Elena’s POV


    Mkai let out a shot, almost sheepishugh and shook his head. “No, she ising. She’s just…unning a littlete.


    (frowned, rubbing gently at my temple as the dull throb pulsed behind my eyes, “Howte?”


    He hummed, scrolling on his phone. “Maybe fifteen or twenty min


    minutes? Not long. If you don’t feel like waiting, she said it’s totally fine. We ran just have


    our coffee and leave. Honestly, I’m sorry, I dragged you all the way here, and now we’re just sitting around awkwardly”


    I forced a small smile, shaking my head. “Please don’t apologize. Twenty minutes is nothing.“I tried to inject some brightness into my tone, but it felt thin, transparent. “Maybe I’ll actually be more awake after this coffee,”


    I took a breath, then added–almost reflexively “I should be <b>the </b>one apologizing after the mess that happened at your g afterall


    Mkai burst into chuckles. Like a full on, chest–shakingugh, I blinked at him.


    “That?” he asked. “That was nothing. Don’t apologize for that.”


    Traised a brow, genuinely surprised, “Nothing? Sergel pulled a gun, Mkai.”


    He shrugged. “Wee to the world of the rich. There isn’t <b>exactly </b>a clear <b>line </b>between what’s legal and what’s eptable. Guns are ske…fashion


    essories in our world. Fortunately, no one got <b>shot </b><b>this </b>time.


    This time. The words made my blood chill slightly.


    “You mean people actually kill each other at these things?” I asked, my voice softer now.


    His expression shifted. The smile disappeared. He leaned back slightly, his fingers tracing the rim of his porcin cup. “Wellkill is a strong word. No one’s been murdered in broad daylight, if that’s what you’re asking, But people do get hurt. Guns are pulled. Threats are made. It’s part of the performance.”


    Performance. That word. Like everything in this world was staged for entertainment.


    He continued, nonchnt “There was one guymoner, not on the guest list–pot shot <b>years </b>ago. Security Incident. But aside from that, it’s usually non–fatal fun.”


    A chill ran down my spine. Non fatal fun.


    And then the wordmoner echoed in my head, <b>like </b>a p I hadn’t seening.


    He’d said it so casually, like we were talking about insects. Like he didn’t realize what he was implying–or maybe he did and just didn’t care. Amoner. That <b>guy </b>who died was <b>a </bmoner. So it didn’t really matter.


    In that logic… wasn’tmoner too?


    I swallowed the bitter taste rising in my throat and forced myself not toment. Not right now.


    The waitress returned with <b>a </b>notepad and tablet, smiling warmly at Mkai. He ced his order and added his sister’s usual with a casual fluency, <b>and </b>in


    a few moments, the server disappeared, leaving us in silence for a while till she returned with both our orders.


    <b>Isipped </b>my coffee slowly. It was hot. Smooth. Strong, French–roasted and bitter, the kind of blend that coated your throat and demanded attention. The kick hit me instantly caffeine and heat pulsing behind my eyes–and for a moment I thought it might help


    But then I took a bite of the croissant.


    It was soft and buttery on the outside, but inside… warm mortade, a tang of sharp cheese, and a swirl of herbs. My stomach clenched instantly.


    violently


    Thore mid bite, trying to suppress the way of fun rolling through in


    Shit


    I was going to be sick


    I pushed back from the table so fast the chair legs scraped louilly against the floor, I pped a hand over my mouth and muttered a stri excuse me “before rushing past a startled server and toward the back hallway.


    I heard Mkai call out, “Elena?” but I couldn’t stop. My legs barely cooperated, My vision blurred at the edges, and every step was a desperate sprint to not humiliate myself further.


    I barely made it to the bathroom


    The door mmed open, and I copsed in front of the first stall, retching hard into the toilet bowl. My stomach heaved again and again, even though there was hardly anything left inside I gripped the edge of the porcin, my knuckles white, forehead pressed to the cold metal partition as sharp pain twisted through my side.


    It felt like something was tearing inside me. Physically, Mentally. Emotionally.


    Tears leaked from my eyes as I coughed, spitting bile and shame into that toilet.


    This wasn’t just na


    it felt like everything was falling apart. Again.


    I flushed the toilet and just sat there for a moment, trying <b>to </b>catch my breath, trying to quiet the hum of panic buzzing inside my chest.


    God. What had I be<b>? </b>


    Dragging myself up, I stumbled to the sink. The girl staring back at me in the mirror looked like a ghost–gaunt face, pale lips, sunken eyes. I turned <b>on </b>the faucet and sshed cold water over my skin, trying to erase the past few minutes.


    Didn’t work.


    I removed my ponytail, letting my hair <b>fall </b>limp around my shoulder’s. The tightness in my scalp eased slightly. I ran my fingers through the strands, trying to finger–brush it back into something semi–decent. When that failed, I wrapped a scrunchie around a half–updo instead.


    My hands were shaking by the time I was done. <b>Weak</b>. Aching.


    I looked down at my hoodie, smoothing it carefully. No stains. I sniffed my sleeves–still fresh, thank God. The cold outside had helped with that.


    I pushed the door open slowly and nearly collided with Mkai, who stood waiting just outside the restroom with a furrowed brow


    saw me. “Are you alright?”


    His expression softened when he saw me.


    I stered on a smile, though my insides were still in knots. “Yeah. Just an upset stomach. Sorry to surprise you.”


    He shook his <b>head</b><b>. </b>“You don’t need to apologize. you really don’t look well. Let’s leave, alright? I’ll take you <b>to </b><b>a </b>doctor. Just to be sale.”


    I hesitated.


    He was right.


    My entire body felt like a flickering warning sign, I should see a doctor. I shouldn’t be pretending like I <b>was </b>fine when clearly I <b>wasn’t</b>. The dizziness, the weakness. And the worst part?


    ng, the


    Mon, 28


    The creeping tear in my gut that the wasn’t just food poisoning. That it wasn’t just exhaustion


    What if it was something else?


    What d… it was my illness retulining?


    The thought made my skin crawl. I hadn’t told anyone how scared I was. I didn’t want to even acknowledge the possibility


    If stress was triggering it again…


    If Niki, <b>Sergei</b>, Dmitri–all of them had pushed me <b>too </b>far.


    Damn it.


    I closed my eyes for a second, then slowly opened them.


    But even so,


    Even if agreed with everything he said- couldn’t go with <b>Mkai</b>.


    It didn’t feel right. I didn’t want to drag him further into my mess. I didn’t want more rumors<b>. </b>More confusion.


    “It’s alright,” said softly. “I’ll just take the bus.”


    He raised a brow. “You want to take the bus? Elena,e on.”


    “You should finish your <b>food</b>,” I added quickly, forcing another thin smile. “Wait for your sister.”


    He didn’t return the smile.


    Instead, he looked at me like I’d said somethingpletely unhinged.


    “I’m sorry, Elena,” he said slowly, voice tightening with concern, “but you don’t seem like you’re in the condition to ride a bus. Or even make it across the street, honestly”


    He paused, then softened.


    “if you don’t want to go with me, that’s fine,” he added gently. “But let me call someone else. A friend A family member. Just–someone


    My heart jumped.