NATASHA'S POV
The walk back to the camp was silent.
Neither Alex nor I said much after our conversation in the forest.
For some reason, everything he had said kept replaying in my mind.
You are not the problem.
Peter is.
I had never expected those words to come from Alex.
He had always been the person who annoyed me the most. We argued over almost everything, and I never imagined that he would be the one comforting me after Peter broke my heart.
When we finally reached the camp, Lisa immediately came running toward me.
"Natasha! Where were you? I was so worried!"
Before I could answer, she noticed my red eyes.
Her expression changed.
"What happened?"
I looked away.
"Lisa…"
She immediately understood that something was wrong.
"Did Peter do something?"
I couldn't hold it anymore.
Tears filled my eyes again as I nodded.
Lisa's face became furious.
"What did that idiot do?"
I took a deep breath and told her everything.
When I finished, Lisa looked ready to hunt Peter down herself.
"I swear, Natasha, if I see him right now—"
"Lisa, please."
I grabbed her hand.
"I don't want to talk about him anymore."
She looked at me for a moment before pulling me into a hug.
"You don't have to."
A few steps away, Alex stood silently.
He looked at me once before turning his gaze toward Lara.
Lara tried to approach him.
"Alex…"
He didn't even look at her.
"We're done."
His voice was cold.
"Please, Alex. Let me explain."
"I don't need an explanation."
And with that, he walked away.
For the first time, I realized something.
Alex was hurting too.
But just like me, he was pretending that he wasn't.
---
The next morning, everyone packed their things and prepared to leave.
The bus ride back to university was supposed to be peaceful.
At least, that's what I thought.
I climbed into the bus and chose a window seat near the middle.
Lisa sat beside me.
I rested my head against the window, watching the trees pass by.
I wasn't in the mood to talk.
A few minutes later, Peter came toward us.
"Natasha…"
I immediately looked away.
"Can I sit here?"
Before I could answer, someone dropped into the seat beside me.
Alex.
He casually put his bag on his lap.
"Sorry, this seat's taken."
Peter stared at him.
"Alex, I was talking to Natasha."
"And she didn't answer."
Alex looked at him calmly.
"So I assumed she didn't want to talk to you."
Peter clenched his jaw.
"Move."
"No."
The two stared at each other.
I sighed.
"Alex…"
He looked at me.
"What?"
"It's fine."
I thought he would move.
Instead, he leaned back comfortably.
"Nope."
I couldn't help rolling my eyes.
"You're impossible."
"I know."
Peter looked at me one last time.
"Natasha, please. Just give me five minutes."
I finally looked at him.
"There is nothing left to say, Peter."
His face fell.
"But—"
"Please leave."
Peter stood there for a moment before walking toward the back of the bus.
I watched him disappear.
Alex remained silent.
After a few minutes, I whispered,
"Why did you sit here?"
He shrugged.
"You looked like you needed someone."
I looked at him in surprise.
"You're actually worried about me?"
"Don't get emotional."
He looked out the window.
"I just don't want you crying on the bus."
I smiled slightly.
"You're still annoying."
"And you're still a crybaby."
"Alex!"
He laughed.
For the first time since last night, I laughed too.
And strangely...
It felt good.
---
When we reached the university, everyone started getting off the bus.
I picked up my bag.
Lisa walked beside me.
"So…"
She looked at Alex.
Then at me.
Then back at Alex.
"What?"
She smiled suspiciously.
"Nothing."
"Lisa."
"I said nothing!"
I rolled my eyes.
But I noticed something.
Peter was standing nearby, watching us.
And Lara was standing beside him.
Neither of them looked happy.
I didn't know why.
And honestly, I didn't care.
At least, that's what I told myself.
---
The next few days at university were difficult.
Rumors about Peter and Lara spread quickly.
Everyone knew they had been caught together during the hiking trip.
Some people whispered whenever I walked past.
Others looked at me with pity.
I hated it.
I didn't want anyone's sympathy.
I just wanted to forget everything.
But Peter didn't make it easy.
He kept trying to talk to me.
"Natasha, please."
"Not now."
"Just listen to me once."
"I've already heard enough."
Every time he approached me, Alex somehow appeared nearby.
I didn't understand why.
Maybe he was doing it because he knew I was uncomfortable.
Or maybe he simply enjoyed annoying Peter.
Either way, I appreciated it.
One afternoon, I was walking toward the cafeteria when Lara suddenly stepped in front of Alex.
"Alex, please. Can we talk?"
"No."
"Just five minutes."
"I said no."
She grabbed his arm.
"Alex, I made a mistake."
He pulled his arm away.
"You didn't make a mistake, Lara."
He looked at her coldly.
"You made a choice."
I stopped a few steps away.
I didn't know why, but seeing Alex like this made me feel sad for him.
Lara's eyes filled with tears.
"Do you really not love me anymore?"
Alex didn't answer.
She looked at him for a moment before walking away.
Alex stood there silently.
Then he noticed me.
Our eyes met.
"You heard everything?"
I nodded.
"I'm sorry."
He gave a small laugh.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I don't know."
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Alex suddenly looked toward Lara, who was walking away.
An idea seemed to cross his mind.
He looked back at me.
"Natasha."
"What?"
"Do you trust me?"
I immediately became suspicious.
"No."
He laughed.
"Fair enough."
"Why?"
He stepped closer.
"I have an idea."
"What kind of idea?"
He smiled.
"One that can solve both our problems."
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
He glanced toward Peter.
Then toward Lara.
And finally back at me.
"Let's pretend to date."
My eyes widened.
"What?!"
"Just pretend."
"Are you crazy?"
"Probably."
I stared at him.
"You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
"To make them believe we've moved on."
I crossed my arms.
"And why would I agree to this?"
Alex smiled.
"Because Peter won't be able to bother you anymore."
I hesitated.
He continued.
"And Lara will finally stop chasing me."
I looked toward Peter.
He was watching us from across the hallway.
Then I looked at Alex.
For some reason, the idea didn't sound completely terrible.
Still, I wasn't going to let him know that.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Fine."
Alex blinked.
"Really?"
"But there are rules."
He smiled.
"Deal."
Neither of us knew it yet...
But the fake relationship we were about to start would change everything.
Because sometimes, the person you pretend to love...
becomes the person you never expected to fall for.