Baited by Love

I have a histrionic personality. On top of that, I'm extremely attracted to good-looking people. Otherwise, I wouldn't have endured Caleb Johnson's sharp, vicious tongue and picky preferences for 99 days just for his looks. But one day, I overhear him telling his best friends—a guy with the top grades in school and the school bully—to seduce me. That way, I'll take the initiative to break up with him. I clench my fists, feeling the way my hands tremble. No, I'm not trembling out of sadness… I'm doing it out of excitement. Finally, I don't have to stare at just one handsome face! Marcus Thorne looks so hot with his gold-rimmed glasses. Meanwhile, there's Asher Prescott with his tanned skin and wild personality… Mmm… I want them both… Chapter 1 I was born for drama and had an almost unhealthy obsession with good looks. My life motto was simple—never let a handsome guy feel disappointed. And my ultimate dream was just as clear. I wanted to make every beautiful man feel safe and cared for. So, the moment I set foot in this elite academy, my eyes zeroed in on Caleb Johnson. Everyone agreed he was the hottest guy on campus. I immediately threw myself at him with everything I had. Caleb's features were exquisite, like a living work of art, but his personality was terrible. He had a sharp tongue, and a single word from him could leave you reeling. Hence, even with his perfect face, his love life was a total disaster. "Caleb would be perfect if he were mute," the ladies at school would whisper, their voices edged with regret. On the very first day I tried to make my move, I got a firsthand taste of his cutting remarks. When I confessed my admiration, he barely spared me a glance. "Who's making all that noise?" Caleb had snapped. The second time, he suggested I take a good, long look at myself in the mirror. The third time, he told me to get my face fixed. Yet, I pursued good looks as if it were a sacred mission. Caleb only fueled my determination. The harder he criticized me, the more exhilarated I became. I brought him water, packed his lunch, and showered him with flowers. I snagged his favorite seat for him, cleaned up after him, and even did his homework. I didn't miss a single thing. I was at his beck and call, and I kept it up for 99 days straight. What had started as amusement soon turned into genuine admiration. My classmates were convinced I was madly in love with Caleb. But in truth, I was just addicted to the thrill of conquest. … Once again, I biked 40 miles through pouring rain to fetch Caleb's favorite dessert. Seeing that, he crossed his arms and lifted his chin arrogantly. "Are you seriously that obsessed with me? Fine. I'll make it official." Even after we became a couple, Caleb was still impossible to please. His water had to be exactly the right temperature, the food had to arrive at a specific temperature, and his sandwiches had to be perfectly sliced. Most importantly, his tongue hadn't lost any of its bite. When I complimented his looks, he said I had grown uglier. When I praised his problem-solving skills, he shot back that my IQ clearly wasn't up for it. I admired his fashion sense, and he mocked me, saying I dressed like a scavenger. Onlookers wondered how I could endure his cruelty, yet I only smiled mysteriously. Sure, Caleb's words could cut like knives, but his treatment was rewarding. They only saw me getting humiliated and had no idea what perks I was actually enjoying. They would never see him, standing at the rooftop's edge, in empty classrooms, or behind the auditorium, blushing as he unbuttoned his shirt to reveal his well-defined abs. They'd never see how his cheeks flushed as he murmured, "For your eyes only." And they'd never know how overwhelming the sight of him was. He kissed me until my eyes reddened, his breathtaking face pressed close to mine. After all, it was the thorns that made a rose all the more tempting. I thought this sweet, perfect life could last a whole year. I never expected Caleb to fall for someone else. She was Valerie Sinclair, and her name alone hinted at her beauty. As a transfer student, Valerie stood at the front of the classroom. Her brown hair cascaded in soft waves, and her smile reached her eyes. She also carried herself with effortless grace. Chapter 2 The moment Caleb saw Valerie, he knocked over his glass of water. Normally, I would have reached for a napkin and carefully wiped his fingers before lacing mine through his. But this time was different because I was just as stunned. Every movement Valerie made was stunning. The moment she appeared, a single thought crossed my mind. Maybe I was not that straight after all. At that moment, Caleb raised his hand and asked Valerie to sit beside him. That seat had always been off-limits, even to me. I could only sit in the row in front of him. Seeing that made my heart skip a beat. Oh no. This was ending before I had even had my fun. I couldn't accept it. I had invested far too much in