𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞

Chapter Eighteen

Y/N cleared her throat, feeling the awkward tension in the air. Diego glared at her initially, then turned to Five with confusion, asking, "What are you doing?" Five looked at Y/N and sighed, "Leave the room. I need to talk to Diego privately." Y/N hesitated but nodded, beginning to walk out. As she passed Diego, he stopped her, not meeting her gaze. She glared at him, shoving his hand off and proceeding to leave the room. Diego glared at Five, raising his voice, "What the hell are you thinking?" Five chuckled, crossing his arms, and replied, "Letting go of the past, Diego."

Diego's anger flared as he shouted, "You're just letting it go? She backstabbed you, Five!" Five remained composed, stating, "We've had time to think, Diego. People change." Diego scoffed, "Change? She doesn't deserve your forgiveness after what she did!" Five clenched his jaw, retorting, "It's not about her deserving it. It's about moving forward." Diego's frustration grew, "I can't believe you're falling for her lies again. She's manipulative, Five!" Five's tone turned stern, "You don't get to decide who I forgive." Diego slammed his fist on the counter, "This isn't about forgiveness; it's about not being stupid!" Five shot back, "Maybe I've learned to see beyond the mistakes." Diego retorted, "She'll just hurt you again, and you'll regret it!" Five's expression hardened, "I'm not asking for your approval. This is my choice."

Diego's anger flared, "You're making a mistake, Five. You're letting her back into our lives, and it's going to blow up in your face!" Five remained resolute, "It's my decision to make, not yours. I won't let past mistakes dictate the present." Diego shook his head, "You're being naive. She's just playing you." Five's voice remained firm, "I know what I'm doing, Diego. You can't control my choices."

Diego's frustration boiled over as he exclaimed, "I'm not trying to control you, Five. I just don't want you to forget what she did to you. She's a manipulator, and you're walking right into her trap." Five shook his head, "I appreciate your concern, but I can handle my own decisions. I won't let her past mistakes define our future." Diego's frustration grew, "You're acting crazy, Five! All of you are letting her back into your lives, and I won't let her manipulate you again." Five, with a sigh, responded, "Maybe you're right, but I'm willing to take that risk. People change, Diego." Diego pressed, "And what if she hasn't? What if this is all just an act?" Five, with a small smile, admitted, "Love tends to make people do crazy things, and right now, I'm willing to be a little crazy."

Diego shook his head, frustration evident in his eyes, "You don't know what love is." Five smirked, nodding confidently, "Oh, yes, I do. And I'm deeply in love with her. You can't make me change my feelings."Diego clenched his fists, "She doesn't deserve your love, Five. You're letting her manipulate you again." Five's eyes hardened, "This is my decision, Diego. I won't let the past dictate my future happiness."

Diego stared at Five with disbelief, "You're willing to throw everything away for a love that's uncertain? You're just setting yourself up for more heartbreak." Five shrugged nonchalantly, "Life is messy, Diego. Love is messy. But if I have a chance at happiness with her, I'm willing to face the chaos and the uncertainty." Diego scoffed, "You're delusional if you think love is just about that." Five leaned in closer, "Maybe you never really understood love, Diego. It's messy, complicated, and sometimes it makes no sense. But it's worth it." Diego glared at him, "You're making a huge mistake, Five." Five just chuckled, "Time will tell, Diego. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have someone to be with."

Five pushed past Diego, a confident grin on his face as he walked away, leaving Diego standing there with a mix of frustration and disbelief on his face. In the hallway, Five was taken aback as he turned the corner and saw Allison engaged in a seemingly pleasant conversation with y/n. The sight of them laughing together caught him off guard, and for a moment, he couldn't help but stare in disbelief. Y/n then steals a glance from Five and smiles. She quickly says something to Allison before embracing her with a hug.

As y/n approached Five, she couldn't help but chuckle at the confusion evident on his face. "What happened there?" he asked, curious about the sudden change in dynamics between y/n and Allison. Y/n shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Well, while you were having a heart-to-heart with Diego, I stumbled upon Allison. Turns out we've got quite a bit in common, especially when it comes to exes. We had a good laugh, shared some stories, and now we're practically besties."

Five arched an eyebrow, still trying to process the idea of y/n and Allison getting along. "Besties, huh? What kind of sorcery did you use to make that happen?" Y/n smirked, enjoying the playful banter. "No sorcery, just charm and a good sense of humor. Maybe you should try it sometime." She nudged him playfully with a grin.

After a chuckle and a comfortable silence, Five looked at y/n with a certain determination in his eyes. "You want to go somewhere private?" he asked. Y/n raised an eyebrow, curious about the sudden change in tone. "Why?" she inquired. Five took a deep breath before responding, "There's something important I need to tell you." Y/n nodded in agreement, sensing the gravity of the situation. "Lead the way," she said, taking ahold of Five hand. Five leads the way to his hotel room as they take the elevator to the second floor. The ding echos in the elevator and Five walks y/n down the hall and to his room.

The room was tense as Five closed the door behind them. Y/n stood near the center, looking around, while Five leaned against the closed door, his gaze fixed on her. "So, what's this important thing you wanted to tell me?" y/n asked, breaking the silence. Five took a moment before he spoke, "I just... I wanted to say I'm willing to give us another chance." Y/n's eyes widened in surprise, her emotions a mix of shock and anticipation.

Y/n's eyes searched Five's face for any sign of hesitation before she cautiously asked, "Are you really ready to forgive me, Five?" He met her gaze with a determined look and nodded. "Yes, I am. After our talk last night and seeing you interact with Allison just now, I can see you're trying to change. I... I can't promise it'll be easy, but I'm willing to give it a shot."

Y/n felt a mix of emotions, relief, happiness, and a lingering fear of the past. "Why? Why now?" she inquired, wanting to understand his sudden change of heart. Five sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I've spent a lot of time thinking about it. Holding onto the anger wasn't doing me any good, and maybe, just maybe, we both deserve a shot at something better."

A genuine smile formed on Y/n's face, mirroring the sentiment that sparkled in Five's eyes. As he cupped her face gently, his words hung in the air, "I'm in love with you." Y/n's heart skipped a beat at the admission, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth. "Five," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He leaned in, closing the distance between them, and pressed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. The room seemed to fade away as they shared this intimate moment, and for the first time in a long while, everything felt right. When they finally pulled away, Y/n's eyes locked with Five's, and she whispered back, "I love you too."