Chapter 23 THE GIRL WHO NEVER BACKED DOWN

Chapter 23 THE GIRL WHO NEVER BACKED DOWN
"Xavier!" she exclaimed in panic.

Without thinking, Athena dropped her bag and ran over. Zara was also surprised and then helped her.

The afternoon atmosphere that was originally busy suddenly became quiet. A car that had just come out of the gate accidentally made a mistake when stepping on the gas pedal, so it hit Xavier who was about to cross the road.

"Xavier! Hey, wake up!" Athena immediately knelt down, then patted the man's cheek.

There was no reaction. Xavier's breathing was slow, his eyes closed. Athena gritted her teeth, feeling panicked.

Reflexively, she lifted Xavier's head into her lap, patting his face lightly again.

"If you're joking, this isn't funny at all, you know!" Athena muttered anxiously.

Several students passed by, looking curiously, but no one dared to approach.

Zara shouted, asking for help so that Xavier could be taken to the health room to get first aid, or be examined by a doctor on campus before being taken to the hospital located next to the Westbrook building.

Xavier's body was laid on a stretcher, a doctor skillfully attached an oxygen device and checked his condition.

"Doctor, did something happen? Is he okay?" Athena asked in panic.

The doctor fell silent, his forehead furrowed slightly, making Athena even more restless. "Then I'll call an ambulance."

Athena took a deep breath, then reached for her cellphone to call an ambulance. However, before she could press any button, Xavier moved his fingers, then slowly opened one eye... with a very annoying mischievous expression.

Athena stared at him in disbelief. "Xavier?"

"You worry too much, Athena. Thank God, Xavier is okay," the doctor said, smiling teasingly.

Xavier grinned weakly, then laughed at the girl's annoyed expression. "I wonder... if I fall, who will catch me." His voice was hoarse, but sounded mischievous.

Athena glared, her emotions mixed between relief, anger, and wanting to punch this man's face. Even though she felt a little sorry for the bruises on the man's arm. "You're CRAZY!"

But Xavier chuckled, he told the doctor to leave, then pulled Athena closer to him after removing the breathing apparatus that had been attached to her nose.

"Please, hold me like before," Xavier said, his eyes fixed on Athena.

"No way!"

"Are you upset?"

"You think?" Athena glared, but Xavier smiled at her.

"You're worried about me, you care about me, right?"

Athena sneered sarcastically. "Do you think anyone would dare to touch you other than me? Everyone just keeps quiet because they're afraid of doing the wrong thing and endangering their situation here."

"And again, the person who hit you—he almost died from fear and panic. You should have thought about other people's fates, before making jokes like this!"

Athena grumbled, but Xavier stared at her without stopping. It was so nice to see Athena's worried expression earlier—even though this girl denied it, Xavier knew... Athena cared about him. “Hold me again, Athena. I like it...,” he said while staring deeply at Athena, as if the gaze was writing something that could not be expressed in words.

Athena felt her cheeks start to heat up. She turned her face away, trying to look angry, even though the small tremor in her heart could not be denied. But Xavier instead pulled her waist so that their distance was closer.

Without wasting time, Xavier kissed Athena's cheek for quite a while. “I miss you, Athena,” he said.

Even though they had just met this morning, Xavier had expressed his feelings, but Athena had refused. But in an instant, Xavier made the girl's heart go crazy, the soft kiss on her cheek felt addictive.

"Move away a little, I don't want anyone to misunderstand your attitude like this," Athena said.

Xavier obeyed. Then he shifted a little, but did not completely release himself from Athena. His body was still half leaning towards the girl.

"It turns out, you are more caring than you show," Xavier said softly.

Athena rolled her eyes. "If I knew you were just pretending, I would have left you on the street!"

Xavier chuckled, but behind his laughter, there was a faint sadness that Athena saw for a moment before he covered it up again with his casual attitude.

"Why did you pretend to faint, Xavier?" Athena finally asked.

Xavier took a deep breath. "Good opportunity for me, I just wanted to feel cared for. Even if only for a moment."

