CHAPTER 4

JUDY’S POV

I had not slept well at all since last night. The events that had unfolded were still replaying in my mind, keeping me restless and uneasy. My body ached for rest, but the weight of the day pulled me out of bed. I did not feel like getting up, especially not for school, but I knew I had no choice. Today was not just another ordinary day—it was crucial because of the rehearsal with my group.

Singing had been a passion of mine for as long as I could remember. From a young age, I was drawn to music, and my love for it led me to enrol in singing classes. It did not take long for my teacher to notice my vocal ability, and she made sure I was integrated into the group.

I was the lead singer, and together, our group had gone on to win several competitions. It was something I was incredibly proud of, and it had become a significant part of my life.

Today’s rehearsal was important for more than just the usual practice. With everything that had happened recently, I needed the distraction. The group and the music had always been a refuge for me, a place where I could escape from the chaos and focus on something I loved.

I hoped that singing would provide a bit of relief from the turmoil that had taken over my mind, at least for a few hours.

As soon as I got to the manor, a terrible surprise was waiting for me. Gosh! I could not believe my eyes.

Jason arrived early, just as the first rays of morning sunlight bathed the manor in a soft golden hue. I spotted him leaning against his sleek car, looking effortlessly composed as always. His confident smile grew wider when he noticed me stepping out.

My chest tightened—partly because I was not sure how to handle him and partly because I could not shake the memory of Chris' warning from the night before.

“I thought I would pick you up for school,” Jason said, his tone casual, like this was something we did every day.

He could not possibly be serious! Why did trouble always seem to follow me around? First Chris, and now Jason was back in the picture. His gaze lingered on me, warm and inviting, but all I could feel was an uncomfortable wave of unease washing over me.

Something about the way he looked at me set off a knot in my stomach, even though his eyes held a certain allure. I could not shake the feeling that things were about to spiral again, and I was not sure I was ready to deal with it.

“I… I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said quickly, my voice firm.

The image of Chris' cold glare flashed in my mind. His words from last night were still fresh, sharp like the sting of his actions.

Jason’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Are you still upset about yesterday? Look, I’m sorry. I was out of line with the kiss, and I should not have done that.”

His apology caught me off guard. There was no cockiness in his tone, no playful arrogance that Jason often carried. For a moment, he looked genuinely remorseful, and I found myself faltering. I was not angry with him, not really. There were too many emotions tangled up inside me to lay the blame on just him.

“I’m not angry,” I said finally, letting out a long, tired sigh. “It’s not that.”

Jason tilted his head, his lips curving into a small, teasing smile. “Then prove it. Get in the car. If you’re really not mad, you’ll let me take you to school.”

His words hung between us like a challenge I wasn’t sure I wanted to accept. Part of me wanted to walk away, to hold on to the distance that had grown between us, but another part—something I couldn’t quite ignore—urged me to just let go of the anger, even if it was just for a moment.

“Otherwise, I’m going to assume I’ve done something wrong.”

His words left me momentarily speechless. He was always so persistent, so frustratingly good at backing me into a corner. My hesitation only fuelled his resolve, and when he opened the car door with a dramatic flourish, I knew he was not going to take no for an answer.

I glanced at the manor, reassuring myself that Chris had already left. My hesitation melted into reluctant acceptance.

“Fine,” I muttered, stepping into the car.

Jason grinned, sliding into the driver’s seat with a satisfied air.

“See? That was not so hard.”

The drive to school was quiet at first, but Jason’s natural charm filled the silence before long. He talked about random things—the weekend, his plans, and then, casually, the party.

“There’s a family party at my place this Saturday. You should come,” he said, his tone light but his eyes watching me carefully.

“I don’t think I can. I’ve been swamped with school-work lately,” I replied, grasping at the first excuse I could think of.

Jason chuckled, shaking his head. “You can’t hide behind homework forever. Come on, it’ll be fun. It’s just one evening, and you could use a break.”

I stalled. His words tugged at something in me. He was not wrong—I had been isolating myself. Ever since Chris had started avoiding me, my world had shrunk, leaving me lonely in ways I had not admitted to anyone, not even myself.

Jason was offering me a lifeline, a chance to escape the hollow ache of being ignored by someone I once trusted completely.

“I’ll think about it,” I said finally, not wanting to commit but also not wanting to turn him down outright.

Jason seemed content with that.

“Good. I’ll expect an answer by the end of the day.”

We arrived at school moments later, and as Jason pulled into the parking lot, I felt a small sense of relief. The tension that had been simmering inside me since last night began to dissipate—until I saw them.

Chris stood by the entrance, his arm draped lazily over Katarina, the school’s reigning queen bee. She was everything I was not—glamorous, confident, effortlessly perfect. She leaned into him, laughing at something he had said, her fingers brushing his arm in a way that made my stomach churn.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. They looked… intimate. Too intimate. Katarina’s arms were wrapped around Chris' neck, her fingers tracing his skin with a tenderness that felt like a betrayal.

His hands rested on her hips, pulling her closer in a way that made my stomach twist. The scene was almost too much to process, each second stretching into an eternity as I stood there, watching them, unable to tear my gaze away.

It wasn’t just the closeness between them—it was the familiarity, the ease, the way they fit together in a way that suddenly made everything feel wrong.

My heart felt heavy, weighed down by emotions I couldn’t name—hurt, jealousy, confusion.

Jason followed my gaze, his expression unreadable.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

I tore my eyes away from Chris and Katarina, forcing a neutral expression.

“Yeah. I’m fine,” I said, though my voice betrayed me.

But I was not fine. The image of Chris with Katarina lingered, searing itself into my mind. Why was he doing this? Was he trying to push me away, or was he punishing me in some twisted way?