Elisa's POV
The annual University Spring Festival was in full swing, a kaleidoscope of bright banners, food truck aromas, and live music. Lisa and Caleb were trying to convince me to try the rock-climbing wall, but I was happy just people-watching, enjoying the vibrant chaos. My earlier conversation with Felix about Jake had clarified things between us – I wasn't leading Jake on – but it hadn't, apparently, done anything to deter Jake himself. The memory of his casual presence at Aunt Maria's party still made my skin crawl slightly.
"Elisa! Perfect timing!"
My stomach tightened. Jake Evans, of course. He appeared beside me as if conjured from thin air, his usual bright smile in place. He was holding two oversized carnival prizes – a bright pink stuffed unicorn and a giant plush banana – looking far too pleased with himself.
"Just won these at the ring toss," he announced, gesturing. "Figured you needed a prize for putting up with my terrible basketball aim." He extended the unicorn towards me, his smile unwavering. "It's yours. Think of it as a peace offering."
"Oh, Jake, you really didn't have to," I mumbled, feeling my cheeks flush with discomfort. The last thing I wanted was a public, garish gift from him. Lisa and Caleb exchanged knowing glances behind him.
"Nonsense!" he insisted, pressing the unicorn into my arms. He then leaned in, his voice dropping slightly, becoming more conspiratorial. "Hey, there's a fortune teller booth over there. Heard she's surprisingly accurate. We should go. See what the future holds for us." As he spoke, he subtly, almost imperceptibly, put his hand on the small of my back, attempting to guide me away from Lisa and Caleb, towards the tent.
My entire body stiffened. It wasn't forceful, but it was an undeniable, unwelcome intimacy, a disregard for my personal space that went beyond polite conversation. I tried to subtly shift away, to shrug off his hand, my smile feeling painfully strained. "Oh, no, thanks, Jake, I'm actually just about to grab some food with Lisa and Caleb."
He just chuckled, his fingers still resting on my back, applying gentle pressure. "Come on, live a little! It'll be fun. Just us." His blue eyes held mine, persistent, confident. I felt trapped, unable to politely but definitively extract myself without creating a scene. My heart began to pound with a mixture of annoyance and rising panic.
Felix's POV
The Spring Festival was exactly the kind of public, chaotic event I usually avoided. But Leo had insisted on checking out some new sports equipment vendors, and I'd grudgingly accompanied him. My eyes, however, kept drifting towards Elisa. She was with Lisa and Caleb, laughing near a food truck. She seemed genuinely happy, at ease.
Then I saw him. Jake Evans. Again. He appeared out of nowhere, all bright smiles and oversized carnival prizes, like a persistent, unwanted shadow. He was holding a ridiculous pink unicorn, pressing it into Elisa's arms. My jaw tightened. He never gave up, did he?
I watched him lean in, speak to her, and then, I saw it. His hand on the small of her back. His fingers lingered, pressing subtly, trying to steer her away. Elisa visibly stiffened, her movements becoming hesitant, her smile strained. She was trying to politely deflect him, but he wasn't taking the hint. His charming persistence had morphed into a quiet, insidious encroachment. He was making her uncomfortable, publicly.
The conversation we'd had days ago flashed through my mind: He's a pain. I don't let him hang around. He just... shows up. And my own anger: Why are you letting him hang around like that? I'd understood then that she wasn't encouraging him, but seeing him push her boundaries now, seeing her trapped in that polite discomfort, pushed me past the breaking point. This was no longer just an annoyance; it was a clear disregard for her autonomy, a public display of unwanted claim.
I moved. Purposefully, directly. I walked straight towards them, my eyes locked on Jake. There was no hesitation, no internal debate.
"Evans." My voice was a low, even tone, devoid of emotion, but sharp enough to cut through the festival noise. I stopped directly beside Elisa, placing my hand firmly on her arm, the action a silent but undeniable claim. My presence immediately created a physical barrier between her and Jake.
Jake looked up, startled, his hand dropping from Elisa's back as if burned. His confident smile faltered. "Thorne," he said, clearly surprised by my sudden appearance.
My gaze was cold, unwavering, fixed solely on him. "Elisa was just about to leave," I stated, my voice like ice. My grip on Elisa's arm tightened almost imperceptibly, a clear signal. My body language conveyed everything my words didn't: She is not available. Back off. Now.
Jake's eyes flickered from me, to my hand on Elisa's arm, then to Elisa's flushed face. He seemed to grasp the unspoken warning. He gave a forced, awkward chuckle. "Oh, right. Well, I guess I'll catch you later, Elisa." He backed away slowly, the confident charm completely evaporated, before turning and disappearing into the crowd.
I didn't release Elisa's arm immediately. I looked down at her, my anger slowly receding, replaced by a quiet sense of satisfaction. She looked up, her eyes wide, a mixture of relief and surprise. The unicorn was still clutched in her other hand, a ridiculous trophy of his failed attempt.