Chapter 31: Play Along

~~~

As we stepped into the academy branch, the buzzing of students soon filled the space. My focus stayed on Kael as she stuck close, her tail smacking into my leg with a body language that was a little too relaxed.

Every few steps, her thumb idly brushed against my skin. I shifted uncomfortably, but when I tried to subtly pull away, she only tightened her grip.

"Uh… you good?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She turned to me with a grin, her round ears flicking. "Yeah. Why?"

I gestured at our joined hands. "This."

She blinked, then tilted her head in mock confusion. "Oh? You looked like you needed some help." Her voice was light, casual. "You’ve been through a lot. Consider this my way of supporting you."

I sighed. "I think I am good."

Instead of letting go, her fingers tightened around mine. “Mmm… nah, I don’t think so.” Her voice was light, playful, but the grip on my hand told another story.

I exhaled, giving her a dry look. “You’re being weird.”

She laughed. “Maybe you’re just not used to being cared for.” Then she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “Don’t think I didn’t notice how wrecked you looked yesterday. You don’t have to act tough with me.”

I just stared at her, studying her face for a second. Kael’s smile softened just a little. “I won’t let them get to you, Markus. You’re not dealing with this alone.”

The unnerving sensation just didn’t leave my body.

As we neared the classroom, Kael suddenly tugged on my hand, pulling me to a stop just before the door. Her round ears twitched as she looked up at me with a determined expression.

"I’ve got a plan," she said, her voice quieter than usual.

I raised an eyebrow. "A plan for what?"

"For dealing with Selina," she replied like she was hanging a bait, judging as to how I’d react.

I had to admit, it got my attention. "Alright… what is it?"

She glanced around, making sure no one was too close to overhear before leaning in with a serious expression. Her breath brushed against mine, as it just as quickly turned into a mischievous grin.

"We should act like a couple," she said, her voice laced with amusement.

I blinked, taking a moment to process her words. "What?" I stared at her, trying to figure out if she was messing with me.

Kael just nodded, completely serious. "Think about it. If we pretend to be together, Selina will back off. She only wants you because she thinks she can have you all to herself, that you belong to her. If she sees you with someone else, it'll ruin the whole 'claim' thing she's got going on."

I frowned. "That’s a lot of ‘ifs.’ What if she doesn’t buy it?"

Kael shrugged. "Then we sell it harder."

I hesitated. "That… doesn't sound like it'll work. If anything, she might just get more aggressive."

Kael pouted, nudging me while waving off my concern like I was missing the obvious. "Nah, trust me. If I act possessive enough, she'll lose interest. Predators don’t like sharing, right? Besides," she added with a smirk, "I get a free pass to mess with you as much as I want. It’s a win-win."

I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "I don’t know… this seems like a bad idea."

Kael nudged me with her shoulder, her grin widening. "C'monnnn, just trust me. C’moonnnnn~ What’s the worst that can happen? What other option do you have?"

Before I could even open my mouth to refute, Kael’s grip tightened around my wrist, and in one swift motion, she yanked me forward.

“H-hey wait!” I stammered.

But she didn’t, she kept jogging as I barely kept up, breathlessly huffing, all the way until we were right next door to the class. My steps slowed, hesitation creeping in like an itch I couldn’t scratch.

Sensing my hesitation, Kael grinned. "Let’s just try it once." She looped her arm through mine, pressing just a bit closer. "Just trust me on this, Markus. I’ll make it work."

She felt weirdly forceful with all of this. Kael gestured to go ahead, I didn’t even want to look, but instinct forced me to. Just a quick tiny peek inside.

And that’s when I saw her.

Selina’s staring at me, unblinking.

Not just a passing glance, as if she had been staring at the doorway, waiting. Anticipating. The second our gazes locked, her lips curled into a wide grin, bright and eager, like a kid on Christmas morning. My legs felt like bailing right then.

She stood up slowly and then came a quick jump, agile in every movement as she began making her way toward me. I faltered for a second, deciding what to do. But before I could even react, Kael stepped forward.

She planted herself between us, her back pressing against my chest as she shielded me completely. I barely had time to process the warmth of her body, the tail of hers already coiling against my leg.

Selina halted, her grin faltering just slightly. The tension in the air thickened as they just stared, challenging each other’s gaze.

The catgirl clearly in no mood to play tilted her head, her smile returning, but this time, it carried an edge sharper than before.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing with my toy?” she asked, her voice dripping with amusement, but you could tell from her eyes just how she was holding back.

I felt Kael tense beside me, but rather than backing down, she scoffed. Then, to my shock, she pulled me in closer, her arm wrapped snugly around my waist, her cheek nearly brushing against mine.

“Didn’t you hear? I just took a liking to this toy as well.” she shot back, smirking up at Selina. “You know, as they say, finders keepers.”

Her arms wormed closer around me, sinking into my hips, my thigh, almost dangerously close. I turned to glance at her, about to ask what the hell she was thinking, but then, just for a fraction of a second, Kael met my eyes and gave a small, almost imperceptible wink.

“Are you sure about this?” I muttered, barely parting my lips, my voice just low enough for her to hear. Kael didn’t even glance at me. As if she was entirely putting her all into the act.

Then, summoning whatever willpower she could muster, she squeezed her eyes shut and quickly pressed a soft, fleeting kiss against my cheek. It was almost endearing how flushed her cheeks were after the feat.

Selina’s expression didn’t change at first… until it did. Her brow twitched. Her nostrils flared just slightly. Then, her smile disappeared, lips pressing into a thin line.

I barely had time to register the shift before she moved.

A blur of motion, faster than my eyes could follow. The air around us seemed to pull inward, claws flexed, her fangs bared, her eyes flashing with something primal as she lunged forward, straight at Kael.

But before she could reach her-

“Enough.”

The sharp voice cut through the tension like a blade, halting everything in its place.

Kael’s grip on me tightened. Selina froze, her body still coiled like a striking viper, her breath sharp with frustration.

Slowly, every head in the room turned toward the doorway.

The teacher had arrived.

