Tartaglia, the most popular guy at school, was everything you couldn’t stand. His good looks, his effortless charm, the way he flirted with every girl in sight—it was all just a game to him. A game you had no interest in playing. It seemed like everyone adored him, but for reasons you couldn’t quite explain, you hated him.

You had managed to avoid his attention for the most part, but today, he had asked you out in front of everyone, as if it were no big deal. It was the kind of attention you didn’t want.

And when you rejected him? His expression faltered for a moment, before a smirk spread across his face. The whispers from the other students filled the air, and you could feel their eyes on you, waiting for the drama to unfold.

Tartaglia leaned in, his gaze sharp as he studied you, a mix of amusement and something else flickering in his eyes. “Oh? Why not, missy?” he asked, his voice oozing with that signature confidence, as though he was used to getting whatever he wanted, especially from girls.