She was in the library, reading a rather thick book for his taste. It was surely something related to the project. He reached the table where she was sitting and, as he pulled a chair to sit down, he addressed Maya.
-Hi, Maya. I heard your classmate came back.
-Alex. Hi. Yes, he did.
-I talked to the Anatomy professor, and it looks like the two of us will have to continue the project together.
-And… Bogdan?
-He'll have to do another project, on his own. The professor kept grumbling about lack of seriousness when I asked him. I think he's incredibly lucky he didn't fail him right away.
-I don't want to sound rude, but I really want to focus on the project. Either you help me, or you leave. You're distracting me.
-Please forgive me. There's something I've been wanting to do for a while, and I couldn't find the courage.
He leaned over the table and grabbed her chin with his right hand, pulling her forcefully toward him. Before Maya realized, he was already kissing her—or rather, assaulting her.
His tongue frantically tried to force her lips open, to push its way into her mouth. Then, just as quickly as the kiss began, his hands wrapped around her, lifting her from the chair and holding her as if in a vise of brute strength.
She was furious and horrified by his sudden gesture, and as she recovered from the initial shock, she tried to push him away, but his strong arms would not allow her to free herself from his grip. She was terrified by the situation. He was invading her personal space, even her body. She felt disgusted by what he might have considered a passionate kiss, and she felt she was in real danger.
She began to struggle frantically, trying to bite, scratch, or hit him, hoping Alex would let her go. As she fought back, he seemed increasingly irritated by her resistance. Then, suddenly, he shoved her away, slapped her hard across the face, numbing her right cheek, and slammed her with full force into the bookshelf.
The blow to her head was so strong that Maya felt dizzy. Alex's grip was the only thing that kept her from falling.
Regaining just enough composure to keep her balance, her eyes desperately searched for someone who could help her, but she realized with shock that she and Alex were the only people in the library. She didn't want to think about what might follow; she only hoped she would have enough strength to keep him at a distance until they were no longer alone.