A few days passed, and Elara was still furious with Alax. He had tried everything — messages, calls, even showing up in person — but she refused to speak to him.

Elara was leaving the building when a familiar voice called out from behind. She turned slightly, and there was Alax, hurrying down the staircase toward her. Panic seemed to push him faster than his legs could manage, and as he neared the bottom, his foot slipped.

“Ahhhhhhh!” he shouted, clutching his ankle.

Without thinking, Elara ran to him. She helped him sit on the last step, her hands moving instinctively to check his ankle. It was already red, throbbing painfully.

“Ahhhh!” Alax shouted again, and she winced, her concern deepening.

Gently, she helped him up, placing one hand on his shoulder while he gripped her waist for support. They made their way outside, and she quickly hailed a taxi. She helped him settle into the seat, then slid in beside him, holding his hand as the cab sped toward the hospital.

At the hospital, his ankle was treated while Alax sat on the bed, watching Elara with a mixture of tension and something softer — hope, perhaps. His eyes followed her every movement as the nurse dressed his ankle.

“Elara…” he said, his voice tentative, softening into that familiar puppy-eyed look that always made her heart ache.

“What?” she replied, glancing up briefly.

“Don’t be mad at me anymore,” he said, pouting. “It feels empty when you don’t talk to me.”

Even the nurse glanced at him, smiling at his antics.

“let’s go home first,” she snapped, hiding a small smile as she guided him out.

After the treatment, as they approached the counter, the nurse asked, “Are you single?”

Elara shot a glance at Alax, smirking. “Yes, he is,” she said, teasing.

“No, I’m not,” Alax immediately corrected her, shaking his head. “I… I like someone,” he added, glancing at the nurse, making Elara’s chest tighten.

Elara started walking toward the exit, but he called after her, “Hey, help me walk!” Balancing on the crutches the hospital provided, he followed her, but she waved him off without turning around. They made it into a taxi, and soon they were on their way to Alax’s apartment.

Elara helped him out of the taxi and grabbed the bags from the trunk. As they approached his building, Alax suddenly froze. A familiar figure appeared in the distance with Roanan — Lisa.

“Lisa,” he whispered.

“You know her?” Elara asked, her voice soft, tinged with curiosity.

Alax nodded. “She was Ronan’s Ex-girlfriend,” he explained,” but why is she here? Are they getting back together?” he asked himself, A shadow passing over his face.

Elara felt a pang of hurt but pushed it aside, helping Alax up to his apartment. As they entered the building, Ronan turned and saw them. Lisa moved to touch his arm, but he pulled away sharply.

“Don’t touch me,” he said coldly. Then he guided her to the car parked outside. “Don’t you dare come to my place again without permission,” he warned before shutting the door.

Lisa said nothing, merely getting in the car and driving away.

Back at Alax’s apartment, he sat on the sofa, watching Elara move quietly around the kitchen as she made coffee.
He had only asked her for a cup — a small excuse to be near her — but she still wasn’t speaking to him.

Alax kept talking anyway, filling the silence with mentions of class notes, exams, and professors, as if casual chatter could erase the distance between them.
Elara didn’t respond to a single word.

Then, the doorbell rang.

“Who could that be?” Alax muttered, grabbing his walking stick and starting to get up.

“Wait, I’ll get it,” Elara said quickly, setting the cup down and walking to the door.

When she opened it, Ronan stood there. His gaze softened as he looked at her. He reached out and brushed his thumb across her cheek, wiping away a bit of coffee powder near her lips.