"Pfft—handsome and you?" Calista burst into laughter, barely able to contain herself. She clutched her stomach as she leaned back slightly, shaking her head in disbelief. "Nice joke," she added between giggles, her voice laced with sarcasm.
That boy raised an eyebrow, watching her with amusement. "Why, kitty? Am I not handsome?" he asked, tilting his head as he slowly leaned in closer to her face.
Calista's laughter died instantly, her body tensing as she registered the sudden proximity. "What are you doing?!" she blurted out, her voice a mix of shock and alarm. She instinctively tried to move back, but the bed was right behind her, limiting her escape. "Move away!" she demanded, her heartbeat picking up.
But Leander didn't respond. He simply continued his approach, his face mere inches from hers. And before she could react further—he kissed her.
Calista's entire body froze, her breath hitching as her eyes widened in pure disbelief. Her mind scrambled to process what was happening, but she couldn't move. She just sat there, completely paralyzed, as his lips pressed against hers.
Seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity. Then, just as suddenly as he had kissed her, that boy pulled away.
He looked at her, smirking at the stunned expression on her face. Her lips were still slightly parted, her eyes still wide in shock.
"Don't look at me like that," he said casually, stretching his arms as if nothing had happened. "It was just a kiss."
Calista finally snapped out of her trance. Her face turned red—whether from anger, embarrassment, or both, she wasn't sure. "That was my first kiss!" she shrieked, her hands instinctively shooting up to cover her mouth. "I planned to save it for my husband!"
That boy blinked before bursting into laughter, clutching his stomach as he shook his head. "Pfft—really?" he said between laughs. "You still believe in that old-fashioned stuff?"
"Haha," she mimicked dryly, narrowing her eyes at him. "I forgot to ask—what's your name, kisser thief?"
That boy leaned back against the headboard, smirking at her nickname. "Why?" he asked playfully. "So you can tell your future husband to beat me up?"
"Nice joke," she deadpanned, rolling her eyes. "Now tell me."
That boy exhaled, clearly amused. "I'm Leander Smith. Nice to meet you, Kitty."
Calista tilted her head, unimpressed. "You know what? Your name doesn't suit you."
Leander raised a brow. "Is that so?" he asked, feigning deep thought. "Then should I change it?"
"Yes," she said without hesitation. "Why don't you name yourself Bastard?"
Leander let out a dramatic sigh, as if seriously considering it. "No, that wouldn't suit me."
Calista clenched her fists, seething. "Ugh! You're impossible!" she muttered under her breath.
Leander let out a satisfied hum as he lay back down. "Let's sleep, Kitty," he said, closing his eyes with a smirk.
Calista glared at him for a moment before reluctantly lying down as well. But unlike Leander—who fell asleep instantly—she couldn't relax.
Instead, she lay there, staring at the ceiling, cursing her entire existence.
The Next Morning
The first thing Calista noticed when she woke up was the warm sunlight streaming through the window. The second thing she noticed was the time on her watch.
Her eyes widened in horror.
"Shit! I'm late for college!"
She bolted upright, her panic overriding any lingering drowsiness. Without thinking, she tried to jump out of bed—but instead, she crashed onto the floor with a loud thud.
A soft chuckle came from the bed.
"Pfft—"
Calista groaned in frustration. She turned her head and saw Leander watching her, his lips twitching with amusement.
"It's not funny," she snapped, scrambling to sit up. She lifted her wrist, only to remember she was still cuffed to the bed.
"Unlock my hand!" she demanded. "I need to go!"
Leander stretched lazily, looking far too relaxed. "No."
Calista gaped at him. "No? What do you mean, no?" she asked, exasperated.
Leander smirked. "I mean no."
Calista clenched her jaw, her patience wearing dangerously thin. "Why on earth did I have to meet you?!" she groaned, yanking at the cuffs in frustration.
A few more minutes of pointless bickering passed before Leander finally sighed. "Enough," he said, reaching over and unlocking the handcuffs. "You can go."
Calista massaged her wrist, still eyeing him warily. "Really?"
Leander's lips curled into a fake smile. "Unless you want me to lock you here for a lifetime?"
Her face paled. "Nope! I think I'll be leaving now," she said hurriedly, forcing an awkward smile before bolting out of the room.
At College
Calista sprinted across the campus, her bag bouncing against her side. She barely had time to catch her breath before reaching the classroom. With one last deep inhale, she threw the door open.
"Sorry for being late, sir!" she blurted out, panting. "I—I was busy with some… work."
The professor gave her a sharp look but, thankfully, didn't press further. "Take your seat," he said, motioning her inside.
Calista sighed in relief, muttering a quick thank-you before hurrying to her seat. She plopped down, finally allowing herself to relax.
Just as she started pulling out her notebook, a voice whispered in her ear.
"Where were you last night?"
Her entire body froze.
Her breath caught in her throat as she turned slightly, trying to see who had spoken.