Chapter IX
1094 Words
The class erupted in cheers as the final curtain fell on their stage play. They hugged each other and jumped with joy, the sense of accomplishment palpable. Mr. Pisani beamed with pride as he congratulated them all. Nina's voice rose above the clamor.
"We should celebrate with a class outing!" she shouted.
The class cheered in agreement. Rosalie stepped forward, taking charge as usual. "We'll plan the outing for a celebration. Details to come!"
Amid the chatter, Tasha turned to Zelene. "Hey, let's grab some pizza at our favorite place before heading home."
Zelene's eyes lit up. "Absolutely, I'm in!"
Chase approached Zelene, offering a warm smile. "You can ride with me and Unity in my car if you want."
Zelene nodded, grateful for the offer. She began to pack her things when a voice suddenly spoke up behind her. She spun around to find Rowan standing there.
"Jeez, Rowan! You scared me," Zelene said, clutching her chest in mock exasperation. "I’m going to have a heart attack if you keep showing up out of nowhere."
Rowan laughed but then quickly grew serious. "I heard about your pizza celebration."
Zelene raised an eyebrow. "So what? Why do you care?"
Rowan's expression darkened. "I also know you’ll be riding with Chase’s car."
Zelene rolled her eyes. "Yeah, with Unity too. So?"
"Even if Unity is there, I don't like the idea," Rowan replied, frowning.
Zelene was taken aback. "What’s your problem? I just want to have a peaceful evening with my friends. I don't have time for whatever issues you have with yourself."
Rowan stepped closer, his frustration evident. "If you want, I’ll drive you to that damn pizza place myself on my motorcycle."
Zelene couldn’t help but laugh. "What’s going on with you? We don’t even have any relationship—not even as friends—to warrant this kind of reaction from you. And no, I’m not riding on your motorcycle."
Rowan's irritation grew. "You’re so hardheaded."
Zelene shot back, "Oh, coming from you, that’s rich."
Rowan's jaw tightened, but before he could retort, Unity called out. "Hey, Zelene, we’re ready to go!"
Zelene glanced back at Rowan one last time. "Look, Rowan, I appreciate the concern, but I need this time with my friends. We can talk some other time, okay?"
Rowan watched her walk away, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion. He didn’t understand why he was so worked up over Zelene, but he knew he didn’t like the idea of her being with Chase, even if Unity was there. He needed to figure out his feelings, and fast.
As Zelene climbed into Chase’s car, she couldn’t help but glance back at Rowan, who was still standing there, staring after her. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Tonight was about celebration and fun, not about the confusing emotions swirling around Rowan. She smiled at Chase and Unity, ready to enjoy the evening with her friends, leaving the turmoil of her feelings for Rowan behind, at least for now.
As Zelene finally laid on her bed, her phone beeped. She glanced at it and saw a notification from her social media account. It was a friend request from Rowan. So he’s making the first move, she thought, smiling to herself. She accepted the request.
A few minutes later, her phone beeped again. This time, it was a message from Rowan.
**Rowan:** Hey, are you home already?
Zelene’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly typed back.
**Zelene:** Yes, just got home. About to sleep.
**Rowan:** It’s early. You sure you’re not avoiding me? ?
**Zelene:** ? No, just my sleep routine. Early to bed, early to rise, you know.
**Rowan:** Well, sleep tight and dream of me.
Zelene chuckled and felt a warmth spreading through her chest. She typed back a simple goodnight before putting her phone down. She lay there, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts a jumble of confusion and excitement.
As Zelene headed to the gate of the university, her thoughts were preoccupied with the prospect of her favorite strawberry frappe from the store across the street. However, she froze when she saw Matthew standing there. Despite his familiar handsomeness, she found herself comparing him to Rowan. Rowan was much more handsome, she realized, and then quickly shook her head. What was she thinking?
With a poker face, she continued walking towards the gate, determined to ignore Matthew. But as she got closer, he stepped in front of her, blocking her path. Zelene frowned, annoyance evident on her face.
"Matthew, what are you doing?" she asked.
"We need to talk," Matthew replied, his tone serious.
"About what?" Zelene demanded.
"About us," Matthew said. "I know you still love me. It's been three years, Zelene. You can't just dump that and move on so quickly."
Zelene laughed mockingly. "Are you out of your mind? Where did you get that confidence? You, a manipulative cheater."
Matthew grabbed her hand, and she tried to pull away, but his grip was firm. "Stop making a scene and leave me alone. Go back to that girl you cheated on me with."
"I still love you, Zelene," Matthew insisted. "I can't move on. I think about you all the time. Maybe we can give our relationship another chance."
He kissed her hand, and Zelene continued to struggle, trying to pull away. "I don't love you anymore, Matthew. Let me go."
Before she could say more, she heard a familiar voice that sent shivers down her spine. "What a romantic scene," Rowan said sarcastically. She looked up to see him standing there, smiling, but it was a fake smile. His eyes were cold and emotionless.
"Rowan," she said softly.
He walked past them, heading towards the gate. Zelene felt a pang of hurt. She wanted to run after him, to explain, even though she wasn't sure what their relationship was. But she needed to finish this with Matthew first.
"Matthew, leave me alone. Our relationship ended because of you. You never valued what we had. It's your fault, and you need to face the consequences. I don't love you anymore, and I never will again."
Matthew finally let go of her hand, looking defeated. "I... I'm sorry, Zelene," he muttered before walking away.
Zelene stood there for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm herself. She needed to find Rowan. She had to explain. She hurried back through the gate, scanning the campus for any sign of him. She spotted him near the cafeteria, talking to Samuel. Summoning her courage, she approached them.
- Writer
