Chapter 4 the dean's office

Chapter 4

I heard Sir call my name, 'Ms. Heyes?" I noticed he looked around as he entered the door.

"Sir?" I stopped in front of him, expecting him to point or say something. Time was short, and only a few of us were left in the room after the exam.

"The dean asks for your presence. Go straight to his office now." I couldn't stop being nervous when I heard what our professor said. I already know why I was called.

I still have a large balance to pay because I didn't pay it right away last year when my mother got sick. I paid it little by little but it wasn't enough for me to pay it all at once. The tuition for the course I took was expensive, I would have liked not to take it but my mother wanted me to take the course of my dreams because she didn't want me to regret it in the end.

In the dean's office, I shifted nervously in my seat, my heart pounding. I cleared my throat as the dean looked up from his desk.

"Dean, thank you for seeing me," I began, my voice quivering slightly. "I know I still have a remaining balance for tuition, and I'm here to request some more time to pay it off. I've been juggling multiple jobs, and I'm doing everything I can to catch up."

the dean looked at me with a stern expression, his fingers intertwined.

"Ms. Heyes, I understand your situation, but the university has policies in place for tuition deadlines. We can't make exceptions for every student facing financial difficulties."

My shoulders slumped completely "I know, but I'm so close to graduating. If I can just have a bit more time-"

Before I could finish my speech, the dean's assistant entered the room, holding a piece of paper.

"Excuse me, Dean, I just received an urgent message. It seems someone has paid off Ms. Heyes remaining tuition balance."

My eyes widened in astonishment "Paid off? But... I didn't-"

The assistant handed me the paper, and my eyes scanned the contents. "It's a receipt for the payment, and there's a note here," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Dean leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "What does the note say?"

I cleared my throat, my hands trembling slightly as I read aloud, "Ms. Heyes, I believe in the power of education and the pursuit of dreams. Consider this a helping hand on your journey. - A Friend."

"It seems you have a guardian angel, Isabella. Someone who believes in your potential."

Tears started to well up in my eyes as I tried to hold them back. "I... I don't know who could have done this."

Dean smiled gently. "Sometimes, acts of kindness come from unexpected places. I'll mark your balance as paid, Isabella. Focus on your studies and make the most of the opportunity you've been given."

As I left the dean's office, my heart was filled with a mix of gratitude and curiosity. I couldn't help but wonder who the mysterious person was, the one who had eased my burden and believed in my dreams but I can't just sit here and relax. I have to find this person and pay them back at least little by little.

But I don't know the purpose of the person who paid my tuition to help me. I want to thank you because I don't know who he is and how he knew that I had a problem with my tuition.

I walked out of the gate when I didn't expect to meet people I didn't want to see at the moment. I don't want my day to be ruined just because of them.

One of their friends saw me before I heard what he said to the neighbor. "The one who had a crush on you is here too." All his friends turned in my direction but I just ignored it and went straight out.

Before I turned my back from them, someone's hand grabbed my wrist which startled me. "W- what?!" I couldn't help but shout at him and he just grinned.

"Woah, it's a fight. Is there anything to say?" mockingly promised the man with it and they immediately laughed.

My eyebrows meet because he doesn't even let go of me. I don't bother him anymore because I don't want him to be ashamed of me.

We were friends since high school and I really chose to study at this University because of him. First of all, I like him and have been for a long time but I don't show it but other people will react differently when we are together. Little by little, he is the one who is moving away from me like I am a virus that when we meet, he will immediately turn away. I'm not stupid enough not to notice that.

So after that, I chose to focus on my studies and work and didn't pay attention to it again, but what I don't know is the reason why now they are the ones who are coming up to me and mocking me. I didn't tell Kalel that I have a crush on him but why do they always tell me that when we meet?

"Let me go, Kalel. That's not fun," I said firmly and immediately took my hand from him but because he was strong I was the only one who felt pain.

He still didn't let go of me while his friends started laughing so because of my anger and I was still shocked, I slapped him which silenced them all. His grip also loosened so I immediately withdrew my hand.

I glared at him "I keep quiet but you are the ones ruining my day. When are you going to be mature? You're already mature but you're still young? And you Kalel, I don't understand why you've become like that. Not anymore I know you." I didn't wait for him to answer and turned back but immediately backed away when I saw a familiar face heading in our direction.

My eyes widened and quickly covered my face with one hand and bowed slightly. Why is he here? And why now?

My soul seemed to jump when Kalel immediately pulled me and he grabbed my arm again, which I winced in pain. "What the hell, Kalel.. Let me go." I said softly and looked at him angrily.

"We need to talk, Isabella," he promised me seriously and pulled me away but I weighed myself down and pulled my arm from his grip again. Isn't a slap enough for this man to stop me? I wish I punched him to make him grow up.

"You said let me go! What the hell!" even though it hurts, I pull my arm back but he still doesn't move. I didn't realize the tears that were about to fall from my eyes.

It was very painful at the same time, there were many people looking in our direction. I don't want the whole school to talk about me just because it's embarrassing.

I didn't remember Kalel like this before. He was once a genuine and gentle man who always put me first. When we were back in high school, everyone assumed that we were together as a couple so all I heard was teasing when we were together. Because he was my crush at the time, I was thrilled but that disappeared when he became cold to me suddenly after we parted ways because of the course we took.

"You're hurting her." I sniffed and looked at the person behind me. My eyes are getting blurry because of the tears so I can't make out whose voice it's coming from.

Kalel turned to me and his expression softened when he saw me crying. He let go of me and I stepped back to avoid being held like that again. My arms are small because I'm a small girl, so you can see the blush I'm going to push because of his tight grip.

