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Chapter 23 - Winning

Fiza's nerves and excitement were in full force as she got ready to reveal her feelings to Alan. She applied red lipstick, ditched her glasses for her contact lenses, wore a crop top that accentuated her figure, and left her hair flowing loosely. On the way to the library, she noticed the attention she garnered along the way and it boosted her confidence.

Outside the library, Alan approached Fiza, and Anna stood nearby at the cup noodle stall, watching their interaction. Fiza looked absolutely stunning in Alan's eyes, causing a rush of affection and desire to course through him.

Fiza greeted Alan with a beaming smile, unable to contain her happiness at seeing him. However, Alan's response was one of confusion and slight irritation. He couldn't understand why Fiza had rejected him and then suddenly seemed so enamored.

Fiza grew worried seeing Alan's expression. It had been almost three months since their intimate moment in the tub, and their communication had been minimal since then.

Doubts crept into Fiza's mind, wondering if Alan's feelings had changed during their time apart. She looked deep into his eyes, hoping to find some answers, but his gaze revealed nothing. Frustration built within her. She wanted to shake him and demand the truth. Instead, she mustered the courage to ask, "Are we still friends?"

The mention of "friends" triggered a strong reaction in Alan. They were more than just friends; he was deeply in love with her. He shook his head. "You tell me, Fiza. You were the one who ghosted me. You made me promise to talk things out and not to disappear on you, but you ghosted me... after everything..."

Their eyes locked, and they were both thinking of the same thing. Fiza's face flushed at the memory, but she remained determined to express her true feelings.

She mustered her words and confessed, "I got scared. I was falling for you, but weren't the one. And I couldn't be with you." It was a jumbled explanation, and she realized it didn't fully capture the depth of her emotions. "I needed space to figure it out."

Alan's mind fixated on her words, "but you weren't the one." Of course, he wasn't. He would never measure up to her standards. She was beautiful, kind, intelligent, talented and full of light. Meanwhile, he was a monster.

He recalled the time that he had lost control and slapped Aarthy. She had pushed him away after she had climaxed one day, asking him to finish off on his own, insulting him verbally. That day had been just one time too many. Consumed by anger, he had struck her.

She had responded with laughter, but her words cut deep, "You should be locked up like the monster you are. You will never find happiness. Mark my words." And what he happened after that, he pushed to the deepest crevices in his brain.

His head was reeling, overwhelmed by the belief that he was doomed to be alone and that he deserved nothing more. After all, he was a violent monster with no redeeming qualities.

"Alan!" Fiza's urgent calls jolted him back to the present. "Alan!" Concern etched across her face as she looked at him, sensing the haunted and broken state of his being.

Her heart ached to comfort him, to hold him tight and kiss away his pain. Without hesitation, she reached out, taking his hands firmly in hers, locking their gaze. She made up her mind. She would do whatever it took to make their relationship work.

But in that very moment, Anna approached them. She sensed the intense connection between Alan and Fiza. She had observed their interaction. The desire lingering between them was obvious. No wonder Alan had always seemed distant with her. His heart belonged to someone else - the girl standing before them, determined to win him back.