The morning after the sports festival ended, the university buzzed with excitement over the winners and the celebrations. Yet, for Adrian, everything felt off. He stood in his office, staring out the window, gripping the edge of the desk. He couldn’t get the image of Elena hugging Marcus out of his mind. It wasn’t just jealousy it was frustration, confusion, and an unsettling awareness of how deeply she was affecting him.
Adrian clenched his jaw. How could he, a man so composed and professional, allow a student to shake him like this? He decided then and there that he needed to create some distance. It was the only way to regain control of himself.
At the same time, Elena walked through the campus, the usual bounce in her step missing. The festival’s end had left her emotionally drained. Though her teams had performed well, she couldn’t shake the sting of coming second in key events. Still, Marcus’s words and her team’s support from the day before lingered in her mind, offering some comfort.
But something was wrong. She noticed it during her first class of the day when Adrian entered the lecture hall. He didn’t spare her a glance. Usually, his sharp eyes would sweep the room and land on her, even for a fleeting moment. But today, it was as if she didn’t exist.
Elena frowned, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. Adrian’s tone was brisk, his instructions short and detached. She couldn’t help but feel the coldness radiating from him, and it stung more than she expected.
That afternoon, the principal announced an important assembly to celebrate the sports festival participants. As the students gathered in the auditorium, Adrian stood on the stage with the principal, Marcus, and other faculty members. Trophies and medals lined the table in front of them.
The principal began his speech, highlighting the festival’s success and commending the students for their efforts. When it was Elena’s turn to be called, the principal praised her leadership and resilience.
“Elena was an exemplary captain,” the principal said. “Despite facing challenges, she led her team with determination and grace. It is students like her who make this university proud.”
The applause was loud, but not everyone was pleased. In the crowd, a few students whispered among themselves, jealousy evident in their sharp glances. Elena, standing near the back, felt both honored and uneasy.
As the ceremony continued, Adrian remained stoic. But inwardly, he battled with himself. Hearing Elena’s name, seeing her praised so openly, only deepened the turmoil inside him. He hated that Marcus had comforted her yesterday when Adrian had wanted to be the one to do it.
Later, as students milled around, chatting and congratulating each other, a new face appeared. Professor Nicholas Carter, a visiting academic, approached the faculty. Young, charismatic, and effortlessly charming, he introduced himself with an easy smile.
Nicholas’s attention quickly fell on Elena. “You must be Elena,” he said, extending a hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Your leadership during the festival was impressive.”
Elena shook his hand, caught off guard by the compliment. “Thank you, Professor Carter,” she said, smiling politely.
Adrian watched the exchange from a distance, his expression unreadable. But inside, he seethed. Nicholas’s interest in Elena was clear, and it ignited a protective, possessive instinct in Adrian that he struggled to suppress.
Meanwhile, in a dark corner of the city, Mia sat in her family’s sprawling estate, her fingers gripping the edge of a chair. Her expulsion from the university had left her fuming.
“This isn’t over,” she muttered, her voice sharp with venom. “I’ll make Elena regret the day she crossed me.”
Mia’s father, a powerful figure, had tried to reason with her, but Mia’s obsession with revenge consumed her. She began plotting, using her family’s influence to find ways to tarnish Elena’s reputation.
Back on campus, Gabriel found Elena sitting alone near the fountain. He hesitated for a moment before approaching her.
“Hey,” he said, his voice softer than usual. “You okay?”
Elena looked up, startled. “Gabriel? I’m fine,” she said, though her voice lacked conviction.
Gabriel sat beside her, his usual playful demeanor replaced with quiet concern. “You don’t look fine,” he said. “If something’s bothering you, you can tell me.”
Elena hesitated, unsure how to explain the confusion swirling inside her. Between Adrian’s sudden coldness, the festival’s pressure, and now Nicholas’s unexpected interest, she felt overwhelmed.
“Just a lot on my mind,” she finally said.
Gabriel nodded, his gaze steady. “If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.”
Elena smiled faintly. “Thanks, Gabriel.”
Adrian watched the scene unfold from his office window. His chest tightened as he saw Gabriel and Elena together, their conversation easy and comfortable. The jealousy he’d been trying to suppress flared up again, but this time, it was accompanied by something deeper regret or his heart is repeating the same mistake again.
He turned away from the window, his hands clenched into fists. He had always prided himself on his ability to remain detached, but Elena was breaking down every wall he had built. And for the first time in years, Adrian felt truly weak helpless..
As the sun set, spreading a long shadows across the campus, Adrian sat in his office, lost in thought. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep his feelings hidden, but one thing was clear Elena was no longer just another student to him. And that terrified him.