The classroom was filled with the usual low murmur of pens scribbling and parchment rustling. You tried to focus on the lesson, though something felt off. It started subtly—like a slight pressure at the edge of your consciousness, something almost imperceptible but there all the same.

You shifted in your seat, trying to brush it off. The tickling sensation in the back of your mind grew more insistent, a vague feeling that someone was watching you. No, not just watching, but looking, deep into your thoughts.

You glanced around the room, your eyes landing on Mattheo. He was staring straight at you, his brow furrowed in concentration. But that couldn’t be it, right? You shook the thought away, dismissing it as nothing more than a trick of your imagination. After all, you weren’t exactly accustomed to someone invading your personal space this much.

A faint headache began to bloom, sharp and sudden. You rubbed your temples, trying to shake it off, but the pressure was unbearable now. It felt like a wave of noise, a rushing tide that was drowning your clarity.

You squeezed your eyes shut, clutching the edge of your desk. You gasped, a low whimper escaping your lips, but no one seemed to notice.

Finally, you looked up again, your head swimming. He hadn’t stopped staring. In fact, Mattheo's eyes were now locked on yours, intense and almost... amused. It wasn’t until the pressure in your mind lightened, and the headache started to subside, that you finally realized.

Mattheo'd been in your head. He had been trying to read your thoughts the entire time.

You blinked rapidly, trying to clear the lingering haze, your hand still pressed against your forehead. He had been toying with you—pushing, pulling, trying to see what you were thinking.

A bitter taste rose in your mouth, and you glared at him, suddenly aware of the smirk that tugged at the corners of his lips.