It was early morning when the doorbell rang at Alax’s apartment.
Elara stirred from half-sleep, wearing one of Alax’s oversized T-shirts and his loose shorts. Still drowsy, she rubbed her eyes and opened the door.

Standing outside were Alax’s parents.

For a moment, everything froze. The way they looked at her — at the shirt she wore, the time of day — was enough to turn the air cold.

Alax appeared behind her, equally sleepy, running a hand through his messy hair. “Mom? Dad?” he said, startled.

His father’s expression hardened immediately. “So this is why you moved out? for this girl?” he shouted, voice echoing through the small apartment.

“Dad — it’s not what you think! She just came to help me settle in — “ Alax tried to explain, but his father’s words cut like a whip.

“Get her out of here!”

Elara flinched at the tone. She stepped aside, her face burning.

Before she could move, Alax’s mother’s sharp eyes swept over her. “Change your clothes,” she said coldly. “Those clothes could pay for your family’s groceries for a month.”

The words hit Elara like a slap. She turned without a word and went to the bedroom to change.

“I told you to stay away from this girl!” his father barked at Alax. “What is wrong with you?”

“Dad, she’s just my friend! Nothing else,” Alax said, though his voice lacked conviction.

“That would be wise of you,” his father snapped. “Your credit card is blocked for a month. And if I see you with her again, you’re out of everything — do you understand?”

By the time Elara came out, wearing her own clothes, the room was heavy with tension. She looked at Alax — he didn’t meet her eyes.

“I’m going to college,” she said quietly, then left.

The hallway was silent except for the sound of the elevator bell. She pressed the button and waited, taking a shaky breath. When the doors opened, she froze for a second.

Ronan stood inside, dressed in a crisp white shirt, scrolling on his phone. His hair was neatly styled, but his eyes — when he finally looked up — told her everything. He noticed her clothes, the exhaustion on her face, and silently pieced it together.

Elara stepped in, the tension thick between them.

“Good morning,” she said softly.

Ronan didn’t look up. “What happened?”

The elevator hummed quietly as it moved down. Elara’s shoulders slumped, her voice small. “His parents came…” she said.

Ronan’s eyes flicked to her, his expression softening. “Are you okay?” he asked gently.

Elara forced a faint smile and nodded. “I’m okay,” she said — though her voice trembled slightly.

The elevator reached the ground floor. The doors opened with a soft chime, but neither of them moved for a few seconds — the silence between them said everything they couldn’t.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. Elara stepped out first, clutching the strap of her bag a little too tightly. Her head was still heavy, her heart even heavier. The sting of Alax’s parents’ words replayed in her mind like a scratch on a record.

Ronan followed behind, his steps calm, his expression unreadable. “Wait for me at the front gate,” he said as he passed her, voice even but clipped — the kind of tone that tried to hide concern behind control.

“You don’t need to — “ Elara started, but he was already gone.

She exhaled, a small puff of air that carried her exhaustion with it, and walked toward the front gate. The early morning light brushed over her face; even the sun felt softer today, like it understood she wasn’t in the mood for brightness.

A few minutes later, Ronan’s car pulled up. The tires rolled to a stop right in front of her. He didn’t look at her when she got in, just tilted his head slightly — wordlessly telling her to close the door.

“Seat belt,” he said after a pause, his tone low.

Elara fumbled with the buckle. Her fingers were trembling a little — from cold, or from the echo of everything that had happened that morning, she couldn’t tell. The latch refused to click.

Without a word, Ronan leaned over. The leather of his seat creaked softly as he moved closer. His arm brushed against hers, and Elara froze. His scent — clean soap, faint coffee — surrounded her. The distance between their faces was no more than an inch.

Her heart stuttered.

But Ronan’s expression was steady, focused only on the seat belt. He clicked it into place, his jaw tight, his breath shallow. For a second, he didn’t move — maybe he felt it too — then he quickly leaned back, put his seat belt on, and started the car.

Neither of them spoke for a while. Only the sound of the road filled the silence.

Then, quietly, Ronan said, “If his parents don’t like you… How will you two manage?”

Elara blinked and turned her face toward him. “What do you mean, manage?”

He kept his eyes ahead. “You like him,” he said simply. “Obviously, you’ll date him. So one day you’ll have to convince them.”

There was something in his voice — not bitterness, not quite sadness — something heavier. Elara caught it. The corner of her lips lifted in a faint, almost teasing smirk.

Ronan noticed it. “What’s that smile for?” he asked, a thread of irritation lacing through his calm tone.

She just looked at him for a second, her eyes glinting. “Nothing.”

