Chapter 5 Unspoken Secrets

The tension in the air was thick, like a storm waiting to break. Damien couldn't shake the thought of Mira from his mind. Every time he tried to focus on something else, her face would appear in his thoughts-her quiet gaze, the way she pushed everyone away, and the strange aura that surrounded her.

That evening, as the school bell rang, signaling the end of another day, Damien found himself lingering near the gates, watching as students rushed to leave. He had been hoping to run into Mira, to figure out why she always seemed so distant, so untouchable. But as usual, she disappeared before he could make his move.

He wasn't sure why he cared. Mira had made it clear she wasn't interested in anything he had to offer. But there was something about her-a mystery he couldn't resist.

As Damien made his way home, lost in thought, his phone buzzed with a text message. It was from Emma.

"Are you free after school? I was thinking we could grab lunch together. Just the two of us?"

Damien hesitated. Emma had always been kind to him, but today, he didn't want to deal with her attention. Not when his mind was filled with thoughts of Mira. But Emma was persistent, and her message had a way of pulling him back to reality.

He replied with a simple, "Yeah, sure." He needed a distraction. And Emma was the perfect person to give him one-at least for a while.

At the local café, Damien and Emma sat across from each other at a small table by the window. Emma chatted animatedly about her day, but Damien's mind was elsewhere. He nodded at the appropriate times, his thoughts drifting back to Mira. What was it about her that kept him up at night? Why did her presence stir something deep within him, something he didn't want to acknowledge?

"So," Emma said, leaning forward slightly, her eyes bright with curiosity. "Have you talked to Mira lately? I haven't seen you two hanging out as much."

Damien's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected Emma to bring up Mira. He quickly masked his surprise with a shrug. "She's been busy, I guess."

Emma raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Mira's always busy, but I don't think that's it. You two used to be friends, right? What happened?"

Damien ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "It's complicated. She's... not the easiest person to get along with."

Emma studied him for a long moment, her gaze searching. "You're still thinking about her, aren't you?"

Damien froze. How did Emma always seem to know exactly what he was feeling? He opened his mouth to deny it but found that no words came out. Instead, he stared at his drink, trying to avoid her penetrating gaze.

Emma leaned back in her chair, her expression softening. "Damien, I know you care about her. But you need to be careful. Mira's been through a lot. She's... not like other girls. You don't know everything about her."

Damien's pulse quickened. Emma wasn't wrong. He didn't know anything about Mira-at least, not the important things. And somehow, that made him even more determined to find out. But he couldn't shake the feeling that Emma knew more than she was letting on. Why was she so concerned?

Before he could ask, Emma smiled. "Just... don't get hurt, okay?"

Damien forced a smile back. "I'll be fine."

The next day at school, Damien couldn't focus. Every hallway he walked through, every class he attended, his thoughts kept drifting back to Mira. There was a strange sense of urgency in the air, as if time was running out. He had to know more. He had to understand why she was so cold, so distant.

At lunch, as he walked toward the cafeteria, he spotted Mira in the courtyard, sitting alone under a large oak tree. Her gaze was fixed on the ground, and for a brief moment, Damien saw a vulnerability in her that took him by surprise. There was more to her than she let on.

But before he could make his move, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"She's not who you think she is."

Damien's heart stopped. Ryder. The last person he expected to see. Ryder was standing just a few feet away, his arms crossed, his expression hard as ever.

"What do you want?" Damien asked, his voice a little sharper than he intended.

Ryder's eyes narrowed. "You need to stay away from her. Mira's got a past-things you don't want to get involved with."

Damien took a step forward, his brow furrowing. "What are you talking about? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?"

Ryder didn't flinch. Instead, he stepped closer, his tone low and serious. "I'm telling you for your own good. Mira's not just a girl. She's been through hell. And if you're smart, you'll back off before it drags you down too."

Damien felt his anger spike. "You think you can just warn me away like that? You don't know anything about me or Mira."

Ryder didn't respond immediately. He simply turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the trees. His parting words echoed in Damien's mind.

"Stay away from her."

The words haunted Damien all the way home. He couldn't shake the feeling that Ryder knew something he didn't. But what could it be? What was Mira hiding? He had to find out, no matter the cost.

As night fell, Damien stood at his window, staring out at the darkened woods. The distant sound of rustling leaves was the only thing that filled the silence. His thoughts were a jumble of confusion, anger, and curiosity. What had Ryder meant when he said Mira had a past? And what could it possibly have to do with him?

The next day, Damien decided to confront Mira. He couldn't wait any longer. He had to know the truth.

After school, he made his way to the same spot in the courtyard where he had seen her the day before. She was there again, sitting alone, her eyes focused on something far away.

Damien hesitated. Should he approach her? He had no idea how she would react.

But before he could make a decision, Mira spoke, her voice quiet but steady. "You're not going to leave me alone, are you?"

Damien froze. "I-I just want to know what's going on. Why are you so... cold? What are you hiding?"

Mira's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Damien thought she might snap at him. But instead, she stood up slowly, brushing the dirt from her jeans. She took a deep breath, as if preparing herself for something difficult.

"You want to know the truth?" Mira said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not like other people. I never have been."

Damien leaned in, his heart racing. This was it. He was finally going to get the answers he had been searching for.

But just as he opened his mouth to speak, a voice broke through the tension.

"You shouldn't be here."

Both Damien and Mira turned to see Ryder standing in the distance, watching them intently.

Mira's face shifted to something unreadable, and she took a step back. "You need to go," she said softly to Damien. "Now."

Damien didn't move. He wasn't going to let her push him away again. But as he opened his mouth to argue, he caught the look in Mira's eyes-a look of fear. And for the first time, he realized that whatever Mira was hiding, it was bigger than both of them.