Chapter 21 UNPLANNED REJECTION

Chapter 21 UNPLANNED REJECTION
Athena opened her eyes, the slightly open window curtains let the light shine on part of her face that still looked very tired from crying all night.

She didn't wake up right away, just stared at the ceiling of her room with a blank stare. The morning air felt a little cold even though her body was covered with a blanket. Her cellphone vibrated on the side of the bed, Athena glanced at it, there was a message from someone that made her whole body ache.

Xavier: Athena, I don't want to. Don't be like this.

Her fingers almost touched the screen, but finally just scrolled the message up and locked it again. Not because she didn't care, but she did plan to get used to being without Xavier anymore.

This game is over, right?

She got up slowly, walked to the bathroom, got ready to go to college because today there was an art practicum.

At the dining table, Zara was sitting and drinking coffee, while checking her assignments on her laptop. She glanced at Athena who had just appeared in a big hoodie and loose jeans.

“How are you? Your clothes are all baggy, just like a party clown,” Zara said, half joking.

Athena smiled sadly. “I have no energy, Zara. I was thinking about leaving Westbrook.”

“Because of Xavier?” Zara guessed.

Athena fell silent.

“Last night, I saw Xavier in the emergency stairwell. Julian seemed like he wanted to make a scene with him, but he didn’t respond. I heard him there like he was… crying.”

Athena frowned. Xavier was crying? No way!

Zara closed her laptop. “So, what do you think? If you want to complain, I have two shoulders for you to lean on. But if you need a hammer to hit the man who hurt you, I have three.”

Athena chuckled. Her voice was still hoarse. “Thanks, Zara.”

Zara pushed a cup of chamomile tea and toast for Athena, they finished their breakfast while making small talk, making Athena forget about the unanswered text messages. Then they left for Westbrook when it was time.

Arriving at campus, Athena's steps felt slower than usual, she parted ways with Zara because she had to rush to meet her friends from the lab group in class.

However, for some reason the hallway she usually passed now felt longer. She walked confidently, ignoring the stares of the people around her. A dozen steps later, she passed Xavier.

At that moment, the earth felt like it stopped spinning, Athena's feet seemed difficult to move when Xavier also stopped to greet her. Her heart started pounding when those obsidian-dark pupils stared at her.

"Hey," Xavier said softly. "Why didn't you reply to my message?" A soft voice and a gaze that pierced Athena's feelings.

"I forgot," Athena replied.

"So what? We're not stopping, right?"

Athena just smiled blandly for a moment, she was about to leave but Xavier pulled her arm. "I'm not done talking, Athena."

“Xavier, I think it’s all clear. You and I… we’re no longer tied to any game. Besides, that game was created because I hit you, right? Now that your wounds are healed—“

Xavier lifted Athena’s hand, then slapped his own cheek with it, repeatedly and very roughly. Athena glared in disbelief, wanting to pull her hand away but Xavier’s grip was very tight.

“Hit me one more time, Athena. Come on, hit! Let’s continue our relationship, but not for playing around,” Xavier said, his voice loud enough to make everyone turn to him.

Athena panicked, wanting to break free but couldn’t. “Xa-Xavier, I’m in a hurry, I have a lab class—“

“I LOVE YOU, ATHENA!”

Silence. Athena was stunned, her eyes met Xavier’s, surprised by the sudden statement. Her heart was beating fast, Xavier’s grip slowly turned into a gentle touch.

The man lowered his head, placing his head on Athena’s shoulder without letting go of the woman’s hand. “I told you... don’t belong to anyone, Athena. Don’t you understand that well enough?”

Athena remained silent, at this close distance she could smell his scent quite clearly.

Xavier was drunk. The remnants of alcohol he probably drank last night still lingered on his breath.

Athena pushed Xavier gently, then left without saying a word, leaving Xavier staring at her back with an angry and disappointed look.

The girl ran fast, her heart pounding not because of Xavier, but because she was angry to hear the man express his feelings in a half-conscious state.

"Athena!" Mia called out just as she arrived in class. "Julian came here earlier, he's looking for you. You can meet him first in the park behind campus."

"Uh, but we have a practicum, right?" Athena asked.

"The practicum lecturer won't be here in an hour. You don't need to worry," Mia said.

Athena sighed, then she opened her bag to give the results of the research she had worked on a week ago, then said goodbye to meet Julian.

In the backyard of the campus, Julian was sitting on a long bench, surrounded by vines and old trees that were always his place to escape from the noise. Athena appeared, and Julian immediately patted the empty space beside him.

"You finally came," he said.

"Mia said you were looking for me. What's wrong?" Athena asked as she sat down.

Julian handed her a glass of cold coffee that he had prepared. “I know you don’t like sweet, so I told the barista to add twice the bitterness.”

Athena smiled, at least Julian could help her relieve a little of her anxiety from her meeting with Xavier earlier.

Julian spun his glass. “The community group was very lively this morning, they were talking about you rejecting Xavier’s feelings.”

Athena was silent, her lips still on the coffee glass.

“If you want to be angry, cry, or even just stay silent… I’m ready to listen to you,” Julian said.

Athena lowered her head, and Julian knew right away—the girl was almost crying again.

“I’m fine… I just don’t understand Xavier’s attitude,” Athena muttered.

Julian tilted his body, slightly closer, but still kept a safe distance. “Tired because of Xavier? Or because you fell in love with him?”

Athena turned her head, a little surprised, but then acted normal. Athena’s silence made Julian understand that Xavier did have his own chance in the girl’s heart.

“You know, Athena... you have a soft heart. I'm not being hypocritical if I'm also interested in you. I told you that Xavier is a bit dangerous, but you are very close to him. Even though sometimes, he might often make you feel uneasy.”

Athena laughed softly. “You are like a motivator, but why do your words sound suffocating?”

Julian chuckled. “Because this is who you really are, Athena. You are kind, you never retaliate against people who are cruel to you. Even though you have the right to do that.”

They sat in silence again, but it was enough to make Athena feel better. The leaves fell slowly around them, and the morning wind brushed Athena's face, as if wiping away the remnants of tears that had not yet fallen.

Julian finally spoke again. “You know... I will not give advice about your heart's choice. But if you are tired of thinking about it all the time, I am ready to accompany you.”

Athena looked at Julian, this time without sadness, only surprise and sincerity.

Julian stood up, picking up his bag. “I have to go back to the studio. I also have a photo project practicum for an art assignment. You should also go back to your class, Athena.”

The girl looked down for a moment, her heart slowly warming because she enjoyed talking to Julian. This man was like mineral water that neutralized the bitterness of the pills that had just been swallowed.

Without Athena and Julian realizing, from a distance right behind the window of the second floor corridor of the campus that directly faced the garden, Xavier stood watching them.

Athena laughed, her face beautiful and carefree, her smile was not for herself, but for Julian.

He tried to convince himself that he would not be jealous, because he was aware of the fact that he was the one who made the girl feel lonely. And now someone else came to cure her.

Xavier stepped back, leaning his body against the wall. His eyes stared at the ceiling of the corridor, and for the first time... he began to think that maybe, he was not the one who could make Athena happy.

But would he give up? Xavier shook his head. Still very sure, Athena would definitely come back to him.

The sound of the cellphone ringing, a message from someone made him feel guilty again.

Queen Auree: So it's true, you have a girlfriend?