Elena sat on the wooden bench in the university garden, her knees drawn up to her chest. The cool night breeze ruffled her damp hair, still loose from the shower. She thought the garden would be empty at this hour, a quiet place to let her tears fall unnoticed. Her oversized night suit clung loosely to her frame, and her face was buried in her hands, her silent sobs blending with the soft rustling of the leaves.
Adrian stopped mid-step when he spotted her. He had been on his way to check on some files in his office but found himself rooted to the spot. The sight of Elena crying tugged at something deep within him. She looked so vulnerable, so unlike the strong, confident student he was used to seeing. For a moment, he debated leaving her alone, giving her the privacy she seemed to want. But something pushed him forward.
“You know,” Adrian’s voice broke the stillness, soft but teasing, “night suits aren’t the usual dress code for this garden. Did I miss the memo?”
Elena’s head shot up, her tear-streaked face startled. She quickly wiped at her cheeks, trying to hide the evidence of her crying. “What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice shaky but defensive.
“I could ask you the same,” Adrian replied, stepping closer. “Though I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone pair a night suit with open hair this perfectly. New fashion statement?”
She huffed, a weak attempt at annoyance. “Don’t you have better things to do than comment on my clothes, Professor?”
Adrian smirked, sitting on the bench beside her. “Probably. But right now, this seems more interesting.” He tilted his head, studying her. “What’s wrong, Elena?”
“Nothing,” she muttered, avoiding his gaze.
“Ah, nothing,” Adrian said lightly. “The universal word for ‘everything is falling apart, but I don’t want to talk about it.'”
She shot him a look, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. “I said I’m fine.”
“And I’m saying I don’t believe you,” he countered, leaning back casually. “You’re out here in your night suit, fresh out of the shower, crying. Doesn’t exactly scream ‘fine’ to me.”
Elena sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Why do you even care? You’re my professor. Shouldn’t you be grading papers or something?”
Adrian chuckled softly. “True. But I also have a bad habit of caring about my students, especially the ones who seem to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.”
She bit her lip, her resolve wavering. There was something in his tone gentle but persistent that made her want to talk. “It’s just… everything feels too much right now. The rumors, the pressure… I don’t know how to handle it.”
Adrian’s expression softened. “Elena, you don’t have to handle it alone. You have people who care about you Gabriel, Andrew, even me.”
She blinked at him, surprised. “You?”
He shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “I’m not completely heartless, you know. I do notice when someone is struggling. And for what it’s worth, I think you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
Her cheeks flushed at his words, and she quickly looked away. “Thanks, I guess.”
They sat in silence for a moment, the tension easing slightly. Then Adrian leaned closer, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. “But seriously, Elena. The night suit? You’re lucky I’m the one who found you. Anyone else might think you’ve lost all sense of fashion.”
Despite herself, a small laugh escaped her lips. She glanced at him, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”
He grinned. “And you’re smiling. Mission accomplished.”
Elena wiped at her face again, the tears gone now. “You’re annoying, Professor.”
“And yet, you’re not telling me to leave,” Adrian shot back, his tone smug.
She rolled her eyes but didn’t reply. For the first time in days, she felt a little lighter, as if the weight on her chest had shifted slightly.
Adrian stood, brushing off his pants. “Alright, I’ll leave you to your very fashionable late-night garden crying session. But next time, try talking to someone before it gets this bad, okay?”
Elena looked up at him, her lips curving into a faint smile. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good,” he said, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer. Then, with a soft nod, he turned and walked away, leaving Elena to the quiet night.
But as she watched him disappear into the shadows, a strange warmth spread through her chest. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as alone as she thought.
Just as he was about to go back , he saw a blanket on her that took too thin.
Adrian’s eyes lingered on Elena as she sat on the bench, clutching the blanket tighter around herself. Her damp hair clung to her face, framing her soft features. The moonlight cast a gentle glow on her tear streaked cheeks, and Adrian couldn’t help but admire the quiet strength she carried, even in her most vulnerable moments.
“Elena,” he said softly, breaking the silence. His voice was a low murmur, careful not to startle her.
