Inferno Hearts | Xu Minghao

74. Stars, Sand, and Second Chances

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Nabi cried as Minghao gently wiped her tears, his own cascading freely. His heart shattered witnessing her pain, especially knowing that he was the cause of it all.

As he wiped her tears, each droplet felt like a reminder of his failure, a testament to the hurt he had unintentionally inflicted. He longed to turn back time, to erase the events that had led to this moment.

But all he could do was be there for her, offering a comforting touch, an apology in the form of silent tears, and a vow to never let her hurt like this again.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice heavy with regret and sorrow. He gently pulled her into an embrace, offering her the solace of his chest. Nabi cried even harder, her tears soaking into his shirt as she clung to him, seeking comfort in his warmth.

In that embrace, they shared a moment of mutual pain, understanding, and the beginnings of healing, knowing that they would navigate this tumultuous journey together

They stood like that for several minutes, Minghao giving Nabi the time she needed to let out her emotions and find some semblance of calm.

Gradually, her sobs subsided, and she gently broke the embrace, her eyes still puffy and red, but a sense of emotional release evident in her demeanor.

The weight she carried had lightened a little, and she was now ready to address the aftermath of their conversation.

Wiping away the remaining tears, she found the strength to speak. "Minghao, I want you to know that I'm not angry with you. I just need some time to come to terms with everything. I can see that your intentions were good, but it has hurt me deeply," she confessed.

As she spoke, Minghao wiped his own tears, grateful for her understanding even though he knew he had caused her so much pain.

"Take all the time you need," he said, his voice gentle and reassuring, conveying his willingness to give her the space and time she required.

The weight of guilt still hung heavily on him, but he was determined to respect her healing process and support her.

As he conveyed his understanding and willingness to give her the time she needed, Minghao took a step towards the door, fully prepared to respect her space and allow her the moments she required for herself.

He sensed the heaviness of the situation, the emotional toll it had taken on both of them, and the importance of giving her breathing room.

However, just as his hand reached for the doorknob, ready to turn and exit, Nabi's soft voice reached him, halting him in his tracks. "Don't leave me," she whispered, the vulnerability and plea evident in her words.

His heart squeezed at the sound of her plea, and he turned back to face her. The conflict within him was palpable — he wanted to respect her space, yet he couldn't bear to see her so alone and in pain. Minghao found himself torn between his desire to comfort her and the understanding that she needed time.

In that moment, he made a choice from the depths of his heart. He closed the door gently, walked back to her, and wrapped her in a comforting embrace.

Minghao understood that sometimes, even when words weren't enough, the presence of someone you cared about could offer a form of solace that words never could.

She had a gnawing feeling, an unsettling intuition that something wasn't right. Despite her attempt to gather her thoughts and emotions, an unease settled in her heart.

All she wanted in that moment was for Minghao to be there, by her side, a pillar of support through this storm of emotions.

Nabi's instincts were screaming, urging her to reach out and keep him near. She was grappling with the whirlwind of emotions stirred by their discussion, and she knew that having him close, even if in silence, would bring a semblance of calm to the storm within her.