Chapter 57: Misunderstanding the Kiss

As she almost reached him, he turned back towards her. The suddenness of his movement made her halt mid-step, her eyes narrowing with concern. Something about his demeanor was off, tense, guarded. She couldn't help but wonder why he was acting so strange. 'What…" she started, but his voice cut through hers sharply. 'Are you and Jason a thing? I mean… do you have feelings for him?" Ronald asked, his tone low but firm. Her eyes widened. 'What do you mean?" she asked, frowning deeply, caught off guard. 'What do I mean?" he echoed with disbelief. 'Yeah, what do you mean because I don't understand this sudden question. What the heck is that supposed to be? Where is this coming from?" Her voice trembled with a mix of confusion and growing frustration. His sudden behavior was throwing her off balance, and now she was starting to feel offended. 'You don't answer my question with questions. Just answer the question, Dorah. It's a simple one," he said, exasperation clear in his voice. At that moment, Dorah's heart sank. The use of her full name, Dorah, cut deep. He was serious. Dead serious. 'Okay, fine," she said, forcing herself to keep calm. 'Jason and I are not dating. You of all people should know I have no feelings for him. Satisfied?" Her voice cracked a little. 'I don't even know why all this is coming from you, Ronald." He ran a hand through his hair and muttered under his breath, 'I don't even know what to believe anymore." Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving her staring at his retreating back with a sinking feeling. By the time they all got to the studio, the tension was already thick. They met Jace giving Jason a hard, accusing glare, and Max was standing awkwardly between them, his eyes shifting from one boy to the other. 'What's going on here?" Dorah asked, stepping in between them, her voice tight with worry. 'Mind explaining this?" Jace snapped, raising his phone and holding it up for them to see. Jason and Dorah leaned in, their expressions turning to shock as they saw the picture: a perfectly captured moment of what looked like a kiss between them. 'Shit," Jason cussed, immediately turning around and pulling his phone from his pocket, clearly alarmed. 'It's not what you guys think. It's a mistake!" Dorah said quickly, her eyes darting between Jace and Max, her voice panicked. 'I want to believe otherwise," Jace muttered, lowering his phone. His voice was hurt, disbelieving. 'Why can't you guys believe me?" Dorah asked, her voice rising with desperation. 'You should know Jason and I can't… we won't do such a thing. It was a mistake. It all happened in a flash. I slipped… no..... I mean someone bumped into me and I lost my balance. One thing led to another… but the kiss was actually a mistake." Beads of sweat began forming on her forehead as her eyes searched their faces for understanding. She turned toward Ronald, her expression pleading. 'Ronald…" But he gave her a look that crushed her from the inside out, a look of disbelief then turned around and walked out of the studio without a word. 'Seriously? This seems more than a mistake to me," Jace said bitterly. 'Look at how he was holding your waist. And you're calling that a mistake? That's kinda hard to believe." 'Seriously, dude?" Max said, clearly getting fed up. 'She said someone bumped into her, you know he'd try to catch her from falling. Why are you forcing yourself to see it differently, huh?" 'I've already deleted the post from the school website," Jason continued, turning to Dorah. 'And I blocked everyone from posting or commenting on it. So, you don't need to worry, okay?" Dorah gave him a small, grateful smile. 'Thanks. I'm sorry for all the trouble. If I had just… if I'd maintained my balance or fallen somewhere else, then none of this would've happened." 'Why would you fall somewhere else? Even if it happens again, I'll still catch you. Let them keep taking pictures, I'll keep deleting them," Jason said with a soft chuckle. She let out a nervous laugh. 'You didn't cause me any trouble. But still, this is all so messed up." 'You shouldn't be worrying about that stuff," he said gently, patting her head. 'Let the boys handle it." Just then, the door clicked shut. They looked around. 'Where's Jace?" Dorah asked, scanning the room. He was gone. 'Since when did you two become so close?" Max asked, raising an eyebrow. 'If I didn't know better, I'd doubt that kiss was an accident too." Jason and Dorah exchanged a chuckle, trying to ease the tension. 'Then why did the others choose not to believe me?" Dorah asked, her voice dropping. 'They should know better than anyone." 'Jace is just… I don't know..... hurt, maybe. Or jealous. He doesn't seem to like you being close to any guy," Max said with a shrug. 'And Ronald… I really don't know what's up with him." 'This picture thing feels off," Jason said suddenly, pacing. 'What made you say that?" Max asked. 'Dorah, do you remember when this happened? It was Helena who bumped into you. And not long after, maybe even immediately, Maddie showed up out of nowhere and smirked at you," Jason pointed out. 'Oh, that's true," Dorah said, her mind replaying the moment. 'I was just telling Lena to watch where she was going when Maddie passed by." 'So, what if it was all planned?" Jason said. 'Helena bumps into you, and Maddie takes the picture. They were the only people around." Max let out a low whistle. 'That actually sounds possible. But Maddie and Helena teaming up? That's weird." 'I don't think they'd make a good combo," Dorah said, shaking her head, unwilling to accept it. 'It just doesn't feel right." 'Why?" Max asked, his tone serious. 'Huh?" She blinked at him, caught off guard. 'I said why. Why don't you want to believe they could have done this?" 'I just don't. Why would they plan something like that against Jason and me? It makes no sense." Jason folded his arms and tilted his head. 'Actually, if it involves Jace and Ronald, it makes a lot of sense. Will you believe it now?" Dorah stood stunned, her mind trying to make sense of it all. She didn't want to admit it, but Jason's words rang true. Before she could say anything, Max's phone buzzed. He checked the notification, and a slow grin spread across his face. 'What is it?" Dorah asked, confused by the sudden shift. 'Baby girl," Max said, smirking, 'you don't have to worry. I don't think it's as bad as it looks." 'What do you mean?" she asked again, puzzled. Max turned the phone toward her. 'Then… why did he leave earlier?" she asked, her voice dropping again.