𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙧. 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙝𝙞𝙙

17. Coming Home

"It's okay, I'm not sleepy anymore."

I looked at her, noticing how her red hair draped softly over her shoulders. Her eyes, her lips, her nose, her cheeks—everything about her was beautiful.

I’ve followed her life from a distance, but seeing her this close is like a dream come true.

How did I miss this before?

Does she still feel the same way she did when we were young?

I wanted to ask her, but fear held me back.

I don’t even know if it’s true that she has a boyfriend now or if she’s single. She’s changed a lot. Maybe her feelings have changed too.

When I hurt her back then, maybe I ruined any chance of being more than a memory.

After ten years, who wouldn’t move on? Teenage love fades as you grow up, and I’ve heard she’s had a few boyfriends since then. It’s nearly impossible to believe she might still feel anything for me.

Missing her for ten years has shown me just how much of a fool I was.

I don’t deserve to be near her. I don’t deserve to even dream of holding Bella again.

I’m dying inside to pull her close, to wrap my arms around her. But I have no right, not even a little.

Maybe Bella is still angry at me. What if being close to me brings back the pain she felt?

No, I don’t want her to feel that pain ever again.

The taxi came to a stop in front of her house.

"We’re here."

She stepped out immediately. Was she in such a rush to be away from me?

I paid the driver and got out, seeing her embrace her parents, Aunt Valerie and Uncle Edward, at the gate.

As the taxi drove off, I approached them.

“Zayne, thank you for bringing her home,” Aunt Valerie said warmly.

“You’re welcome, Tita Val.”

“Would you like to come inside, hijo?” Uncle Edward asked.

“There’s no need, Tito. I’ll head home now.”

I glanced at Bella, hoping she might ask me to stay.

“Then see you tomorrow?” Aunt Valerie said with a smile. “Come early, okay?”

“Yes, Tita. Good night.”

Finally, Bella looked at me.

“Thanks, Z.”

“It was my pleasure, Belle. Have a good night.”

“You too.”

My feet felt rooted to the ground, unwilling to move away.

Part of me wanted to stay, but another part felt guilty. I had to remind myself that Belle isn’t the same Bella I knew before.

I didn’t know what impact being close to her might have now. Whether it would be bad or good, I had no idea.

So I had no right to hope she’d want me around again.

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🐬🐬🐬🐬

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I wanted to ask him to stay, but I couldn’t. How embarrassing would that be? What would Zayne think?

That after ten years of silence, I’m suddenly clinging to him?

The nerve it would take to do that.

I watched him walk away, feeling a strong urge to reach out, to touch his back, maybe even run my fingers down his arm—

Argh, stop it, Bella!

My mom raised her eyebrows, looking at me intently.

Was I being too obvious?

“Yes, Mom?” I asked, suddenly nervous.

“Who’s this Michael you keep mentioning?” she said, feigning disinterest but clearly intrigued.

Phew. At least she hadn’t noticed.

“Mom, I just got home. Aren’t you going to give your daughter a break? I’m exhausted and a little tipsy.”

“Hmph, fine. It’s a good thing Zayne brought you back safely. How was seeing him again? Did you apologize for losing touch all these years?”

I froze.

I hadn’t even thought about it until now.

“You didn’t? Bella! Really, you should apologize to him. Your childhood friend missed you terribly.”

I miss him too. I miss him so much that my mind races with all kinds of thoughts when he’s near.

But tomorrow, I’ll apologize. Maybe even ask him to go out with me. Is that too much?

I laughed to myself at the idea.

Well, I’m not the shy, teenage Bella anymore.

I’m a grown woman now. And this woman wants Zayne in her life again.