conflicted Emotions

Days turned into weeks, and Lisa found herself growing more aware of Felix despite her attempts to avoid him. He was cold, rude, and distant, but there was something about him that made it hard for her to completely dismiss him. She hated it.

"Why am I even thinking about him?" she muttered to herself as she sat at her desk, trying to focus on her homework.

Her thoughts kept drifting back to moments when Felix's icy demeanor had cracked—like the time she overheard him quietly comforting Joseph after a rough day at school. It was a rare glimpse of a softer side, one that left her more confused than ever.

One evening, Lisa was in the library finishing an essay when Felix walked in. She stiffened immediately, her pen freezing mid-sentence.

He didn't seem to notice her at first, heading straight for the bookshelf. But then his eyes flicked toward her, and their gazes met.

"Why are you still here?" he asked, his tone sharp.

Lisa hesitated. "I'm finishing an assignment."

Felix sighed and sat down at the far end of the table, opening a book. The silence between them was thick, and Lisa couldn't focus with him so close.

"Do you always have to be so harsh?" she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Felix glanced up, his expression unreadable. "Do you always have to ask so many questions?"

Lisa frowned. "I'm just trying to understand you. You act like the world is against you."

He closed his book with a snap and leaned back in his chair. "Maybe because it is."

The bitterness in his voice caught her off guard. For a moment, she saw the pain behind his arrogance, and it tugged at something inside her.

"I didn't mean to upset you," she said softly.

Felix's eyes narrowed, as if he didn't believe her. "You don't upset me. You're just... annoying."

Lisa bit her lip, trying to suppress the small pang in her chest. "Fine," she said, gathering her things. "I'll leave you alone."

As she walked away, she couldn't help glancing back. Felix had returned to his book, but his expression seemed troubled.

That night, Lisa lay awake, her thoughts swirling. Why did she care so much about what Felix thought? He was infuriating, yet she couldn't stop thinking about the way his eyes softened for a brief moment when he spoke about the world being against him.

"I can't like him," she whispered to herself. "He's so... impossible."

But the more she tried to push the thought away, the stronger it became. There was something about Felix that fascinated her, even if she didn't want to admit it.

The next morning, Lisa found herself alone in the kitchen when Felix walked in. She quickly turned her attention to the pancakes she was making, hoping to avoid another confrontation.

"Are you planning to burn those?" Felix said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Lisa turned to glare at him. "Do you ever say anything nice?"

Felix smirked. "Why should I?"

She rolled her eyes and focused on flipping the pancakes. But when she accidentally dropped one onto the counter, Felix stepped forward, surprising her.

"Here," he said gruffly, picking it up and placing it back on the plate.

Lisa stared at him, her heart racing. "Thanks," she said quietly.

Felix didn't respond. He grabbed a glass of water and left the kitchen without another word.

Her hands trembled as she returned to her task. That brief moment of kindness left her more conflicted than ever.

Joseph had been watching Lisa closely, and he could tell something was bothering her. One evening, he found her sitting on the balcony, staring out at the city lights.

"Hey," he said, sitting down beside her.

Lisa glanced at him and smiled weakly. "Hey."

"You've been distracted lately," Joseph said. "Is it school? Or... Felix?"

Lisa's cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away. "It's nothing."

Joseph frowned. "Lisa, if he's making you uncomfortable, you need to tell me. I'll handle it."

Lisa shook her head. "It's not that. He's just... complicated."

Joseph's heart sank. He didn't want to believe it, but he could see it in her eyes. She was starting to feel something for Felix.

"Well, just be careful," Joseph said, trying to hide his disappointment.

Lisa nodded, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

That night, Lisa stared at the ceiling, her mind racing. She hated how Felix made her feel—angry, confused, and vulnerable all at once. But she couldn't deny the flicker of warmth she felt when he showed even the smallest hint of kindness.

"I don't like him," she told herself firmly.

But deep down, she knew it wasn't that simple.