Kian’s POV

I practiced my script so much at home that I couldn't think about anything else. I just wanted to get this performance over with as soon as possible.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on my bedroom door. It was definitely my mom—she was the only other person in the house, after all.

I opened the door, and she looked at me with raised eyebrows. "How long are you going to keep yourself locked in this room?"

"I’m rehearsing for a college play, Mom," I said softly. "Try not to disturb me too much, okay?"

"Eat your dinner first," she replied, giving me a warm look. "Then you can rehearse as much as you want."

I nodded and did as I was told, heading downstairs for dinner.

The next day, classes went by as usual. But when practice time arrived, the nerves kicked in all over again.

On the bright side, things were slightly better because Kai barely showed up during rehearsals. Whenever he did drop by, he spoke very little. People in class talked about him constantly—they said he was a total mystery Alpha from one of the richest families in the country. So many girls desperately wanted to date him, but his voice was so cold and intimidating that everyone was too terrified to even get close to him.

Whatever... why am I even suddenly describing him? I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. He just randomly popped into my mind for no reason.

Before I could finish my train of thought, the senior director signaled me to take my position on stage. I performed my role as best as I could.

To my relief, the seniors actually liked it! I just prayed that I wouldn't make any embarrassing mistakes tomorrow during the actual show.

After rehearsal wrapped up, I went home, ate dinner, and fell asleep, following my usual daily routine.

Now, the big day had finally arrived.

I was standing behind the stage curtain, fully dressed up in women's clothes. It felt so unbelievably embarrassing! During rehearsals, I hadn't worn the actual costume, but now that I was completely dressed up, every single person backstage was staring at me.

Oh god...

Panicking under all the attention, my brain went completely blank. I started forgetting every single line of my script.

Suddenly, a cold, stern voice spoke up from right behind me.

"Start acting. Don't just stand there staring blankly. If we get a bad review because of your performance... you will face the consequences."

Oh god, what is happening?!

Before I could even process what was going on, the actor playing the bully shoved me hard onto the stage.

A collective gasp echoed through the auditorium as the audience—teachers and students alike—watched from their seats. It was supposed to be just acting, but to me, it felt horrifyingly real. It felt like my miserable reality, following me everywhere I went.

I looked up at the boy towering over me as he delivered his lines. "You weak Omega girl! How dare you ignore what I told you? Stay quiet when I speak!"

Without warning, he stepped forward and delivered a harsh, echoing SLAP across my face.

It was way too hard for simple acting. My cheek instantly flushed bright red and burned with stinging pain. I opened my mouth to deliver my script lines, but the shock was so overwhelming that not a single word came out.

"What, lost your tongue?!" he sneered, leaning down and slapping me across the face a second time.

Tears welled up in my eyes and spilled over my cheeks. Is this really supposed to be just a play?

Summoning every ounce of strength I had left, I pushed myself off the wooden stage floor. The entire crowd was staring, captivated by what they thought was incredible, intense drama. A few students in the front rows were even giggling.

My vision blurred with tears. I had no idea how terrible or pathetic I looked right now in front of everyone. Overwhelmed with humiliation and pain, I broke away from the script and ran off the stage.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going, filthy Omega?!" the actor shouted after me, stepping off the stage to chase me.

Panicking, I sprinted into the dressing room, grabbed my backpack, and ran as fast as my legs could carry me out through the main gates of the campus.

I stumbled onto the sidewalk, my heart pounding violently against my ribs. I couldn't bring myself to wait at the bus stop, so I just kept walking down the street, trying to put as much distance between myself and the college as possible.

I pulled out my phone and caught my reflection in the dark screen.

My stomach dropped. In my rush to escape, I hadn't even changed out of my costume! I was still wearing the women's dress, my face was bruised and bright red, and a faint trickle of blood was dried at the corner of my lip.

Passersby on the street were staring at me in confusion and disgust. I quickly averted my eyes, flushing with shame. Since I hadn't brought my regular clothes with me from the dressing room, I couldn't even duck into a public restroom to change.

