The Professor|| Sylus

Alone

(Story Inspired By Wildflower!♡)

Mei sprinted through the forest, her legs carrying her as fast as they could, not caring where she went. Branches scraped against her skin, and her breath came in ragged gasps. She was trying to outrun her emotions, but they clung to her, like the thickening shadows of the trees around her. As her foot snagged on a root, she tumbled to the ground, hitting her knee hard.

"Owww," she winced, sitting up slowly and rubbing her bruised knee, which now had a small but painful wound. Glancing around, she realized she was completely surrounded by trees. The carnival's sounds were far behind her, swallowed by the dense forest. It was getting darker, and her heart raced, not just from the pain but from the overwhelming sensation of being lost—physically and emotionally.

Sliding down the nearest tree trunk, Mei hugged her legs tightly, trying to steady her breaths. She tried to fix her hair, a nervous habit, but it only made her feel more disheveled. "What the hell is wrong with me?" she whispered, tears pricking the edges of her eyes. Sylus had told her there was nothing between him and Mina, but actions spoke louder. And the way he had embraced Mina...

"But it doesn't matter...It doesn't," she mumbled, trying to convince herself. She knew she had no claim on Sylus, that there was nothing official between them, but still, every shared glance, every laugh, every gentle touch felt like it meant something. She groaned in frustration, standing up on shaky legs. "I should probably get back," she muttered to herself, but as she looked around, everything looked the same. Trees, trees, and more TREES.

Mei's frustration grew as she wandered in circles. "Why do I feel like this has happened before?" she muttered. She hadn't gone far, but it felt like she had walked miles. Every direction looked identical, and the panic began to set in. Her heart pounded faster, and suddenly, she heard a rustling behind her. Spinning around, her instinct kicked in as she picked up a rock and threw it in the direction of the sound.

"Ow!" A familiar voice cried out.

"Mina?!" Mei gasped as she recognized her, who was now rubbing her face where the rock had hit.

Mina raised an eyebrow, clearly irritated. "Why so jumpy?"

"I-I'm sorry! I thought you were something else," Mei stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Mina gave a wry smile. "Like what? A wild boar?"

The silence that followed felt heavy, awkward. Mei shifted on her feet, unsure of what to say. Mina broke the quiet first, her voice carrying an edge of impatience. "Come on. Everyone's looking for you, including Sylus."

As they began walking, Mei followed Mina through the forest, her mind spinning. The awkward silence between them hung thick in the air, and Mei was unsure of how to bridge the gap. Just as she was about to speak, Mina abruptly cut through the quiet. "I want you to know that nothing else matters to me but two things—my father and Sylus."

Mei's heart sank a little hearing his name, but she responded quietly, "I-I know..."

Mina stopped and turned, fixing her gaze on Mei. "What? You're not going to say anything else?"

Mei blinked, unsure of what Mina expected. "What do you think I should say?"

Mina crossed her arms, her expression almost daring. "I don't know. Try hurting me? Spit out whatever feisty words you've been holding back? I know I've been a bit annoying today."

Mei shook her head. "Not at all...I never thought about you that way."

Mina studied her for a moment, tilting her head. "You're one weird girl...Maybe it's just me." She turned and started walking again, leaving Mei standing there, processing her words.

After a few moments, Mei gathered her courage and spoke up, her voice hesitant. "Can I ask you something?"

Mina sighed, not bothering to turn around. "One question only because I still hate you."

Mei swallowed, knowing this question was a personal one. "Why did you try to—"

"Kill myself?" Mina finished for her, her voice flat but sharp enough to cut through the tension. She kept walking, not even glancing at Mei. "Long story short...I thought Sylus would come back for me. I didn't care about the marriage, or the politics, or any of it. I cared that he didn't show up, that he didn't come back to me. I waited, and he never came."

Mei stayed silent, but Mina turned to look at her, her gaze hard. "And then I realized how pathetic It was... waiting for him like that and I realized something else...how stupid he was to pick you."

Mei's breath hitched, confused. "no he did not, Mina he does care so much about you...I was told by many people how long he had kept such emotions when he left you, he was isolated...hurt even depressed of what he did to you...and he grieved."

Mina's lips trembled for a second before she regained her composure, forcing a weak smile. "It doesn't change anything. Not now."

But as Mina spoke, her eyes betrayed her words, filling with tears she had tried so hard to suppress. This time, the tears fell, surprising Mei. Mina wiped her eyes quickly, but the pain was evident.

"Sylus showed me his life...but the worst part? He's showing you the world. And I could never compete with that."

She rubbed her eyes again, this time letting herself cry more openly. The vulnerability in her voice and the weight of her confession struck Mei deeply. She stood there, unsure of what to say, but understanding that no words would heal Mina's hurt. It was the unspoken truth between them—no matter how much Mina had once meant to Sylus, the person he was now belonged somewhere else.

Mina took a deep breath, steadying herself after her emotional outburst. Once she calmed down, she spoke with a quiet, but firm resolve. "It doesn't matter now...What's done is done." Her gaze shifted to Mei, sharp with determination. "Just so you know? If you ever hurt him, I'll take him back. Whatever it takes."

Mei looked at her, unwavering. "I won't. I'm sure of it."

Mina's eyes softened for a moment as she gave a weak smile again before turning to face the path ahead. "Come on, let's go back."

As they walked toward the right path, the quiet between them lingered. But before long, they were met by the sight of Sylus and Dr. Gregory rushing toward them, their expressions filled with worry. Sylus ran past Mina without a glance, his focus solely on Mei. His arms enveloped Mei in a tight embrace, his voice breathless with concern.

"Where were you?! Shit, you had me so worried!" His voice, usually calm and collected, trembled slightly.

Mei hugged him back, feeling the warmth and relief in his touch. "I'm sorry..."

Mina stood back, watching the two of them. Her chest tightened, but she said nothing. Dr. Gregory stepped up beside her, observing the scene with a soft understanding in his eyes. "I guess you already know how this ends, huh?" he asked, his tone gentle.

Mina's lips twitched into a bitter smile as she glanced at him. "The ending?" She placed a hand on his shoulder and shook her head. "No, this is only the beginning."

Dr. Gregory smiled knowingly. "My regards to your father, Mina."

With a nod, Mina turned and walked away, her figure fading into the forest like a ghost. Dr. Gregory watching her go, into the quiet night...