Between: love and crime | english version

chapter six

Elaya's POV:

A ringtone echoed through the room.

A hint of frustration crossed his face as he pulled out his own phone and read the message.

"I'm sorry, Elaya. I have to go. It's urgent," he explained, reading the message.

I was confused, trying to comprehend the sudden change. "But what happened? You can't just leave after... after everything."

Thy shook his head regretfully. "It's complicated. I wish I could stay, but now is not the right time."

Disappointment and incomprehension overwhelmed me. "You show up, kiss me, and then you disappear again without an explanation. I don't understand any of it."

Thy stepped closer, gently brushing my cheek, attempting to soothe my emerging emotions. "I'm sorry, truly. I'll explain, but right now, I have to go. Take care of yourself, Elaya."

Before I could respond, he was already on his way to the door. Uncertainty and many unanswered questions seemed to hang heavily in the air as he left the apartment.

Alone, I sank onto the sofa, trying to process the events. The taste of the kiss lingered on my lips as I struggled with the uncertainty Thywan brought with him.

Suddenly, he hesitated at the door, turned back to me, and said, "I know this is hard for you. But trust me, I'll explain everything. See you soon, Elaya."

The door closed quietly, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I reached for my phone, staring at the screen, debating whether I should follow him to finally get some answers.

-

I stood up, driven by a whirlwind of emotions. The room suddenly felt smaller, the questions in my mind louder. Should I have chased after him? But reason held me back. I wanted answers, but not at the cost of my self-respect.

The apartment suddenly felt alien, as if Thy had filled it with his presence and left a part of himself behind upon leaving. A glance at the clock made me realize that the night was already well advanced. The thought of being alone with confusing thoughts felt daunting.

I sat on the sofa, grabbing my phone. The screen flickered on, and the empty messages between us became silent witnesses to our unusual encounters. Looking at his profile picture, the feelings of the kiss resurfaced, accompanied by a pang of confusion.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Surprised, I stood up and opened the door. My best friend was there, wearing a concerned expression.

"Elaya, what happened? I saw the guy from the club leaving your apartment and thought I'd check on you."

I sighed and waved her in. Explaining the events seemed almost impossible. "It's complicated, Alicia. I don't even know where to start."

She sat next to me, listening attentively. So, I began to tell her about the club encounter, the warnings, his sudden appearance in my apartment, and the confusing kiss.

Alicia looked at me with worried eyes as I tried to explain the tangled story. "So, there was Thy suddenly in my living room. No idea how he got in. And then this chaos of warnings and a kiss, Alicia, a kiss!"

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she scooted closer. "A kiss? From that guy you've known for just two weeks? That's... complicated."

"Complicated is the word for the entire evening," I sighed. "He claims to want to protect me, but he explains nothing. And now he's just gone."

Alicia frowned. "That's strange. Maybe he has reasons he can't tell you yet."

"I think so too, but I don't understand why he has to be so mysterious. And then this kiss, Alicia, as if that wasn't confusing enough."

She placed a hand on my shoulder. "Elaya, maybe you should send him a message. You have his number now. Save it and ask him directly what all this means. Communication can often clear up misunderstandings."

I nodded hesitantly. "You're probably right. But what do I ask him? 'Hey, why did you kiss me, and why do you show up uninvited in my apartment?' That sounds absurd."

Alicia chuckled lightly. "Maybe a bit subtler, but yes, why not? You deserve answers, especially when he shows up so suddenly and then disappears just as suddenly."

The idea of seeking clear answers felt reassuring, but the uncertainty remained. "I'll try, Alicia. But what if I get more questions than answers? He just says I'm not ready for the truth and that I should wait."

"You have to take that risk, Elaya. You deserve clarity in your life, especially when it comes to such mysterious things."

"So should I still look for hooks apart from the kiss, hoping he bursts and finally tells me what's going on?" I asked.

"Yes, exactly, you've hit the nail on the head," Alicia replied amusedly.

-

After Alicia left, I felt left alone with my thoughts. Uncertainty gnawed at me, and I couldn't sit still. So, I ran through the apartment as if movement could dispel the confusion.

Questions swirled in my head, and I tried to find the right words for the message to Thy. The clock was ticking, and every minute intensified my impatience. Why couldn't he just clarify what was going on?

My phone suddenly felt heavy in my hand as I attempted to type a message. "Thy, when can we talk again? I need answers."

I stared at the screen, as if it could provide the solution to my confusion. The space around me seemed to constrict, and I felt the urge to rid myself of the uncertainty. It was as if the walls of my apartment were closing in on me, and I continued running through the rooms, searching for an answer that continued to elude me.

The darkness outside reflected my inner confusion. As I rushed through the rooms, I hoped that Thy would respond soon and shed some light on the darkness.

-

Elaya's inner restlessness drives her through the apartment, seeking answers and clarity. The night remains full of secrets as she waits for Thy's reaction.

How long do you think Elaya can endure this? 💞