She felt sorry for the man if he heard such a rejection.

She felt sorry for the man if he heard such a rejection.
“As your father requested, I have ended my relationship with Artan,” Kristal said as she stood in front of Leon.

Leon, who had been sitting behind his desk, rose from his chair without delay. He walked straight toward her, closing the distance in quick steps before lifting both hands to hold her face. His eyes moved across her features with clear concern, as if he was checking every part of her for signs of harm. His attention dropped to her mouth, where a cut at the corner of her lip was visible, then to her neck, where faint bruises showed even though she had tried to hide them with her loose hair. He let out a long breath when he saw the marks she had tried but failed to fully hide.

Kristal lowered her head with a helpless expression. She lifted one leg slightly, revealing the bruising around her ankle. Her voice trembled as she described what had happened, saying that Artan had lost control and that she might not have made it if people at the bus stop had not stepped in to help her. She wiped her tears, trying hard not to look weak, even though her body still showed clear signs of what she had gone through.

Leon said nothing at first. He simply pulled her into his arms and held her close. His embrace was meant to comfort her and steady the strength she was barely holding onto. He reached into his pocket, took out a handkerchief, and placed it in her hand. Kristal accepted it quietly and used it to wipe her face and nose.

After a moment, her quiet sobs turned into frustration. She asked why he had not answered her calls the previous day. Her voice carried both hurt and disappointment as she told him she had reached out when she needed help the most.

Leon lowered his gaze and apologized. He did not give any explanation, only a simple apology. Then he asked if she was okay, though his question was not about her injuries. He wanted to know how she felt after ending things with Artan, who was known for his violent temper.

Kristal could no longer hold back her tears. She covered her face with both hands as her body trembled. In a broken voice, she admitted that she was scared. She said she feared she would not be able to handle life without Artan. Even as Leon kept his hand moving along her back in a soothing motion, her tears did not stop.

Leon understood what she was going through. He knew Kristal and Artan had shared genuine feelings, but he had seen enough of Artan’s temper to know that staying in that kind of relationship would only bring her more harm. He had been reminding her to stay away from someone who treated her that way.

Kristal tried to defend Artan in her own way, saying that he could be kind and caring when he was not angry. Still, Leon believed she deserved someone who would never raise a hand against her, no matter the situation.

At that moment, Kristal’s phone began to vibrate in her hand. She quickly picked it up and checked the messages that had just arrived. The sender was Artan.

Artan told her to come to his apartment and promised that he would treat her well and forget what she had said before. He went on to say that she would not be able to live without him. His messages continued, reminding her that he paid for her living space, her monthly needs, and her school fees, as if those things tied her to him.

Leon’s jaw tightened as he read the messages over her shoulder. He reacted almost instantly, reaching out as if to take the phone from her hand, but Kristal pulled it back and placed it inside her bag before he could grab it.

Kristal stood up from her seat but kept her head lowered, avoiding Leon’s gaze. Her voice came out quiet as she said she wanted to go home.

Leon looked at her and urged her not to return to Artan. He told her that leaving him had been the right choice and that she should not go back to someone like that.

Kristal offered a small smile that did not reach her eyes. She lifted her head and met his gaze, her expression showing pain she could not fully hide. She wanted to respond, to agree with him, but she held herself back. Instead, she turned away and left without saying another word.

Later, Alvero sat beside Carissa when she surprised him by asking to meet his friends. He glanced at her, confused about why she would suddenly want that. Carissa met his eyes, quietly waiting for his answer. This was different from her usual behavior, since she normally avoided crowded situations.

Alvero reached out and placed his hand on her forehead to check if she had a fever. When he felt that her temperature was normal, he asked if she was feeling sick in any way. His question came from the fact that he had seen her earlier sitting close to Jovan and allowing him to hold her hand, which made her sudden request even more unexpected.

Carissa told him that she was fine. She explained that she had felt a bit of nausea earlier in the cafeteria but managed to control it. She said she wanted to learn how to live like a normal girl. As she spoke, she watched Alvero, who was focused on driving.

Alvero responded with mild confusion, asking why she had suddenly decided to change. Carissa leaned back in her seat and looked ahead at the road, admitting that she felt lonely.

Alvero turned his head briefly toward her and reminded her that she had once said she preferred being alone. Carissa nodded, acknowledging that she had said that in the past. However, she explained that she now wanted something different. She felt her life had become repetitive, and she wanted to experience what others had—having friends and spending time outside instead of staying in her apartment all the time.

Alvero understood her feelings. He was not someone who spent every night socializing, but he knew many people on campus. He told her that he was planning to meet some friends the following evening.

Carissa’s expression brightened immediately. She turned toward him and asked who would be there. Alvero mentioned a few names and added that others might join as well.

Carissa asked about Marcel, and Alvero told her that Marcel would not join because he was spending time with his girlfriend. He said Marcel would likely choose to be with her rather than attend a casual gathering.

Carissa chuckled softly at that. Then she asked if she could come along with him. Alvero raised his eyebrows slightly but did not look at her as he answered. He told her she could come, but warned that she would have to deal with Frisco’s attempts to flirt with her, since the man had taken an interest in her.

Carissa admitted that Frisco was funny, but she did not like men who acted too playful. Alvero could not hold back his laughter and laughed so hard that he tapped the steering wheel several times.

Carissa quickly protested, telling him not to repeat her words if he planned to share them with Frisco later. She felt sorry for the man if he heard such a rejection.

Alvero slowed the car and brought it to a stop in front of Carissa’s apartment. He turned fully toward her and told her he was only joking. He then confirmed the meeting time for the next evening and said he would pick her up.

Carissa thanked him and told him to drive safely before stepping out of the car. She gave him a small smile as she closed the door behind her.

After Alvero drove away, Carissa stood for a moment, watching until his car disappeared around the corner. She then turned back toward her apartment and noticed that the place was dark and quiet. It seemed Leon had not returned yet.