Chapter 11
unexpected
It was Adams, Jayden, Tara, and Jasmine. "Phew!" I gasped for air.
"Hey guys, what's up? What's the gathering for?" I asked, pretending I had no idea.
"Well, we were worried about you," Tara said.
"Where have you been?" Adams asked, his eyes sharp enough to cut through me.
"Well, I... I..." I stammered.
"Just get some rest. We'll catch up later," Adams said, his tone carrying a hint of disappointment as he walked away with Jayden and Tara. Going for lectures Tara added as she closed the door behind her.
---
I laid on my bed, still in my clothes, not bothering to unpack. I picked up my phone and called Mum.
Mum:"Hey Mila! Morning, sweetie. How are you?"
Me: "Hi Mum... I'm okay, I guess."
Mum: "You don't sound okay. What's going on?"
Me: "sighs" "It's just… school stuff. Emotions all over the place. I don't even know where to start."
Mum: "Hmm, sounds like someone's had a long day, even though the day just started. You want to talk about it?"
Me: "Maybe later. Just hearing your voice already helps."
Mum: "Alright, baby. Take your time. Just remember, I'm here for you. Always. And don't forget to eat something."
Me: "soft chuckle" "Yes, Mum. Love you."
"Mum: "Love you more. Rest up, okay?
Me: "Okay, Mummy,"
I said as I hung up the phone.
I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying every second of last night. The way Alessandro held me, the tenderness in his touch, the way his voice wrapped around me like a warm blanket. Everything about it felt surreal, soft, yet electrifying.
Lost in thought, I barely noticed my phone buzz beside me. It was a text from Alessandro. I smiled faintly, but before I could open it, sleep pulled me under.
When I woke up, the sun was already starting to dip. I stretched, freshened up, and grabbed my phone. Still no message from Adams. Odd. Then again, the boys had a big basketball match coming up against the neighbouring university. He was probably busy… or just avoiding me.
Either way, I tried not to overthink it.
I opened Alessandro's text and finally replied:
Mila: "Hey... sorry I crashed earlier. Just saw your message."
A few minutes passed before my phone lit up again.
Alessandro:
"You don't have to explain yourself, Mila. I was just thinking about you. I know last night was intense… but it was real for me. Was it for you too?"
I bit my lip before replying.
"Mila:"
"It was real for me too… maybe too real. I didn't expect to feel this way. It's all so fast and confusing."
Alessandro:
:
"I get it. I don't want to rush you, Mila. But I also won't pretend that I don't want to be close to you. You've been in my head all day. Every time I close my eyes… I see you."
My heart skipped. I hesitated, fingers hovering above the keyboard before replying.
Mila:
"It's scary… but I feel it too. I just need time to figure everything out."
Alessandro:
"Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."
And for a moment, everything else, Adams, the noise, the uncertainty faded. All that remained was this quiet connection humming between our messages.
"Aight then, let's chat later," he said, and I went off my phone.
-----
The next day after lectures, I decided to head over to where the school's basketball team was having their much-anticipated competition. Adams hadn't attended class today, I figured he was likely caught up with preparations.
By the time I arrived, the game was already in full swing. The court was buzzing with energy, cheers erupting from every side as fans rooted for their teams. Our school, dressed in navy and white, was facing off against Riverview College, a rival university known for its aggressive play style. The match was intense, fast breaks, sharp passes, and bodies diving for the ball. You could feel the adrenaline pulsing through the air.
I spotted Adams almost immediately, commanding the court with focus and speed. Seeing him that way, driven, athletic, in his element, it stirred something in me.
I stood quietly in the crowd, watching… unsure what would happen after the game.
---
The final whistle echoed through the court—"78 to 74". The home team erupted in cheers. Students jumped, banners waved, and the crowd roared. The school had won.
Adams' teammates crowded around him, clapping him on the back, but his eyes didn't carry the full joy of victory. He forced a smile, nodded through the celebration, but something was off. His energy felt… distracted.
I slowly made my way down to the court, hesitating for a moment before stepping closer. When he finally noticed me, our eyes met. Briefly. Then he looked away, towel over his shoulder.
"Hey," I said softly, offering a smile. "Congrats. You guys played amazing."
"Thanks," he replied, voice flat, wiping his face. "Glad you came."
I nodded, unsure. "You okay?"
He paused, looking at me fully now. "Yeah. Just tired."
There was a silence between us, thick, heavy with unspoken thoughts.
"I missed seeing you around," I finally said.
He gave a short breath through his nose. "Yeah? Hard to tell."
That stung.
"I didn't mean to disappear," I murmured. "Things just got… complicated."
He looked at me for a beat longer, then gave a slight nod. "Maybe we'll talk later."
"Maybe," I whispered, watching him walk off with his team, towel around his neck, shoulders tense.
He won the game, but I couldn't help feeling like I'd lost something.
---
Later that day at night, I stood in front of his dorm room, nerves tight in my chest. I didn't know if this was a good idea, but I needed to explain myself. At least try.
When he opened the door, Adams looked at me like he didn't expect to ever see me there again. His expression was calm, but I could feel the coldness behind his eyes.
"Hey," I said, barely above a whisper. "Can we talk... in the garden?"
He hesitated for a second, then stepped aside to grab his jacket. "Sure."
***
The garden was quiet. The same gardeni once despised because of him. But tonight, it felt colder, like even the air knew something had changed.
"I'm sorry," I said finally. "I didn't mean to walk off like that or disappear. Something just came up."
He looked at me, expression still unreadable. "What was it?"
I looked down. "It's complicated."
He scoffed quietly. "Right. Of course."
"I didn't mean to hurt you, Adams. You have to believe that."
He leaned back on the bench, looking up at the night sky. "You switched off your phone. I went to your dorm. Checked everywhere. And not a word. Not even a 'hey, I'm okay.'"
"I didn't switch it off. Someone else did, but that's...."
"That's not the point, Mila," he cut in, eyes sharp now. "The point is, you vanished without saying anything. And now you show up, acting like we can just... talk it out in the garden like before."
I stayed silent. What could I even say?
He stood up, brushing his palms together. "I'm glad you're okay. But maybe we shouldn't force what's already broken."
That stung.
He turned to leave, then paused. "Take care of yourself, Mila."
And just like that, he walked away.