CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: I DON’T LIKE YOU

Aiden rose from his seat again, his determination etched across his face. Julian and Ashton both reacted immediately, their hands flying to his shoulders to hold him down.

"Seriously, do not go," Julian whispered harshly, his voice edged with worry.

"Yeah, Aiden, don’t do it," Ashton added quickly, his wide eyes betraying his nerves.

But Aiden simply gave them a small, calm smile, brushing their hands off as if they were nothing more than an inconvenience. "Relax. I’m just going to say thank you to him. Seraphina won’t get angry over that. No one gets mad at someone for saying thank you to her fiancé."

Julian’s lips pressed into a thin line. Ashton looked like he wanted to argue, but both of them knew from the quiet resolve in Aiden’s voice that their words would not matter. He had already made his decision.

With no one left to stop him, Aiden straightened his back and began walking across the hall. His heart thundered in his chest, each beat so heavy that he thought it might burst right out of him. He clenched his fists at his sides, whispering to himself inside his head. You’re just saying thank you. That’s all. Nothing more. He has a fiancée. Do not think about anything else.

He repeated the thought until it felt like it was burned into his mind.

Still, as he drew closer, his composure cracked. Ryker’s presence was overwhelming, and the moment Aiden caught sight of his face up close, the air left his lungs. Heat flushed across his cheeks, his fingers fidgeted restlessly, and he could not stop himself from nervously pinching them together.

The dining hall seemed to sense the shift. The lively chatter and clinking of cutlery faded until silence blanketed the room. Dozens of eyes turned toward him. Whispers died on tongues, replaced by the heavy anticipation of what would happen next. Even Seraphina, who had been walking confidently toward Ryker, paused in her tracks. She folded her arms across her chest and tilted her head, deciding to wait and see what this foolish boy who dared block her fiancé’s path had to say.

Ryker himself froze when he realized someone had stepped in front of him. His brows lifted in surprise, a flicker of recognition flashing briefly in his gaze. For an instant, his expression softened. But then it vanished, replaced by cool indifference. He stood in silence, waiting for Aiden to speak.

When Aiden remained quiet, caught between awe and nerves, Ryker’s patience wore thin. His voice cut through the tension, low and sharp. "What do you want?"

The sound of his voice made Aiden’s blush deepen. His throat felt tight, his tongue clumsy. "Eh... my, my name is... is Aiden."

Ryker blinked once, unimpressed. He gave a small nod. "Alright. And? Why are you telling me your name out of nowhere? I didn’t ask."

Aiden’s eyes lifted from the floor he had been staring at. His chest tightened as he looked at Ryker directly, his voice trembling with surprise. "You... you don’t recognize me?"

Ryker’s gaze hardened, his tone turning cold. "Am I supposed to recognize you? Look, I don’t know you. I don’t want to know you. So stop wasting my time."

The words sliced through Aiden like a blade. His heart plummeted to the pit of his stomach, leaving him hollow. He could hardly breathe. He doesn’t remember me?

It was impossible to accept. He had chased this boy across miles, clinging to the memory of that single day Ryker had saved him. That moment had been so bright, so unforgettable. Yet for Ryker, it meant so little that he could not even recall Aiden’s face.

It was not vanity speaking. Aiden knew his own features. He knew that strangers remembered him even after fleeting glances. And yet, Ryker was staring at him as though he were nothing more than a stranger in the crowd.

Ryker’s frown deepened as the silence stretched on. "What are you doing just standing here? Let’s go already."

The words sparked a faint glimmer of hope in Aiden’s chest. He thought, foolishly, that Ryker was speaking to him. "Go where?" he asked, his voice soft and uncertain.

Ryker did not even spare him a glance.

From behind, Seraphina’s voice rang out, smug and cruel. "Pretty boy, he’s talking to me, not you. Now move aside. You’re in the way. My fiancé and I have somewhere to be."

Her words burned more than fire. Aiden’s shoulders sagged as he stepped aside, crestfallen.

Seraphina walked past him with Ryker at her side, her chin tilted high. Before leaving, she turned her head just enough to cast Aiden a scornful glare. A sharp, mocking huff left her lips, and then she swept away with her friends trailing behind her.