Caleb, after all. The thought of never getting to feast my eyes on someone as stunning as him again made me uneasy. Just as I was thinking how fast time flew, Valerie walked toward me. "Hi, may I take this seat?" she asked sweetly, a smile playing on her lips. Up close, Valerie was dazzling. Every inch of her was perfect, and her skin was so flawless it seemed unreal. Her presence was captivating, and she smelled amazing. I was so mesmerized that I could only manage a nod. Valerie quickly took the seat beside me and clasped my hands in hers. Her touch was soft and warm. "Looks like we'll be seatmates from now on. I'll be counting on you," she said with a bright smile. For some reason, my head started to spin. As it turned out, I had been completely undone by her looks. Suddenly, a loud crash sounded behind me, making me jump. I turned, only to see Caleb wearing a grim expression. I snapped back to my senses. Crap. He was furious. With a snort, he stood up and stormed out of the classroom. I hurried after him. … In the grove behind the teaching building, Caleb leaned against a tree with his arms crossed, shooting me a sidelong glance. "Why didn't you push her away?" he demanded. I could practically see his jealousy bubbling over. So, I slipped into my usual ingratiating smile and said, "I'm sorry, babe. I didn't know why she wanted to sit with me either." Yet, Caleb's expression only darkened further. "Don't get any ideas about her. I'll be watching you," he warned in an icy voice. "Know your place. Got it?" I nodded frantically. I already knew Caleb had a deep-seated issue before I pursued him. In fact, everyone at school was aware of it. As a child, he had almost been kidnapped. Valerie was the one who saved him. From that day on, she became the first love he could never let go of. Caleb had spent years trying to find her. Who would have thought the world was small enough for them to cross paths again? When he saw how compliant I was, his expression softened slightly. I immediately seized the moment, my voice dripping with charm as I asked, "You're not angry anymore, right? Can I get a kiss?" Caleb glared at me and barked, "Back off!" But the way his ears flushed gave him away completely. He was completely irresistible even when annoyed. Classic Caleb. Without hesitation, I rose onto my tiptoes and kissed him. In the next instant, he grabbed my waist firmly, then lowered his head to deepen the kiss. … 15 minutes later, I returned to the classroom with glossy red lips and a warmth in my face that lingered. Perfect. At least for now, I was still in the clear. However, I never expected that Caleb would still decide to take me out of the game. In the school's private lounge, he sat with one leg crossed over the other. All the while, he spun a silver lighter between his fingers, as if he were performing a trick. Across from him sat two of his friends. One of them was Marcus Thorne, the top student in the school. He was strikingly handsome even by movie-star standards. The other was Asher Prescott, the school bully who had never lost a fight and whom even teachers avoided. "I want to dump Sabrina," Caleb said lightly, as if he were talking about something trivial. Chapter 3 I happened to reach the doorway when I heard Caleb's voice. I froze mid-step, and my ears perked up instantly. "Are you serious?" Asher raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Valerie's back, so I'm not going to keep dragging things out with Sabrina. Besides, it was never serious," Caleb said with a sneer. Asher leaned back lazily. "You don't know Sabrina. She's super clingy. Getting away from her won't be easy." "That's why I need your help." Caleb lifted his gaze and went on, "Go flirt with her. Let her be the one to break up with me." At that, Asher shot upright. "What? You want us to do it? No way. I can't stand women like her. She's pathetic and desperate. Just the sight of her irritates me." He scowled as he spoke, disgust written all over his face. Then, Caleb turned to the quiet one. "What about you, Marcus?" "I'm not interested," Marcus answered, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. Even so, Caleb remained calm. He slowly pulled out his phone and said, "Once it's done, the Dodge Tomahawk is yours. As for your photos… I'll delete them." Marcus' expression changed instantly. His grip on the pen tightened until veins bulged. "What photos?" "The ones from elementary school. You know, when you danced in a skirt at the New Year's recital. The kind the whole class passed around," Caleb replied with a gentle smile. The room went silent for a moment. Then, Asher cursed, "What the hell? You really know how to get people where it hurts. Fine! We're in. Forget about her. I could even make a rock fall in love with me if I wanted to!" "If you post those photos, I'll kill you!" Marcus warned through gritted teeth. Caleb's lips curled into a smirk. "Relax. She's easy to manipulate. One spark, and she'll light right