As they approached the school gates, the night seemed to stretch out in front of them, quiet and peaceful. The usual buzz of the city was replaced by the rhythmic sound of their footsteps, each one echoing in the stillness. Alena glanced up at Lexy, noticing the small crease in his brow, the way his eyes seemed distant for a brief moment before he caught her looking.
"Hey," she said softly, her voice cutting through the silence, "You okay?"
He looked at her, momentarily surprised by her attention, then gave a small shrug. "Yeah, just... lost in thought, I guess."
Alena studied him for a moment, her curiosity piqued. She wasn't used to seeing Lexy like this—normally so cheerful, so lighthearted. Tonight, there had been flashes of something deeper behind his smiles, something he kept hidden. She could sense it, the weight that pressed down on him, despite his best efforts to brush it off.
"Lexy," she said carefully, her voice low, "You don't have to pretend with me, you know."
His eyes flickered, a mixture of surprise and something darker, before he quickly masked it with a smile. "I'm fine, Alena. Really." But the way he said it didn't quite match the guarded look in his eyes.
Alena stopped walking and turned to face him, her expression serious now. "You don't have to hide from me. I get it. I know what it's like to carry things by yourself. But you don't have to do that with me."
Lexy's face softened for a moment, but then he looked away, as if the weight of her words had struck too close to something he wasn't ready to face. "You really don't need to know all my stuff," he said, his voice quiet, the usual teasing edge gone.
Alena stepped a little closer, her gaze unwavering. "Lexy, I'm your friend. And I'm not going to judge you."
For a moment, he said nothing, his blue eyes distant as he seemed to wrestle with whatever thoughts were locked inside his mind. Finally, he spoke, his voice low, almost a whisper. "It's not about judgment. It's about not dragging people down with my problems."
Alena reached out, her hand brushing against his arm, offering him the silent support that words couldn't quite convey. "You don't have to carry it all alone, Lexy. I'm here. Always."
He looked at her then, and for the first time tonight, something vulnerable flickered across his face—a fleeting glimpse of the real him, the one he kept hidden behind jokes and smiles.
"I know," he said softly, his voice barely audible. "I just… I don't know how to let anyone in, you know? It's easier this way."
Alena nodded, understanding more than he knew. "I get it," she said quietly. "But sometimes letting people in doesn't make things worse. Sometimes it makes them better."
He let out a breath, as though a weight had shifted, even if only a little. "Maybe you're right."
There was a moment of silence between them, one filled with unspoken words and shared understanding. Lexy looked at Alena, his usual confident demeanor slipping just enough for her to see the raw honesty beneath. She smiled softly at him, a quiet encouragement that made him feel a little lighter, as if she had given him permission to be himself, if only for tonight.
They continued their walk in silence, but this time, there was something different in the air. It wasn't just the easy companionship they always shared—it was deeper, a kind of unspoken connection that lingered between them. Alena couldn't quite explain it, but it felt like they had crossed some invisible line, one that blurred the boundaries of friendship into something more.
---
Later that evening, as they approached Alena's dormitory, she suddenly stopped and turned to Lexy. "Hey, I'm really glad we did this tonight," she said with a soft smile.
Lexy nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Me too," he said, his voice warm. "I'm glad you're in my life, Alena."
She blinked in surprise at the sincerity in his words, and for a moment, she felt a strange flutter in her chest. "I am too," she whispered, her gaze lingering on him longer than she intended.
Before she could say more, the sharp sound of a car engine broke through the quiet night air. Both of them turned instinctively as a sleek black car pulled up to the curb, the headlights briefly blinding them before it stopped.
A figure stepped out of the car, and Alena's heart skipped a beat. Standing before them was none other than Alexo. His expression was unreadable, his posture rigid, as if he'd been waiting for the right moment to make his presence known.
Lexy stiffened, his smile faltering as he glanced between Alexo and Alena. Alena felt the tension rise between them like a physical thing. She hadn't expected to see him tonight—certainly not like this.
"Alena," Alexo said, his voice low, his eyes sharp. "We need to talk."
Lexy's eyes narrowed slightly, and he shifted closer to Alena, as if silently protecting her from whatever was coming next. Alena could feel the energy between them change in an instant—an unspoken rivalry, a simmering tension that made her feel like she was caught in the middle of something much bigger than herself.
"Now?" she asked, her voice unsure, but still steady.
Alexo nodded, his gaze never leaving her. "Now."
Lexy glanced at her, then at Alexo, before his lips curled into a tight smile. "Well, Alena," he said, his tone light but with an edge of warning, "Looks like you're in for an interesting conversation."
Alena swallowed, feeling the weight of the moment settle over her. She had no idea what Alexo wanted, or why he had come after the night they'd shared. But as she looked between the two men, she couldn't shake the feeling that the road ahead would be anything but easy. And the choices she would have to make were only just beginning to unfold.