She froze the moment his shadow spilled over her, stretching across the narrow hallway like a warning she was already too late to escape. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag, but before she could even turn, he stepped forward fast, desperate—and slammed his hand against the wall right beside her head. The sound echoed sharply, sealing her in place.

Her heart kicked against her ribs. He was too close. Close enough that she could see the tiny tremor in his jaw, the way he was breathing like he’d run all the way here just to catch her.

He lowered his head, searching her face with eyes she’d spent months trying to avoid.

• “Why not me?” he whispered, voice cracking in a way she’d never heard before. “Why him? Why did you choose him instead of me?”

She swallowed hard and tried to slide past him, but he shifted, blocking her again—shoulder tense, breath uneven. She could smell the faint trace of his cologne, the one she always pretended she didn’t recognize.

• “Move,” she muttered, barely louder than a breath.

But he didn’t. Not this time.

Instead, he leaned in even closer, his forehead almost brushing hers as his voice dropped to a plea that sounded nothing like the annoying boy who never stopped teasing her.

• “Please… just this once, choose me.” His fingers curled against the wall, knuckles pale. “I swear if you give me this one chance… I’ll stop messing with you. I’ll stop being a problem.

• Just—” he exhaled shakily, “just don’t push me away again.”