Absolutely! Let's shift the focus to Bright's reaction as he remains calm, and Sea's internal struggle as she starts to feel something she didn't expect. The emotional tension is going to build slowly, with Sea starting to question her own feelings, while Bright continues to stay calm.
Sea was pacing again, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts she couldn't contain. She hadn't expected it to be like this—Bright's cool, calm demeanor was starting to wear on her nerves in a way she couldn't explain. She hated him, no—she was supposed to hate him. She was supposed to scream, fight, and break free.
But somehow, every time she confronted him, his unnerving composure only made her more... unsettled.
She ran her fingers through her hair, the frustration bubbling up again. *Why the hell am I still thinking about him?*
She had to push it out of her head. There was no way she was going to let this crazy, twisted game of his get under her skin. But every time she looked at him—every time he spoke—she felt something.
Something she couldn't name.
A knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts, and she immediately stiffened.
Not him. Not now.
But it was Bright, as always, standing in the doorway, his presence filling the room before he even stepped inside.
"You again," Sea muttered, her voice laced with more bite than she felt. She crossed her arms defensively, despite the nervous flutter that was taking root in her chest.
He didn't respond right away. He just stood there, studying her with that unreadable expression. His dark eyes seemed to see right through her, and it made her stomach twist in a way she couldn't explain.
"I see you've been thinking," he said, his voice smooth, his tone unhurried. "About your choice."
Sea snorted, pushing the emotions that were starting to bubble to the surface as far away as she could. "Choice? You think you're giving me a choice here? This is a damn trap. I'm not some helpless girl who's going to fall in love with you after a year of your manipulation."
Bright didn't flinch, didn't get angry. He just watched her, his gaze steady.
Sea's breath caught in her throat. She hated how composed he was—how his calmness made her feel... not in control.
"Is that what you think I'm doing?" Bright asked softly, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Manipulating you?"
"Yes," she replied quickly, her voice sharper than she wanted. But there was an underlying doubt creeping in that she couldn't shake. She shook her head, trying to dispel it. "What else is this? You think I'm going to just fall for you? You've got another thing coming."
Bright didn't move. His posture was relaxed, his presence imposing despite his stillness. He was so different from the chaos of her thoughts, so different from her. It was like he had an answer for everything.
"Fall in love?" he repeated. "You're missing the point. I'm not asking for your love, Sea."
Her heart skipped a beat at his words, and she hated herself for it. She crossed the room quickly, desperate to put distance between them.
"Then what the hell do you want from me?" she demanded, her voice breaking with the frustration she couldn't contain.
Bright was silent for a long moment, his gaze never leaving her as she paced the room. "I want you to stop fighting," he said finally. "I want you to stop pretending you don't feel something. That you're not affected."
Her breath hitched in her chest, and she froze. For the first time, she realized he wasn't talking about her physical feelings—he was talking about the mental games they were playing. About what was happening between them that she couldn't ignore.
"I don't feel anything," she said, her voice quieter now, despite herself. But even as she said it, she knew it wasn't true.
Bright's lips curled into a smile, but it wasn't the same smug, mocking grin he usually wore. This one was different—slightly softer, almost like he was... pleased.
"You're lying to yourself, Sea," he said, his voice almost gentle. "I'm not asking for anything from you. Not yet. But you feel it, don't you? The pull. The tension."
She hated him. She *hated* him for being right.
"I don't," she said, but her voice wavered, and the words tasted like ash in her mouth.
Bright's gaze never wavered, and for the first time, Sea saw something flicker in his eyes. Not amusement, not arrogance—but something else. Something she couldn't quite place.
"I'm not going to push you," Bright said, his tone low and quiet. "Not yet. I'll wait for you to figure it out on your own."
Sea's heart thundered in her chest. She didn't know why his words made her feel like the walls were closing in. Why, despite every instinct screaming at her to push him away, she couldn't.
She didn't trust him. Not even a little. But she couldn't deny that something was starting to shift. She wanted to fight it, to yell at him, to demand to be set free. But a tiny part of her... *wanted* to know what would happen.
Why was he so damn calm?
Why did it feel like the longer she resisted, the more drawn to him she became?
"Get out," she said, her voice a little shakier than she intended. "I don't want to hear it."
Bright tilted his head slightly, his expression still unreadable, before he finally spoke. "We'll talk again soon, Sea. Whether you want to or not."
As he turned to leave, she couldn't help but watch him, her breath caught in her throat.
Her heart thudded painfully in her chest, and she cursed under her breath.
Bright wasn't just playing a game anymore. He was *in her head*.
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