She steps closer.
“You don’t get to be both at half power.”
That lands.
“You want romance?” she says. “Have it. But not at the expense of this program.”
My jaw tightens.
“I won’t let that happen.”
“Good.”
She studies me one last time.
“Because you are too good to let boys reduce you.”
The word reduce sinks deep.
That’s what it felt like last night.
Like I shrank.
Like I was fifteen again, standing in a gym full of laughter.
“I won’t,” I say quietly.
She nods once.
“Then prove it.”
I shower.
Cold.
Longer than usual.
By the time I step outside, the campus feels louder.
Busier.
Normal.
Like my entire emotional collapse didn’t just happen in a stairwell.
My phone buzzes in my bag.
I don’t check it.
I don’t need to.
I already know what’s there.
Speculation.
Screenshots.
Clips of the hallway.