Athena fell silent. The words felt deeper than just a joke, there was something much more complicated hidden behind Xavier's attitude that seemed unburdened by anything.

She looked at Xavier, messy hair, slightly tired eyes, and lips that still held a small smile. For a moment Athena forgot that she was supposed to keep her distance.

"You always pretend to be strong, huh?" Athena whispered.

Xavier just stared at her, not answering. In silence, Athena knew: this was not about Xavier deliberately falling or pretending to faint, but about someone who was almost running out of reasons to survive... and secretly hoping that someone would stay.

"Are you okay? Come on, stand up!" Athena ordered while holding out her hand. Xavier stared at the hand for a moment, before gripping it tightly.

And for a moment, time seemed to freeze. Athena's heart pounded even harder, while Xavier wanted to say his feelings one more time.

Convincing Athena that he was truly in love.



They walked side by side along the sidewalk. Athena forgot about the ultimatum that Johan had given her that time, her conscience instead wanted to take Xavier home to the end of the road to the dormitory.

Athena glanced at Xavier who looked lethargic, hands in his jacket pockets, head slightly bowed. Unlike his usual joke-loving self, Xavier was now silent, perhaps his body was still sore from the collision earlier.

"You didn't bring a car?" Athena asked.

"My car is at Asher's house," Xavier replied.

"Then, I'll take you to Asher's house. You take your car, and I'll take a taxi home."

Xavier laughed softly, the sound somehow felt soothing, but his laughter quickly faded, and Athena could feel like there was a burden hidden.

"Xavier?" Athena reprimanded him.

The man turned his head.

"Are you okay? Is your body starting to hurt?"

Xavier stopped, then sighed. "I hesitate to walk with you. Lately you have been very close to Julian, everyone says you are his lover... especially this morning you also rejected me."

"Athena, I'm thinking, is it okay for me to steal my own friend's lover?" Xavier asked with a look that made Athena confused and also awkward.

The girl bit her lower lip. "What are you talking about? What's wrong with me being close to Julian? He's my best friend."

Xavier glanced, his eyebrows raised. "Best friend? But you are even closer to him than you are to Zara."

Athena sighed. "You are the same as those gossips. Okay, whatever you want." She continued walking, leaving Xavier who walked like a snail behind her.

Every now and then she whistled a little, making sure Xavier was still behind her because she almost thought he was left far behind.

"Someone from the past came again. I thought, she was still as special, but it turns out my heart said otherwise... she was like a beautiful illusion, but covered with the love I have for someone," Xavier said suddenly.

Athena lowered her head, she knew who he meant. She turned her head, turning her body until she was facing Xavier directly.

"Have you ever loved her?" Athena asked softly, trying to sound neutral, but her tone was shaking, it felt like it was scratching her heart that had been beating since earlier.

Xavier sighed, then shook his head. "I don't even know if I've ever fallen in love with her. When I saw her at the airport yesterday, I wasn't sure, what I was really looking for... love or just guilt."

Athena lifted her face, staring at Xavier deeply. "I don't understand your relationship, but if you feel confused, you better resolve it properly."

Xavier approached, staring at Athena with deep dark eyes- his eyes looked fragile, almost broken.

"Athena..." Xavier's voice was low and broken. "Even if I fall, I hope that only you will always help me stand up."

Athena blinked slowly, her heart beating fast, for a moment she remembered her meeting with Johan, when the old man cursed her and asked her to stay away from Xavier.

However, Athena knew... her life was her own choice, she understood the prohibition, but that didn't mean she had to run away. The girl smiled thinly, her fingers tugging at the edge of Xavier's jacket.

"I don't know what to say, but—"

"XAVIER!" Suddenly a woman came, hugging Xavier from behind. Athena was silent for a moment, she peeked behind Xavier's back. Right at that moment... she could smell the exact same amber spicy scent as her perfume, and slightly curly brown hair like hers.

For a moment, Athena understood... something did happen not by accident.