جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 120

I didn’t stop walking or dare to look back.I just moved fast enough that the wind started to push against my face, my hair brushing wildly around me, the sound of the waves growing louder again, but none of it drowned anything out. Because the moment, that moment, was still there.Stuck, and replaying over and over and over again in my head.The way her hands grabbed his shirt, the way she pulled him down, the way he didn’t stop her.I swallowed hard. “Stop it.” My voice came out low, barely above a whisper. But it didn’t help, because my mind didn’t listen.It never did when it mattered. I slowed down eventually. Not because I wanted to or because Ava caught up with me, but because my legs forced me to.The tightness in my chest hadn’t eased.If anything, it felt worse, heavier, like something was sitting there and pressing. It was so uncomfortable and impossible to ignore. I wrapped my arms around myself again, staring down at the sand as I walked. “This is stupid.” The words came

I shouldn’t have turned around; I knew that the moment our eyes met. Because whatever control I thought I had left slipped away instantly. He was already looking at me, like he wasn’t going to let this go, and that alone made something in my chest tighten again.“That didn’t mean anything.” His words replayed in my head, over and over again.Like they were supposed to fix something,like they were enough.I might have said okay, but it didn’t feel okay, not even close.A heavy pause, thicker than everything neither of us wanted to say first, stretched.“Look at me.” His sharp voice cut through it, and for a second I almost didn’t. I almost held onto the little distance I had left. But I did, and that was my mistake.Because the moment I looked at him, everything came rushing back.That image of them, that moment when their lips met, and that feeling.“You didn’t push her away.” The words left my mouth broken before I could stop them.His brows pulled together. “I pulled away.”“After,

I shouldn’t have said that; that was the first thought that stuck the moment she walked away. Not the kiss, not the way she looked at me, and not even the moment she said, “Because I like you, okay?” No, it was what came after when I told her all this is happening because Ava told me to look after her at the party at that time, and I wouldn't have stepped out for her if she hadn't.I exhaled slowly, staring out at the water as the waves kept moving steadily and unbothered, like nothing had changed.But everything felt different now; it was heavier, quieter, and a lot harder to ignore.I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a small, frustrated breath. “That was unnecessary.” I mumbled. I didn’t need to go that far. I knew that, even when I said it, I knew. But I said it anyway because it was effective, because it created the distance that I wanted. And it also ended the conversation before it could turn into something else. Something I wasn’t ready to deal with.I clenched my jaw sl

I knew Ava went to see him when she left earlier, but I won't dare look for him again.Not after that, not after everything that was said. Everything that wasn’t said and everything that was… erased. I sat beside Ava for a while longer. We didn’t talk much because there wasn’t much left to say. At least not out loud. Because the important part had already been said.And the rest? The rest just… lingereduncomfortably. Eventually, we left the beach. The walk back to the car was quiet. It was not awkward, just… still. Like everything had settled into a place neither of us wanted to disturb.Ava glanced at me a few times, and I noticed. Of course I did, but she didn’t push because she knew I wasn't ready for a talk, and I appreciated that. Because I don't even think I could explain anything right now. Not without worsening it.Not without feeling hurt by it all over again. And I wasn’t ready for that, not yet.By the time we got home, everything felt… normal. The house was the same as we

The tension in the living room was getting thick, so I had to leave.“I will be in my room." I muttered to no one in particular as I stood up, just a general awareness.I climbed the stairs and walked towards my room absentmindedly, not knowing Mason was following me. Not until I heard the door click shut behind me and I turned. I paused as he leaned back against the door like he had all the time in the world.He crossed his arms and maintained his neutral expression. I raised my eyebrows at him. “What's up?” I mumbled.He narrowed his eyes at me. “You always walk out mid-conversation now,” he said casually.I exhaled lightly and inserted my hands in my pocket. “I just needed to take a nap.”He nodded once." Ohh." He mouthed. Like that answer made sense, and he expected it.I expected him to leave afterward, but he didn’t leave. We just stayed how we were, letting silence stretch between us.“You’ve been doing that a lot lately,” he added.I shrugged. “Just been tired of the drama?” I