Aiden barely noticed. His thoughts were too heavy. The truth pressed down on him like an unbearable weight: Ryker did not remember him.

The hall, silent for that tense moment, erupted into noise again. Whispers rose from every direction. Fingers pointed. He heard them, no matter how much he wished he could block it out.

"Who does he think he is?"

"Did you see his face? So embarrassed."

"He just wanted Ryker to notice him. Typical pretty boy."

"What a desperate boyfriend stealer."

The voices clawed at him. His fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white.

Julian and Ashton finally moved, hurrying to his side. Ashton grabbed his hand protectively and snapped at a nearby pair of students whispering too loudly. "Stop talking nonsense. He wouldn’t have introduced himself if he didn’t know Ryker from somewhere."

One of them sneered back. "And what? Haven’t all of us heard of Ryker before? Do you see us running up to him and blurting our names?"

Ashton bristled, ready to continue the argument, but Aiden shook his head weakly. His voice was quiet but steady. "Stop. It’s not worth it."

Reluctantly, Ashton backed down. He shot the gossipers one last glare. "Count yourselves lucky. But make sure I don’t find anything incriminating about you." He turned back to Aiden and Julian, forcing a lighter tone. "Should we get out of here?"

Aiden nodded silently, and together they left the hall.

Outside, Ashton hesitated before asking carefully, "So... how did you know Ryker? If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine."

Aiden shook his head. His voice was low, heavy with disappointment. "It’s nothing much. He saved me once, and like a fool, I decided to chase after someone I only met once. That’s why I came to Skyline Academy. I should have known better."

Julian slipped an arm around him in a comforting hug. "It’s alright. It’s fine. I’ll admit you were foolish, but at least now you know. He doesn’t remember. You can stop pining after him."

Aiden nodded, though doubt weighed in his heart.

Ashton, eager to lift the mood, chimed in. "Forget about him. There are plenty of handsome boys here. You’ll find someone who actually cares about you."

Aiden tried to smile. He nodded again, though deep inside, he wondered if that could ever be true.

Julian’s tone softened. "Do you want to go back to the dorm, or do you want me to show you around more?"

"Let’s go on the tour," Aiden said quietly. "Maybe it will distract me."

"Hell yeah," Ashton said cheerfully, clapping him on the back. "That’s the spirit. I’ll take you everywhere."

Aiden could not help but smile faintly. Ashton’s energy was impossible to resist.

Meanwhile, in another part of the academy, Ryker had walked Seraphina back to her private dorm. As soon as they stepped inside, his expression darkened. He glared at her. "What do you think you’re doing, reporting me to my father?"

Seraphina shrugged casually, though her eyes gleamed with defiance. "You’ve been avoiding me. Of course I had to tell Uncle Joseph. So he could remind you that you’re still my fiancé."

Ryker took a step closer, his voice low and sharp. "How many times must I tell you? I don’t like you. I never have, and I never will. Stop forcing yourself on me."

Seraphina’s composure cracked. Her voice rose, tinged with fury. "How can you not like me? Tell me, what’s wrong with me? I’m beautiful. I come from a powerful family. I could support you in anything. Why don’t you like me?"

Ryker’s reply was blunt. "Because I just don’t. There’s no reason. I will end this engagement one day. If you think I’ll marry someone I don’t love, you’re mistaken. I refuse to waste my life with you."

Seraphina shook her head violently, her eyes flashing. "I don’t care if you don’t like me. I made a vow as a child that you would be my husband. When our families arranged the engagement, I was overjoyed. I won’t let that dream break. Ryker, you’re mine."

Ryker stared at her, speechless. Realizing there was no point arguing, he turned and walked toward the door.

Seraphina, panicked, rushed forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him from behind. "No. I won’t let go. I’ll hold on to you forever."

Ryker’s patience snapped. He pried her arms off and shoved her away, his voice cold. "Enough."

He strode to the door, ignoring her trembling voice as she shouted after him. "Ryker! You dare not fall for anyone else. I will destroy any relationship you have. Do you hear me?!"

He slammed the door shut behind him, the sound echoing through the quiet dorm, leaving Seraphina standing there alone with her fury.