She looked up at him, her wide, doe-like eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Her lips trembled, but she said nothing, as if the weight of the evening had left her without words.
Adrian crouched down in front of her, their faces now level. His hand reached out hesitantly before brushing away a stray strand of wet hair from her cheek. The touch was gentle, almost reverent, and Elena’s breath hitched at the unexpected intimacy.
“You’re going to make yourself sick sitting out here like this,” he said, his tone both firm and gentle. “Come on, you should go inside.”
She shook her head, her voice barely audible. “I can’t… I just needed some air.”
Adrian’s gaze softened, and without another word, he shrugged off his jacket. He draped it over her shoulders, his hands lingering for a moment as he adjusted it. The warmth of the jacket and his nearness sent a shiver through her, but it wasn’t from the cold.
“Better?” he asked, his voice quieter now.
Elena nodded, her fingers curling into the fabric. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Adrian took a seat beside her on the bench, their shoulders brushing. He didn’t say anything at first, letting the silence stretch between them. Instead, he watched her out of the corner of his eye, noting the way her fingers nervously played with the edge of his jacket, how her gaze was fixed on the phone clutched in her lap.
His eyes flicked to the screen and caught sight of the photo the one circulating online. His jaw tightened, a flicker of anger crossing his features. He reached out, gently prying the phone from her grasp.
“Elena,” he said, his voice steady, “stop torturing yourself with this.”
She looked at him, startled, as his hand brushed against hers. The touch was brief but enough to send warmth through her veins.
“I wasn’t…” she began, but her voice faltered when she saw the intensity in his gaze.
Adrian studied her for a moment before setting the phone down beside him, far from her reach. Then, without thinking, his fingers grazed hers again, this time lingering. Her skin was cold against his, and he instinctively curled his fingers around hers, as though willing his warmth into her.
“You shouldn’t believe anything they say,” he said quietly, his thumb unconsciously tracing small circles on the back of her hand. “None of it matters. Not to me, not to the people who actually care about you.”
Elena’s heart fluttered at the tenderness in his tone. She looked down at their joined hands, the sight of his strong, warm grip over hers making her chest tighten.
“You really think it doesn’t matter?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Adrian turned to face her fully, his dark eyes locking onto hers. “I know it doesn’t. People talk because they have nothing better to do. It doesn’t define who you are, Elena.”
Her gaze flicked to his lips for the briefest moment before darting back to his eyes, a blush creeping up her neck. “It still hurts,” she admitted, her voice trembling.
“I know,” Adrian said, his voice is softer now. “But you’re stronger than you think. And you’re not alone in this.”
His words hung in the air, and for a moment, they simply stared at each other. Elena’s heart raced as she felt the weight of his gaze, the way it seemed to pierce through her defenses.
Adrian’s free hand reached up, hesitating for a second before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed against her cheek, lingering for a moment longer than necessary. “You’ve been through enough, Elena,” he murmured. “It’s time you let someone else shoulder some of it.”
Her breath hitched at the closeness, their faces mere inches apart now. She could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin, the way his dark eyes softened as they searched hers.
“I don’t know if I can,” she admitted, her voice barely audible.
Adrian smiled faintly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “You don’t have to do it alone anymore,” he said simply.
Elena’s eyes flicked between his, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. For a fleeting moment, she thought he might close the distance between them, but instead, he leaned back slightly, giving her space.
Her disappointment surprised her, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks burning. Adrian’s fingers brushed against hers one last time before he pulled away completely, the loss of contact leaving her feeling both relieved and strangely empty.
“You should get some rest,” he said, his voice back to its usual calm tone. “I’ll make sure no one bothers you anymore.”
Elena nodded, her throat too tight to speak. As he stood, his jacket still draped over her shoulders, she found herself wishing he wouldn’t leave just yet.
But Adrian hesitated, looking down at her one last time. “Elena,” he said, his voice softer now, “don’t let them dim your light. You’re… incredible. Even if you don’t see it yet.”
Her eyes widened, and before she could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving her sitting on the bench, her heart racing and her mind spinning with the weight of his words.