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Chapter 23 - Winning

Fiza's nerves and excitement were in full force as she got ready to reveal her love to Alan. She applied makeup with care, donned a crop top that accentuated her figure, and left her hair flowing loosely. As she made her way to the library, she couldn't help but notice the attention she garnered along the way, boosting 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.

A furrow formed on his brow, and Fiza grew worried. 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, and she felt the urge 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. Shaking his head, he responded with a mix of disappointment and hurt, "You tell me, Fiza. You were the one who ghosted me. You made me promise not to disappear on you, yet you ignored me... after everything..."

Their eyes locked, and both couldn't help but be reminded of their intimate encounter. Fiza's face flushed with embarrassment, 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. 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. You are not good enough for anybody." And what he did to her 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 hand firmly in hers, locking their gaze. She made up her mind. She would confess her love and assure him that she was willing to do whatever it took to make their relationship work.

But in that very moment, Anna approached them, her sharp intuition sensing the intense connection between Alan and Fiza. She had observed their interaction, the unspoken desire lingering in the air, and her suspicions began to take shape. 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.