Urban Plundering: I Corrupted The System!

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.

"I'm not asking you to break up with anyone, Parker," she said, her voice softer now, but still steady. "It's fine with me. I know I can't have you to myself… I never did."

Parker frowned. "You never did? What do you mean—"

But she didn't answer. Didn't add more. Just looked at him, eyes big and glassy like she was holding back something bigger than words.

And then, in a breath that felt like a goddamn lifetime, she said, "Parker, all I want… all I've ever wanted… is for you to see me as a woman. One who's loved you for so long, since she was three years old."

His chest tightened.

She swallowed hard, blinking fast like she could keep the tears from falling if she just fought it long enough. But then—fuck—one slipped anyway.

"Fourteen years, Parker. Fourteen. Years." Her voice cracked, and that shit cut through him more than it should've. "And in all that time, you've never even looked at me like I was someone you could love. Not even once."

"Maya—"

She shook her head, forcing out a laugh that sounded so damn hollow it didn't even belong to her.

"All I've ever been to you is the annoying little girl who wouldn't stop clinging to you. Just the obsessive freak who never knew when to quit." Another tear. Another crack in her voice. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire

Parker sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Maya, this… this is getting out of hand."

"I know." She laughed again, wiping at her face with the back of her hand. "I know I come on too strong. I know my love for you is some borderline psychotic shit. But can't you at least see how fucking sincere I am? For once? Mmm?"

She was looking at him now, really looking, like she was waiting for something. Like she needed him to say something—anything—that wouldn't tear her apart.

And Parker? Parker couldn't.

Didn't know how. Didn't even know what the fuck to say. But she kept going, voice breaking, the words tumbling out like she had no control over them anymore.

"No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, you're just that one thing I can't get over. And I hate it, Parker. I hate how you've never even seen me the way I see you." She let out a shaky breath, blinking up at him.

"And you know what hurts the most? Even back then, even when you had a thing for Evelyn for like, what—a week? Before you kicked her ass?" She let out a broken chuckle, shaking her head. "Even then, you at least saw her as a girl. But me? Not even once." Yeah that's when he was scolded his father after he beat Evelyn up, something he regretted.

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?