I Hate Love - Lines you shouldn't cross

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I HATE LOVE — Episode 3: “Lines You Shouldn’t Cross”

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(Kai Rivers × Jude Parker)

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Kai Rivers had a rule.

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People stayed at a distance.

Emotions stayed controlled.

Nothing got close enough to matter.

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Rules made things simple.

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Or at least… they were supposed to.

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Jude Parker was not simple.

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He was sitting in the back row of class, half-listening, half-doodling in his notebook like the lecture didn’t matter at all.

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Kai sat two rows ahead.

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But somehow, it still felt too close.

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Too aware.

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“Rivers.”

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The teacher’s voice broke the silence.

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Kai looked up slightly.

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“Answer the question.”

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A pause.

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The board was filled with something easy. Too easy.

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Kai gave the correct answer without hesitation.

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No emotion. No hesitation. No extra words.

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Perfect.

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“Good,” the teacher said.

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Class moved on.

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But Kai felt it.

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A gaze.

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Not the usual curious stares people gave him.

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This one stayed.

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Soft. Curious. Unafraid.

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Jude.

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Kai didn’t turn back.

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He didn’t need to.

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After class, the hallway was crowded again.

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Kai moved through it automatically, but then—

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A hand grabbed his sleeve.

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Not hard.

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Just enough to stop him.

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Kai froze instantly.

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Slowly, he turned his head.

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Jude Parker stood there.

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Slightly breathless again, like he’d run to catch up.

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“Can I talk to you for a second?” Jude asked.

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Kai’s eyes dropped to the hand on his sleeve.

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Jude noticed.

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He let go immediately. “Sorry—habit.”

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Silence.

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Kai didn’t answer.

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Didn’t need to.

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But he didn’t leave either.

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That was the mistake.

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They ended up outside the school building.

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Wind softer here. Less noise.

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Jude leaned slightly against the wall, watching Kai carefully.

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“You always look like you’re leaving before you arrive,” Jude said.

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Kai’s expression didn’t change.

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“Don’t talk in riddles,” he replied.

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Jude smiled a little. “It’s not a riddle. It’s just… you.”

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That made Kai’s eyes narrow slightly again.

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Jude took a breath.

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“Look,” he said more seriously now. “I’m not trying to bother you.”

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Kai didn’t respond.

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“I just… don’t get you.”

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A pause.

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Then Jude added, quieter:

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“And I don’t like not understanding people.”

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That should’ve ended it.

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Kai should’ve walked away.

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He usually did.

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But something about the way Jude said it—honest, open, slightly frustrated—

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made it harder to ignore.

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Kai finally spoke.

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“You don’t need to understand me.”

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Jude tilted his head.

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“That sounds lonely.”

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Silence.

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That word landed differently.

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Kai’s fingers tightened slightly in his pocket.

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A second passed.

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Then two.

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Jude stepped forward half a step.

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Not enough to invade space.

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Just enough to exist closer.

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“I think you’re used to people leaving,” Jude said softly.

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Kai’s eyes flickered.

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That was too accurate.

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Too direct.

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Too close.

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Kai’s voice dropped lower.

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“Stop guessing things about me.”

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Jude didn’t back away.

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Instead, he smiled faintly.

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“I’m not guessing.”

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A pause.

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“I’m observing.”

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That was the moment something changed.

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Not loud. Not obvious.

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Just a shift in air.

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Like a line had been drawn—

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and someone had stepped over it without realizing.

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Kai looked at him properly this time.

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Really looked.

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And Jude, for once, didn’t smile back.

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He just waited.

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For the first time, Kai didn’t know what to say first.

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And that was worse than anger.

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End of Episode 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekO00TkzpJ

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