Ronan’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “I have something to tell you.”

Her expression softened. “What?”

“Don’t worry about his feelings,” he said finally, still not meeting her eyes. “He likes you, too. Even if he hasn’t told you yet.”

Elara turned away, watching the trees rush by through the window. “How do you know that?”

“I asked him last night,” Ronan said, his voice low. “And he said he did.”

For a heartbeat, Elara didn’t breathe. Then, very quietly, she asked, “What else did you say to him?”

“That you both should confess,” he said. “You both like each other. You’re just too scared to admit it.”

Elara’s jaw tightened as she stared straight ahead. When she finally spoke, her voice was steady, calm, but edged with something sharp.

“Ronan… do you really want me and Alax to be together?”

He glanced at her, eyes softer now, though his face stayed unreadable. “No.”

“Then why?” she pressed, her voice low. “Why are you saying this?”

Ronan frowned. The car slowed to a stop in front of the college gate. Silence stretched between them until he finally spoke, almost a whisper.

“If I asked… would you come to me?”

Elara reached for the door handle. The morning air swept in as she stepped out, carrying the faint scent of his car — familiar and heavy. She turned back once, meeting his gaze through the open door. Her eyes were tired, but unflinching.

“I don’t know, but maybe” she said softly.

Then she closed the door and walked away.

Ronan stayed there, his hands gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. He exhaled slowly, but the breath did nothing to ease the storm inside him. Through the windshield, he watched her figure grow smaller — fading into the pale morning light — and something inside him ached in a way no words could ever touch.

The classroom buzzed with the murmur of conversations, pens scratching, and the occasional scrape of a chair. Sunlight filtered through the half-open blinds, striping the room in uneven bands of gold.

From the last bench, Ronan sat slouched in his seat, his gaze fixed on Elara.

“Hey, man,” a familiar voice said beside him. “What’s up with you these days?”

Mark dropped into the seat next to him, his tone half-teasing, half-concerned. He clapped a hand on Ronan’s shoulder. When Ronan didn’t reply, Mark followed his line of sight and spotted Elara. His eyebrows lifted.

“Ah. I see,” he said knowingly. “By the way, Lisa called asking about you. What do I tell her?”

Ronan turned his head slightly, eyes dark, then looked away without answering.

“Alright, alright, chill,” Mark muttered, raising both hands in surrender. He leaned back in his chair, scrolling through his phone. The seconds stretched in silence.

“Do you still hate her?” Mark asked finally, not looking up.

Ronan groaned and buried his face in his arms. “Can we not talk about her?”

Mark slipped his phone into his pocket and turned fully toward him, curiosity now winning over restraint. “Then tell me,” he said. “Who was that girl from the party? The one you disappeared with that night?”

Ronan lifted his head slowly. His expression wasn’t angry — it was tired. His eyes looked softer than Mark had ever seen them.

“Mark,” he said quietly, almost uncertain, “what do you think of me?”

Mark frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Am I too bad?” Ronan asked. His voice cracked slightly. “Too hard to like… to love?”

The question hit Mark like a slap. He blinked, searching for words. Ronan’s gaze was unfocused, shimmering with something raw and wordless.

“Hey, man, what’s with that expression?” Mark asked, worry creeping into his voice. “You okay? Did someone say something to you?”

Ronan reached out and gripped Mark’s wrist, stopping him from checking further. His voice trembled when he spoke.

“I love her,” he whispered. “And I know I should let her go. Let her be happy with the one she loves. But something inside me won’t let me. It feels as if I let her go… something bad will happen to her.”

Mark froze, studying him — really studying him. “You’re not talking about Lisa, are you?”

Ronan didn’t respond. He only looked down, fingers tightening around the strap of his bag.

“What should I do, Mark?” he asked, almost like a child lost in a storm.

Mark hesitated, then leaned closer, his tone low but steady. “Then don’t let her go,” he said. “If you really believe something bad will happen, keep her close. Protect her.”

Ronan lifted his head, his eyes soft and searching. “But… what if she’s afraid of me?”

For a moment, Mark didn’t know what to say. He’d never seen Ronan like this — stripped of his usual bravado, full of fear and love all tangled together. Whoever this girl was, she had changed him completely.

“If she sees you’re only trying to protect her,” Mark said quietly, “she won’t be afraid of you.”

Ronan stayed silent for a moment, his gaze drifting toward Elara. She was sitting alone by the window, her eyes fixed on something far beyond the glass. The morning’s sadness still lingered there, hidden behind the calm she tried to wear. She thought no one could see it — but Ronan did.