A veil of hearts

•Assembling the puzzle•

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11

Aina's POV

"Are you going to respond?" Bella asked gently, peering over my shoulder.

I sighed, locking the screen and setting the phone aside. "Not now. I... I need time to process everything."

Bella nodded, understanding in her eyes. "Of course. Do you want to talk about it? About what happened tonight?"

I leaned back on the couch, closing my eyes. The events of the evening flashed through my mind like a disjointed film reel. "I was walking back from the library," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "It was later than I'd planned, but I had that microbiology exam coming up..."

As I recounted the story - the footsteps behind me, the growing fear, the desperate run through dark streets - Bella listened intently, her hand never leaving mine. When I got to the part about Professor Joshua's arrival, I felt my voice falter.

"He just... appeared," I said, still somewhat in disbelief. "Like he knew I needed help. And the way he looked at me, Bella... it was like he could see right through me."

Bella squeezed my hand. "What did he say?"

I recalled his words, the concern in his voice. "He asked if I was okay, if I'd been hurt. He insisted on driving me here, said he couldn't bear the thought of me being in danger."

"That's... intense," Bella murmured.

I nodded, remembering the charged silence in the car, the almost electric tension between us. "There was a moment," I continued, my voice dropping even lower, "when he reached out, like he was going to touch my hand. But he stopped himself."

Bella's eyes widened. "Aina... that's not just a professor being concerned for a student."

"I know," I whispered, the admission feeling both terrifying and exhilarating. "But what am I supposed to do with that? He's my professor, Bella. It's wrong. It's... complicated."

"Life often is," Bella said softly. "But Aina, after everything you've been through - the accident, the memory loss - don't you think you deserve a chance at happiness? At connection?"

I felt tears prick at my eyes. "But what if it's all connected? What if there's something about my past that I'm missing, something important?"

Bella pulled me into another hug. "Then you'll figure it out. Together, if that's what you both want. But for now, you need rest."

As if on cue, my phone buzzed again. Another message from Professor Joshua:

I know it's late, but I can't stop thinking about what happened. Are you truly alright? Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything. Anything at all.

I showed Bella the message, my heart racing.

"Oh, Aina," she said, a mix of excitement and concern in her voice. "Whatever's happening between you two... it's real. The question is, what are you going to do about it?"

I stared at the message, feeling like I was standing on the edge of a precipice. Whatever I did next would change everything. As the first light of dawn began to creep through Bella's windows, I took a deep breath and began to type:

I'm safe, thanks to you.

As I stared at my phone, torn between responding and staying silent, there was a soft knock at the door. Bella and I exchanged confused glances before she went to answer it.