My Idol is Alpha

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Chapter 9

Alina's POV

Ryan, who noticed the direction of my gaze, followed my gaze and saw the little boy. He smiled faintly, probably trying to find a way to lighten the heavy atmosphere between us.

"You want ice cream?" he asked suddenly, his voice soft but cheerful.

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at him, a bit surprised by his sudden offer. "What?" I asked, not yet fully processing his question.

Ryan nodded at the little boy. "Ice cream. You seem to be taking it very seriously. Maybe that will help us feel a little better."

I chuckled, feeling awkward but at the same time amused by his simple idea. "Ice cream, huh? Maybe that's not a bad idea," I said finally, smiling a little.

"I see you're quite crazy." He said in a relaxed tone.

I almost chuckled at that sentence, "Maybe, after failing as a cheerleader my sanity eroded a little." I joked

Ryan smiled wider. "Come on, let's look for the nearest ice cream seller," he said as he started the car engine again.

We left the park and wandered around looking for an ice cream seller. It didn't take long before we found a small stall selling various kinds of ice cream. Ryan parked the car and we both got out, walking towards the kiosk.

"What do you want?" he asked when we arrived in front of the kiosk.

I looked at the ice cream options available, "I'll choose the chocolate flavor." I said finally.

Ryan nodded and ordered two chocolate ice creams. After paying, he gave me one of the ice cream cones. We went back to the car and sat inside, enjoying our ice cream in more comfortable silence.

I felt the coolness of the sweet ice cream melt in my mouth, and for the first time in days, I felt a little lighter. “Thank you, Ryan.” I said quietly, looking down at my ice cream.

Ryan nodded, smiling at me. "Sometimes, little things like ice cream can make us feel a little better."

I nodded in agreement, feeling that even though our situation was very complicated, there were at least simple moments like this that could help us get through the day. We sat there, enjoying our ice cream and talking about light things, forgetting for a moment about the big problem we had just decided on.

“By the way, what's the story about you being in the bar at that time? You don't look like a bad girl," asked Ryan while enjoying his ice cream.

That question suddenly made me speechless. The story and my feelings at that time are really difficult to explain using words. It's not difficult, but it's not worth expressing the pain in my heart.

“It's a long story, maybe it's quite silly for you,” I answered quietly, trying to avoid his gaze.

Ryan shook his head, “I don't think it's ridiculous. I just want to understand what happened.”

I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to speak. “Okay, I'll try to explain,” I said finally, deciding to open up. “It all started with a cheerleading audition at school. I've been training very hard, almost every day. I really want to qualify and be part of that team.”

Ryan nodded, indicating that he was listening seriously. I continued, “But on the day of the audition, I was very nervous. I made several small mistakes, but the worst was when I fell in the middle of a routine. Everyone looked, and I could hear them laughing. The other girls auditioning started making fun of me, saying hurtful things.”

I felt Ryan's eyes looking at me intently. “They said I didn't belong there, that I would never be a good cheerleader. I felt so humiliated and devastated. I've tried so hard, but it feels like it's all in vain. After the audition, I felt very sad and frustrated. I don't know what to do or where to go. I decided to go to a bar to try to forget everything. I know it's not a good idea, but I just want to escape the pain.” I explained slowly in a small voice.

Ryan fell silent, contemplating my words. “I didn't know that was the case. I'm sorry, Alina. They shouldn't treat you like that."

I nodded, feeling a little relieved after saying everything. “It was one of the worst nights of my life. I felt so alone and worthless.”

Ryan looked at me empathetically. “You are not alone and you are not worthless. People can be very cruel, but that doesn't define who you are.”

I smiled faintly, feeling a little better. “Thank you, Ryan. I know that now, but at the time, it was so hard to see.”

He nodded and held my hand gently. “I'm glad you told me. You are stronger than you think, Alina.”

I felt the warmth of his grip and the honesty in his words. Maybe, just maybe, there is hope for both of us through all of this. At least, for now, we can share the pain and try to heal it together. After we finished enjoying ice cream, Ryan took me for a walk around the park area which was busy with street vendors. I felt a bit awkward about the idea, especially after the serious conversation we had just had.

“Do you want to try street food?” Ryan asked, his voice light but firm.

I feel a little reluctant. “I'm not that hungry, Ryan. Maybe next time?"

Ryan smiles, but there was a hint of force in his voice. “Come on, just a little. We can eat together and chat more.”

Finally, I gave in. “Okay,” I said, trying to smile.

We approached a grilled sausage seller and Ryan ordered a few skewers. The savory aroma made my stomach growl a little, reminding me that I hadn't eaten much all day. While waiting for the sausages to cook, Ryan ordered several other snacks—fried potatoes, grilled meatballs, and takoyaki.

We sat on a park bench, enjoying food while watching people go by. Light conversation about our favorite foods slightly lightened the tense atmosphere. However, I still felt like there was a burden between us, something that couldn't be erased with just food.

After finishing eating, Ryan took me home. I felt a little better, but still awkward about the situation we had just experienced. When Ryan's car stopped in front of my house, I saw someone standing at the door. My heart pounded when I realized it was Mark.

Ryan turned off the engine and we got out of the car. Mark saw us coming and looked confused. "Alina, why are you going home with Ryan?" he asked in a voice full of concern.

I tried to explain calmly. “Mark, it's not what you think. We just need to get some things done.”

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