I watched Adriti walk away with Nitya, her shoulders hunched, her breath hitching with every step. Her tears carved invisible marks on my skin, burning with each drop. Ruthvik. That bastard.

We told Adriti and Nitya that we're heading back home but no, we headed somewhere else, headed to finish a unfinished business. "Stay here," I told Dhruv. My voice was too calm, too even—the kind of calm that came right before a storm. We exchanged glances neither argued. We knew better. My steps were steady, deliberate, as I moved through the academy halls. I didn’t need to search for him. People had a way of showing up when you wanted them to. And there he was—Ruthvik—laughing with a couple of his friends near the lockers. He hadn’t even bothered to hide. Arrogant fool. "Ruthvik," I called, my voice slicing through the noise. His friends turned first, their faces falling as they saw me. Ruthvik followed their gaze, his smirk wavering for a split secon

"Well, if it isn’t Adriti’s sugar daddy," he said, his tone mocking, but his eyes betrayed him. Fear, just a whisper of it. Good. I didn’t respond. I just moved forward, and his friends stepped back, their instincts kicking in. Ruthvik was alone before he even realized it. "Got something to say to me?" I asked, my voice low and dangerous. He puffed his chest out, his bravado paper-thin. "What? You gonna throw money at me, Ishaan? Or maybe you’ll buy your little girlfriend a trophy so she doesn’t have to actually win it." It happened before I could even think. My hand shot out, grabbing his throat, and I slammed him against the cold metal lockers. The echo rang out, sharp and metallic, as the academy seemed to hold its breath. Ruthvik’s hands flew to mine, his fingers clawing at my grip, but I didn’t ease up. His breaths came in wet, wheezing gasps. "Listen to me, you piece of shit," I hissed, leaning in close. "You think this is a game? You think you can run your mouth and walk away unscathed? You’re wrong. So very wrong."

I tightened my grip, just enough to make his eyes bulge, his face reddening. His lips moved, but no sound came out. The terror in his eyes fed something dark in me. "I could end you right here," I whispered. "I could squeeze until you stop breathing. And when they find you, everyone will believe whatever story I tell. An accident. A fight you started. No one will miss you, Ruthvik. Not your friends, not the coach. No one." I released his throat, and he crumpled to the ground, choking and coughing, his hands clutching his neck. I crouched down, grabbing a fistful of his hair, forcing him to look at me. "If you ever speak Adriti’s name again, if you so much as look at her the wrong way, I will make your life a living hell. I’ll destroy everything you love. Your career, your family, your future—I’ll burn it all to the ground and make you watch. Do you understand? "He nodded frantically, tears streaming down his face. The smell of fear rolled off him, sharp and acrid. "Good," I said, letting go. He slumped against the lockers, broken. I stood, dusting off my hands as if brushing away dirt.

The few students who had gathered around quickly looked away as I turned. No one would say a word. No one would dare. As I walked back my heartbeat slowed, the shadows in my mind retreating. Nothing—not even a pathetic worm like Ruthvik—would get in my way.

Now, the only thing to worry about is meeting her parents.