Chapter 86 – A Tense Encounter in the Lift

“Hey, Jes?” Jefran greeted as he arrived at Jeslyn’s apartment.

“Jefran? What are you doing here?” Jeslyn asked in surprise, startled to see him standing at her door.

“I’m here to pick you up, of course. Your car’s still at the office, so I came to get you,” he explained.

“I could’ve gone on my own. I could’ve just taken a taxi,” Jeslyn replied.

“No. We’re engaged now, and soon we’ll be married. That means you can’t refuse my offer,” Jefran teased with a playful smile.

“Fine, alright,” Jeslyn conceded softly.

They walked out of the apartment together.

Jeslyn drew in a deep breath, forcing a small smile to her lips, trying to hide the storm in her chest after her heated argument with her parents the night before.

Inside the car, Jefran glanced at her before starting the engine. “You look tired. Is something wrong?” he asked, his tone gentle and full of concern.

Jeslyn shook her head with a faint smile. “No, just… didn’t sleep well.”

Jefran studied her face for a few extra seconds, as if he could see through the lie. But instead of pressing further, he simply sighed softly. “If you keep this up, I’ll start worrying, you know.”

Jeslyn turned to the window, hiding her clouded eyes. Why can’t I feel at peace by his side? Jefran is so kind… yet why does Leonel’s shadow still haunt me?

The car sped through the morning streets. Out of nowhere, Jefran smiled and said, “By the way, I’ve planned something for us tonight. Think of it as a small celebration before the wedding preparations overwhelm us.”

Jeslyn looked at him, surprised. “A celebration?”

“Yes. I don’t want my future wife to feel alone in all of this. I know you’ve been troubled lately, so let me be the one to make you smile again.”

Jeslyn fell silent. His words were sincere, and they touched her heart. Yet, deep within, the wounds Leonel had left still lingered—pulling her into a constant conflict, as if two worlds were fighting over her.

“Thank you, Jefran…” she whispered. This time, her smile was more genuine, though behind it remained a thousand doubts.

When they arrived at the office’s basement parking lot, the place was quiet—only the echo of their footsteps filled the air. Jefran opened the car door for Jeslyn, then walked beside her toward the elevator.

But suddenly, Jeslyn froze in place. Her eyes widened, locking onto a figure that had just stepped out of a black car nearby. Leonel.

At his side, Clarissa clung sweetly to his arm, her smile smug and triumphant, as if flaunting her claim on him for the world to see.

The tension was instant. Jefran immediately noticed Jeslyn’s reaction. Without hesitation, he reached for her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers in a firm grip, his gesture carrying an unspoken declaration. “Let’s go,” he said quietly, though the weight in his voice was unmistakable.

Leonel halted mid-step. His eyes locked on their joined hands, his jaw tightening. A flash of raw emotion flickered across his gaze before he quickly turned away, pulling Clarissa even closer to his side.

Clarissa, basking in the moment, cast Jeslyn a sidelong glance, her lips curling into a victorious smile. Then, with a voice dripping with affection, she murmured, “Don’t walk so fast, darling,” resting her head against Leonel’s shoulder as though the world belonged only to them.

Jeslyn’s chest constricted painfully, as if invisible hands were crushing her heart. Still, she forced a small smile, swallowing down the tears that threatened to spill.

Sensing her struggle, Jefran tightened his grip on her hand even more. “They’re waiting for us upstairs, Jes. Let’s not waste time,” he said, deliberately loud enough for Leonel to hear.

The four of them eventually converged at the same elevator. When the doors slid open, the atmosphere grew even heavier.

Inside the confined space, silence suffocated them. Jeslyn stood beside Jefran, head lowered, desperately avoiding Leonel’s gaze. Yet no matter how hard she tried, she could feel it—his eyes burning into her back.

Across from her, Leonel remained rigid, Clarissa clinging tightly to his arm. Every so often, Clarissa let out a dainty smile, pretending at grace, though her every movement was a deliberate display of possession.

The elevator ascended, the soft chime marking each floor only making the silence more unbearable. To everyone else, it felt like torture. To Clarissa, however, it was a stage, and she relished every second.

Jeslyn bit her lip, fighting to remain composed. But when her eyes inadvertently met Leonel’s, time seemed to stop. In that fleeting instant, everything collided—pain, love, anger—all tangled together in a single glance.

Quickly, she looked away, staring at the polished floor instead. But Leonel’s gaze lingered, searing itself into her mind, leaving her chest in turmoil.

Clarissa noticed Jeslyn’s unease and smirked faintly. Straightening up, she reached out to fix the lapel of Leonel’s jacket with a deliberately tender gesture. “You’re always so busy, darling. Luckily, I can still be by your side,” she said sweetly, her words laced with subtle malice.

Jeslyn’s heart twisted violently, her breath hitching. She fought hard to keep her expression steady, though her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Jefran, noticing her distress, stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. His gaze was soft, reassuring. Yet when he looked at Leonel, his lips curled into a faint, knowing smile—a smile laced with challenge.

Leonel’s face remained still, unreadable, but his fists clenched tightly behind him. Every word Clarissa spoke felt like knives—not at Jeslyn, but at him. His eyes darted again to the intertwined hands of Jeslyn and Jefran, and his jaw hardened further.

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, broken only by the hum of the rising elevator.

Then Clarissa’s voice cut through, sharp as a blade cloaked in honey. She let out a soft laugh. “Oh, Jefran, I heard you’re busy preparing for your wedding with your fiancée. Is that true?” Her tone was sweet, but her eyes glimmered with provocation.

Jeslyn’s chest tightened. The air in the small lift seemed to vanish entirely.

Jefran’s lips curved into a thin smile, his voice calm yet deliberate. “Yes, that’s true. We’re preparing everything. Isn’t that right, Jes?” He turned toward Jeslyn, his gaze firm and meaningful, as though to remind everyone—especially Leonel—of her place by his side.

Jeslyn froze for a moment. Her throat tightened, her tongue felt heavy. But at last, she forced out a fragile smile. “Yes… that’s right,” she whispered.

Leonel shut his eyes briefly, inhaling deeply. Yet that soft, hesitant confirmation from Jeslyn struck him like a brutal blow to the chest. His fists clenched harder, his knuckles turning white.

Clarissa, triumphant, leaned closer to Leonel, her voice syrupy sweet. “Well then, congratulations. I truly hope everything goes smoothly until the big day.”

The elevator chimed, signaling their arrival. The doors slid open, but instead of relief, the tension only deepened.

Jeslyn hurried out with Jefran, eager to escape the suffocating space. But just as she passed Leonel, their eyes met once more. A single heartbeat, no more. Yet it was enough to shatter the fragile walls Jeslyn had tried to build. Longing, pain, and unanswered questions swirled in that brief encounter.

Leonel’s lips parted, desperate to say something—anything. But no words came. Only a harsh exhale left him as Jeslyn walked away, her hand gripped firmly by Jefran.

Clarissa’s satisfied smile returned. She shot Jeslyn a sharp, mocking glance before tugging Leonel along.

“So, that’s the woman you love, Leo? Your cousin’s fiancée?” Clarissa asked softly, her tone carrying both curiosity and venom.

***