Ava had barely caught a break from the overwhelming teasing about her kiss with Jae when another storm came crashing into her life.

Ethan, the quiet yet persistent admirer from another section, had been waiting for the right moment. And today, he found it.

Ava had gone to the school’s library, hoping to escape the relentless teasing from her classmates. The library was empty—just as she had hoped—but before she could even settle in, Ethan appeared.

“I need to talk to you,” he said, his voice low but firm.

Ava sighed, closing her book. “What is it, Ethan?”

He stepped closer, his eyes filled with something unreadable. “I want you to be mine.”

Ava blinked, momentarily thrown off. “Excuse me?”

Ethan didn’t hesitate. “I know Jae has been hanging around you, but I don’t care. I’ve liked you for a long time, Ava. And I’m not going to sit back anymore.”

She sighed, rubbing her temples. “Ethan, I don’t feel that way about you—”

But before she could finish, Ethan grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward him. “Just give me one chance,” he whispered. His grip was tight, almost suffocating.

Ava’s heartbeat spiked. “Ethan, let me go.”

He ignored her. “One kiss, Ava. That’s all it takes.”

Panic surged through her veins as she tried to yank her wrist free, but Ethan’s hold was unrelenting. Just as she was about to scream, a familiar voice sliced through the air like a blade.

“Get. Your. Hands. Off. Her.”

Jae.

Before Ethan could even react, Jae grabbed him by the collar and shoved him backward with a force that sent him stumbling against the bookshelf.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Jae’s voice was a deadly growl, his eyes burning with rage.

Ethan, now terrified, stuttered, “I—I was just—”

“You were just trying to force yourself on her?” Jae finished for him, his grip tightening on Ethan’s collar. “You must have a death wish.”

Ava, shaken but recovering, placed a hand on Jae’s arm. “Jae, don’t. He’s not worth it.”

Jae’s jaw clenched, but after a long, tense moment, he finally released Ethan with a sharp shove. “If you ever come near Ava again, I swear you’ll regret it.”

Ethan scrambled away, disappearing into the aisles of books.

Jae turned to Ava, his expression softening slightly. “Are you okay?”

Ava nodded, though her heart was still racing. “Yeah… thanks to you.”

Jae exhaled, stepping closer. “I’m not letting anyone touch you like that again. Ever.”

The way he said it sent a shiver down her spine, but she quickly masked it with a teasing smirk. “Protective much?”

Jae scoffed. “You have no idea.”