GOODNIGHT

The moment Tori walked into her room, she slammed the door shut and leaned against it for a second. She let out a shaky breath before finally letting her tears fall— tears she’d been holding back for so long.

For a few minutes Tori just stood there then she slowly walked to her bed. Her tears kept falling, like they had a mind of their own. She sat on the edge of the bed, then collapsed onto it and curled up on her side. She pulled the blanket over herself and used it to wipe her tears.

Is this what real love feels like?

But why does it have to hurt so much?

She wasn’t ready for this...

Tori grew up surrounded by judgmental stares. Everyone knew her mother had an affair with a married man. And she was the living proof of that mistake, one of the reasons why she was terrified of relationships.

She was twenty-three and had never been in a serious relationship. Her rule was always “no strings attached.”

She always doubted anyone who got close to her. Her father’s cheating had ruined her view of love and she was never close to him either.

No. This can’t be happening.

She has to end this madness.

With that thought, Tori quickly got up from the bed and walked to the door to pick up her phone from the floor.

She looked for Taj’s number and, without hesitating, hit the call.

One ring...

Two...

Three...

Four...

On the fourth ring, someone finally answered.

“Yes?”

Tori froze at the sound of Taj’s voice. She bit her lip and instinctively pressed a hand to her chest.

God, why does it hurt this much?

His voice was cold. She was so used to him being gentle with her that her mind was screaming in protest at how emotionless he sounded now.

Yes, she’d dated before. But none of them were real. She never called any of them her boyfriend.

But Taj... he's different. She truly loves him.

“I—I just wanted to say goodnight,” Tori said softly, her voice small.

She closed her eyes and rubbed the back of her neck.

She wanted to end things between them. But why wasn’t her heart listening to her head? It would be easier if she did what her head was telling her. She wouldn’t have to fight with her mother anymore but the words that came out of her mouth were different.

Silence stretched between Tori and Taj. Like neither of them knew what to say next.

“Okay,” Taj said finally. “Goodnight...” And then the line went dead.

Oh, God. He didn’t even say goodbye.

Tori stared blankly as she walked slowly back to her bed.

When she got there, she sat down and just stared at the white wall.

Like, what was that?

She jumped when her phone suddenly rang. Thinking it was Taj, she answered without even looking at the screen.

“Hel—”

“Hey.”

Tori stopped mid-word when she recognized the voice on the other end.

It was Everett.

“Oh, hey...” she answered, hesitant and clearly disappointed.

Everett was quiet for a second. He could hear it in her voice.

“Evie?” Tori said when he didn’t speak.

“I’m here,” he replied.

Tori smiled a little. She flopped down on her back across the bed.

“Were you expecting someone else to call?” Everett asked.

Tori paused. “Nope,” she said after a moment, forcing a laugh. “So how are you?” she asked quickly, changing the subject.

She heard Everett exhale on the other end before he answered.

“I’m good,” he said, sounding upbeat. “You?”

Tori smiled. Ah, I missed talking to him.

“I’m great!” she said cheerfully. The weight on her chest suddenly felt a little lighter. “I’ve got so much to tell you when I get back to Manila.”

“Really?” Everett asked, and she could hear the excitement in his voice. “I can’t wait to hear it.”

“So, why did you call?” Tori asked.

Everett laughed. “Why, am I not allowed to?”

“No, that’s not what I meant—”

“Hey, hey. I was just kidding,” Everett cut in. “Anyway, when are you coming back to Manila again?”

Tori hesitated. She was supposed to go back at the end of the month. But now that her mother had suddenly shown up in San Lorenzo, she wasn’t sure anymore. All she knew was her trip home would probably be moved up.

“I don’t know yet, but most likely,” Tori said, thinking it over. “I’ll be going back earlier than planned.”

“Oh, that’s great to hear,” Everett said. “My album drops next week. I’m really hoping this one does well, you know...”

Everett went on talking about his new album. One of the tracks was even a song they’d written together. But Tori wasn’t really listening. Her attention was on the window of her room. She jolted when she heard a soft knocking on the glass. And she was even more shocked when she saw Taj standing outside.

She immediately sat up, completely forgetting that Everett was still on the line.

“Taj?” she whispered, standing up. “Love, how did you even get up here?”

Taj gestured for her to open the window so he could come in. Tori hung up on Everett and forgot to say goodbye. All her focus was on Taj. She walked to the window, lifted the glass, and stepped aside to let him in.

“Hey, what are you—”

She didn’t get to finish. Taj’s lips crashed into hers.

For a second, Tori froze then she melted into it.

She closed her eyes and let herself get lost in the sweetness of the man holding her.

Oh, she loves him so much that she could easily forget everything because of him.