Semua Bab So This is Love : Bab 11 - Bab 20

Norah didn’t sleep. Not really. She just lay there—staring at the ceiling—eyes burning. Ivan’s text looped in her head.Next time. It won’t just look like a kiss.Every time she shut her eyes—boom—it was back. The heat of his breath. All those faces. Her chest kicked like it wanted out. By morning she felt hollow and heavy, like she’d carried those words all night.Monday wasn’t any kinder. The uniform felt wrong, too tight around the waist, sleeves tugging at her shoulders. The skirt kept riding up when she walked. She fussed with it the whole way down the hall. Papers slid in her grip as she stepped out of the professor’s office, distracted. A phone somewhere clicked—soft, quick—but she didn’t notice.Rose had noticed.From across the hall she lowered her phone, studying the shot. Norah, tugging at her blouse, the professor’s door closing behind her. Nothing to most people. Gold to Rose.She hugged the phone to her chest, grin sharp. “She won’t even see this coming,” she whispered.

The boardroom had that heavy, old smell — like wood polish and papers that had been sitting there longer than anyone wanted to admit. A long table stretched across the room, professors lined up behind it, sitting too straight, faces tight and serious.The door swung open.Ivan stepped in, and for a second, it was easy to forget the stories people told about him. No leather jacket. No lazy grin. Just a fitted blazer, shoes shining like he’d spent an hour on them, and the kind of calm confidence that didn’t need to try too hard. If you didn’t know better, you’d swear he was some politician’s son — the quiet type who’d never raise his voice, much less his fists.“Mr. Thomas,” the chairman said, voice clipped and formal.. “I trust you understand why you’re here.”Ivan nodded slightly. “Yes, sir. A student claims I threatened him.” A quiet laugh slipped out, almost amused. “With respect, that couldn’t be further from the truth.”His voice stayed even, calm — too calm. “I keep to myself. I

The air on the rooftop stung against her skin, cooler than she expected. The sun was dropping fast, throwing the campus in gold. Norah’s heart kicked harder when footsteps echoed behind her. James had sent her the text that morning, short and vague.The door banged open. Rose stepped out, heels sharp against the concrete. For half a second her eyes widened — she wasn’t expecting Norah. She’d come for James. The slip on her face said it all.“Well, well.” Rose folded her arms, chin tilted high. “You figured it out. Congratulations. What now? Gonna cry? Maybe run to the board again and beg them to believe your sob story?”“I’m not here for the board,” Norah said quietly. “I’m here for answers.”Rose laughed — not the bright, social laugh she used in front of people, but a short, bitter sound. “Answers? Please. You already know, don’t you? I wanted to ruin you. And I’m not even sorry.”Norah swallowed, her voice trembling even as she stood tall. “Why? What did I ever do to you? If you ha

The bar smelled like sweat and old smoke. Sticky floor, glasses everywhere. Ivan sat at the counter, drink in front of him, not even touched. He wasn’t here for that. His eyes were stuck on the corner booth. Caffrey. Loud laugh, too loud, like he thought nobody could touch him.Jay leaned back on his stool, half a grin on his face. He looked like he was just out for a normal night. Liam kept nursing his beer, not saying much, eyes flicking up now and then at the stairway that led to the rooms.“He’s drunk,” Liam muttered finally.“Yeah,” Ivan said. His voice was low, steady. “Drunk makes him sloppy.”Drunk means careless,” Ivan replied, voice flat.They waited. Caffrey finally pushed himself up, one arm around a girl in glitter heels. Her laugh was high and fake, her lips on his neck as he stumbled toward the stairs.Ivan dropped a bill on the counter. “Let’s go.”Upstairs, the hall reeked of smoke and cleaning chemicals. They waited until the door shut behind him. Then Ivan gave a s

The diner was half full—couples in booths, an old man at the counter sipping coffee, a few college kids hunched over burgers.The chatter mixed with the clatter of plates, steady and ordinary.Norah wiped her hands on her apron and walked toward the table, her pulse a little too quick.Mary was waving her down, and Kim—Kim was already halfway out of her seat before Norah even got there.“Hey, little cousin!” Kim grinned, her voice cutting through the noise. “Look at you! You actually work here? Apron and all?”Norah tried not to laugh. “Yeah. Just started today.”Kim leaned closer, lowering her voice but not really quieting down.“Girl, you look like one of those movie waitresses. All you need is a pen behind your ear and a heartbreak story.”Mary snorted into her milkshake.Norah shook her head. “Please don’t start.”“I’m serious,” Kim said, smiling wide. “I’m proud of you. And sorry I didn’t reach out when everything went crazy. Dad’s been sick, so—”Norah’s face softened. “Hey, don