Pen & Passion のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 81 - チャプター 90

The pad was too quiet.Too quiet for the storm clawing inside my chest.I’d slipped out of the bedroom, hoping that moving—anything—might keep my thoughts from spiraling back to the dance, to the way Joaquin carried me in front of everyone like I was fragile glass, to the weight of his arms that had felt both real and unreal.But instead of peace, I found Javier.He was lounging on the living room couch like he owned the place, dark slacks and a plain shirt half-untucked, a glass of whiskey balanced carelessly in his hand. The TV glowed with something he wasn’t even watching. He looked up as soon as I entered, that damned smirk tugging at his mouth.“Well, well,” he drawled, lifting the glass slightly. “The runaway princess is back. Couldn’t sleep?”I froze for a heartbeat, then exhaled sharply and turned toward the kitchen. “Don’t start, Javi. I’m not in the mood.”“Not in the mood for what? My company? My charm?” His tone was teasing, but his eyes followed me with an intensity that w

The ride home from the signing was suffocating.The city lights flickered past the tinted windows, but all I could feel was the ghost of Joaquin’s words echoing inside me. None of it was just for show.They replayed over and over, sinking deeper with every repetition, until my chest was tight and my lungs refused to fill properly.When we stepped into the bachelor pad, Javier wasn’t around—thank God. The silence made the air heavier, though, stretching taut between Joaquin and me as he hung his jacket on the back of a chair and loosened his tie. I stood by the couch, still clutching my bag like it could anchor me.Finally, I spoke, the words ripping out of me before I could second-guess them. “You can’t keep giving me half of you while the other half belongs to her. Don’t make me repeat myself over and over, I already sound desperate and it hurts my pride.”The sound of his name caught him mid-motion. His hands stilled on the tie, his head turning toward me slowly. “Haven…”“No.” My vo

By the time Jessy’s headlights swept across the street, I was hugging my knees on the curb like some runaway teenager. My heels dangled from my hand, my toes freezing against the concrete, but I couldn’t bring myself to move until I saw her car.The second she parked, Jessy jumped out, hair in a messy bun, hoodie thrown over her pajamas. Her eyes widened at the sight of me. “Haven? What the hell—”I didn’t even let her finish. My throat cracked as I whispered, “Can I stay with you tonight?”Her expression softened instantly. No sass, no questions. She just wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into the warmth of her hoodie. “Of course, dummy. Come on.”Inside, her apartment was its usual cozy chaos—books stacked on the coffee table, half-empty mug of tea on the counter, a throw blanket slung over the back of the couch. She shoved the books aside and guided me down, sitting cross-legged in front of me.“Okay.” Her eyes searched my face, sharp but gentle. “Talk. What happened? Because

The quiet of Joaquin’s office was exactly what I’d asked for—just me, a stack of manuscripts, and silence. No eyes on me. No brothers breathing down my neck, intentionally or not.But my head wasn’t cooperating. Every time I tried to focus on a paragraph, my mind drifted. To Joaquin’s gray eyes when he asked if he was losing me. To Javier’s mouth on mine, and the way guilt and longing had tangled so tightly I couldn’t tell them apart anymore.I pressed my palms against my temples, exhaling sharply. “Work, Haven. Focus.”The door creaked open.I didn’t even need to look up. Only one person walked into a room with that kind of reckless ease.“Busy, Venny?” Javier’s voice was low, teasing—but softer than usual.I set the manuscript down, bracing myself. “What do you want, Javi?”He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed over his bare forearms, his shirt sleeves rolled up. For once, though, he wasn’t smirking like the devil who lived to make me squirm. His eyes were… gentler.“I wanted

I took a final look in the mirror, smoothed down the hem of my dress, and inhaled deeply. Tonight wasn’t just any dinner—it was my first date with Joaquin. And no matter how much I tried to convince myself it was “just dinner,” the butterflies in my stomach weren’t buying it.As I made my way down the stairs, the low murmur of voices drifted up. I slowed, recognizing them instantly.Joaquin. Javier.My heels paused against the step. It wasn’t like me to eavesdrop, but something in their tones made me linger, leaning ever so slightly against the banister.“Take a breather for once,” Joaquin was saying, voice edged with that quiet authority he carried so effortlessly. “You look like hell. Haven’t you slept properly in days?”“Don’t start,” Javier muttered, dismissive. “You sound like an old man. I’m fine.”“You’re not. You keep running yourself ragged. Even you have limits.”Silence stretched, broken only by the faint clink of glass—Javier probably nursing one of his late-night drinks ag