Chapter 20 Rumor or Slander?
"Be careful, Aveline."
Aveline was still holding her breath.
"Closeness with Ezra is not a light matter. Not now, after what happened to Selina. And you certainly don't want to be the second woman to drown in the same mystery, do you?"
The sentence sank deep. Selina. Ezra. Long leave of absence. Mysterious death. Accusations that were unproven, but never disappeared.
Aveline gripped her bag tighter. Her body started to tremble, between fear, confusion, and... hurt.
Professor Barbara spoke again to calm her.
"I'm not saying he's guilty. None of us here knows what really happened. But I have to warn you... because you are a good girl, and I don't want to lose you now."
Aveline could only nod slightly. She didn't even realize her eyes were starting to tear up.
Professor Barbara stood up, touching her shoulder gently. "I hope you consider my words. Because sometimes... the person who looks the most wounded and harmless, actually harbors the deepest wound that can hurt others without them realizing it."
Aveline got up from the chair with trembling legs. When she walked out of that room, she felt the whole world change color. Good and bad merged. Warm and cold mixed. Love and fear spun into one.
And one name repeated in her head. Selina.
Aveline's mood was increasingly weary that morning. Her steps felt heavier than usual as she entered the classroom. Her eyes were swollen, her thoughts messy. Professor Barbara's words about Ezra and Selina kept bouncing in her head like an echo that couldn't be dismissed.
The students immediately stood up to greet her, but Aveline could only reply with a faint smile that didn't even reach her eyes.
Ezra was already sitting in the front row. He looked calm, mature, with a gaze full of attention that made Aveline even more anxious.
Throughout the teaching session, she felt Ezra's eyes follow her like a shadow. As if he was seeing, observing, and reading what was on Aveline's mind.
And that made Aveline want to avoid him even more.
Every time Ezra raised his hand, Aveline pretended not to see him. She chose other students who usually never asked questions, just so she didn't have to look at Ezra.
Ezra slowly lowered his hand. Not because he was offended, but simply confused.
Aveline knew she shouldn't be like this. But how could she act normally after hearing such a terrifying rumor involving the young man?
After the class ended and the other students began to leave, Aveline gathered her books with slightly trembling hands. She hoped Ezra would leave with the other students. But of course, her hope was shattered in seconds.
Ezra stood in front of her desk, looking at her without speaking first, as if he was reading her entire body and mind.
"You look burdened today," he finally said, his voice soft yet immediately piercing.
Aveline swallowed. "I'm just... lack of sleep."
Ezra leaned his body against the front desk, slightly leaning toward Aveline.
"I thought you were thinking about last night. About Adrian and that woman."
Aveline closed her eyes. No. That wasn't what was bothering her now.
She opened her eyes slowly and looked at Ezra. Without pretense or beating around the bush.
"Ezra," she said softly but sharply, "who is Selina?"
Ezra's face immediately changed. He looked surprised, tense, and in a fraction of a second, he also looked... afraid.
Aveline saw it very clearly before Ezra hurriedly lowered his gaze, trying to hide it.
"Who told you?" Ezra asked slowly, his voice lower than usual.
"It doesn't matter," Aveline quickly replied. "I just want the truth."
Ezra chuckled softly. Not a happy laugh, but a bitter one, as if the world was playing tricks on him again.
"You know," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "I thought you were stressed about something else... but it turns out not."
He moved a little closer, making Aveline unconsciously take half a step back. Ezra noticed the small movement and smiled faintly.
"Am I scaring you?"
"No," Aveline quickly replied.
Ezra raised his eyebrows. "Of course."
Aveline looked at him. "Selina... what happened between you two?"
Ezra was silent for a moment. His gaze was not avoiding her now. He looked deeply into Aveline's eyes.
"There are many stories about me and me," he said quietly. "Most of them are not true. Some are also... exaggerated."
"And the rest?" Aveline asked.
Ezra moved closer again, now only a hand span away from her, so Aveline could feel his warm breath.
"The rest," he said slowly, "are things I can't tell you. Not now."
Aveline held her breath. The tension was almost making her speechless.
Ezra raised his hand, gently touching the tip of Aveline's hair that fell on her shoulder. "You don't believe the rumors about me, do you, Ave?"
Aveline didn't answer.
Ezra smiled slightly. But his smile this time... was sharp and gentle at the same time.
"Everyone accused me," he said calmly. "But there was no evidence or witness. There was nothing that could confirm anything."
"Because..." he leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper, "It was all just slander."
Aveline swallowed.
Ezra touched her shoulder slowly. The touch was gentle, yet it made her whole body tense.
"You trust me, right, Miss?" His tone truly made it difficult for Aveline to breathe.
"I think," Ezra continued, "you know me better than all those people who accuse me."
He smiled. The warm smile that had always calmed Aveline before. But today, that smile felt like it had an inner layer she couldn't read.
Ezra saw Aveline's chaotic face. Then, as if to break the tension, he added in a teasing tone,
"Unless, of course... You prefer to believe rumors over someone who has been watching you since the first day you started teaching here."
Aveline held her breath. And Ezra ended the conversation before she could reply.
"What happened back then... is not what it looks like." He looked at her intently. "And one day, if you want... I can tell you everything."
Ezra stepped back, grabbed his bag, then whispered as he passed Aveline,
"I won't hurt you, Aveline."
After that, Ezra left, leaving Aveline alone in the classroom that suddenly felt empty and cold.