3.

Sweat formed on forehead. She licked her lips.

Hazel took a deep breath, steadying herself as she stood up from the chair in the library. She needed to return to class and try to focus on her studies, despite the cruel joke that had just been played on her. Clutching the black rose and the note in her hand, she turned to leave the library, but she didn't get far. She bumped into something solid—someone's chest.

Stumbling back, she gasped and looked up to find herself face-to-face with Ace. His smirk was unmistakable, and her stomach twisted with a mix of anger and discomfort.

"15 days left for your birthday, dumbo," he teased, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

Hazel's breath hitched, and she could feel her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. Ace took a step closer, his presence overwhelming in the small space between the bookshelves.

"Why are you doing this?" Hazel managed to ask, her voice trembling slightly.

Ace's smirk widened, and he shrugged casually. "Just having a little fun. Besides, everyone loves a good mystery, right?"

His words were light, but the look in his eyes made Hazel feel anything but at ease. She took a step back, trying to put some distance between them, but Ace closed the gap effortlessly. He leaned in, his face inches from hers, and Hazel could feel the heat radiating from his body.

"You know, Hazel," he murmured, his voice low and almost intimate, "you shouldn't take everything so seriously. It's just a joke."

"A joke?" Hazel repeated, her voice rising with indignation. "You think humiliating me in front of the entire school is a joke?"

Ace raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused by her reaction. "Relax, it's not the end of the world. And besides, it's not like it's a big secret that your birthday is in 15 days. Everyone knows."

Hazel felt a surge of anger. "That's not the point! You had no right to do this. If you wanted to talk to me, you could have just—"

"Just what?" Ace interrupted, his tone mocking. "Asked you nicely? Where's the fun in that?"

Hazel opened her mouth to retort, but the words caught in her throat. She was furious, but she also felt a pang of something else—confusion. Why was Ace, of all people, paying so much attention to her? And why in such a twisted way?

"Look, Hazel," Ace said, his voice softening slightly, "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just... you caught my eye. You're different from the other girls. And I guess I have a weird way of showing it."

Hazel blinked, taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor. Was this some kind of game? Or was he being sincere?

"Different?" she echoed, her voice uncertain.

Ace nodded, stepping back and giving her some much-needed space. "Yeah, different. You're smart, and you don't try to impress anyone. You just do your own thing. I respect that."

Hazel didn't know what to say. Part of her wanted to believe him, but another part was wary of his intentions. She had seen how he treated other girls—charming them one moment and discarding them the next. Was she just another target for his amusement?

"I don't know what your game is, Ace," she said, her voice steadying, "but I'm not interested in being a part of it. If you want to get to know me, then be honest. Don't play these childish pranks."

Ace's expression shifted, and for a moment, Hazel thought she saw a flicker of genuine regret in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by his usual smirk.

"Fair enough, Hazel," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'll try to be more straightforward. But you have to admit, the black rose was pretty dramatic."

Hazel couldn't help but roll her eyes, despite the tension. "Just leave me alone, Ace. I have better things to do than deal with your antics."

With that, she brushed past him and made her way out of the library, her heart still pounding from the encounter. As she walked down the hall, she resolved to stay focused on her goals and not let Ace's games distract her. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the end of it. The next 15 days were bound to be interesting, whether she liked it or not.

Glaring at his the last time, she walks out back to her class. While Ace, with his permanent smirk. Follows her making her all upset an unsecured. She turned around to find his eyes completely focused on her. She fastened her speed and was about to enter the class when her teacher's sharp gaze made her stood at the entrance.

"Why are you late Ms. Hazel?" Her teacher asked narrowing her eyes for a better excuse. Hazel gulped nervously and looked down. Before she could form any words, "she was with me!" Ace says making the whole class gasp at him.