I kept walking blindly for nearly thirty minutes until my feet were raw and sore.

Suddenly, a rough, unfamiliar voice called out from an alleyway up ahead.

"Hey there, pretty girl... why the rush? Where do you think you're going all by yourself?"

"Am I looking like a girl?!" I snapped back at the men, clutching my bag tightly. "I'm just going home"

Before I could take another step forward, a sleek car pulled up right beside me and screeched to a halt. The door swung open, and to my absolute shock, out stepped Kai.

My senior?! What on earth is he doing here?

He walked right up to me, grabbed my hand firmly, and said, "Get in."

I was completely paralyzed. What did he want with me exactly? I had no clue. But just like every other time today, what choice did I really have? I did as he told me and scrambled inside the car.

Once the door shut, I noticed a bundle of clothes lying on the seat. I picked them up—wait, these were my clothes! How on earth did he get them? He had actually brought them to give back to me. Deep down, despite how cold he always acted, he was actually... kind of nice.

"Get changed already," Kai said from outside.

I sat there holding the clothes, staring blankly at the glass. How the hell am I supposed to change inside a car while he's standing right out there?! I can't just get naked in the front seat!

As if reading my mind, Kai suddenly tapped on the window. "The car windows are tinted and protected. No one can see inside. Change quickly."

Oh my god... is he a mind reader?!

It felt surreal. For once in my life, even if it was just this one time, someone actually knew what I needed without me having to say a word.

"G-Give me a minute!" I called out, frantically stripping off the heavy female costume and quickly pulling my regular clothes back on. "Okay, you can come inside now!"

Kai pulled open the door and slid back into the driver's seat. He immediately reached into the back and pulled out a first-aid kit. Without warning, he suddenly lunged forward toward me.

Startled by his sudden, fast movement, I gasped and threw myself backward, gripping the window frame as fear spiked through my chest.

"Stay still," Kai said softly.

He opened a tub of ointment and began gently applying it to my bruised lip and cheek.

My eyes were glued to his face. I had no idea why my heart was suddenly pounding so violently against my ribs. The way he leaned in so close—his fingers brushing against my skin so tenderly—made my chest feel tight, almost like I was having trouble breathing.

Once he finished, I quickly turned my head, staring out the window to hide my burning face.

Break the silence, Kai spoke up, his voice low. "Staying quiet doesn't solve anything."

I blinked, confused. "Hmm?"

He looked over at me, his eyes dark and intense. "When someone tries to hurt you, you fight back instead of just running away from the situation."

Oh... Now I understood what he was trying to say. But I didn't even know how to answer him, so I just stayed quiet.

Kai started the engine and shifted into gear. "Tomorrow after class, meet me at the student club room."

I gave him a simple, obedient nod.

"Where do you live?" he asked.

I gave him my address, and he smoothly navigated through traffic toward my house. Fortunately, my mom wasn't home at this time, which meant I wouldn't have to face an endless interrogation about how I got bruised up.

When he pulled up in front of my house, I unlocked the car door to step out.

"Come here," Kai said suddenly.

I froze, bewildered. He motioned for me to come around to the driver's side window. Curious about what he wanted, I walked over and leaned down close to his window to listen.

Without warning, he leaned out toward me. My eyes widened in shock as my mind went completely blank—Oh god, what is happening?!

Instead of doing what I thought he was going to do, he gently reached out, unclipped a female hair accessory I had forgotten was still pinned in my hair from the drama, and handed it to me.

My face flushed crimson. Biting my lip in sheer embarrassment, I grabbed the hairpiece and sprinted into my house without looking back.

Oh god, this is insane! Why did I just run like that?!

I collapsed onto my bed, burying my burning face into the pillow. Stop, stop, Kian... just take a rest.

I lay there, trying to relax my racing heart while every single second of what happened today played on repeat in my mind.