Chapter 3 Bird in Gilded Cage

Ayla

I slammed the girls' bathroom door so hard it echoed across the tiled walls. Two girls at the mirror scattered instantly, as if even my anger could burn. I marched into the last stall, dropped onto the seat, and buried my face in my hands.

Why did Rhett always have to ruin everything?

Today was supposed to be simple. First day of the new semester, new faces, new energy. But no-Rhett had barged into my space, hovering like a shadow I could never escape. Always protective. damn controlling. He 's always too much.

I groaned, pressing my palms into my eyes. But no matter how hard I tried to push it away, River's gaze lingered. That steady, unreadable gray stare. It had warmed me and unsettled me all at once, like he could see deeper than I wanted anyone to.

I didn't even know him. But it didn't feel like meeting a stranger. It felt like remembering someone I'd lost.

"This is insane," I whispered. "Why do I even care?"

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Five missed calls from Rhett. My chest tightened, but I hit the lock screen and shoved it back. If I kept answering him, I'd lose myself completely.

I reached for toilet paper. Empty roll. Of course. Damn it.

"Unbelievable." I tilted my head back and laughed bitterly. The universe really was mocking me.

I texted Yuna: West bathroom. Out of tissue. Help.

Less than ten seconds later she texted back: On my way.

That's Yuna for me-like she's got 5G wired straight into her brain. My best friend's basically Pietro Maximoff, only calmer.

If Rhett was a chain, Yuna was the bolt cutter. She was never hesitated.

She slipped a packet of tissues under the door a minute later. "If you're gonna cry, at least don't do it somewhere that smells like expired disinfectant."

I opened the stall, snatched it, and muttered, "I wasn't crying. Maybe a little."

"Rhett again?" she asked, eyes narrowing.

I nodded. "He humiliated me. In front of someone new. And the worst part... I can't stop thinking about him."

Yuna arched her brow. "Different? You mean that guy? River?"

I froze, surprised 'Wait... you know him?'

"Please. Everyone knows him. He's that quiet, mysterious type, and half the girls on campus have been whispering about him all morning...and apparently, we're doing it too."

I chewed on my lip. So it wasn't just me. But what I felt for him... it wasn't normal attraction. It was deeper, almost like an invisible string tugging me closer to him."

By the time we reached the cafeteria, I knew exactly where to look. River was by the window, laughing softly with friends. The sunlight hit his face, making his storm-gray eyes shine like polished steel.

And then he looked up.

Our eyes collided, and the air shifted. My chest fluttered, a smile threatening at the edges of my lips-until River dropped his gaze, breaking the connection.

The rejection stung sharper than it should have.

"He's avoiding me," I whispered.

"Or he's avoiding Rhett," Yuna said. "And honestly? That's smart."

I barely had time to reply before Rhett stormed in, flanked by Reese and Reid like they were his personal bodyguards. He dropped into the seat beside me, his expression thunderous.

"You didn't answer my calls," he said coldly.

"I was eating," I replied, forcing my tone flat.

His gaze slid straight to River. My pulse spiked, already knowing what was coming.

"Stay away from him, Ayla. I don't like the way he looks at you."

The clatter of my spoon against the tray echoed through the room. "For God's sake, can you stop controlling me? He's not your problem!"

"He is. I promised your father-"

"There it is again," I snapped, rising to my feet. "Your promise. Do you even realize what it feels like? It's not protection, Rhett. It's a cage."

Silence rippled around the cafeteria as I pushed back from the table. "I'm not your bird in a gilded cage. If you really want to protect me, then let me breathe."

I stormed out, and Yuna hurried to keep up.

"Where are we going?"

"Out. I need a drink."

Her brows shot up. "You mean, like... a bar? Ayla, Rhett will lose it-"

"Let him lose it. I've already lost enough."

**

The club pulsed with neon light and heavy bass that rattled my chest. I downed one shot. Then another. Then another. My head spun deliciously.

"Ayla, stop!" Yuna tried to snatch the glass.

I laughed, my voice slurred. "Relax. I'm fine."

That was when I saw him.

River stood in the shadows, dressed in a simple black hoodie, but his eyes-those stormy gray eyes-were fixed on me.

I smiled stupidly, my steps unsteady as I whispered, "River... it's you, isn't it?"

He didn't answer.

I couldn't tell who moved first, but in the next breath, the distance between us disappeared. Our lips met-what should've been a conscious kiss twisted into something reckless, wild, tangled between the haze of alcohol and a desire I couldn't control. All I knew was that River kissed me back.

Then he broke away, breath shaky, eyes trembling as they searched mine. "Ayla... you're drunk. You need to go home."

I shook my head stubbornly, throwing my arms around him. "I don't want to go home. Home isn't a home-it's just a cage." My laugh came out broken, almost bitter.

I slid lower against him, pressed into his warmth, breathing in that intoxicating scent. God, he smelled so good-clean, warm, addictive. I wanted to stay there forever.

After that, everything turned into a blur-lights, sounds, even the lingering taste on my lips. The world spun, and all I could feel was the steady strength of River carrying me through the crowd.

The rest was a blur. And then darkness.

**

My hand curled around something warm and comforting. At the same time, I heard a voice. Soft-like I'd heard it before.

"Let me help you."

"Where am I?" I pressed my hand to my temple, trying to make sense of my surroundings.

"My apartment," the voice replied.

I hiccupped loudly before I managed to ask again, "Is that you, River?"

"Mhm..."

I tried to stand, but my legs gave out and I collapsed back onto the soft surface beneath me.

"I think I'm gonna..."

The chill in the air made the nausea in my stomach even worse. Something was pushing up my throat, demanding to come out.

I threw up, and after that everything went hazy again. The only person I could think of was him.

His silhouette moved too fast for my half-open eyes to follow. Then I felt fresh clothes against my skin, soft and clean.

"Does this feel better?"

I nodded clumsily. "Yeah... like you. You smell so good. I like it."

"Thanks. Now you need to rest, okay?" River laid me back down on the bed.

But I didn't want to let him go. My hand reached for his, holding on.

"Please don't leave. Stay with me, River."

I felt the warmth of his body close to mine. I'd been craving this tenderness for so long, and River was finally giving it to me.

If this was real, I never wanted to let it go.