↷✦; w e l c o m e ❞
Jayden's retreating footsteps left a strange echo in Zevanya's ears. Her brother's words—your love is trash—continued to reverberate, creating a hole even bigger than the wound Mathius had caused.
Zevanya still stood there. In front of her, Mathius and Amora were now standing. Mathius put his arm around Amora's waist protectively, leading her down the same corridor where Zevanya had been frozen.
Zevanya had the opportunity to turn, run, or hide behind the concrete pillars of the faculty. But her body refused. She allowed herself to be seen.
When they were only a few meters apart, Mathius's eyes finally caught Zevanya's figure. His steps slowed for a moment. A flash of surprise, perhaps a hint of guilt, flashed quickly across his eyes, but it quickly faded as Amora tightened her grip on Mathius' arm.
"Eh, Zevanya? You haven't gone home yet?" Amora greeted. Her voice sounded so enthusiastic, as if she hadn't just dashed all the hopes of the woman before her.
Zevanya caught her breath. Her expression returned to its usual stoic state. "Just about to," he replied curtly.
"Oh, okay. You go ahead, Ze! We're going to look for books downtown," Amora continued with the friendly smile that Mathius now adored.
They passed him. The familiar scent of Mathius's perfume greeted Zevanya's senses one last time before fading in the afternoon breeze at Binatara University. Zevanya didn't turn around. She simply watched their shadows lengthen on the corridor floor, then slowly disappear.
"Still going to stand there until it turns mossy?"
Zevanya gasped. She thought Jayden had already gone far away. Instead, her brother was leaning against a pillar in the library building, only ten meters away. Jayden was striking a match, but he wasn't lighting a cigarette, just playing with the flame as it danced in the breeze.
Zevanya walked toward Jayden with forced, upright steps. "Why haven't you left yet? Aren't you satisfied with insulting me?"
Jayden snapped the match out with a sharp click. He looked Zevanya up and down. "I was waiting to see if you'd faint or chase them like a dog begging to be sent home. You just stood there. A little better than I expected."
"You're so rude, Jayden," Zevanya hissed, her eyes starting to burn with anger that eventually replaced sadness.
"Reality is indeed harsh for those who live in fairy tales, my dear sister," Jayden replied casually.
He stepped closer, invading Zevanya's personal space. "You know what's most pathetic about your concept of love? You think pain is beautiful. You think being a martyr is romantic. But in the real world, those who allow their hearts to be trampled on only end up being doormats."
Jayden reached out, his index finger tapping Zevanya's forehead lightly but emphatically.
"It's your head that needs fixing. You love an idea of Mathius, not the real Mathius. Because the real Mathius never saw you. Stop making yourself the victim in your own self-created scenario."
Zevanya fell silent. Jayden's words were like a slap polished with cold legal logic.
"Then what should I do?" Zevanya asked softly, her defenses crumbling.
Jayden grinned, a thin, hard-to-read smile. "Don't ask me. I'm not a love advisor. But if you want to stop being trash on this campus, stop, and now the time is mine, bro." His grin widened.
Jayden turned, walking away with a haughty stride without looking back. Zevanya stood still for a few seconds. She stared at the campus gate where Mathius had disappeared, then stared blankly at Jayden's retreating back.