Chapter 5: Trixy's POV
Our car pulled up to the gates of Austen University. I assumed that was our stop, but instead of dropping me off, Dad slowed down by the guardhouse.
I reached out and scanned my student ID on the small rectangular scanner beside the guard. The light blinked green, and the university gates opened automatically. Still confused, I glanced at Dad, but he simply started the car again and drove inside.
We parked in the staff lot—not where students usually stopped. Something felt... off.
"Okay, Dad, I'm going in," I said, unbuckling my seatbelt.
"Like I said—you're coming with me," he answered firmly. Before I could respond, he stepped out of the car.
I sighed, opened the door on my side, and quietly followed him. We walked together, side by side, toward the main building. The silence between us wasn't uncomfortable, but there was tension. Something was clearly bothering him.
We entered the elevator, and as soon as the doors closed behind us, my mind raced.
Ting.
The elevator opened on the top floor. We stepped out and walked down the wide hallway. Several students turned their heads to look at us. Whispers followed. I could feel their curious eyes asking the same question I had: Why is my dad here?
Finally, we stopped in front of the most recognizable office door on campus—the one with the gold-plated nameplate: Dr. Gweneth Arevalo, University President.
Aunt Gwen's office? What are we doing here?
Dad knocked. A few seconds later, the door opened, revealing Aunt Gwen's student secretary—a petite girl with sharp eyes and a serious expression. I'd seen her before in the hallway. She was a second-year student and, according to the rumors, a full academic scholar. Just like Momma used to be.
"Is Gwen there?" Dad asked calmly.
"Yes, sir. Please come in," the secretary said politely, opening the door wider.
We stepped inside.
Aunt Gwen was sitting behind her desk, focused on something on her laptop. Her glasses sat low on the bridge of her nose, and her dark hair was pulled back into a bun.
She looked up the moment we entered. "Hi, brother. I didn't expect a visit."
Dad gave her a tight smile. "You know I'm a busy man, but when it comes to my daughter—I make time."
Aunt Gwen raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" She turned to me. "Trixy, is someone bullying you?"
I shook my head quickly. "No, Auntie. It's not that."
"Please, sit down," she said, gesturing to the visitor chairs.
Dad and I sat down beside each other. I clasped my hands together in my lap, unsure of what was about to unfold.
Aunt Gwen leaned back in her chair. "We take bullying very seriously here. If someone's been bothering my niece, I need to know."
"It's not bullying," Dad said. "It's emotional damage."
Aunt Gwen furrowed her brows. "Emotional damage?"
"One of your students hurt my daughter," Dad said, voice low but steady.
"Ohh… her partner," Aunt Gwen said softly, glancing at me. "That's… normal, brother. You know better than anyone—we've both been there. Heartbreak is part of growing up."
"I won't let that happen to her," Dad said firmly. "She's my daughter. I can't just watch her suffer."
"Brother…" Aunt Gwen's tone was calm but stern. "Don't be too overprotective. You have to let her learn."
"Haven't you been overprotective of your two sons too?" Dad shot back.
"Of course. But not like this. We can't take revenge every time our children get hurt. Heartbreaks teach them how to heal. It's part of growing."
Dad exhaled heavily. "Still… I want to talk to that guy."
"And after that? What will you do?"
"I want him to leave this university. For good."
My breath caught.
"Wait…" Aunt Gwen said slowly. "Are we talking about—?"
"Jonas Valdoza," I muttered, correcting her.
She gave me a sympathetic look. "Trixy… sweetheart, I know this is hard, but—"
"He's the star player of the AU basketball team," she continued, now addressing Dad. "He can't just be expelled without a serious reason."
Dad reached into his coat and placed a thick brown envelope on her desk.
I blinked. When did he even bring that?
"Inside that envelope," Dad said, his tone turning sharp, "is everything you need to remove Jonas Valdoza from this university."
Aunt Gwen stared at it in silence. Her expression changed—eyebrows slightly raised, eyes narrowing with concern.
"What is this, brother?"
"Proof," he replied.
"Of what?"
Dad looked her in the eye. "Of harassment. Emotional manipulation. Inappropriate behavior within campus grounds. And I have the screenshots, testimonies, and even a statement from a counselor."
I stared at Dad in shock. I didn't know he'd gone this far… I didn't even know he'd gathered evidence.
"I didn't want to make this formal, Gwen," he said. "But my daughter cried herself to sleep for weeks. She stopped eating properly. She stopped smiling. That boy didn't just break her heart—he destroyed her confidence."
"Trixy…" Aunt Gwen's voice softened as she turned to me. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?"
"I didn't want to make things worse…" I whispered.
"You wouldn't have. You matter here. And you matter to me," she said, placing a hand over mine.
She took a deep breath, then turned to Dad. "I'll look into this. But if what's in this envelope is as serious as you say… I won't let him get away with it. I don't want my daughter to be hurt my anyone"
Dad gave her a grateful nod. "That's all I ask."
Aunt Gwen picked up the envelope and started flipping through it, her expression growing more serious with every page.
I looked down at my lap, heart pounding. Somehow, seeing Dad fight for me this way made everything I felt—every heartbreak and tear—feel seen. Protected.
But a part of me still whispered: Is this really the end with Jonas? Or just the beginning of something else?
I can help to still think about fim after this.