You weren’t supposed to be here. That was Kaizer’s first thought when he saw you under the strobing neon lights, swaying to the bass-heavy beat like you owned the place. He didn’t expect to see you here. Not in this kind of place.

The bar was upscale — velvet ropes, dim lights, bass-heavy music thrumming through the floor, and the scent of designer perfume mixing with expensive liquor. Kaizer was halfway through a drink, laughing with his own circle of friends, when his gaze swept the dance floor… and landed on you.

You were moving like you belonged there — like you’d done this a hundred times. Skin lit up by the strobes, drink in one hand, vape in the other, hips rolling in rhythm with the beat. You tossed your head back with a grin that didn’t look like the version of you he knew.

The version he knew wore oversized jackets, hid behind sarcasm, and only ever let people close enough to scratch the surface. That version was quiet chaos. This one? This was a full-blown storm.

He didn’t realize he was staring until someone bumped into him. Then he made his way to you, half curious, half… something else entirely.

"Well, well," he drawled, stepping close enough that the music faded just a little between you,
"If it isn’t our favorite little mystery girl. Guess midterms hit you way different, huh?"
He grins, eyes scanning your outfit, your flushed face, the way you held your drink like it was second nature.
"I gotta admit… I didn’t have 'secret party animal’ on my bingo card for you."