Chapter Seven: intentions
581 Words
After the Slap
Aria ran.
She didn't know where she was going.
She only knew she had to get away.
Her footsteps echoed across the quiet pathways of Redwood University as students turned to stare.
She ignored every curious glance.
Ignored every voice calling her name.
Ignored the tears threatening to escape.
Her heart hammered against her chest.
What did I just do...?
She had come to Redwood to leave her old life behind.
To make friends.
To experience a normal university life.
Instead...
She had slapped the most feared student on campus.
In front of hundreds of people.
She finally reached Maple Residence.
Without waiting for the lift, she pushed open the stairwell door and ran up the flights of stairs.
By the fourth floor, she was breathless.
Her shaking hand barely managed to tap the key card against the reader.
Beep.
The door unlocked.
She stepped inside, closed it behind her, and leaned against it as though the outside world was trying to break in.
Her breathing refused to slow.
The apartment was silent.
Emily wasn't back yet.
Aria dropped her backpack onto the floor and covered her face with both hands.
"What have I done...?"
The words came out as little more than a whisper.
She replayed the scene over and over.
Damian's expression.
His voice.
The argument.
The slap.
And then...
Nothing.
He hadn't shouted.
He hadn't threatened her.
He hadn't even moved.
That somehow made it worse.
A sharp knock at the door made her jump.
Her heart skipped.
He's here...
Another knock.
Slower this time.
Aria swallowed hard and walked toward the door.
She looked through the peephole.
Emily.
Aria let out a long breath before unlocking the door.
Emily smiled as she stepped inside.
"I've been calling you. Where did you disappear to?"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Aria looked like she'd seen a ghost.
"Aria..."
"What happened?"
For several seconds...
There was only silence.
Then Aria sat down on the sofa.
"I made a mistake."
Emily frowned.
"What kind of mistake?"
Aria stared at the floor.
"The biggest one I've ever made."
Emily sat beside her.
"You're starting to scare me."
Aria finally looked up.
Her eyes were filled with regret.
"I slapped Damian."
Emily blinked.
"...What?"
"I slapped Damian Hayes."
Emily laughed.
"That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
The smile disappeared from Emily's face.
"You..."
She searched Aria's expression.
"...You're serious."
Aria nodded once.
"I lost my temper."
Emily leaned back against the sofa, completely speechless.
Outside the apartment window, the campus looked as peaceful as ever.
Inside...
Everything had changed.
---
At the Business Building...
The courtyard was almost empty.
Only a few students remained, quietly whispering about what they had witnessed.
Mason caught up with Damian near the entrance.
"You know the whole university is talking about this already."
Damian kept walking.
"They'll get bored."
"You really think so?"
"They always do."
Mason hesitated.
"So..."
"What now?"
Damian stopped.
For a brief moment, he looked down at the faint red mark still visible on his cheek.
Then he lifted his eyes.
His voice remained calm.
"...Nothing."
Mason stared at him.
"Nothing?"
Damian adjusted the strap of his backpack.
"It happened."
"It's over."
With that...
He walked into the Business Building.
Leaving Mason standing alone...
Wondering if Damian Hayes was truly as unreadable as everyone believed.
Far above them...
In Apartment 4A...
Aria sat in silence.
Completely unaware...
That the man she'd expected to seek revenge...
Had no intention of coming after her.
- Writer
