"It's not about what you did," Lexy replied. "It's about her jealousy and her twisted way of trying to get what she wants. She saw you as a threat, and she set you up."
Alena felt a mix of anger and sadness wash over her. "I can't believe she would do something like that."
Lexy placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure this out together. You're not alone in this."
Alena felt a wave of anxiety wash over her.
"Lexy, I need to use the restroom," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Lexy nodded, his concern still evident, but he let her go.
As Alena walked down the hallway, her mind raced with thoughts of the previous night. She turned a corner and froze. There, leaning casually against the lockers, was Alexo. Her heart skipped a beat, and a chill ran down her spine. She tried to duck into a nearby classroom, but it was too late. Alexo's eyes locked onto hers.
"Alena," he called out, his voice low and commanding. Panic surged through her, and before she could react, he strode over and grabbed her arm, pulling her into a nearby restroom. The door slammed shut behind them, and she hit her back against it, wincing in pain. Alexo stood close, his presence overwhelming.
"Is this your way of dealing with what happened last night?" he demanded, his eyes boring into hers.
Alena's breath caught in her throat. Seeing him up close brought chills down her spine, and memories of the previous night flooded back. She quickly placed her hand over his mouth, her eyes wide with desperation. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I promise it will never happen again... I was out of my senses," she pleaded, her voice trembling as she released her hand.
Alexo's expression remained hard, his skepticism clear. "You expect me to believe that?" he asked, his tone cold.
Tears welled up in Alena's eyes. "Please, Alexo, I swear. I didn't know what I was doing. I was dizzy, and everything went blurry," she explained, her voice breaking.
He studied her for a moment, then leaned in closer, his breath hot against her ear. "If you want me to forget about this, meet me tonight at 8 PM in the old garden behind the library," he said, his voice a low growl.
Alena's eyes widened in shock. "No, I can't," she whispered, shaking her head.
Alexo's grip tightened on her arm. "You don't have a choice," he said firmly. "Be there, or I'll make sure everyone knows even more details about what happened."
Alena's heart sank. She knew she was trapped. "Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'll be there."
As Alexo released her and walked away, Alena leaned against the door, her mind racing. What was she going to do? She couldn't let him control her like this. She had to find a way out, but how?
Returning to class, Alena forced a smile as she rejoined Lexy. "Everything okay?" he asked, his eyes filled with concern.
"Yeah, just needed a moment," she replied, trying to sound casual.
Throughout the classes, Alena struggled to focus. Her mind kept drifting back to Alexo and the upcoming meeting. Lexy, noticing her distraction, insisted they grab lunch together. He made her laugh with his silly jokes and stories, momentarily lifting her spirits.
After classes, Lexy offered to walk her back to the dorm. "It's not right, Lexy. Everyone's watching, and it's becoming too usual," she protested.
"We're friends, Alena. Let them watch," he replied with a reassuring smile.
As they reached her dorm, Alena felt a mix of gratitude and guilt. She thanked Lexy and went inside, her emotions in turmoil. She took a long, hot shower, hoping to wash away her anxiety. Afterward, she set an alarm and took a nap, trying to gather her strength for the evening.
When the time came, Alena found an excuse to avoid Emma, who was hungry and looking for company. She felt a pang of guilt but knew she had to keep her distance. She made her way to the old garden, her heart pounding with every step.
The garden was beautiful, with tall trees and blooming flowers. The setting sun cast a warm glow over the scene. Alexo was already there, sitting on a bench. He looked up as she approached, his expression unreadable.
"You're here," he said, his voice softer than before.
Alena nodded, her throat tight with nerves. They sat on the bench, the silence between them heavy. Alexo broke the silence first. "I used to come here whenever my parents fought. It was my escape," he confessed, his voice tinged with sadness.
Alena's heart ached as memories of her own childhood flooded back. Her parents' constant quarrels, her hiding in the dark, clutching her knees while her baby brother cried in his cradle. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she couldn't hold them back.
Alexo noticed her tears and gently touched her back. "We both have similar pasts," he said softly.
Alena laughed through her sobs. "I guess we do," she said, her voice trembling. She took a deep breath and began to share her story. "My parents used to fight all the time. I would hide in the dark, holding my knees, trying to block out the noise. My little brother would cry in his cradle, and I felt so helpless. I just wanted it all to stop."
Alexo listened intently, his expression softening with empathy. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said quietly.
Alena nodded, wiping away her tears. "Thank you for listening. It feels good to finally talk about it."
As they walked back to her dorm, they laughed and cheered each other up. Alena realized that Alexo wasn't the person everyone said he was. He had his own struggles and vulnerabilities.
That night, Alena said a prayer of gratitude before falling asleep, a sense of happiness and hope filling her heart.
Writer's POV*****
Due to my late posting, I decided to make it up to you guys by uploading two chapters. Please keep supporting me!!