Torn Between Two Truths

The ride back felt longer than it should have.

Lena sat by the window, her reflection faint against the glass as city lights blurred past. Her fingers were still curled loosely around the teddy bear Jayden had won for her.

So when she returned home that night, they went straight to their different rooms, not before sharing a goodnight kiss. Smiles on their faces as they enter their separate rooms.

She assumed Richard wasn’t back yet.

After a quick shower, she changed into her silk nightwear.

The lights were dim; walking close to the bed, she sights Richard on the bed.

Lying on his side of the bed like he had no worry in this world.

Lena paused for a moment, watching him.

For some reason, seeing him like that softened something in her chest.

She quietly got into bed, careful not to wake him.

The mattress dipped slightly.

Richard shifted almost immediately.

“Lena…” he murmured softly.

Before she could respond, his arm found its way around her waist, pulling her closer in his sleepy state.

She stiffened slightly.

“Richard…” she whispered.

But he didn’t fully wake yet.

Instead, he pulled her closer again, his face buried near her neck.

Soft kisses followed.

Lena’s breath caught.

“Richard, stop…” she said more firmly this time, gently pushing him back.

That finally woke him fully.

His eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the darkness.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice low.

Lena sat up immediately, pulling the blanket tighter around herself.

“What’s wrong?” she repeated, disbelief flashing across her face. “You tell me? ”.

Richard frowned slightly, sitting up as well.

“Did I offend you? Talk to me," he said calmly.

"You've been pissing me off lately,” she snapped.

Silence fell between them.

Lena’s chest rose and fell quickly.

“You never pay attention,” she continued, her voice sharper now. “Everything is always fine to you.

Richard didn’t interrupt.

And somehow, that made her even angrier.

“You just assume I’m okay with everything,” she said. “Like I don’t have feelings; I'm a human, not some toy that you can control, Richard!

Still, he stayed quiet.

That silence burned more than words.

Finally, Lena stood up from the bed.

“I’m tired of this,” she said, her voice shaking slightly.

Only then did Richard move.

“Lena,” he said softly.

She didn’t respond.

He exhaled slowly.

“I’m sorry.”

That made her pause.

Not because he said it, but because of the effect it had on her.

She turned slightly, still not facing him fully.

Richard ran a hand through his hair, his voice lower now.

“I didn’t mean to make you feel that way,” he admitted. "It's just that I feel overwhelmed every time I remember that you're mine.”

Lena stayed silent.

He looked at her then.

“I love you,” he said.

Her heart began racing.

“I love you so much it’s the only reason I try so hard not to lose control of things,” he continued. “But maybe I’ve been doing it wrong.”

Lena finally turned to face him.

His expression had changed.

She had never seen him this way.

“I’ve been thinking,” he added after a pause. “About us.”

That word made her stomach tighten.

“About what exactly?” she asked cautiously.

Richard hesitated.

Then he said something she didn’t expect.

“I want us to take our relationship to the next level.”

Lena blinked.

“What?”

His voice remained steady.

“If you're ready, of course,” he clarified quickly. "I was planning to propose. And I think this is the perfect time to make things right between us."

Her brows furrowed.

"I thought you said you didn't want to get married.”

“I know,” he admitted. “But I thought maybe this could be a fresh start for us, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. 

Lena sat back down slowly, exhausted.

"Are you sure about this?” she asked.

Richard looked away briefly.

“I have never been so sure in my life,” he said.”

Lena didn’t respond.

Because she didn’t know how to feel.

Too many emotions collided inside her at once: joy, guilt, sadness—something she couldn't understand.

Richard reached for her hand slowly.

“If I’ve been wrong,” he said softly, “I’ll fix it. I’ll make things right. Just don’t shut me out.”

Lena looked at his hand.

Then at him.

And for the first time, she saw it clearly.

Richard wasn’t just calm.

He was scared of losing her and not because of control.

She didn’t pull her hand away.

“I need time,” she said finally.

Richard nodded immediately.

“Take all the time you need.”

Lena lay awake long after he fell asleep again.

Her mind refused to rest.

Because somewhere between Jayden’s honesty and Richard’s confession.

She was no longer sure where she stood.

Or worse, what the situation is becoming.

Sometime in the middle of the night, her throat felt dry.

Careful not to wake Richard, she slipped out of bed and gently made her way downstairs. The house was silent; every movement felt louder than it was.

She poured herself a glass of water, taking slow sips as she leaned lightly against the counter.

That was when she noticed movement outside.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

Through the glass door leading to the backyard, she saw Jayden.

He stood there, shirtless, his back partly turned, one hand running through his hair like something was weighing on his mind. The dim outdoor light traced the outline of his shoulders, the ink on his arm catching Lena’s attention before she could stop herself.

Her gaze lingered on his tattoos, the way his muscles flexed subtly when he moved.

when he tilted his head slightly upward, like he was lost in thought.

She didn’t even realize she had taken a small step closer.

Then suddenly he turned directly toward the door.

Lena’s eyes widened.

She quickly stepped back, her heart jumping as she moved out of sight, pressing lightly against the wall.

For a second, she just stood there.

But nothing happened.

No sign of movement toward the door.

Slowly, she exhaled.

And a smile crept onto her face.

Shaking her head at herself, she quietly made her way back upstairs.

Back to her room, she lay in bed thinking about how whenever she's with Jadyden, he makes her feel goofy like a kid again.

Before, she looked at Richard sleeping peacefully and snuggled to his chest.