Rebirth: Love me Again

[BONUS Chapter for reaching 400PS! Thank you all!🤍 ]

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[IRAYA]

The air buzzed with excitement as students spilled out of the campus, chattering about holiday plans.

I stood at a distance, watching Jason and Kylie approach me. Their movements seemed too calculated, their smiles too rehearsed.

"Maybe we should go to karaoke?" Kylie suggested, her tone overly chipper. "Our family's heading abroad for the holidays, so it'll be weeks before I see you two again. We should celebrate the holiday first!"

It sounded nice on the surface, but I could feel the ulterior motives dripping from her words. The invitation only meant for Jason.

"I'm sorry," I said, keeping my tone light. "I'm fully booked right now."

Jason and Kylie didn't even bother to hide their relief. Their eyes lit up, and for a moment, I wondered if they'd rehearsed this.

"If you're not going, then I won't either," Jason said, though the words lacked conviction.

Kylie shrugged, a subtle smirk tugging at her lips. "Alright, then. Let's see each other after the holiday break then."

I nodded, feigning indifference, and turned to leave. Just as I reached my car, Jason grabbed my arm, pulling me aside with surprising urgency.

"Iraya," he hissed under his breath, his grip firm. "Where's my car?"

I turned to him with a look of faux surprise, tilting my head as if I had just remembered. "Oh, that. Don't worry—it'll be here soon."

Jason narrowed his eyes, but before he could press further, Kylie chimed in, her curiosity piqued. "Jason, where's your car?"

Her question hit a nerve. I could see it in the way Jason's shoulders tensed, the way his eyes darted between us. He forced a casual smile, masking his discomfort.

"Kylie doesn't have her car today, so I volunteered to drive her home," he said quickly, shielding her with his usual charm.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Drive another girl home, but not his so-called girlfriend? The audacity was almost impressive.

"Is that so?" I asked, my voice calm, almost amused.

Jason hesitated, taken aback by my lack of reaction. "Don't overthink it, Iraya. I'd have driven you too, but you have your own car today and Kylie didn't, so . . ."

"Jason just wanted to help," Kylie interjected, her voice soft and sweet, her eyes darting between us as if gauging my response. "If you're uncomfortable with it, I'll understand."

I plastered on my best smile, the kind that didn't reach my eyes. "It's fine. It's dangerous for a girl like you to be taking the bus or a cab alone."

The two exchanged a look, so smug it made my stomach churn. They still thought I was gullible, still believed I was the same docile fool. Perfect. Let them keep their guard down, reveling in their little affair, unaware of my plans.

Jason opened his mouth to say something else, but the sound of a car pulling up caught everyone's attention. Heads turned, and then came the stifled giggles, the whispered comments.

There it was—Jason's new car. A second-hand four-seater SUV with a design so odd and outdated it looked like a toy in this upscale setting.

"What's that funny-looking car doing here?" Kylie spat, her nose wrinkling in distaste.

"Oh, that?" I said, feigning nonchalance. "That's Jason's new car."

"What?" they exclaimed in unison.

I pointed toward the vehicle, where Mr. Benson drove with a constipated face. There was no ac inside so the windows were down.

"See? He's here to deliver it. Isn't that thoughtful of him?"

Jason's face went pale, his composure cracking under the weight of the stares and whispers around us. Kylie looked downright disgusted, her lips curling as though the sight offended her.

"What's the meaning of this, Iraya?" Jason growled, stepping closer. His eyes burned with anger, his hand gripping my arm like a vice. "What is that car?"

I blinked innocently. "Whatever do you mean, Jason? Didn't you say you'd buy a second-hand car while yours was in the shop? You told me you didn't want to waste money on something new." My voice carried just enough volume to ensure the bystanders heard every word.

The crowd pressed closer, intrigued by the unfolding drama.

"Is that true, Jason?" Kylie asked, her voice sharp with confusion. "But why would you choose such an . . . ugly car?"

Jason struggled to find an answer, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. Then, as if struck by divine inspiration, he straightened up.

"Of course!" he said, his tone suddenly bright. "I bought this car from a friend. He's going through a tough time financially, and I wanted to help him out. You know how I am."

The shift in the crowd was immediate.

"Wow, Jason, you're so generous."

"He's the perfect guy—hot, rich, and kind!"

"Iraya's so lucky to have him."

I watched as Kylie's expression transformed, her eyes gleaming with renewed interest. The predator in her was fully awake, drawn to Jason's growing social value.

Good. Let her want him more. Let him bask in their praise. The higher they climbed, the harder they'd fall.

Satisfied, I turned and walked away without another word, slipping into my car. I had bigger problems to deal with—namely, Leander.

The sooner I handled that, the sooner I could move on to the next step of my plan.

I knew exactly where he would be on a Friday night. Instead of confronting him immediately, I went on an emergency shopping and retreated to my condo to bide my time. I needed to approach this carefully.

After a long shower to clear my head, I slipped into a sleek black bodycon dress—nothing too revealing, but enough to make an impression. The fabric clung to my curves, understated yet commanding.

I tied my hair into a high, sharp ponytail, a look that conveyed both elegance and confidence. My heels clicked against the marble floor as I gathered the final piece of my plan: a new Brioni black shirt, neatly folded and wrapped, meant as a peace offering.

This wasn't just any shirt. It was an olive branch, meticulously chosen for its sophistication and exclusivity. I hadn't bought one, but four—insurance, in case the first wasn't enough.

I clutched the sleek box tightly as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My fingers trembled, betraying the resolve I tried to wear so boldly. This had to work. It had to.

"There's no way he'll refuse this," I whispered to myself, as if saying it aloud would make it true.

Still, doubt lingered in the back of my mind like an unwelcome shadow. Leander wasn't the forgiving type, and I'd need more than a gift and an apology to earn his favor.

Steeling my nerves, I grabbed my clutch and headed out into the night.