REINA
Calestino’s hand moved slightly—just enough for to notice. His jacket shifted, and for a split second I saw the outline beneath it.
A gun.
My stomach dropped.
Andrew saw it too.
His face paled, then hardened with anger. "You threatening now?" he snapped. "Over her?"
Calestino smiled.
It was slow. Cold. Wrong.
"You don’t rate a warning," he said. "You rate restraint."
Andrew laughed, sharp and bitter. "You think you scare ? I know who she is. I know what she did."
My heart slamd against my ribs. "What is that supposed to an?"
Andrew ignored , eyes locked on Calestino. "She didn’t tell you, did she? About us. About how she begged once."
The words sliced straight through .
Calestino moved before I could speak.
In one fast step, he grabbed Andrew by the front of his jacket and slamd him back against the wall hard enough to knock the breath from his lungs. Andrew gasped, hands flying up instinctively, fingers clawing at Calestino’s wrist.
"Say another word," Calestino said quietly, "and I won’t need this."
His other hand pressed deliberately against his side.
The gun.
My chest seized. "Calestino!"
He didn’t look at .
Andrew struggled, face turning red. "You—can’t—"
"I can," Calestino said flatly. "And I will."
"Stop!" I shouted, panic flooding my veins. I grabbed Calestino’s arm with both hands, my fingers digging into his sleeve. Afraid that if I didn’t do sothing, he was really going to hurt Andrew and it would be on . "Please. Don’t."
For a mont, I thought he wouldn’t listen.
Then his grip loosened.
He shoved Andrew away hard enough that he stumbled and nearly fell again, coughing violently as he sucked in air.
"You walk away," Calestino warned. "Now."
Andrew straightened slowly, eyes burning with humiliation and rage. "You think this is over?" he spat at . "You think you can hide behind n like him forever?"
"Yes," I said, my voice shaking but loud. "I can."
He stared at like he wanted to tear apart with words alone. "You haven’t changed," he said bitterly. "Still acting like a little girl who couldn’t think for herself."
Woah. That fucking hurt. But I definitely wasn’t going to let him have the last smile.
"And you haven’t either," I shot back. "Still going after things you can never have."
Andrew laughed harshly. "You’ll regret this."
Calestino stepped forward again.
Andrew didn’t wait.
He turned and walked away, fast and stiff, disappearing between the parked cars.
The silence he left behind was thick and suffocating. I let out a shaky breath and realized my legs were trembling.
Calestino turned back to instantly. "Are you hurt?"
"No," I whispered. "Just... shaken."
He nodded once. "Good."
"That’s it?" I snapped suddenly, emotion spilling over. "That’s all you have to say?"
His eyes flicked over , sharp. "You’re alive. You’re not bleeding. That’s what matters."
I exhaled harshly. "You didn’t have to do that."
"Yes, I did."
"You were going to shoot him!"
"And?" Calestino said. "He was provoking. He didn’t stop when warned."
"That doesn’t an—"
"It ans exactly that," he cut in. "n like him don’t understand words."
I stared at him, my heart racing. "You can’t tell Donico."
The na changed everything.
Calestino stilled.
Slowly, he turned his head toward . "Why not?"
"Because if he finds out," I said quickly, my voice breaking, "he won’t just scare Andrew. He’ll hurt him out of jealousy. And I don’t want that on my conscience."
Calestino studied my face. "That little shit hurt you."
"I know," I whispered. "But I’m handling it."
He scoffed. "You froze, Reina." he let out with a deep breath. "Who knows what he might have done to you if I hadn’t shown up?"
"That doesn’t an I’m weak. I was about to tell him off." I blurted out. I knew it was irrational of to be angry when Calestino had literally stopped from doing sothing I was definitely going to regret.
Not that I could tell him the truth that I was considering kissing Andrew before he jumped in, putting a stop to it. Only the thought of it alone irritated .
"No, I wasn’t saying you are weak," he said. "It ans you were caught off guard."
I grabbed his sleeve again, this ti pleading. "Please. Don’t tell him. That’s all I’m asking."
Donico might use that as an excuse to force to co back ho.
Calestino’s jaw worked. He looked away, clearly torn between instinct and obedience.
Finally, he said, "If that man cos near you again, I’m definitely going to tell boss, and maybe... your husband too."
I nodded quickly. "That’s fair." I said, clearing my throat. "I promise he won’t do it again."
"Stay close to campus security today," he added. "Don’t walk alone."
"I have class."
"You’ll be watched."
That sent a chill down my spine.
"Is that why you are here?" I asked with a frown. "Am I being watched? Did Donico send you here to watch ?"
I was scared to hear his reply, but Calestino only shrugged one shoulder, not saying anything. He picked my bag off the floor and handed it to as we began walking towards the building.
We turned toward the hallway that led to my first class.
We hadn’t taken more than three steps when I felt it again—that crawling awareness, that pressure between my shoulder blades.
I turned my head.
Professor Philip stood near the steps. The sa man from earlier. Leather jacket. Calm posture. Eyes fixed directly on us.
My stomach twisted.
Our eyes t. Recognition flashed across his face—quick, sharp. Then his gaze shifted from mine and slid to Calestino.
Calestino tensed imdiately.
Not dramatic. Not obvious. Just enough that I felt it beside . His shoulders stiffened, his hand flexing once like muscle mory.
"You know him?" I asked quietly.
"No," he said rather too quickly that I knew for sure he was lying.
"You’re lying." I pointed out.
"No." Calestino insisted, eyes looking everywhere but at Philip.
Philip’s mouth curved slightly as if to prove Calestino wrong. He adjusted his jacket and nodded politely in our direction instead.
"Call if you need anything, I’ll hang around to make sure you’re okay." With that being said, Calestino rushed out of the parking lot like his life depended on it.
When I turned to stare at Philip, he was also watching Calestino walk away, grinning with his lower lip snagged between his teeth.
"That’s weird." I said, and that caught Philip’s attention.
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