Raine's gaze swept across the sterile surroundings of the infirmary, wanting to leave as soon as possible. The room was empty when they arrived.

After helping Cassandra onto the bed, he retreated to a safe distance, near the infirmary door.

"It hurts," Cassandra complained, letting out a soft, pained sigh. She reclined against the pillows on the bed, carefully cradling her injured foot in her hands, her fingertips gently massaging the tender area.

Raine leaned against the cool, textured surface of the wall by the door, arms folded casually across his chest, and one leg propped up, as if caught in a dilemma. He didn't know why he had to endure this unnecessary burden of keeping Cassandra company as she waited for the nurse to appear.

As for her injury, it was becoming increasingly obvious that it was a facade. There was no real injury to speak of. It was almost amusing how she seemed to believe her own act could fool him. Did she think I'd buy into that? Raine thought in annoyance.

"Thank you, Raine. I don't know what I would've done without you," Cassandra said weakly.

"How about you drop the act?" Raine finally shot his long awaited question.

"Eh?" Cassandra's brow furrowed in puzzlement, her gaze lifting to meet his. "What are you saying?" She smiled weakly at him.

"Instead of your foot, maybe you should get your ears checked out. You must take me for a fool if you think that act of yours can work on me," Raine said irritatedly. Relaxing his stance, he slowly approached Cassandra.

Cassandra wasted no time letting go of her pretence, sitting up with a straightened posture, her legs aligned gracefully. A self-assured smirk played on her lips as she delicately tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "So you already know? Then why'd you help me?" she questioned, eyes blinking seductively.

"Why does that matter?" Raine replied coldly, his stance composed as he stood with one hand casually tucked into his pocket.

"Admit it." Cassandra's lips curled into a sinister smile. "I know I asked you out, but you never gave me an answer."  Rising from the bed, she drew herself nearer to Raine, her fingers securing around his right arm. "The truth is, you also have feelings for me, don't you?"

Raine forcefully freed his arm from Cassandra's grip and stepped back, indirectly shoving her away in the process. "Don't misunderstand. I'm not interested in you."

"What was that for?" Cassandra pouted. "Stop playing hard to get. Don't make me wait too long for your answer."

"Don't bother. The answer's no."

"What?"

Raine could see Cassandra's expression shifting from disbelief to frustration.

"I don't believe this," she muttered under her breath. "What is it about me that puts you off? There are lots of guys willing to be with me. All I have to do is give them permission, and they'll be all over me."

"Don't put me in the same circle as them," Raine replied. "To be perfectly honest, I don't know what you see in me. But my answer's clear. I won't go out with you."

"Why?"

"I don't want to."

"Are you making a fool out of me? Then why, when I approached you and asked you out, why didn't you say anything? You made me feel so hopeful. I thought you felt the same way."

"That's where you're mistaken," Raine said firmly. "I don't talk with just anyone who approaches me, especially when they don't serve my interest."

"You saying that with a cocky expression really pisses me off," Cassandra said to Raine, her fiery eyes meeting his. "But that's the Raine I know and admire," she added, her voice softening.

"If that's how you see me, then you don't know anything about me."

"Why can't you give us a chance?" Cassandra pleaded, her patronizing expression crumbling as she laid her emotions bare for Raine to see. "Once you get to know me, I'm positive you'll-"

"No," Raine cut her off. "I don't want to get to know you."

"What are you-? I'm a woman who's being all vulnerable here, showing you my true feelings and you're stepping over them like you don't give a shit," she exclaimed, her voice carrying a mixture of hurt and disbelief. Her fingers clenched and released as she continued, "Why won't you try to get to know me? The first time I saw you, I thought it was fate. Like you and I were meant to be together."

"Sorry," Raine interrupted. He met her gaze with a level stare, his arms hanging loosely by his sides. "I don't believe in such things called fate. And as for your question from that day, I'll gladly answer them for you right now," he continued. "Regardless of whether I agree to date you or not, the sun will still rise tomorrow. Your presence doesn't impact my life. To sum it up, whether you are part of my life or not, it won't change anything for me. That's why, I have no interest in getting to know you."

"That's a twisted logic." Cassandra crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive gesture. "You make it sound like I'm readily disposable to you."

"Don't take it that way."

"How can I not? You're saying as if you can control everything that happens in your life."

"No, you're wrong. I have no control over what takes place in the future," Raine replied calmly, his gaze unyielding. "But this, you and me. It's a choice, a matter of free will. I don't wish to be with you, so I chose to do just that."

"You're the worst," Cassandra yelled. She bit her lower lip, her eyes narrowing as she struggled to process his words. "Why'd you choose to help me then?"

"I didn't."

"That can't be. You knew I wasn't injured. So then, why didn't you expose me in front of everyone? Then Zen wouldn't be-"

"Would you have let things slide so easily if I did?" Raine countered.

"Then you-" Cassandra's eyes widened as she came to an unforeseeable revelation. "You were helping Zen."

"Congrats, you figured it out," Raine responded, his tone carrying a tint of irony. "You don't really like Zen, do you? If I had stood up for Zen, you'd have gotten even more upset with her. You'd become even more determined to make others see her in a negative light. The drama will never end, and I was tired of watching, so I did what I did."

"You make it sound like I'm some scheming, corrupted bitch," Cassandra said, her voice trembling. Her gaze fell to the ground as she shielded her eyes from Raine's scrutinizing gaze. "You don't even know anything about me."

"Now that everything's cleared up, I'll take my leave," Raine stated, completely ignoring her words and turning to leave.

"Wait," Cassandra called out just as he neared the exit. "Do you like Zen?" she blurted out unexpectedly.

Raine halted at the question, his back still turned to her.

"Zen's gay, you know?" Cassandra's voice rang out in the empty room.

"And so?" Raine replied with indifference, successfully wiping the smirk off of Cassandra's face. With that, he resumed his way out of the infirmary, his footsteps gradually fading into the distance.