Chapter 15

The Next Morning

Elena stood in the middle of the living room, holding an old box in her hands as she began organizing the scattered items around her.

Ever since returning from the party, she hadn't been able to sleep peacefully.

Alexander's words were still lingering in her mind, and every time she tried to push them away, they came back again.

She sighed in frustration, then placed the box on the table.

"I need something to keep my mind occupied."

She began taking out the old items one by one.

A few books.

University papers.

Old tickets she had kept for no apparent reason.

Then she stopped when she found a brown notebook covered in dust.

She stared at it for a few moments.

She recognized it immediately.

Her old diary.

A faint smile touched her lips as she wiped the dust from its cover.

"I haven't opened this in years..."

She sat on the floor and opened it.

The pages were filled with her old handwriting.

Little events she had thought she had forgotten, and feelings she had written down in moments when she hadn't dared to share them with anyone.

She flipped through several pages until the notebook suddenly slipped from her hands as she tried to reach a piece of paper caught in the middle.

It fell open on the floor.

A photograph slipped out.

Elena bent down and picked it up.

Then she froze.

It was a picture of her and Alexander at university.

Alexander stood beside her.

He was younger, calmer, and his smile in the photograph was completely different from the one he wore now.

Elena raised the photograph before her eyes.

Then she whispered, "When did all of this become so distant?"

She turned the photograph over.

A date was written on the back in her own handwriting.

Seven years ago.

She gazed at the picture, and suddenly...

Those days came rushing back to her.

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Seven Years Earlier...

Elena was in her first year at university.

That morning, she was hurrying down one of the university corridors, carrying several books in her arms and trying to reach her lecture hall before the professor closed the door.

She glanced at the clock.

"Damn it... I'm late!"

She quickened her pace.

But she failed to notice a student rushing out of one of the lecture rooms.

He collided with her.

The books fell from her arms.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"

The student bent down to pick them up, while Elena sat on the floor, gathering her papers.

But another hand reached for them first.

Someone picked up one of the books.

Elena raised her eyes.

A tall young man stood before her, holding her book in one hand.

His features were calm, his clothes elegant, and the way he carried himself radiated confidence and immense wealth.

He held the book out to her.

"I believe this belongs to you."

She took it.

"Thank you."

He reached down to pick up another sheet of paper and handed it to her.

"And this, too."

"Thank you."

Before she could stand, the other student spoke irritably.

"I said I was sorry. Why are you looking at me like that?"

Elena raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not looking at you in any particular way."

"Yes, you are. You're acting as if I did it on purpose."

The young man standing beside her intervened.

"She didn't say anything."

The student turned toward him.

"And what's it to you?"

The young man met his gaze calmly.

"Nothing."

Then he added, "Just apologize and let it go."

The student laughed mockingly.

"Are you responsible for her or something?"

The young man's expression remained unchanged.

"No."

He gestured toward the books still scattered across the floor.

"But she was carrying a lot of things, and you bumped into her. You apologized. End of story."

The student looked as though he wanted to argue, but eventually backed down and left.

Elena looked at the young man.

"You didn't have to interfere."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You were going to let him keep arguing?"

She stood up, gathering the last book.

"I could've handled him."

He gave her a small smile.

"Clearly."

She looked at him in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing."

Then he held out his hand.

"Alexander."

She looked at his hand for a moment before shaking it.

"Elena."

It was a brief handshake.

Ordinary.

It lasted only a few seconds.

But it was the beginning of everything.

The lecture bell rang.

Elena's eyes widened.

"Oh, my God!"

She quickly gathered her books.

"I'm going to be late!"

She turned and ran, but after a few steps, she stopped and looked back at him.

"Thanks again!"

Alexander waved his hand.

"You're welcome."

Then she disappeared into the crowd of students.

Alexander remained where he was for a few moments.

He looked toward the path she had taken.

Then he shook his head and chuckled softly.

"Strange."

He didn't know why he had said it.

And he didn't know why he smiled afterward.

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The following day, Alexander entered the university library in search of a book he needed.

He wandered between the shelves until he spotted a girl standing on her tiptoes, trying to reach a book on the top shelf.

He approached her.

He reached up and took the book down with ease.

Then he held it out to her.

"Are you looking for this?"

Elena turned around quickly.

Her eyes widened.

"You!"

He smiled.

"Me."

She took the book.

"Looks like we keep running into each other."

"Looks that way."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Don't tell me you're following me."

He laughed.

"I haven't even considered that."

"Good."

She turned to leave.

But then she stopped.

"By the way... thank you."

"For what?"

"For yesterday."

He nodded.

"You're welcome."

A brief silence followed.

Then he asked, "Do you have a lecture now?"

She checked her watch.

"In half an hour."

"Me too."

She looked at him.

"So?"

He gestured toward a nearby table.

"We could read until it's time."

She hesitated for a moment.

Then she said, "All right."

They sat at the same table.

They didn't talk much.

Each of them opened a book.

But a few minutes later, Elena looked up at him.

"What year are you in?"

"Fourth year."

"Then you'll graduate soon."

"Yes."

"What are you going to do afterward?"

Alexander closed his book.

"I'll take over my father's position at the company."

A brief silence followed. Then she looked at him again and asked, "Tell me about the company."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Because I'm curious."

He was silent for a moment.

Then he began to talk.

About meetings.

About responsibility.

About his father.

About his family's expectations of him.

Elena listened without interrupting.

When he finished, she said, "It sounds difficult."

He raised his eyes to hers.

"Sometimes."

"Is this really what you want?"

Alexander fell silent for a moment.

Then he said, "I want to prove that I deserve it."

"You don't need to prove anything to anyone."

He looked at her for a long moment.

It was a simple sentence.

But it stayed with him.