.

"What do you want? If this is about earlier—don't."

"I saw your face. You haven't looked okay since."

"Newsflash: I never look okay."

"You didn't look annoyed. You looked... shaken."

"That's because people decided I'm this week's campus soap opera."

"That part wasn't your fault."

"Wasn't it? I tripped. Into you. The Khaizer Dylan Dela Vega. Student council president. Walking thirst trap. Apparently, my leading man now."

"You forgot 'hallway savior,'" he teased.

"Stop."

He leaned back, eyes on the sky.

"I didn't mean to catch you," he said. "But I'm not sorry I did."

"You didn't have to snap at the guys."

"They chased you. You said no. They didn't listen."

"They're idiots. But harmless."

"They didn't look harmless."
"And you... you looked scared, Riyee."

I stayed quiet.

"I hate how they looked at me," I said. "Like I was something to win. Not someone to understand."

He didn't speak, but he didn't look away.

"I hate this school," I whispered. "The whispers. The stares. Like I'm a punchline. Or a warning."

"And me?"

"What about you?"

"Do you hate me too?"

I looked up.

"I hate how you show up."

"I always show up."

"I hate how you act like you're fine."

"I'm not."

"And I hate that you caught me."

He flinched.

"Because now I don't know how to fall without hoping you'll be there again."

Silence.

"I will," he said. "Every time."

"I didn't ask for that."
"I know."
"I don't need saving."
"I know."

"Then why?"

"Because you'd do it for me."

And then, softer:

"Let's stop pretending we don't know each other."

"What?"

"Tomorrow. At the ball. Or the hallway. Let's stop acting like we're strangers."

"What about the rumors?"

"Let them talk."

"We weren't even speaking and they still talked."

"I'd rather be beside you with rumors... than away from you and hear them anyway."

He looked at me fully.

"At least if they talk, they'll get one thing right—that you're not just anyone."

Pause.

"You're the part of mine I'm done pretending not to protect."

I didn't answer.

He reached out—quietly.

And I let him.

I let him hold me.

And the world... finally hushed.

KD'S POV

She didn't flinch.
Didn't push me away.
Didn't ruin the moment with a joke or a glare.

She just let me hold her.

And that silence between us?
It felt like peace.

She was still Riyee—sarcastic, impossible, fiercely guarded—
but for a second, she wasn't hiding.

And maybe she won't admit it tomorrow... but tonight, letting her in felt like holding my own heart in her hands. Maybe she'll go back to rolling her eyes and pretending I'm the problem.

But tonight? Tonight she let me in.

And I'm not forgetting that.

Because even if she keeps telling the world she doesn't need anyone—
even if she keeps pretending I don't matter—

I'll still be the one who catches her.
Every time.