Zina walked out of the library, her mind still lingering on the conversation with Kane. Something about him intrigued her, the way he seemed so guarded yet subtly observant. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than what he allowed others to see. As she made her way down the hallway, lost in thought, she noticed someone leaning against the wall ahead. It was Jade, and from the look on her face, it was clear she was waiting for Zina.
Jade didn't waste any time. She pushed off from the wall and sauntered over, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. The confident, almost predatory way she moved made it clear that she was someone used to getting her way. "Stay away from Kane," she demanded, her voice cold and clipped.
Zina raised an eyebrow, more amused than intimidated. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with me," Jade snapped, her eyes narrowing into slits. "Kane's mine. So, whatever game you think you're playing, cut it out."
Zina let out a small laugh, not bothering to hide her amusement. "Game? Seriously, Jade, I don't know what you're so worked up about. Since when is Kane your man?"
Jade's jaw tightened, the muscles in her face twitching with barely contained anger. "Since always," she hissed. "I don't know what you think you're doing, but it's not going to work. He doesn't need some scholarship charity case chasing after him."
The words hung in the air, sharp and cutting. Zina felt a flicker of anger at the insult, but she wasn't about to let Jade see that she had gotten under her skin. Instead, she met Jade's glare with a calm, almost bored expression. "You might want to rethink your approach, Jade. Insults don't really make your case stronger. In fact, they make you sound pretty insecure."
Jade's eyes flashed with something dark and dangerous, but she quickly masked it with a sneer. "Just remember what I said. Stay away from Kane, or you'll regret it."
Zina tilted her head slightly, studying the girl in front of her. Jade was beautiful, that much was undeniable, but there was something ugly about the way she carried herself the possessiveness, the need to control. It was as if Kane were just another accessory to her, something to show off and keep others from touching.
"Are you done?" Zina finally asked, her tone tinged with impatience. "Because I have better things to do than listen to your insecurities."
Jade's eyes bore into Zina's, cold and calculating. "You think you're so smart, don't you? Just because you're here on some scholarship, you think you can waltz in and take whatever you want. But here's a reality check for you you're nothing, Zina. You don't belong here, and you sure as hell don't belong anywhere near Kane."
Zina clenched her fists, feeling the anger building up, but she wasn't about to give Jade the satisfaction of knowing she'd gotten under her skin. "You know, Jade, for someone who's so confident that Kane is 'yours,' you sure seem threatened by the idea of someone else even talking to him. Maybe the problem isn't me maybe it's that you know deep down he doesn't actually care about you."
Jade's face twisted in fury, her usual composed demeanor slipping. "You little—" she started, but stopped herself, realizing that losing her cool would only give Zina more satisfaction. Instead, she straightened up, regaining her composure. "This isn't over," she said quietly, her voice laced with venom. "Stay away from Kane, or you'll regret it."
Zina didn't back down, standing her ground. "Are you done threatening me now?"
Jade stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as if she could intimidate Zina into backing off. "You think you're better than me, don't you? Just because you're here on some pity scholarship?"
Zina's lips curled into a half-smile, her voice calm but biting. "No, I just think Kane's not some trophy you get to claim. If he's as important to you as you say, maybe focus less on threats and more on, I don't know, actually talking to him?"
Jade's nostrils flared as she took another step closer, her voice a dangerous whisper. "You have no idea who you're messing with. Girls like you come and go. You'll be gone before Kane even notices you."
Zina raised her eyebrow, refusing to flinch. "Then why are you so scared, Jade? If I'm just some 'charity case,' why are you so worked up?"
Jade's composure cracked, and she spat, "Because Kane's mine. I don't care how many little games you play you'll never be in his world."
Zina shrugged. "I'm not playing games, Jade. But maybe you should think about why you're trying so hard to keep him when he's clearly not that interested."
The fury in Jade's eyes burned brighter, but instead of responding, she just gave Zina one last withering look before turning on her heel and walking away, her head held high as though she'd somehow won.
Zina watched her go, a mixture of annoyance and pity filling her chest. She couldn't understand why someone would waste so much energy trying to control another person, especially when that person clearly didn't reciprocate their feelings. She muttered under her breath, "Real classy, Jade."
With a sigh, Zina adjusted the strap of her bag and continued down the hallway, refusing to let the confrontation get to her. If anything, it only made her more curious about Kane what kind of person he really was, and why someone like Jade was so desperate to keep him all to herself.