She no longer trembles—
Because now, she is the author of her own story.
Ela says in a firm voice,
— "Will you two just shut up? I can't take it anymore… If this keeps happening, I'm going to go insane."
Her eyes reflect a mix of pain and unease—but also a strange, rising determination.
Rafael and Idris both stand silently, momentarily stunned by her words.
Ela turns around with a serious expression and walks quickly toward her small flat, where her solitude silently waits for her.
She unlocks the door and enters.
The moment she steps inside, tears she's been holding back begin to fall.
Alone, she sits in the corner of her bedroom—
And cries.
Cries out of fear and pain.
Flashes of her small coffee shop days, college classes, and everything that happened today rush through her mind.
The more the darkness grows inside her, the more it feels like someone is trapping her, with no way out.
In her cries is the piercing sound of loneliness and helplessness.
Yet in that crying—there is a kind of release,
A hint of liberation.
Then Ela slowly wipes her tears and stands in front of the mirror.
Her eyes show pure exhaustion—
But deep within, something new is awakening.
A quiet fire.
She looks at herself and says,
— "I won't cry anymore.
No one can break me now."
She picks up her phone.
One name is on the screen—Idris.
She stares at it for a while…
Then switches the phone off.
She knows this isn't over yet.
Rafael, Idris—
There's something deeper behind all of this.
Ela opens her diary and writes:
"I know the darkness is closing in around me.
But I will search for the light…
No—
I will be the light."
Then she stands.
She starts preparing herself for the next morning.
Tonight may be filled with tears—
But tomorrow will tell the story of her courage.
---
The next day.
Ela walks into the classroom.
A strange silence fills the air.
Even the sound of her footsteps echoes awkwardly.
The students glance at each other.
Some whisper.
Some look down.
Ela places her bag down and sits,
But her heart is still heavy.
Suddenly, the door opens.
Rafael enters.
His eyes carry an intense, unfamiliar gaze.
Everyone falls silent.
He walks slowly toward Ela.
And then suddenly says—
— "I need to talk to you. Right now."
Ela is shocked.
She stands up.
She looks around, sensing this is no ordinary day.
Rafael grabs her wrist firmly.
Ela's eyes burn with both anger and fear.
— "Let go of me!" she yells.
Rafael pauses—
But doesn't let go.
There's a strange storm in his eyes.
— "Why are you always running away?" he asks coldly.
— "Because you and Idris are driving me insane!" Ela replies, her voice shaking.
In that moment, the entire classroom becomes a silent witness.
No one speaks.
No one interferes.
Rafael slowly lets go of her hand—
But pain lingers in his eyes.
— "Everyone makes mistakes, Ela…
But you don't even want to know why we did what we did."
Before Ela can respond—
The door opens again.
This time… it's Idris.
When Idris steps into the room,
It's as if everything freezes.
His posture, his presence—
There's a kind of royal arrogance in the way he walks.
The girls start whispering.
The boys look away.
No one dares to speak.
Because Idris isn't just rich.
His family is one of the most powerful in the city.
With a single command, he could change everything—
From school… to someone's entire life.
Ela looks at him.
His eyes are cold—
And yet, something burns behind them.
A fire. A storm.
Ela thinks to herself:
"This boy…
He stands on money and power.
But why do his eyes look so… empty?"