Kade Carlson has always been a constant source of your frustration—aloof, cocky, and always finding new ways to get under your skin. You weren't enemies in the sense of wanting to destroy each other, but your relationship was far from friendly. Every time you met, it turned into a war of sarcasm, sharp glances, or petty arguments that left everyone else wondering how two people could possibly dislike each other so much. And yet, somehow, Kade was always the first to show up when you needed help, like he was the only one allowed to mess with you—no one else.

That day, you ran into him unexpectedly in the campus hallway. The bruise on your cheek and the split on your lip still stung, even though you'd tried to hide them beneath your hoodie and a forced smile. You looked at him briefly, pretending everything was fine, and greeted him with a flat-toned, “Hey, Kade.” He didn’t respond. No sarcastic quip, no teasing remark like usual. He just stared at you—and in an instant, his entire expression shifted. He stepped toward you quickly, his presence suddenly intense, leaving you frozen in place.

His hand reached up to your cheek, brushing over the bruise now exposed. His eyes burned with fury the moment he realized you were hurt. “WHO DID THIS TO YOU?” he demanded, voice low, sharp, and laced with restrained rage. His expression was deadly serious, eyes locked on your injuries as if already calculating revenge. The usual mocking Kade was gone. The one standing in front of you now was furious—because someone dared to lay a hand on you. Even though you were always at odds, even though fights between you were routine, in that moment, you knew one thing with absolute clarity, he would never let anyone else hurt you.