The rest of the school day dragged on in a blur. Every moment was clouded by the weight of the emotions pressing against Kenn's chest. Each time he passed someone in the hallway, the raw intensity of their feelings washed over him, relentless and unyielding. The brash confidence of a group of popular girls gossiping, the anxiousness of the athlete who felt the pressure of an upcoming game, the loneliness of a boy who didn't belong—all of it, all of them, came crashing into him like waves against rocks.
It wasn't just uncomfortable anymore—it was unbearable. Kenn could feel his own emotions twisting with theirs, blending into one chaotic storm that left him feeling more detached from himself with each passing minute.
By the time the final bell rang, Kenn barely had the energy to move. His head was spinning, his body exhausted, but the oppressive feeling of the bracelet around his wrist kept him from feeling any sense of relief.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Lynn's voice broke through his fog again. She had been watching him all day, and Kenn could see the concern in her warm brown eyes. Despite everything, despite the storm of emotions he was enduring, her presence brought a small sense of calm to his frayed nerves.
Kenn nodded, though he knew it wasn't entirely true. "I'm fine, Lynn. Just... tired."
She didn't look convinced, but she smiled anyway, that soft, radiant smile of hers that always seemed to make the world feel a little less heavy. "Well, if you need someone to talk to..."
"I know. Thanks," Kenn replied quickly, too quickly, and Lynn gave him a knowing look before she turned to leave for her next class.
The moment she walked away, Kenn's shoulders slumped. His body felt drained, weighed down by more than just exhaustion. It was like carrying an invisible burden—one that only grew heavier with each passing second. He couldn't ignore the emotions anymore. They were suffocating him, crowding in on him from all sides.
Kenn closed his eyes, pressing his fingers against his temples in an attempt to block out the endless flood of feelings, but it didn't work. The bracelet, warm against his skin, seemed to pulse with a life of its own.
It was then that he felt it again—a sudden, sharp jolt. A flare of emotion so strong it almost knocked the breath out of him.
Yaoi.
Her presence seemed to fill the hallway, consuming everything in its path. Kenn couldn't explain it, but it was like a force of nature. The intensity of her emotions slammed into him with such force that he stumbled backward, clutching his chest as if it would help block out the crushing weight of her obsession.
She's near.
Kenn's heart began to race. He didn't have to look to know where she was. He could feel her, the sheer force of her feelings radiating off her in waves—anger, jealousy, and a twisted sense of desire that bordered on madness. It was more than just her emotions. It was a message. She wanted him. She needed him.
His pulse quickened as he turned down the corridor, heading toward the exit. He needed to get out of here. He needed space—space to breathe, space to think. But before he could reach the door, he heard her voice, sharp and cutting, a single word that sent a chill down his spine.
"Kenn."
He froze, his heart stalling in his chest. He didn't need to turn around to know she was there, standing just behind him, her presence suffocating in its intensity.
Kenn slowly turned, meeting Yaoi's gaze. Her dark eyes were wide, almost manic, and her lips curled into a smile that was far too wide for comfort. Her energy was chaotic, like a storm that couldn't decide whether to rage or simmer.
"You've been avoiding me," she said, her voice low, almost a whisper. But there was an edge to it, a warning that made Kenn's stomach tighten.
"I'm not avoiding you," Kenn replied quickly, too quickly. "I've just been—busy."
Yaoi's smile faltered for a fraction of a second before returning, sharper this time. "You know... I can feel it, you know." She stepped closer, her eyes never leaving his. "You've been feeling everything, haven't you?"
Kenn's breath caught in his throat. She knew. Somehow, she knew. It was like she was reading his mind. Her words, too, were charged with the same manic energy that had overwhelmed him earlier. She was aware of what was happening, and that terrified him more than anything.
"I—I don't know what you mean," Kenn stammered, trying to take a step back, but his feet felt like they were glued to the floor.
Yaoi's smile softened, almost too sweetly. "Don't lie, Kenn. You can hear my thoughts, can't you?" Her voice dropped to a near whisper. "You can feel how much I want you."
Kenn's stomach turned. He wanted to run, to escape from the suffocating intensity of her presence, but the bracelet on his wrist hummed, like a silent reminder that he couldn't escape.
The emotions that radiated from Yaoi were dizzying—she was consumed by him, every thought she had, every emotion, twisted around the idea of him being hers. There was no room for anything else, no space for anything but her obsession.
"Please... don't," Kenn whispered, his voice hoarse. "I don't... I don't want this."
Yaoi's expression softened for just a moment, a flicker of something almost human crossing her features, but it was quickly replaced by the same manic energy. Her eyes darkened, and her voice grew colder. "You don't understand, do you, Kenn? You'll never be free of me. Not now. Not ever."
The words sent a shiver through him, but before he could react, Yaoi stepped back, her smile turning into something cruel.
"We'll see how long you can keep running, Kenn." She turned, walking away, but the weight of her emotions lingered, the dark cloud that she left behind clinging to him like a shadow.
Kenn stood there for a long moment, breathing deeply, trying to steady his racing heart. His fingers tightened around his wrist, as if hoping to stop the bracelet from pulsing with the same dark energy that had just consumed him.
It was clear now. Yaoi wasn't just a threat. She was dangerous.
And the worst part was that he couldn't escape. Not from her. Not from the emotions. Not from the bracelet. The system had control now.
He had no choice but to play the game.
But the price... the price of truth was far higher than he could have ever imagined.