EIRA POV:
.
Everything stopped.
The voices around me faded. The walls blurred. Even the air felt too heavy to breathe.
I couldn't understand what had just happened.
One moment, I had been standing beside my best friend, trying to save her.
The next, I was the villain in her story.
My chest felt like it was being crushed from the inside. Every word Tessy had thrown at me echoed again and again inside my head.
"I thought you were my friend."
"You're disgusting."
"I never want to see your face again."
The pain was unbearable.
Before I even realized what I was doing, my feet moved.
And then—
I was hugging Adrain.
My fingers twisted into the fabric of his shirt as though it was the only thing stopping me from falling apart completely.
Tears spilled uncontrollably down my cheeks.
"I can't believe it..." My voice broke. "I called her my friend..."
The words came out shattered.
Broken.
Pathetic.
But I couldn't stop.
For the first time, I didn't care how weak I looked.
I didn't care that it was Adrain.
I didn't care about anything.
Because right now, he was the only thing keeping me standing.
For a moment, he went completely still.
As if he wasn't expecting this.
As if he didn't know what to do.
Then slowly—
so slowly I almost missed it—
his hand settled against my back.
Not pulling me closer.
Not pushing me away.
Just... there.
Steady.
Solid.
Real.
And somehow, that hurt even more.
Because he wasn't comforting me with words.
He wasn't telling me everything would be okay.
He was simply letting me break.
And for some reason, that felt kinder than any lie.
Eventually, reality crashed back into me.
I realized what I was doing.
Realized who I was holding.
Adrain.
My eyes widened.
I immediately stepped back, wiping my tears with trembling fingers.
"I'm sorry..." I whispered. "I just..."
The words died in my throat.
To my surprise, he didn't mock me.
Didn't tell me to stop crying.
Didn't call me dramatic.
His eyes lingered on my face for a second before he looked away.
"Do you want to go home?"
The question was simple.
But something about it made my chest tighten.
I had expected anger.
Sarcasm.
Annoyance.
Instead—
he gave me an escape.
I nodded silently.
And without another word, we walked away.
The entire ride back was a blur.
My thoughts screamed, but my lips stayed sealed.
I couldn't wrap my head around anything.
I was drowning inside my own silence.
When we reached the hostel, I slipped out of the car without a single word.
No studying. No thinking. I collapsed into bed, letting sleep swallow me whole.
NEXT DAY...
I couldn't focus on a single lecture.
Every word on the board blurred.
Tessy wouldn't even look at me—her absence from my life already carving holes into my chest.
I sat on the stairs, alone, lost in a storm of thoughts.
That's when I felt it—someone's presence behind me. I turned.
Peter.
My stomach dropped.
I stood immediately, intending to walk away, but he stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
His smug expression twisted my insides.
"You looked very beautiful in that video," he sneered, his eyes crawling over me like poison. "So… perfect."
My skin burned in disgust.
I glanced around desperately—no one was there.
I tried to run, but his hand shot out, gripping my wrist tight, yanking me toward him.
My pulse raced in panic.
"I warned you not to interfere," he whispered darkly, brushing his other hand through my hair.
My stomach churned. "And now… look what's happened."
I struggled, pulling with all my strength, but his grip was iron.
He leaned closer—too close.
Suddenly, a fist collided with his face.
Peter staggered back, crashing to the ground.
I gasped, whipping around.
Adrain.
His jaw was tight, eyes blazing with fury. "I told you not to touch her!"
His voice was a growl as he drove his fist into Peter again.
Blood poured from Peter's nose.
His groans echoed against the walls.
I rushed forward, trying to grab Adrain's arm, but he was lost in rage.
"Today I'll kill you!" he roared.
"No! Stop!" My voice cracked, desperation spilling out.
If he hit Peter again, he would kill him.
He raised his fist, trembling with violence, but I jumped in front of him.
My eyes squeezed shut, bracing for the blow.
But… nothing.
Slowly, I opened them.
His hand hovered inches from my face, frozen.
His chest rose and fell heavily.
His dark eyes met mine, burning, yet something softer—something restrained—flickered within them.
Then—thud.
Peter collapsed, unconscious.
I turned instinctively to help, but Adrain's hand clamped around mine, pulling me away.
He didn't say a word, just dragged me with him, his grip firm and unyielding.
His silence was scarier than his rage.
In the car, his jaw clenched, his knuckles white around the wheel.
He drove recklessly, the speedometer climbing.
My heart pounded with every passing second.
"We're going to die like this! Please—slow down!" I shouted, fear rising like bile.
He flicked a glance at me, then finally eased his foot, slowing the car.
"Are you insane? I could've smashed your face! Why—why did you come in between?" His voice cracked, hoarse with fury.
"You would've killed him!" I screamed back. "I couldn't let you—"
"You think I care?" His teeth clenched so hard the words scraped out like blades. "I want to kill that bastard. Right now."
I froze, my breath shallow.
His anger was consuming him, swallowing every part of who he was.
"I told you to stay away from him, but you never listen," he snarled.
"I won't let him marry Tessy!" I shouted, my voice breaking from rage and helplessness.
Silence swallowed us as the hostel gates appeared.
I opened the door to leave, but his voice cut through, sharp and cold—yet deadly serious.
"Next time…" His eyes locked onto mine, black as night, burning with a promise
I knew he would keep. "Next time, I will kill him… if he dares to touch you again."
The air froze around me. A cold shiver ran down my spine, rooting me to the ground. His words weren't empty. They weren't threats.
He meant them.
His eyes—dark, dangerous, wild—were the eyes of a man consumed by rage. Eyes that promised death.
And it terrified me.