Urban Plundering: I Corrupted The System!

Chapter 198 Parker and Maya 2

He opened his mouth to throw something back, something cruel, something cutting, but before he could, she moved. Just like in class, just like before—her speed was unnatural. One moment she was in her seat, the next she was on his lap, straddling him, fingers curling into his collar.

"Maya—" he started, voice low, warning.

She ignored it. "You keep telling yourself you don't feel it, but I know you do. You can lie to yourself, but you can't lie to me. I can see it in your eyes... for years now." Her fingers traced over his jaw, featherlight, as she whispered, "You're just scared."

Parker's jaw clenched. "I don't like you, Maya."

The words came out slow, deliberate. They cut, meant to. He watched as her eyes flickered, as something in them wavered for just a second. But then—

She smiled.

A soft, knowing thing. "No, Parker! You're lying!"

Parker scowled. "You can't force your feelings on me, Maya. You can't just waltz into my car, act all lovestruck, and kiss me—" She did. Just like that. She leaned in again and stole the words from his lips, pressing against him like her lips belonged there—on his.

Parker froze. His heart hammered, his body went taut, and for a second—just a second—his mind blanked.

Then he grabbed her wrists, tearing her away. "I have a girlfriend," he gritted out. "Can you get that through your head?"

Maya only tilted her head, looking at him like he was missing something obvious. Like he was the one who didn't get it. Like the answer was written all over her, and he was the only idiot in the room who couldn't read.

She leaned in again, her breath warm, her lips so close they could've been a damn whisper away.

"She's not me."@@@@

Parker's jaw clenched.

"Right, she's not you," he shot back, voice low, tense. "Will never be. And I love her. Nothing's gonna change it, Maya." He peeled her off him, hands firm but not rough. Just enough to put distance between them. Just enough to make it clear.

But Maya? Maya didn't flinch. Didn't waver. Didn't fucking break.

Silence.

Thick, heavy, suffocating.

Maya exhaled, a slow, unsteady thing, and for once... she looked tired. Not just physically, but something deeper.

And Parker? He had no fucking idea what to do with that.

Because for the first time, this wasn't just Maya being clingy. Wasn't just Maya being annoying or obsessive or her usual chaotic self.

This was real.

This was raw.

And damn it, for the first time, Parker finally fucking saw it—

This was the part where a guy was supposed to step up, say something sweet, maybe not exactly what she wanted to hear, but enough to soften the blow. Something like, "I don't have feelings for you now, but let's take our time and see where it goes," or some comforting bullshit like that. But Parker? Parker didn't do that kind of thing.

He didn't even know what to say. And worse, he couldn't make promises he had no intention of keeping. It wasn't like he hated Maya—he didn't. It wasn't like he had something against her—he didn't. But Maya was... Maya.

He shook his head. No, he wasn't going to do this. He wasn't going to lead her on, wasn't going to give her false hope. He'd already made up his mind about this a long time ago, and it hurt to see her like this, but that didn't change the facts.

"I'm sorry, Maya," he said, his voice quieter than he expected. "You don't get it. And you won't. I know you love me, I get that, and I appreciate it, but I can't. Alright?"

"Try me, Parker. I will... I'll understand. I swear—"

He exhaled sharply, hands gripping her waist, lifting her off his lap, and setting her back in her seat. But the second his hands made contact, she trembled—like something had shocked her straight through the spine.

"Mmmm~"

Then she moaned?