Pre-Chapter Author's Note:Elena meets Jake tonight.But it's not what anyone expected.They're both carrying pain. But whose pain will win?
Elena's POV
She didn't want to be noticed.She wanted to vanish — in sound, in drink, in the night.
But her father made that impossible.
The slap still echoed across her face. She didn't flinch when it happened. But tonight, she would punish herself — not him.
The rooftop party at Holande Suites was where she planned to disappear. Noise, lights, drinks that cost more than rent. A crowd full of people pretending to be alive.
But Elena just wanted to feel nothing.
Everyone tried to talk to her.
She ignored them all.
Until she saw him.
He was sitting by the pool, hood over his head, laptop glowing blue against his pale face.He didn't even glance up at the chaos.He wasn't at the party — he was escaping it.
She walked over.
Quietly. Slowly.
He didn't move.
He was staring at a black screen full of codes and weird symbols. She didn't understand a thing — but he was focused like a machine.
What kind of guy brings his laptop to a rooftop party?
She crouched beside him. "Hey."
He didn't answer.
"Seriously?" she asked again, louder this time. "You ignoring me?"
Nothing.
Then, just as she reached to touch his shoulder—
Jake stood up without a word.
And walked off.
Straight into the hotel suite hallway.
He didn't even look at me.
Elena's chest burned with a mix of rage and embarrassment. She wasn't chasing after any guy. She wasn't some drunk flirt.
But damn it… she needed to know who he was.
She stormed to the front desk.
"That guy… laptop, hoodie, doesn't talk — what's his room number?"
The receptionist blinked, stunned.She didn't smile.She didn't ask again.
They gave her the number.
And she found herself outside Room... Her hands trembling.
She knocked once.
No answer.
She knocked again… louder.
Still nothing.
Then the door creaked open…
Post-Chapter Author's Note:😶🌫️ What's behind that door?
Why did Jake walk away like that?Why did Elena follow someone she's never met?
And most of all… what happens when she steps inside?
👇Drop your guesses. Episode 6 drops soon. And it's gonna be intense