~~~

The moment we stepped into class, I felt it. A piercing gaze, burning into the side of my skull. I didn’t need to turn my head to know who it was, but when I dared a glance, my suspicions were confirmed. Selina.

She sat there, half-turned in her seat, her eyes locked onto me with an intensity that made my spine stiffen. Her nails tapped rhythmically against the surface of her desk, her jaw tight as her golden eyes followed every movement I made. Even as I hurried to my seat, she didn’t look away.

I swallowed, trying to shake off the unease creeping up my neck. Kael then suddenly plopped herself down beside me, pressing in a little too close.

Her arm casually draped over the back of my chair, fingers brushing against my shoulder as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She leaned in, voice dropping into a whisper that only I could hear. “Damn, she’s really eating you alive with those eyes.”

I sighed. “Maybe we don’t have to sell it this hard.”

Kael only grinned, not backing off in the slightest. “I beg to differ bro, this is when WE need to attack.”

I tensed as she scooted closer, her thigh brushing against mine under the desk. Her playful nature, her teasing, something about it stirred a familiarity I hadn’t expected. It was reminiscent of how Nora does when she’s out with me, poking fun at me just to get a reaction.

But the difference here was that I wasn’t related to Kael. And the way she was getting handsy wasn’t something I could just brush off as sibling antics.

“Kael,” I muttered, shifting away from her. “You’re pushing it.”

She tilted her head innocently. “Pushing what? I’m just being a loving girlfriend, aren’t I?” Her fingers traced the edge of my sleeve, playing with the fabric, her expression all too amused by my discomfort.

I tried to scoot further, but she followed, closing the distance again.

Even before I managed to pull away again, a new voice cut through the tense atmosphere.

“Stop.”

It was quiet, firm, but carried a weight that made both of us pause.

I turned my head slightly, caught off guard by the sudden intrusion. A lone figure seated a few feet away, her presence somehow demanding attention despite the lack of any overt aggression.

Her striking red eye, sharp and focused, locked onto Kael with an intensity that felt almost frightening. The other, marred by a scarred reminder of whatever past battles she’d fought.

Wryn. It was the first time I saw her speak, not that I had gotten much time to know her. Yet here she was, stepping in now.

"He is clearly uncomfortable," Wryn stated, her voice devoid of any inflection, just cold observation.

Kael, however, didn’t seem remotely fazed. If anything, she turned, leveling Wryn with a glare. Her ears twitched in irritation, her body language screaming defiance.

She narrowed her eyes before keeping quiet. Kael turned back to me, her expression softening as she leaned in slightly, just enough to keep our little "act" going.

"Necessary…" she muttered under her breath, as if reassuring herself more than me. "It’s all necessary."

Her hand clenched around mine.

“Isn’t it, Markus?”

I didn’t know what to tell her.