Chapter 6 : The Confession
1306 Words
The days leading up to the university ball passed faster than Elle expected. Her friends had turned the upcoming event into their favorite topic, discussing dresses, hairstyles, shoes, and whether they should arrive together. Elle tried to stay focused on her final requirements, but even she was looking forward to one night without grades, deadlines, or competition.
What she didn't expect was Ethan asking her to meet him before the ball.
They met near the quiet garden behind one of the university buildings after their afternoon classes. When Elle arrived, Ethan was already waiting. He looked unusually serious, which immediately made her wonder if something was wrong.
“You wanted to talk?” she asked.
Ethan nodded. “Yeah. There's something I've been meaning to tell you.”
Elle waited.
“I like you, Elle.”
She blinked, completely caught off guard.
“I've liked you for a while,” he continued. “I didn't know how to tell you because I didn't want to ruin our friendship. But the more time I spent with you, the harder it became to keep it to myself.”
Elle stared at him, trying to process what she had just heard. She had never looked at Ethan that way. She had become comfortable with him because he was kind, supportive, and easy to talk to. She considered him a friend, someone she could trust. It had never occurred to her that his actions might have meant something more.
“Ethan…”
“I know this is sudden,” he said. “I'm not asking you to answer immediately. I just wanted you to know how I feel.”
Elle looked down, searching for the right words. She didn't want to hurt him, but she also didn't want to give him an answer she wasn't certain about.
“I honestly don't know what to say.”
“That's okay.”
“I wasn't expecting this.”
“I know.”
Elle took a breath. “Can I think about it?”
Ethan nodded. “Of course.”
“I need some time.”
“I'll give you time.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Elle thought the conversation was over, but Ethan stepped closer.
“Ethan?”
Before she could react, he leaned forward and kissed her.
Elle froze.
Before she could even process what was happening, someone grabbed Ethan by the shoulder and pulled him away.
Adrian's fist connected with Ethan's jaw.
The impact sent Ethan stumbling backward.
“Adrian!” Elle shouted.
Adrian stepped toward Ethan, his face dark with anger. “What the hell was that?”
Ethan steadied himself and touched his jaw. “Stay out of this.”
“You kissed her.”
“She can speak for herself.”
Adrian's fists tightened again. “She told you she needed time.”
Ethan glared at him. “And?”
“And you ignored her.”
“Adrian, stop!” Elle stepped between them. “I'm okay.”
Adrian looked at her, his anger still visible. Then he looked back at Ethan.
“Stay away from her.”
Ethan gave him a cold smile. “You don't get to decide that.”
Adrian took a step forward again, but Elle grabbed his arm.
“Enough.”
For a moment, Adrian looked as though he might ignore her.
Instead, he turned toward her.
“Come on.”
Elle stared at him. “What?”
“Let's go.”
Before she could argue, Adrian took her hand and led her away from the garden.
---
They didn't speak until they were far from the building.
Elle finally pulled her hand free.
“What was that?”
Adrian stopped walking.
“What?”
“You meddling in my affairs.”
Adrian frowned. “He kissed you.”
“I know.”
“And?”
“And I could handle it.”
Adrian stared at her. “Could you?”
“Yes.”
“You didn't look like you could.”
Elle's eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”
“You froze.”
“I was surprised!”
“You could have pushed him away.”
“I was about to.”
“But you didn't.”
Elle stared at him, stunned by his accusation.
Adrian was still angry, but underneath the anger was something he couldn't understand. He had seen Ethan kiss her, and before he could think, his body had moved. He had punched him without hesitation.
Now that they were alone, he couldn't explain why.
He tried to convince himself it was because Ethan had crossed a boundary.
Because he had been suspicious of Ethan for weeks.
Because Elle was too trusting.
But none of those explanations fully accounted for the anger that had consumed him.
“You know what?” Adrian said, his voice sharper than he intended. “Maybe you didn't want to stop him.”
Elle's expression changed.
“What?”
“Maybe you liked it.”
She stared at him.
Adrian immediately knew he had gone too far, but he couldn't stop himself.
“Why didn't you stop him?” he demanded. “Why did you just stand there? Why did you let him kiss you?”
The slap came before he could say anything else.
Adrian's head turned slightly from the impact.
Silence filled the space between them.
Elle's breathing was uneven, her eyes burning with anger.
“How dare you?”
Adrian slowly looked back at her.
“You don't get to ask me that.”
“I know.”
“No, you don't.” Elle shook her head. “I told Ethan I needed time. He kissed me anyway. I was shocked. And now you're standing here asking me why I let him?”
“I didn't mean—”
“Yes, you did.”
Adrian fell silent.
Elle's voice softened, but her anger remained. “Why are you so angry, Adrian?”
He had no answer.
That question was harder than anything she had said before.
Why was he angry?
Why had he punched Ethan?
Why had seeing Ethan kiss her made something inside him snap?
Why had the thought of Elle possibly liking someone else bothered him so much?
He didn't know.
Or maybe he knew, but he wasn't ready to admit it.
“I just thought you needed help back there,” he finally said.
Elle crossed her arms. “I told you I could handle it.”
“I didn't believe you could.”
“That doesn't give you the right to decide for me.”
“I know.”
She studied him, noticing the uncertainty that had replaced some of his anger.
“You really don't know why you're this angry, do you?”
Adrian looked away.
“No.”
The honest answer surprised both of them.
Elle's expression softened for a moment, but she still looked hurt.
“You should figure it out.”
She turned and walked away.
Adrian remained where he was, watching her leave.
He had spent years understanding exactly why he fought with Elle. She was his rival. His competition. The person who pushed him harder than anyone else.
But what had just happened wasn't about grades.
It wasn't about rankings.
And it wasn't about winning.
Adrian looked down at his clenched fists.
For the first time, he was afraid that his feelings for Elle might be something he couldn't explain away as rivalry.
Meanwhile, back in the garden, Ethan stood alone, his jaw still aching from Adrian's punch.
He had finally told Elle how he felt.
He had finally crossed the line between friendship and something more.
And Adrian had ruined it.
Ethan watched from a distance as Elle disappeared from view.
His expression hardened.
The ball was only days away.
And he wasn't planning to give up.
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