Semua Bab SWIPE RIGHT FOR THE ALPHA : Bab 21 - Bab 30

ARIA > Aaron: Can we talk? I miss you, Aria. I don’t want this to end.Aaron’s message stayed in my head long after I dropped the phone.The words burned into my mind.He was the same person who had said he didn’t want us anymore—just because I wouldn’t send him naked pictures. Same pictures I mistakenly sent to Adrian Cole and was in this mess for. Because for once, I chose self-respect over pleasing someone else. And now he wanted us again?I almost laughed, but the sound that left me was closer to a choke. There was already too much in my life to bear; I couldn’t afford to think about him or what might’ve been. Every time I let my mind wander there, the old ache returned, the kind that didn’t bleed anymore but still left bruises inside me.So I pushed the phone aside and got dressed.The morning light filtered weakly through the curtains, soft but colorless, the kind of gray that made everything feel distant. My school uniform clung cold against my skin as I buttoned it. My fing

ARIA But before we do anything, the final pair. “Miss Davenport and Mr. Nate Hayley.” Miss Morrigan’s calm voice cut through the classroom—sharp, certain, unyielding. Cassie Davenport’s head snapped up, notebook trembling in her hands. “What?” Her voice cracked. “Nate? Why would you pair me with him?” A few students stifled snickers, muffled but pointed, and heat crawled up her neck. Nate sat hunched at the back, a baggy brown hoodie swallowing his frame, sleeves dangling past his hands, mismatched shoes scraping the floor, and jeans frayed as if by a shredder. His hair stuck out at odd angles, some strands curling against his forehead, others standing straight up. He fidgeted constantly, tugging at his sleeves, muttering to himself in quiet bursts, eyes darting nervously. Everyone avoided him; even the whispers carried an invisible barrier. He was… off, a little broken—but maybe that made him easier to relate to than anyone wanted to admit. He shuffled forward awkwardly,

ARIAWe barely made it through the rest of that class.As far as “getting to know your partner” went, I’d had enough for a lifetime.Adrian made it impossible to concentrate. He breathed too loudly, moved too much, smirked too often. Every little thing he did scraped against my nerves like sandpaper. By the time the bell rang, my patience was hanging by a thread. My hands trembled as I stuffed my notebook into my bag, the corners digging into my palm until I felt the sting of pain. I didn’t even glance at him. If I did, I’d probably throw my pen at his face.It was time for the next class anyway, and I needed to get away from him—away from that smug grin and the faint, expensive smell of his cologne that lingered too long in the air.I needed silence. Space. Anything that didn’t sound like his laugh.Jenna joined me in the hallway, practically glowing. Her laughter bounced off the lockers, light and easy, the exact opposite of how I felt—tense, knotted, drained.“Someone had fun,” I m

ARIAFor the first time since the tutorial sessions began, the lesson with Adrian had gone… smoothly. No arguments, no tension, no clipped words scraping at my nerves. Just work. It almost felt normal—like maybe our session could be easier for once.But I pushed the thought away as I trudged up the steps to the apartment building. The pale evening sky pressed down like a weight I couldn’t shake. The faint chill in the air did nothing to soothe the heaviness in my chest. Every step felt laborious, each one pulling me closer to a home that was supposed to be safe but never really was. My bag dug into my shoulder like it carried not just books but the pressure of every small failure, every unspoken word.Inside, the smell of dinner hit me immediately: rice, something spicy that should have been comforting but only made my stomach twist. My mother was at the table, arranging plates as if perfect meals could fix everything broken in our lives.“Come eat, Aria,” she called, her voice bright

ARIAI stepped into the principal’s office, my backpack suddenly feeling impossibly heavy, as if it carried not just books but every single worry I’d ever had. My chest tightened, a coil of panic curling inside me, and I had to take a shaky breath just to keep my hands from trembling.The scent of polished wood and that faint lemony air freshener filled the room—too clean, too calm. The kind of calm that comes right before a storm.As I entered, a student was being escorted out by a teacher. My eyes caught his face, and my heart stumbled. I knew him. One of my tutorial students—Eli. I’d spent hours helping him with math and biology. But now his head was bowed, and guilt flashed across his face before he quickly looked away.My stomach twisted. Why is he here? What happened?The door shut behind him with a soft click, leaving me alone with Principal Hastings. He didn’t speak right away. Just leaned back in his chair, hands folded neatly on the desk, his sharp gray eyes studying me. The