Angel Last mission is love

4.Lessons and Hidden Fear

A few months had passed since Clara became part of Stella’s close circle, and time had flown by in warmth and happiness. Clara was no longer the quiet, lonely girl sitting alone in the front row; now, she walked through the hallways with her head held high, always beside Stella, with Leo and Adrian following close behind, protective and friendly as ever. Their bond had grown strong and unbreakable, turning them into an inseparable group that everyone in school admired.

But now, a new chapter in their lives is fast approaching. The final exams and university admission applications were just around the corner, and the pressure was starting to build up for everyone. All the students were busy preparing their papers, filling out forms, and gathering documents to apply to different universities. However, there was one big problem that worried everyone deeply — the requirement for English proficiency. Almost every good university needed students to know English well, yet in their whole group, only Stella knew how to speak, read, and write English fluently.

Clara struggled with the new language, finding the words and grammar confusing and hard to remember. But Clara was a little nervous, and even the smallest things made Stella suspect that Clara had something on her mind, that someone was bothering her. She would often go quiet in the middle of a sentence, or look over her shoulder as if someone was watching her, and sometimes her hands would tremble slightly when she wrote, even though there was nothing difficult on the page. Stella noticed every little change in her behavior — the way Clara sometimes looked sad or distant, or how she hesitated before speaking, like she was afraid of saying the wrong thing or bringing trouble upon herself.

Leo, despite being smart and wealthy, had never really focused on learning it properly before. Adrian tried his best, but without the right guidance, he often mixed up words or got stuck on long sentences. They were all anxious, afraid that this one subject might stand in the way of their dreams and separate them when they needed to stay together most. But Stella’s biggest worry wasn’t the English lessons — it was Clara. She could see that beneath her friend’s quiet effort and gentle smiles, there was a hidden fear, a secret weight she was carrying alone.

When Stella saw how worried and frustrated her friends were, and especially how uneasy Clara seemed, she didn’t hesitate for a second. She knew exactly what she had to do.

“Don’t you all worry for even a moment,” she said gently but firmly one afternoon, as they sat together under the old oak tree in the school garden. Her voice was calm and full of confidence, just like always. “We are going to get through this together. We will all go to university together, I promise you. And… whatever else might be troubling us, we will face it together too.” She looked straight at Clara as she said this, her eyes filled with meaning and reassurance, letting her know she was safe.

From that very day, Stella made a plan. Every single evening, once school was over and the sun began to set, she invited all three of them — Clara, Leo, and Adrian — to her home. And it wasn’t just any ordinary house; Stella lived in a truly grand, luxurious mansion, large and beautiful, surrounded by green gardens and tall trees. It was a place of elegance and comfort, with wide halls, big bright rooms, and soft carpets underfoot. Her home was always filled with warmth, and her family was very kind, always welcoming her friends as if they were their own children. Stella hoped that within these safe, beautiful walls, Clara would feel relaxed enough to finally tell her what was wrong.

Each evening, they would gather in the biggest, most comfortable room in the house — a spacious study with tall bookshelves lining the walls, soft sofas, and large windows that let in the golden light of the setting sun. There was plenty of room for all of them, and Stella made sure it was always cozy and peaceful, the perfect place to learn and to talk.

Stella would sit in the center, with Clara right beside her, while Leo and Adrian sat across from them, notebooks and pens ready in their hands. She was the perfect teacher — patient, soft-spoken, and incredibly clear. She never scolded them or made them feel silly when they made mistakes; instead, she would smile gently, explain things again and again, and encourage them until they got it right. But with Clara, she was even softer, watching her closely, always checking if she was comfortable, always ready to hold her hand or offer a warm drink if she looked tense.

“Let’s start slowly today,” she would say in her sweet, calm voice, opening a book and pointing to the words. “Repeat after me… slowly and clearly. There is no rush here, Clara. Take your time.”

She taught them everything: from the basic alphabet and simple words to difficult grammar rules, sentence structures, and how to write proper essays and application letters. She translated hard parts for them, explained the meaning of every word, and made even the most confusing lessons feel easy and fun. Sometimes, she brought tea and snacks to the table, turning their study time into a happy gathering filled with laughter and stories — anything to help Clara forget her worries, even for a little while.

Leo, who was sharp and quick-witted, picked things up fast, often making jokes to lighten the mood, while Adrian worked hard and seriously, writing down every single word Stella said so he wouldn’t forget. Clara, who was a little shy about speaking at first, gained confidence day by day, thanks to Stella’s endless kindness and support. Stella always sat close to her, guiding her hand when she wrote and whispering encouragement whenever Clara felt stuck. Yet even as Clara improved, that nervousness never fully went away, and Stella’s suspicion only grew stronger — someone, or something, was troubling her dear friend, and Stella was determined to find out what it was, and to protect Clara no matter what.

Months passed this way, with every evening spent together in that beautiful house, learning, practicing, and growing closer. What started as a big worry soon turned into their favorite part of the day. Thanks to Stella’s love, care, and dedication, they were no longer afraid. Slowly but surely, they all began to speak and understand English well.

As the day to submit their university papers drew near, they realized something very important: it wasn’t just the language they had learned. They had learned that no matter how hard things got, as long as they were together, they could overcome anything. And Stella, with her kind heart and generous nature, had once again proven that she was not only their best friend but also the one who held them all together — watching over them, teaching them, and guarding Clara’s heart with all her might.