Chapter 10

Ryan’s POV
After Alina said that she was fine, I tried to maintain calm in the increasingly heated situation. Mark looked really worried and upset, and I tried to explain that I just wanted to make sure Alina was okay.
“Mark, I just want to make sure Alina is okay. We talked about some important matters,” I explained, trying to keep my voice calm even though the atmosphere was starting to get tense.
However, Mark stared at me sharply, his expression full of disbelief. He didn't seem satisfied with my explanation.
“Important matter? Do you know how anxious I was waiting for Alina here?” Mark voiced his worries and frustrations in a loud voice.
I responded with a little firmness, trying to maintain my position. “I understand, Mark. But this is between me and Alina. I'm sure you can respect that.”
The atmosphere was getting tense, and I could feel a feeling of unease in the air. Alina tries to calm the situation down, but Mark still seems upset.
When Alina stated that she would contact me if she needed anything, I nodded understandingly. "Of course. Thank you, Alina,” I said, trying to show that I was here for her.
When Alina and Mark entered the house, I remained standing in place, contemplating the situation that had just happened. I hope that Alina can explain everything well to Mark, and hopefully we can all find the right solution to the problem at hand. After leaving Alina's house, I reflected on my previous meeting with Mark. It felt strange seeing how tense he was when I just brought Alina home. There may be something deeper causing his violent reaction.
I drove my car with my mind racing, trying to understand what could possibly make Mark feel so threatened or anxious. Does he have feelings more than friendship for Alina? Or maybe there is an unresolved conflict between them? Even though I tried not to pay too much attention to it, I couldn't help but think about it. Alina is an innocent good girl and I just want to make sure that she is okay.
***
When morning came, the gentle sunlight penetrated the window curtains and woke me up. I yawned widely and stretched, feeling the pleasant morning warmth. After a quick shower, I got ready to leave for college. Thoughts about Alina and Mark still linger in my mind, but I try to focus on the new day.
I put on my favorite clothes, fixed my hair, and made sure all my books and equipment were in my bag. With renewed vigor, I headed off to campus, ready to face whatever the day brought.
Arriving at campus, I met my friends, Dylan, Jake, and Tom, in the cafeteria. They were already sitting at our usual table, laughing and joking about something silly.
“Ryan! Here, sit down!” Jake shouted, waving his arms.
I smiled and walked towards them, placing the bag on an empty chair. “Morning, guys. What's the news?"
Dylan, with a big smile, answered, “We were just talking about today's plans. Maybe we can go on an adventure through the forest. Are you interested?”
I nodded, trying to enjoy the moment with my friends and forget last night's worries. "Sounds good. I could use a little time outside the house but why so suddenly?” I asked.
"Spur of the moment plans rarely fail." Dylan just continued.
Tom looked at me a little suspiciously. “You look a little tired, Ryan. Is everything okay?”
I smiled weakly. “Yes, everything is good. There was just a little drama last night, but it's settled.”
Jake raised his eyebrows. "Drama? About what?"
I shook my head, trying to avoid the complicated topic. "Nothing important. Just a friend thing."
Dylan, who seemed to understand that I didn't want to discuss it, changed the topic. “Okay, so about this adventure through the forest. We need to plan routes and who will carry what equipment.”
We were involved in exciting conversations about adventure plans, laughing and throwing ideas at each other. Even though thoughts about Alina and Mark were still in the corners of my mind, these moments with friends provided a little peace and happiness. Maybe, time with them can help me relieve the tension I feel. While we were busy discussing plans for our weekend adventure, suddenly the cafeteria door opened and Mark entered. Jake, who saw him, immediately called him.
"Mark! Come join us," shouted Jake, waving his hand.
Mark approached our table at a leisurely pace, but his sharp gaze was fixed directly on me. I could feel the tension building, as if there was a storm ready to erupt at any moment. I met his gaze with a cold gaze, feeling the tension rise again. Mark pulled up a chair and sat at our table. Tom, who was still confused by the strange behavior of the two of us, finally decided to speak again.
“What's wrong with you two? This is really strange.” Tom asked
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "It's nothing serious, Tom. There's just a little problem we need to sort out."
Mark, who seemed dissatisfied with my explanation, interrupted in a firm tone, "Yes, and that problem seems to need to be resolved now."
Dylan tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, hey. Maybe it's better if you two talk in private later. Now let's try to calm down, okay? We're planning an adventure to the forest today, it should be fun."
Jake nodded in agreement. "That's right. There's no point in making the situation here any worse. We're all friends."
Mark was still glaring at me, but eventually he looked away and tried to join in the conversation. "Okay, we'll talk about it later," he said in a still cold tone.
I nodded, feeling a little relieved even though the tension was still there. "Okay, we'll talk about it later."
That way, we try to continue the conversation about weekend adventures. Even though the atmosphere still felt a little tense, at least we tried to stay focused on our plan. I hope that later I can talk to Mark and resolve all the misunderstandings, so that we can return to normal. Suddenly my nose smelled a very strange aroma, like there was a wolf in the canteen. The smell was strong and unusual, making me feel alert.
"You guys kissed it?" I asked my friends, trying to make sure it wasn't just my imagination.
"Yes," Dylan answered, followed by a nod of the head by the others.
“That's it,” Tom lowered his voice, “Eleven o'clock.” He continued again, his tone full of caution.
I tried to glance in the direction Tom told me and sure enough, it was that man again. An Asian man with a height of around 183 cm and sleepy eyes as his trademark, walked towards an empty dining table alone. I watched his movements, sensing that he might have realized someone was watching him.
"What was his name yesterday?" Jake asked, his voice shaking a little.