up." Outside the door, I heard every word. I slapped a hand over my mouth, barely holding in a laugh. This was a gift from above! Sure, Caleb was a dangerously handsome jerk, but the other two weren't too shabby either. Marcus had a striking face. He wore a white shirt and gold-rimmed glasses, radiating cool, fragile elegance. The mole at the corner of his eye seemed perfectly placed to make him utterly captivating. As for Asher, he was on another level entirely. Towering at six feet two inches, he was lean and tanned. His gaze was sharp, but when he smiled, it was enough to make any woman's heart race uncontrollably. When I got close to Caleb, it wasn't just because of his looks. Staying near him was the perfect cover and the shortest path to winning both Asher and Marcus over. At first, my plan was to take them one at a time. I just hadn't expected them to come at me together. Well, if they were offering themselves, I had no choice but to accept. … Back in class, I sat down, grinning like a fool. Waiting for Asher and Marcus to make the first move felt sweeter than Christmas morning. I couldn't stop smiling when I saw Caleb walking down the hall. "Thank you for sending me these perfect guys! You're an absolute saint!" I exclaimed inwardly. "Are you really this happy to see me?" Caleb asked with a frown, clearly disgusted. I nodded eagerly. "I love you most, Caleb! You're the best!" "Pathetic," he muttered, but the corner of his mouth twitched. After that, he lowered his head and sent a message in the group chat. He wrote, "She might not be that easy to win over." … That night, I tossed and turned in bed, wondering who would make the first move. By all logic, it should've been Asher. He had no limits and was the kind of guy who could flip the principal's desk without blinking. But the next morning, the moment I arrived at school, I spotted Marcus standing at the corner of the stairs. He stopped me. His face was tense, as if he had just flunked a test. "Sabrina, do you… want to study together?" he asked in a strained voice. I froze, stunned at how direct Marcus was. He wasn't even trying to hide it. I had thought he was the quiet type. But to my surprise, he was a straight-up, no-filter kind of guy. I didn't say a word and just stared at Marcus. I was doing it on purpose. I wanted to see how he'd play it next. Chapter 4 Silence stretched on for a few seconds, and sweat began to bead on Marcus' forehead. Suddenly, he forced a grin. "Um… Sabrina? Could we study together?" Damn! Who even taught him to smile like that? I had never seen anyone try this hard before. When I still didn't respond, Marcus started panicking, and his hands trembled. I'd had enough of watching him look like he was about to suffocate, so I finally spoke. "Of course! I'd love to, Mr. Perfect! Studying with you would be a dream come true!" I showered him with praise, practically putting him on a pedestal. Instead of looking flattered, Marcus got even more awkward. "I-I'll see you at the library after school," he stammered. Having said that, he spun on his heel and bolted, panic clear in every step. … I hummed a little tune as I walked into the classroom, feeling like I had just won the lottery. Valerie was already there. When she saw me, she handed me a small bag of cookies. "Sabby, I baked these last night and saved them just for you." I was so touched. "Oh, sweetie! I'll love you forever!" I squealed. Strangely, ever since Caleb and Valerie reunited, she hadn't shown any reaction. When he brought up the past, she said lightly, "I don't really remember. But meeting you now isn't so bad." Valerie was cold toward Caleb, as though he were a stranger. Yet, she was glued to me. She had to sit next to me at lunch, follow me to the water fountain, and even insisted on tagging along to the bathroom. When I told her she smelled good, she grabbed my wrist and pressed it against hers. "There, you can have a bit too." I complimented her looks, and she yanked me close, making me look at her properly. "What's pretty? Be specific." I said her skirt looked nice, and the very next day, I found a matching one in my backpack. Goodness! If I didn't know she was completely straight, I'd think she was flirting with me. The whole teasing routine she pulled off was seriously lethal. I nearly switched sides on the spot. I was completely oblivious to Caleb sitting right behind me. When I was about to press the cookies into Valerie's hand, he kicked my chair and snapped, "Are you trying to starve me?" I shot upright, frantically fishing a sandwich from my bag. "Babe, the egg is cooked just right, tons of ketchup, and no lettuce. Just the way you like it." He hummed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. That was approval enough. After that, I turned back and handed Valerie the cookies. "Here, these are yours," I said with a smile. She beamed as she took them. In the next instant, she leaned in to kiss me. I laughed and leaned back, narrowly avoiding her kiss. