Elena didn't want to go home. The thought of walking through that door, pretending everything was "fine" while her heart still trembled, made her stomach twist.
"Let's go to campus," she said quietly.
Dree only nodded, starting the car again.
He didn't ask questions or crack his usual jokes. The playfulness she loved was gone – replaced by a calm she didn't quite recognize.
She caught his reflection in the window, the faint furrow between his brows. Guilt pricked at her; she'd taken away his laughter, and that somehow hurt too.
At college, the day blurred.
She barely noticed the curious glances at her messy hair or the dull heaviness behind her eyes.
She just wanted time to move faster, to take her somewhere that didn't hurt.
After class, Dree announced they were going to the café near the quad.
"Team meeting," he said flatly. "We're figuring this out."
Isla was already there, stirring a cup of caramel latte. When Elena walked in, Isla's face lit up — until she saw her swollen eyes. The smile faded.
"What happened?"
Dree filled her in quietly, every word heavier than the last. When he finished, Isla sat frozen, her hand over her mouth.
"Oh my God, Elena…" she whispered. "I don't even know what to say."
"I don't either," Elena admitted, her voice small. "I don't know what to do. I don't even know what I'm feeling."
Isla reached across the table, but Dree beat her to it. He took Elena's hands in his — warm, steady.
"Elena," he said softly, "no matter what path you choose, I'll cross it with you. You're not alone, okay? You'll always find me standing right beside you. No judgments. Just support."
Her eyes burned again. The simple kindness in his words broke something open inside her. She hadn't realized how much she needed to hear that until now.
She nodded, unable to speak, tears spilling freely this time.
Her phone buzzed against the table.
She didn't even have to look — she knew who it was.
Nathan: When will you be back?
Her heart sank. The air seemed to thicken.
How do I reply to him?
I am not ready to talk…
Before she could react, Dree gently took the phone from her hand. "No replies," he said quietly. "Not until we figure this out." He knew she needed time to gather her thoughts.
She wanted to argue but couldn't. He was right. She wasn't ready.
He's right. I can't think straight right now.
I need time.
I need to figure this out but… how?
What do I want?
The question kept echoing in her head.
What do I want?
And she didn't have any answer to that!
When the silence settled again, he asked softly, "You wanna go home?"
She shook her head. "I can't. Not right now. I can't go home. I can't face my family. And I can't face him."
The thought of seeing her parents' disapproval again made her chest tighten.
Even imagining Nathan's eyes — calm, questioning — felt unbearable.
She didn't hate him. She just didn't know how to exist around him yet.
He thought for a moment, then turned to Isla. "Text Nick. Tell him Elena's staying with you tonight. Ask if that's okay."
Isla blinked. "What if he says no?"
"He won't," Dree said simply.
A few minutes later, Isla showed them the reply.
Nick: Mom and Dad are out of the city for a few days. I'll cover for her. Just tell me how she's doing now?
Dree exhaled in relief. "See, princess? One problem at a time," he said, his tone softening a little. "List your problems to me — we'll sort them out one by one. I'm here at your service, madam."
She almost smiled at the nickname. It felt like the first breath of calm after a storm.
He stood up. "Come on. You're coming with me. We'll drop Isla home first."
Isla frowned. "You sure you don't want me around?"
He gave her a look that said not today. "Not today, Isla. I'm personally looking into this matter." He replied in a businesslike tone – the one he used only with his employees.
She'd always admired how he managed everything — lectures, deadlines, meetings at his company — as if the world were just another project to organize. Maybe that's why she trusted him to fix things when she couldn't.
Dree has got my back. She let a sigh of relief.
The drive was quiet again, but this time it wasn't heavy — just tired. Isla leaned forward to hug Elena before getting out. "Call me if you need to, you know I am just a call away. Don't hesitate, okay?" She whispered and Elena nodded.
He started to drive to his house. She'd never seen him this serious before. Usually, his phone wouldn't stop buzzing — staff, suppliers, people who worked for him — but tonight, it was silent. Maybe he'd turned it off for her.
Isla and Dree were her anchors. They never disappointed her whenever she's in a dilemma.
When they reached his house, the sky had dimmed into a pale gray.
The quiet inside Dree's house felt nothing like home. No voices cutting through silence, no expectations hiding behind closed doors. Just space, air, and the soft hum of the heater.
His parents would only manage to visit him on special occasions – Easter, Christmas, maybe his birthday.
It didn't bother him, it made him stronger. Gave him the space to be himself. Rather than drowning in loneliness, he'd learned to thrive on it.
Dree handed her a folded T-shirt and a pair of soft joggers. "Go shower. You'll feel human again."
She didn't argue.
The hot water stung her skin but melted some of the fog from her mind. When she came out, her hair damp and clinging to her neck, the oversized shirt hung loose on her shoulders.
She found him downstairs, leaning against the counter, two mugs in hand.
When he looked up and saw her, a quick laugh escaped him. "You look like a kid drowning in my clothes."
She glanced down at herself, cheeks warming despite the exhaustion. "Your fashion line's not my size, apparently."
"That's on you for being tiny," he said with a smirk that almost looked like his old self.
"I am not tiny – you're just huge!"She shot back.
For a second, she caught a glimpse of the Dree she knew — wide shoulders relaxed, dark curls falling over his forehead, eyes that carried more warmth than he ever said out loud.
He handed her a mug. "Hot chocolate. Doctor's orders."
The first sip was sweet and warm. She didn't realize how much she'd missed simple comfort until now.
When she started to protest about staying up, he pointed toward the stairs. "Bed. Now. That's an order too."
She didn't argue with him.
She could trust him with her life. For now, she would let him make decisions for her until she was ready to take control of her life again.
It was the first time they'd ever shared a bed, though he'd stayed at her place countless times, but he'd always choose to sleep in a guestroom.
She hesitated at the doorway, nerves fluttering in her stomach.
He noticed, tossed a pillow at her lightly. "Relax, Leena. I snore only on weekends."
That made her smile — a small, tired, grateful smile. It felt like he'd heard her thoughts.
She lay down on one side, still tense. He lay beside her, leaving space, his hand resting lightly over her in a quiet gesture of reassurance.
"Sleep," he murmured. "You need it."
For the first time in two days, her body obeyed.
She still had to find the answer to that big question – the one that might change her life.
Maybe the answer wasn't about Nathan at all. Maybe it was about her — and what she wanted to be when the noise stopped.
But not now. Not yet, her inner voice whispered.
She knew she was exhausted.
She needed rest so she could think over with a fresh mind.
Rest today, panic tomorrow!
The warmth of the blanket, the low hum of his breathing, and that small weight of his hand grounded her.
The chaos in her head finally stilled, and slowly — finally — she drifted into sleep.
—