"I-I'm sorry, I just wanted to talk to you." I didn't answer and just looked at my red arm and when I touch it it only hurts more.

Someone touching my shoulder as if he gently slid it with his big hand and squeezed it gently. Instead of being scared and walking away, I let him do that which confused me as if my body was saying that I was safe.

"If you want to talk to her, calm yourself first. You're a dude and do you think, grabbing her like that will make her listen to you?"

Surprise registered on Kalel's face when he heard that from the man next to me. I noticed his frown immediately when the man's hand was on my shoulder.

"Who are you? What do you care about Isabella and I's fight? Do you know her Isa?" I wiped the tears in my cheeks and darting him with my anger look.

"Don't ask me like we are okay, Kalel. Just please.. Leave me alone!"

"I didn't mean to hu-" He was about to approach me but I retreated completely and found myself grabbing someone's wrist without even looking at his appearance.

"Hey! Isabella!" he shouted but I didn't look at him anymore and marched on. I didn't pay attention to the students who were looking at us and I just passed them.

I just let go of my pull when I sat on the bench and silently cried while bowing my head. I wipe my tears every time it falls but some will pour again.

I couldn't stop it anymore and I really cried all the time. It only hurts because Kalel can hurt me so that he can satisfy the face of his friends. He wasn't like this before. He always defends me when someone fights with me but now, he is the one who is hurting me.

We have never talked for two years because when I want to talk to him, his friends stop him or they lie so that we don't talk.

He even changed his contact number and we are no longer friends on the social media account which made me put in pain and I remember crying because of that.

A handkerchief was spread in front of me. I stopped and gazed at it before I took it and wiped my tears and mucus. I didn't notice the man's presence because I was focused on wiping my face.

"I thought you might need a little pick-me-up." The familiar voice caught my attention. I never even gave a glimpse of him earlier so I don't know who I pulled.

I looked up. It was dark but there was light so I could still see the man's face which surprised me.

I saw Alex smiling at me with an ice cream cone on his hands. My eyes widened in surprise,! I thought it was someone else who pulled me and saved me, but now even at school, he is here too!

"W- alex?" I still can't believe looking at him. He just smiled at me and observed my expression.

"Wait, why are you here?" So the voice was familiar earlier? Because it's his? I face palmed. Putek, I want to see him again but now is the time.

He held out an ice cream cone that was chocolate flavored so I took it because he might have fallen asleep. It's a shame. He's the one who wants to calm me down, I'm the choosy one.

Then the ice cream that was bought was from in front of the University and it was also a few meters away from the parking area.

"Thank you" I was still shy. I didn't look at him because I quickly licked the ice cream dripping from the cone. It's a shame too.

I felt him sit next to me but because he has a big body and a macho look, there are only a few inches between us and just one muscle, our skin is touching.

We sat in silence for a moment. I took a tentative lick of the ice cream, the cool sweetness providing a much-needed distraction from my swirling thoughts.

"I hope everything's okay," Alex finally spoke, his voice gentle and concerned.

I sighed, my shoulders relaxing as I took a deep breath. "It's just... childhood friendships can be complicated, you know? We've known each other for so long, but sometimes things change."

I never expected that we would be like this in the first place, because we were so close then and it's like we can't be apart sometimes even at break time and then he comes to the house to tease me. It's just so hurt to think that all of our bonding and memories when we were together vanished in an instant.

Even now I still regret it.

I saw Alex nodding in understanding.

"People change, circumstances change. It's part of life, but it doesn't make it any less painful."

I looked at him "You're right. It's just hard to accept sometimes"

He reached over and gently patted my hand. "Take your time. And remember, a little ice cream always helps."

I managed a chuckle, feeling a sense of comfort in his presence. "Thank you for being here, Alex. You have a way of making things feel a bit lighter."

He smiled warmly, his eyes holding a hint of sincerity. "I'm glad I could bring a smile to your face. We all need someone to lean on from time to time."

We looked at each other and smiled at each other and I couldn't help but look at his whole posture. He wore a tight gray tee shirt, denim pants paired with white shoes. Even if he wore something simple, he would still be known to be rich because of his very confident aura. Like he is so expensive to watch that even I feel like his assistant when we are next to each other.

I looked up at his ice cream that was about to drip. "Your ice cream is melting."

"Oh" He immediately licked it that I looked away. Why do I think differently? I think I need to drink holy water. I shook my head to vanish all my green thoughts and tried to ask him questions.

"By the way Alex, why are you here? Do you have a brother who studies here?" I completely finished the ice cream and turned to him to wait for his answer.

"Well, No.. I'm looking for someone." I bowed my head and looked at the ants walking towards the ice cream that dripped onto the ground.

"I'm looking for a woman who left me that night." I quickly looked at him as I immediately realized what he said.

I raised my eyebrows and looked at him doubtfully."Why are you looking for him? Your girlfriend was there that night."

That's right, isn't that ironic when someone's boyfriend is looking for another woman? I don't know who he was referring to because we talked to him a lot.

He smirked at my response. "She is my ex. She was just pestering me all the time." I still doubted looking at him because from what I could see, he enjoyed kissing that girl.

"Really? I don't think so." He let out a chuckle that I just grinned. What's so funny about what I said?

"That's why I came here, I want to talk to you about something but first we have to go somewhere else, it's getting dark already."

Oh, what are we talking about? I don't remember doing anything bad during the events. Maybe what we are talking about is really important because he really looked for me.

I hope it's not about the money, maybe he's just here to charge me. I don't have any money yet because I sent it to Mother. I nodded and stood up from sitting on the bench. He stepped forward and opened the door of his car.

To Be Continued...