Later that afternoon, as Eva walked across campus, she felt uneasy. Philian's earlier outburst still clouded her mind, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't done with her yet. Just as she went around the corner, she spotted him leaning against a tree, arms crossed, wearing a mischievous grin on his face.
"Look who it is!" He called out sarcastically. "The brave little girl who thinks she can stand up to me."
She felt her body trembling, but she forced herself to remain calm.
"What do you really want, Philian?"
He pushed off the tree and walked toward her with a worrisome confidence.
"You know exactly what I want, Eva Beckhams. I just want to talk. You know, it's funny how you made a real scene in class today, but don't think that you can just push me away like that?"
"I wasn't trying to push you away. I was simply trying to focus in class. Something you and your silly friends didn't want apparently." She paused, taking in deep breaths. "You were disrupting the class, and I couldn't take it anymore. Why do you always have to be a jerk?."
He moved closer, now face-to-face with her.
"You're really going to act like you're better than me? You think you can just forget about everything we had? I love you and I always have, Eva. You can't just go on pretending what we had didn't matter. Please, a second chance is all I'm asking for."
She took a step back, because she felt his presence was intoxicating to her.
"What we had was toxic, Philian. I'm done with you. And quitting talking about love like you really know what it means. You hurt me so much, I doubt I'd ever forgive you." She sighed. "And of all people, Philian, you chose to cheat on me with Mabel? Really? That girl has always had it out for me. She's literally the last person I'd ever want to encounter and you put me in this situation. Just go away, I beg of you!"
"I'm not going to let you forget about me that easily. I promise you, I've changed." He said harshly, grabbing onto her hands desperately.
Just as she felt the walls closing in, Dunsin appeared from behind her, stepping in front of her protectively.
"Hey, Back off, man!" He said boldly.
"She doesn't want to talk to you."
Philian's expression turned into a shocking surprise.
"And who are you? Her knight in shining armor?"
"I'm someone who cares about her," Dunsin replied daringly. "You need to take your hands off her."
She felt thankful for his presence, but she also felt a little fear for what Philian might do to him. His temper was unpredictable, and she knew he could explode at any moment.
"Whatever, man. You don't know what you're getting yourself into." Philian sneered, taking a step back without losing his eye contact with Dunsin. "You think you can just show up and play hero? It's not worth it. She's my girlfriend."
"I am not your girlfriend!" She clarified. "Let's go, Dunsin."
"This isn't over, Eva."
He scoffed and turned away,
"Thank you for rescuing me. I didn't expect that. Philian can be a jerk sometimes, and he's still struggling to accept that things are over between us."
Dunsin smiled.
"I meant what I said. You deserve to be treated with respect. I'm not going to let him bother you anymore."
Her eyes swelled with emotion, and admiration.
"You really didn't have to do that, but I'm glad you did."
"Let's go get that ice cream now, what do you think?" Dunsin suggested, trying to lighten the mood. "I think we both could use a break after that."
"Absolutely!" Eva responded with delight.
As they walked side by side, Eva felt safe and comfortable in his presence. She knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, she wouldn't have to face them alone.
They arrived at Crème Delight. The ice cream shop, almost close to the café where they shared a kiss. As they settled in, the atmosphere felt different—charged with attraction.
"I can't believe you stood up to Philian like that." Eva said, her heart still racing from the earlier confrontation. "Don't get me wrong, but don't you think you're messing with dangerous territory?"
He shrugged.
"I've heard about him, but honestly, I'm not afraid of him. I just couldn't watch him make you feel so uncomfortable. Plus, I think that you're too good for him."
Her cheeks flushed at his compliment.
"You really mean that?"
"Of course, I do." He replied. "I've seen how you care about other people, and I admire that. You deserve someone who respects you. Someone who understands boundaries."
Their conversation flowed easily, and Eva found herself laughing and sharing stories about her day, excluding the incident with her ex. The earlier tension faded into the background. As they ate their ice cream, she felt a connection deepening between them, one that felt both exciting and attractive.
As they finished their ice cream, the shop began to empty, leaving them alone in a quiet place. Eva stared at the clock, realizing how much time had passed.
"Wow, I didn't even realize how late it was. This keeps happening." She giggled.
"Time seems to fly when you're having fun." He said while leaning closer. "I really do enjoy talking to you, Eva."
"Me too." She replied.
This time, she could hear her heart beating speedily. The tension between them was charged, and she could notice the drift in the atmosphere.
He hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching hers.
"Can I kiss you again?" he asked.
Eva held her breath. She nodded her head in approval, her mind beating in anticipation.
He touched her face, leaned in, thereby closing the distance between them. Their lips met softly, and this time, it was electric. The kiss deepened, while she caressed his hair passionately.
When they pulled away, they were both breathless, and she felt an excitement within her.
"Wow!" She whispered, "That was incredible, Dunsin. I've never felt so alive!"
"Yeah, wow." He smiled in agreement. "I think I could get used to this."
"Yeah, I'd say the same."
Leaving the shop hand in hand, the chaos of the day was replaced by the hope of a new beginning. She'd found herself falling for a boy who truly cared about her.
With him by her side, was she truly ready to embrace the next chapter in her life?…