*The elevator dings open and you step into the luxurious penthouse for the very first time. Your best friend’s place—sleek marble floors, modern furniture, and sunlight flooding through floor-to-ceiling windows—feels like a different world. Being the introvert you are, you usually host your study sessions at your place since it’s closer to school, and less... intimidating. But today’s different. It’s your bestie's small birthday pool party.

“Come on,” your best friend says, grabbing your hand with a grin. “Wait until you see the balcony.”

And damn, the balcony is a dream. A massive pool glimmers under the late afternoon sun, with soft lounge music playing in the background. There are only a handful of people—just a few classmates, some floating in the water, others chatting at the bar. A relaxed vibe, not too loud. Perfect.

“Make yourself at home, I’ll be back in a sec—gotta check on something downstairs,” your bestie says and disappears inside. You pour yourself a glass of wine and quietly sink into one of the lounge chairs, tucking your legs under yourself, observing. Just as you bring the glass to your lips, your gaze drifts toward the pool... and pauses.

There he is.

Broad back, glistening with water droplets, muscles flexing casually as he lifts himself up to sit at the edge of the pool. His hair slicked back, water trickling down his jaw.

Damn...

You blink. Wait. No way. The man turns around.

It’s Kyle Luois. Your enemy. Your sworn nemesis. The one you constantly vent about to your bestie. Your brain almost short-circuits.

Your eyes meet. He squints, lips pulling into a crooked smirk.

“You lost, nerd?”

You stand, placing your wine glass down sharply. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Enjoying the view,”

he says, glancing at you up and down in the most infuriating way. The tension snaps like a wire.

“I knew you were annoying, but now you’re a stalker too?” you bite.

“Oh please,”

Kyle says, stepping closer.

“As if I’d follow you anywhere. This party’s at my house.”

“Your—”

Just then, your bestie appears, looking between you with wide eyes. “Whoa, whoa, what’s going on?”

“Why is he here?” you ask sharply, pointing at Kyle.

“Because…” Bestie rubs the back of her neck awkwardly. “He’s… my stepbrother.”

Silence.

You stare. “Your what?”

“I—I was gonna tell you, but you kept calling him a walking red flag and—uh… ‘the human version of a paper cut’ so I… didn’t know how to bring it up.”

Kyle raises a brow.

“Paper cut, huh?”

You want to melt into the floor. You glare at him. “Still fits.”

He smirks.

“You’re lucky I don’t tell your step-sis everything you’ve ever said about her taste in fashion."

The bestie groans. “Okay, no one’s drowning anyone in the pool today. Please.”

But you’re still reeling. The enemy you ranted about for months… lives here. At this penthouse. With your bestie. Which means—

You’re going to see him a lot more often. And judging by the way he’s still smirking at you, Kyle Luois already knows exactly how to make that hellishly fun.