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Caleb in the back row. His face clouded over with anger, and I sat up straight, my heart skipping a beat. What if he thought I was trying to make a move on Valerie? Then, the whole matchmaking plan would be ruined. I couldn't afford to let anything go wrong. … I spent the entire day on edge. When the last bell finally rang, I grabbed my bag and made a beeline for the library. Our school's crown jewel was the exclusive study room. It featured private cubicles with excellent soundproofing, bright lights, and even ergonomic chairs. Marcus was the ultimate academic overachiever, and he occupied the largest cubicle. I hummed a tune as I pushed the door open and immediately spotted him sitting at the desk, his back perfectly straight. The moment he looked up and saw me, he stiffened. He didn't know what to do with his hands, his legs shifting in and stretching out again. He was so innocent it was almost unreal. I clicked my tongue softly and strolled over. As I slid into the chair beside Marcus, my hip brushed lightly against his thigh. His body went rigid instantly, as if he had just been zapped. I pretended to flip open my book, then sighed. "Oh no. I forgot my pen. Mind lending me one, Mr. Perfect?" Chapter 5 Without saying a word, Marcus handed me a black pen. I flashed him a sweet smile and reached for it, deliberately letting my fingertips brush against his. He pulled his hand back immediately, and a flush crept up his ears. I had heard that Marcus only had eyes for studying and that any woman who came near him would cause him to go completely silent. I hadn't believed it before. But seeing him now, I wanted to award him for being the world's most uptight guy. And Caleb actually expected him to flirt with me? That was like asking a wallflower to suddenly become a Casanova. Oh, Caleb… What kind of confidence did you have to think this was a good idea? For the rest of the lesson, Marcus explained everything with complete focus, while I watched him just as intently. When he finally stumbled his way through a problem, I bit the end of my pen, tilted my head, and blinked at him. "Hmm.. I still don't get it. Could you explain it one more time, Mr. Perfect?" Even I could hardly stand how sweet my voice sounded. Marcus avoided my gaze and lowered his head. "T-Then I'll explain it again." Halfway through, I suddenly gave up. I tossed the pen onto the desk and slumped forward, resting my head on my arms. "I don't feel like studying anymore. I just don't have the energy!" I whined. Marcus paused with the pen in hand. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "W-What can I do to get you going?" That was exactly the question I had been waiting for. Without warning, I leaned in, so close our noses almost touched. "Wow! Your eyelashes are so long, and your skin is flawless!" Marcus went rigid, his breath catching as his face flushed bright red. He gripped the corner of his notebook. When he spoke, his voice shook uncontrollably. "D-Don't get so close." I batted my lashes and replied lightly, "Kiss me, and I'll have the motivation." My words hit Marcus like a lightning bolt. His head snapped up, and the pen ripped a long line across the page. "What?" he exclaimed. A smirk tugged at my lips as I looked at him. "Didn't you ask what you can do to get me going? One kiss, and I'm fully recharged." He froze completely. His eyes darted around, lashes fluttering behind his glasses. He swallowed hard, yet he couldn't get a single word out. The blush spread from his face to his neck. Then, as if making a monumental decision, Marcus closed his eyes and forced out a single "Okay". As he spoke, he leaned in, moving so fast it caught me off guard. Right as his lips were about to touch mine, I feigned surprise and turned away. His lips brushed lightly against the corner of my mouth. I immediately covered my mouth and shot to my feet, panicking. "Hey! I was just kidding. You didn't seriously think I meant it, did you?" Marcus froze in place, completely dumbstruck and at a total loss. A second later, I leaned in again and pressed my palms together. My eyes sparkled as I begged, "Please don't tell anyone, especially not Caleb!" We were too close. Marcus couldn't stop his gaze from drifting to my lips. His Adam's apple bobbed before he finally hummed in response. A sweet smile played on my lips as I slowly leaned closer. Then, I lowered my voice and said, "Thank you." That seemed to snap Marcus out of his daze. He jumped up, scooping his books off the desk and cramming them into his bag so messily that two fell to the floor. He even walked out stiffly and nearly tripped over his own feet at the door. I watched him flee, whistling to myself in delight. Moments later, I glanced down at my phone and changed his contact name to "Pale & Touchy". Before going to bed, I thoughtfully sent Marcus several flirty emojis. Sleep was probably off the table for him that night.