Beyond Destiny ~ A Saga Of Timeless Love

14 ~ Jealousy

"Jealousy is like a hot pepper. Use it mildly, and you can add spice to the relationship."

Ruhanika

He was standing right in front of me, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, there was no distance separating us. After weeks of being apart, weeks where I had tried to convince myself that I didn’t need him—that I was better off without him—the moment I saw him, I knew how wrong I had been. My heart ached with the realization of just how much I had missed him, how much I had longed for this very moment. And yet, standing here now, it wasn’t the reunion I had dreamed of.

His olive-green eyes locked onto mine, but they didn’t hold the warmth I was hoping for. Instead, they stared at me blankly, devoid of any emotion, as if I were just another face in the crowd. My heart, which had been racing in anticipation, began to grow heavy with dread. He’s angry with me, I realized. His eyes, once a source of comfort and security, now felt like they were piercing straight through me, icy and distant. I had wanted this—hadn’t I? I had wanted him to resist, to oppose me. But now that it was happening, why did it hurt so much?

I stood there, frozen in place, hoping—no, begging—for him to give me something. A gentle glance, a soft smile—anything to tell me that he didn’t hate me. But he gave me nothing. He remained silent, his face unreadable, and the longer the silence stretched between us, the more my chest tightened with unbearable pain.

My soul ached for him in a way I had never thought possible. How had I gotten here? When had I become someone who needed another person so desperately? I had never been the type to believe in love—true love, at least. To me, love was a foolish fantasy, something people invented to avoid the loneliness that inevitably comes with life. I used to scoff at couples who flaunted their affection for each other, rolling my eyes at their public displays of affection, convinced that it was all an act, a temporary infatuation.

But now, standing before him, I couldn’t deny the truth any longer. This man had turned my world upside down. He had changed me in ways I never thought possible. Suddenly, all I wanted was him. Just him. I was ready to give up everything—my pride, my independence, my entire self—just to be with him. What had he done to me? The fierce, unshakeable girl who never let anyone get too close was now reduced to a love-sick mess. I couldn’t even form a coherent sentence around him. All the witty comebacks and sharp remarks I was known for disappeared the moment he stepped into the room.

The irony wasn’t lost on me. He hadn’t even done anything to earn my affection. In fact, he often seemed more interested in mocking me than speaking to me with any genuine care. I wasn’t used to this—being attracted to someone who didn’t shower me with compliments or even treat me with any tenderness. Boys at college would throw themselves at me, showering me with attention and affection, but I never felt anything for them. They were easy to ignore, easy to brush off. But him? This man barely acknowledged me, and I was completely, utterly smitten. What was wrong with me?

My thoughts spiraled, and before I realized it, I was still staring at him, lost in a daze. His silence, his cold demeanor—it all faded as I was drawn deeper into the pull he had on me. He didn’t speak, but his actions were enough to send my mind reeling. Without warning, he stepped closer, closing the gap between us, his hand still twisted around mine. My breath hitched as he pulled me against him, his chest warm and solid against mine. My mind screamed at me to pull away, to regain some control, but my body refused to move.

His face was now inches from mine, his breath warm as it brushed against my cheek. My heart pounded so hard I was sure he could hear it. Time seemed to stand still as his eyes softened just slightly, and then—before I could process what was happening—he leaned down, nestling his face against my neck. The sensation of his stubble brushing against my skin sent a shiver down my spine.