BETWEEN THE PANES

Chapter 18

  As Kelvin's lips met mine, I felt a rush of conflicting emotions. Part of me wanted to push him away, to remind him of the pain he caused, but another part longed for his affection, craving the warmth of his embrace.

But as our lips lingered in that bittersweet moment, I realized that forgiveness was a journey, not a destination. It would take time to heal the wounds Kelvin's betrayal had inflicted, but perhaps, with patience and understanding, we could rebuild what was broken.

Pulling away slightly, I looked into Kelvin's eyes, searching for sincerity amidst the turmoil of emotions. And in that moment, I saw a glimmer of regret, a silent plea for redemption.

"Kelvin," I began, my voice trembling with uncertainty, "I want to believe you. I want to trust that your feelings are genuine, but..."

"But you're not sure if you can," he finished for me, his gaze filled with understanding.

Nodding slowly, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders, knowing that Kelvin acknowledged the depth of my pain. It was a small step, but it gave me hope that perhaps, together, we could navigate the complexities of love and forgiveness.

"I need time," I whispered, my voice barely audible above the hum of the classroom.

"Take all the time you need," Kelvin replied, his voice soft with sincerity.

And as we sat there, amidst the quiet chaos of our emotions, I realized that love wasn't always easy, but it was worth fighting for. And with that realization, a flicker of hope ignited within me, lighting the way forward on the path to healing and reconciliation.

I hugged Kelvin goodbye before going home, I really wanted Kelvin back but I don't know. What if he breaks my heart again.

I came down from my car to see Atlas standing at the front of my house. I couldn't help but wonder what he was doing there.

I smiled when my gaze met with his.

" Hii" I said and then stood in front of him.

" Hey" He said. Atlas wasn't smiling even when I was smiling.

" what's wrong?" I asked clueslessly.

" wait let me understand this" he said and I nodded.

" I saw you kissing Kelvin today, I thought you broke up" He said making me wonder why he cares about the fact that I and Kelvin kissed.

"Why were you watching?" I blurted out, unable to suppress my curiosity.

Atlas hesitated for a moment before meeting my gaze. "I wasn't trying to spy on you, Timi. I just happened to see it," he explained, his voice soft but firm.

I chewed on my lip, trying to process his words. It felt unnerving to know that Atlas had witnessed such an intimate moment, yet I couldn't shake off the guilt that gnawed at me.

As we stood there in silence, I couldn't help but wonder why Atlas was so invested in my love life.

  Feeling a mix of discomfort and curiosity, I decided to address the elephant in the room. "Why does it matter to you?" I asked, my voice tinged with uncertainty, patiently waiting for his replies.

"I care for you," Atlas stated, his words catching me off guard. Shock momentarily froze me, but a warm sensation spread through me at his unexpected confession.

I wanted to smile, to bask in the comfort of his care, but before I could, he added, "As a friend. You are like my best friend now, and I don't want anything to happen to you."

The warmth evaporated, replaced by a sudden chill. His clarification extinguished any hope that had lighten to life within me. My smile fell, My heart sinking as I realized the limitations of their relationship, all I needed was Kelvin right?