Outside, the cool air felt good. She leaned against the railing, looking at the courtyard lights.
Footsteps behind her.
— I wasn't following you, Léandro said. Just… I wanted to make sure you were okay.
She closed her eyes for a second.
— Don't do that.
— What?
— Treat me like someone fragile.
— I'm treating you like someone real.
She looked at him. Really looked.
— That's exactly the problem.
They stayed there, not touching, not speaking.
Something had begun.
Something neither of them could control.
And this time, Keisha knew:
it was no longer a game.
---
— I'm going home, I'm starting to get tired, Keisha said.
— Shall I walk you?
— No need, I can take care of myself.
— Come on, let me drive you, I came with my brother's car.
— If you insist on playing chauffeur, then fine.
They got into the car and drove to her home.
Arriving, Léandro was surprised by where she lived.
— You live here?
— Yeah, why?
— I thought you were wealthy.
— No, but I'm not poor either.
— You live alone?
— No, with my father, but he travels a lot, so I'm often alone with my nanny.
— Oh, I see.
— Looks like she's not here.
— Who?
— The nanny. Never mind.
— You don't have to pretend all the time, he said softly.
— And you, stop thinking you can see everything, she replied with a small smile.
A comfortable silence settled. Then, almost instinctively, they began walking side by side, unhurried, as if each step brought their worlds closer together.
Arriving at Keisha's house, she opened the door but didn't expect him to follow.
— You really want to come in? she asked, surprised.
— I'm not here to bother, just… stay a little, he said simply.
She nodded. Without another word, they sat in her bedroom, still dressed, on the bed. The closeness created a soft but palpable tension. Léandro brushed her hand, and she didn't pull away.
Their eyes met, and this time, it wasn't a dance, not a game. Just them, together. Slowly, Léandro leaned in and kissed her lips. Keisha responded immediately, softly at first, then with more confidence.
They lay down afterward, hands and bodies close, exploring each other with caution but shared desire. Kisses followed, punctuated by muffled laughs and whispers. The night went on, and no rush interrupted the moment: just them, their warmth, and this new intimacy.
When they finally calmed, they stayed entwined, breathing in unison, eyes closed, savoring the surrounding silence. Keisha felt her heart race faster than ever, but this time, she wasn't afraid. She knew something had changed between them, something real and deep.
And as the first light of dawn began filtering through the curtains, they finally fell asleep, side by side, a little closer than ever.
The next morning, Saint-Clair High seemed exactly as usual. The hallways were noisy, students rushing, laughter and conversations mixing into a constant hum. Keisha walked with her calm, assured stride, head held high, perfect as always. She remained the queen of the school, the Aïnis everyone silently respected and feared, but this time, she carried a secret that no one could guess.
Vanessa caught up to her near the lockers, a slightly worried look on her face.
— Keisha… where were you last night? I looked for you everywhere during the party, I didn't see you…
Keisha shrugged, detached.
— I needed some air, she replied calmly. Nothing serious.
Vanessa narrowed her eyes, trying to read between the lines.
— You mean… alone? No one went with you?
— Just me, replied Keisha, her gaze still calm. And it's not important.
Vanessa shook her head, a worried smile on her lips.
— You really are impossible…
Keisha smiled, a thin, mysterious smile. As always, no one could truly figure her out. No one, except… maybe Léandro.
Léandro had gotten up in Keisha's bed earlier, but she wasn't there, and now he was running late for class. He grabbed his things, rushed home, took a shower, changed—his mind still buzzing from the previous night at Keisha's house.
They quickly made their way to school, and once in the hallway, he caught her and pulled her into a corner.
— Why didn't you wake me this morning? he asked. I almost got late.
But she, as always, kept her mask intact.
— I didn't feel like it, you're a big boy.
— I looked for you, I didn't see you… so, how do we… what now?
Keisha lifted her eyes, her gaze piercing. She didn't smile. She didn't need fancy words. Everything was in her posture, in the certainty of her look.
— Nothing has changed, she said simply.
— Nothing? But… we spent the night together…
She sighed softly, almost amused, but her tone remained cold.
— Just that night. Nothing more. I can't be in a relationship. Not with you, not with anyone.
Léandro froze, surprised, a mix of frustration and desire in his eyes. He had expected something… different. He had thought a single gesture, a shared moment, could create a bond. For her, it was just a moment.
— Why? he murmured, almost to himself.
— Because I'm an Aïnis, she explained calmly. What you think is possible, I can't live.
Silence fell. Léandro ran a hand through his hair, fists tightening slightly. He wanted to protest, to plead, but she remained motionless, queenly in her stance, unreachable, untouchable.
— Fine, he said finally, voice tight. If that's what you want… but don't think I'll forget this easily.
Keisha turned on her heel and entered her classroom, head held high, leaving Léandro behind. No one else knew anything, and that was exactly how she wanted it.
Léandro's point of view
He stayed in the hall for a few seconds, short of breath. Frustration gnawed at him, but so did fascination. She had rejected him, yes, but she stood there, in front of him, intact, strong, impossible to reach. An Aïnis. The queen of the school.
He ran a hand through his hair, tightening his fists slightly. That night… he couldn't forget it. And he knew he had to do something.
Later, he joined his friends in the courtyard. They didn't know anything that had happened. They only saw that he seemed preoccupied, tense, and lost in thought.
— Hey, are you okay? one of them asked. You seem… off.
— Yeah… yeah, I'm fine, Léandro replied, carefully avoiding details. Nothing serious.
He didn't need anyone to know. And no one had to know. His frustration, his obsession, his desire to understand Keisha… it all stayed with him, a secret, just like Keisha herself.
— Damn it, he murmured to himself, I have to find a way to… understand.
He stood up, determined. He wasn't going to give up. Keisha, the Aïnis, the queen of the school, was impossible to reach… and yet he was ready to do whatever it took to understand what made her so.