Chapter 3
I didn't think neither did I hesitate,The moment I saw him dragging her, something inside me took over. My feet moved before my mind could catch up.
"Hey!"My voice came out sharper than I expected.The guy stopped.
Lena's wrist was still trapped in his grip. She looked at me with a wide eyes like she wasn't sure whether to feel relieved… or more afraid.The guy turned slowly to face me.He looked older. Maybe late twenties. His jaw was rough, his expression calm in a dangerous way. The kind of calm that made you uneasy."Problem?" he asked.I stepped closer. "Yeah. Let her go."His grip tightened slightly."She's coming with me."Lena shook her head quickly. "No, I'm not."He ignored her.My hands curled into fists."Let. Her. Go."
He studied me for a moment, then smirked. "You her boyfriend?"The question caught me off guard.I hesitated Just for a second.
His smirk widened. "Didn't think so."
Lena suddenly spoke, her voice trembling. "Dennis…"Hearing my name from her lips made my chest tighten.I stepped closer. "Then She said she's not going."He leaned toward me slightly and said to me. "This doesn't concern you.then I told him""It does now."The air between us grew tense. Students were walking around, but no one seemed to notice what was happening. Or maybe they just didn't want to get involved.Lena tried to pull her hand free again. "You're hurting me."That was it.I grabbed his wrist and pushed it away from her.He released her, but not because he wanted to.but because I forced him to.Lena quickly stepped back, moving closer to me. I could feel her presence behind my shoulder, trembling slightly.The guy looked at me, his eyes darker now.
"You don't know what you're doing," he said quietly."I know she doesn't want to go with you."He laughed softly. "You think this is about what she wants?"Lena shook her head. "Please… just leave."He ignored her again.Instead, he leaned closer to me."She owes me."My brows tightened. "Owes you what?"He smiled slowly. "That's between me and her."I glanced back at Lena.She looked pale, guilty,Afraid and confused."She doesn't owe you anything," I said.He tilted his head. "You're very protective for someone who just met her."He wasn't wrong.But I didn't care."Walk away," I said.He stared at me for a long second.Then suddenly… he stepped back and said "Fine" calmly.Lena let out a small breath.But something about his expression told me this wasn't over,He looked at her. And said softly "You ran far "But you know I'll find you."Her fingers tightened around her bag.He turned to leave,Then stopped.He looked at me one last time.
"Take care of her," he said. "She gets into trouble easily."Then he walked away Just like that.The tension didn't leave my chest even after he disappeared.I turned to Lena.She looked shaken."Are you okay?" I asked.She nodded quickly, but her eyes said otherwise."I'm fine.""You don't look fine."She looked down the said,"Thank you… for helping me."
"Who was that?"she hesitated."…Someone I know That didn't look like just someone you know."She swallowed hard."I… I don't want to talk about it."
I studied her face. She looked like she was trying to hold herself together.
"Did he hurt you before?" I asked gently.Her eyes flickered,My chest tightened again."We should report him," I said. "No!" she replied too quickly. Students nearby glanced at us.She lowered her voice then said "Please… don't.
"Why?"She shook her head. "It will make things worse.""How?"She didn't answer.Instead, she whispered, "Can we just… leave?"
I nodded.We walked silently across campus. She kept close to me, like she was afraid he might reappear. I noticed how she kept looking behind her every few seconds.
We stopped near the parking lot.She turned to me. "Thank you…she said , really"You don't have to thank me."
"I do."She looked like she wanted to say more… but didn't."Do you have someone picking you up?" I asked.She shook her head. "No.""I can walk you to the gate."She hesitated… then nodded.We walked slowly. The silence between us wasn't awkward anymore. It felt heavy… like there were too many things left unsaid.When we reached the gate, she stopped."This is fine."
"You sure?""Yes."She looked at me.
Her eyes softened."You didn't have to do that for me.""I wanted to."The words slipped out before I could stop them.She looked surprised.My heart pounded."I mean… anyone would have," I added quickly.She smiled faintly."No," she said quietly. "Not anyone."she turned to leave.Then stopped.She looked back at me."Dennis…""Yeah?"
She hesitated.Then said softly —
"You shouldn't get involved with me."
My chest tightened."Why?"Her eyes looked sad."Because… I bring problems."I stepped closer and said that"I don't mind."She shook her head slowly and "You will."
Before I could respond, she walked away.I watched her until she disappeared into the crowd.My mind raced.Who was that guy?What did he mean she owed him?What was she running from?And why did I already care so much?I exhaled slowly.I had just met her.
But it already felt like I was stepping into something complicated.
Something dangerous.My phone buzzed.I pulled it out, it was Unknown number.I frowned and answered."Hello?" there was Silence.
Then a low,calm and familiar voice said,"You shouldn't have interfered."
My heart stopped.It was him.
"You don't know what she is," he continued.My jaw tightened. "Stay away from her."He chuckled softly.
"I'm not the one you should worry about."Cold unease spread through me."What do you mean?"There was a pause.Then he said something that made my blood run cold."You should ask her… why she ran away the night someone almost died."