Page 182 of The Bittersweet Bond

Not from Bas.

And not from herself.

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The cool morning air prickled against Evin’s skin as she stood in front of the school. The familiar building felt foreign today, and she could feel her stomach tightening. So much had changed since last year.

Her fingers clenched the straps of her backpack as she forced herself to take a step forward. You can do this. It’s just another day. Just another day.

But the moment she stepped into the hallway, reality crashed over her like a wave. Conversations quieted as she passed, and the hushed whispers were impossible to ignore. Evin lowered her head, keeping her eyes on the floor or anywhere but the faces of those who murmured, hoping to be seen by as few people as possible. But her ears were sharp.

"Did you hear what happened at the event?"

"Yeah, that fight between Bas and Sergej..."

"Was Evin involved?"

The words cut through the air like razor blades, and Evin’s steps quickened. She kept her gaze locked on the classroom door ahead, willing herself to ignore the tide of unease building inside her.

But just before she reached the door, a familiar voice called out.

"Evin!"

Milka.

Evin froze, the lump in her throat growing heavier. She wanted to run, to yank open the door, to pretend none of this was happening—but she knew that wasn’t an option. Slowly, she turned around.

Milka stood there, her hands clasped in front of her chest, guilt and concern written all over her face. "Can we talk?" she asked softly, almost pleadingly.

Evin said nothing for a moment, just breathing through the pressure in her chest, feeling the heat rise in her head. When she finally spoke, her voice was calm—but sharp as a blade.

"Talk?" She let the word hang in the air. "Here?"

Milka took a hesitant step forward, but Evin lifted a hand, stopping her. Milka parted her lips as if to speak, but Evin’s words sliced through the space between them before she had the chance.

"I trusted you. I thought you were my friend. But I must have been too stupid, too blind to see that you were making choices behind my back—choices that were never yours to make."

"Evin, please… I just wanted to help you," Milka said, her voice breaking, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Some help…" Evin whispered bitterly. "You told Bas everything. You broke my trust, and now I’m standing here in the middle of this mess—again—because you thought you knew better than me."

The silence that followed was suffocating. Milka dropped her gaze, her shoulders curling inward, her voice barely a murmur.

"I just didn’t want you to be alone. You fainted, Evin. You never faint. I couldn't just stand by and watch you destroy yourself."

Evin took a slow breath. She understood Milka. But that didn’t mean she was ready to forgive her. She had been thrown into deep water without warning…

"I was never alone. I had myself. And that was enough."

Just like now.

Without another word, Evin turned, pushed open the classroom door, and slipped inside.

The tension in the room was suffocating. Some students stared, others pretended not to notice. But in the back row, leaned back against his desk as always, sat Bas.

His gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment, time stood still.

Evin could see the storm in his eyes—the guilt, the anger—and something else, something she couldn’t bear to face: worry. So much had changed between them. It was the first time he had ever looked at her like that.

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