The sun beat down on the university grounds as the students continued to train, but the energy in the air felt charged, tense. The sounds of soccer balls being kicked, shoes hitting the track, and the hum of activity all faded into the background for Adrian. His thoughts were consumed by the conversation he had just had with Marcus.
Elena. The rumors. The jealousy that had been bubbling inside him. Everything seemed to fall into place so easily, and yet, the answers left him reeling.
Marcus had just dropped a bombshell. The whispers that had circulated around campus about Elena-rumors that she was involved with two boys, that she had some sort of scandalous love triangle going on-were nothing more than that: rumors. Falsehoods crafted to tear her down.
But the most surprising part? Elena had uploaded the photos herself. The photos that had started the gossip. The photos showing her with Gabriel and Andrew, laughing, enjoying their time together, but not in the way the rumors had suggested.
Adrian couldn’t comprehend it at first. The more Marcus explained, the more it seemed like a cruel joke. But Elena was far from the target. In reality, she had nothing to hide. She had just shared moments of friendship and camaraderie, but those innocent moments had been twisted into something malicious by people who needed a reason to tear her down.
As the practice continued, Marcus stood beside Adrian, his arms crossed and his gaze flicking over the students. His words from earlier still echoed in Adrian’s mind.
“The rumors about Elena are pure fabrication,” Marcus had said, his tone serious. “Those two boys Andrew and Gabriel they’re close to her. But that doesn’t mean anything more than what it is. But you know what the world’s like, right? They can’t stand seeing someone like Elena talented, hardworking getting attention. So they made up their own story. It’s easier to target her than face the truth.”
Adrian was still in disbelief. How had he been so blind? He’d watched the way the students treated Elena, and despite all her talent, all her hard work, they still found ways to undermine her. To make her the villain in a story that she didn’t even write.
He looked over at her, still absent from the field, but his mind replayed the image of Andrew carrying her to the clinic. The tenderness in his arms. The protectiveness. Elena might have been the target of rumors, but her friends Andrew and Gabriel had never once turned their backs on her. They’d always been there, defending her, supporting her. And for some reason, that sent an unfamiliar, uncomfortable feeling bubbling in Adrian’s chest.
His gaze turned to Marcus, who was watching him with an amused smirk. “Why her, Marcus?” Adrian asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and frustration. “Why is it only Elena that gets targeted like this? What’s the need to go this far? What’s the need for these stupid rumors? She’s just a scholarship student with real talent what’s the point of all of this?”
Marcus’s expression shifted. The playful smirk faded, and his eyes darkened with understanding. He placed a hand on Adrian’s shoulder, offering a comforting, though slightly condescending, pat. “Because, Adrian, that’s how the world works sometimes. People tear down those they envy. Those they can’t have. You can’t deny that Elena’s not just talented-she’s special. And when people see someone with that much potential, it makes them feel small. But that’s what she’s up against. And trust me, it’s not just her talent people fear-it’s her heart. She’s one of the few who’s never let the spotlight change her. And some people don’t like that.”
Adrian’s mind swirled with a storm of emotions. He never saw Elena as someone who needed to be torn down. He respected her, admired her, even from the first day she stepped into his class. But now, with Marcus’s words still hanging in the air, the realization struck him like a hammer.
He wasn’t the only one who had seen her potential. And those who couldn’t reach that level? They would do anything to destroy her.
“She doesn’t deserve this,” Adrian said, more to himself than to Marcus. His eyes hardened as he scanned the field, catching sight of Gabriel, who was still running laps, his energy fierce and undeterred. “Why is it always the people who are just trying to make it through life people like Elena who get the short end of the stick?”
Marcus raised an eyebrow at Adrian, amused by his sudden sense of justice. “You’re asking the right questions now, Adrian. But you know what? The more you care, the more you get wrapped up in it. So be careful.”
Adrian clenched his fists at his sides, still digesting the weight of Marcus’s words. He wanted to be angry, but he was also confused. How had he never seen this before? Why hadn’t he paid more attention? And most importantly what did this mean for Elena?
He was about to ask Marcus something else when the sound of footsteps interrupted him. It was Liam, one of the more talented soccer players, who jogged up to them, his face sweaty but determined.
“Professor Marcus,” Liam panted, “I’ve been working on the passing drills. But I’m getting distracted. Do you have any tips to stay focused?”
Marcus glanced over at Adrian, his lips twitching into a smirk before turning back to Liam. “The most important thing is mental focus. You’re letting your surroundings get to you. When you step onto that field, it’s just you and the ball. Nothing else. Think about the game. Think about what you want to achieve, and leave everything else behind.”
Liam nodded, clearly eager to improve. As he ran back to the field to rejoin his teammates, Marcus leaned in closer to Adrian, his voice low and teasing. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Adrian? Looks like you’ve got a lot to think about.”
Adrian didn’t answer right away. His thoughts were still on Elena-on the rumors, on the image of Andrew carrying her to the clinic, on Marcus’s warning about Mia. It all felt like too much.
As if sensing Adrian’s internal battle, Marcus slapped him on the back lightly, his voice gruff but understanding. “Just don’t get lost in it, okay? Focus on what’s in front of you. The competition’s coming up, and you need to be ready. Don’t let these distractions mess with your game.”
Adrian’s gaze flickered toward the clinic again, where Elena had been taken. A pang of worry shot through him, and he clenched his jaw, trying to push it aside. He had to focus. He had to remain in control.
But deep down, he knew that something had shifted. The lines were blurring, and everything was starting to feel more personal than it ever had before.