WHAT IF???

Chapter 51: The Unrequited

Days had passed since Mon's confrontation with Kirk, and the weight of their heated exchange still lingered heavily in the air. As Kirk arrived at his office, he felt a sense of foreboding settle in the pit of his stomach. His secretary, noticing his arrival, quickly informed him, "Mr. Kirk, someone is waiting for you in your office."

Kirk's heart raced as he approached his office door, his mind racing with possibilities. Pushing the door open, he froze at the sight of a familiar figure standing by the window, the morning light casting a sharp silhouette.

"Nuea," Kirk called out, his voice betraying a mix of surprise and apprehension.

Nuea turned slowly, his eyes cold and piercing as they met Kirk's. "Kirk," he replied, his tone devoid of the usual warmth.

Kirk swallowed hard, attempting to maintain a façade of calm. "What brings you here?" he asked, though he already had a sinking feeling he knew the answer.

Nuea took a step forward, his expression unyielding. "I think you know exactly why I'm here," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I heard about your... extracurricular activities."

Kirk's face paled as he realized the full extent of Mon's warning. "This is a private matter," he stammered, trying to regain his footing. "It's between me and Sam."

Nuea’s eyes burned with an intensity that Kirk hadn’t seen before. “We both protected Sam and Mon since high school,” Nuea began, his voice low and trembling with barely restrained rage. “And this is what you do to them? How dare you hurt the woman you claimed to love and the woman we treated like a sister.”

Kirk’s jaw tightened as he shot back, “You don’t know anything, Nuea.”

Nuea stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. “I don’t need to know everything to protect my friends from you. If you’re no longer satisfied with what Sam can offer, then let her go.”

Kirk chuckled, a bitter sound that echoed in the room. His eyes glinted with sarcasm as he mocked, “What has Sam ever given me? Tell me, Nuea, what?”

The mocking tone vanished in an instant, replaced by cold seriousness. “Sam hasn’t been a wife to me,” Kirk hissed. “She never treated me as her husband. And now you come here to lecture me? Save it.”

Nuea’s fists clenched at his sides, his restraint fraying at the edges. “If you ever cared about Sam, you’d let her go instead of dragging her through this hell.”

Kirk’s eyes narrowed as he stepped closer to Nuea, their faces inches apart. “This is none of your business, Nuea. Leave before you regret it.”

Nuea stood his ground, his voice steady and filled with conviction. “Make no mistake, Kirk. If you continue down this path, you’ll face the consequences. We won’t stand by and let you destroy Sam’s life.”

For a moment, the room was filled with a tense silence, the weight of Nuea’s words hanging in the air. Kirk’s expression twisted with anger and frustration, but he knew there was no reasoning with Nuea’s unwavering loyalty to Sam.

Without another word, Nuea turned and walked out of the office, leaving Kirk to stew in the bitter reality of his crumbling facade. As the door closed behind Nuea, Kirk felt a chill run down his spine, realizing that the bonds of friendship and loyalty that had protected him for so long were now the very forces threatening to unravel his carefully constructed life.

As Nuea slammed the car door shut, his anger boiled over, a tempest raging within him. His hands clenched the steering wheel tightly as he cursed under his breath.

"If only I knew this would happen," he murmured bitterly, his voice laced with regret. "W should have stayed away from Kirk."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air as Nuea's mind raced with a torrent of thoughts and emotions. He couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal that gnawed at his heart, the sense of injustice that burned deep within him.

"I didn't pursue my love for Sam just to be hurt by Kirk," he whispered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "I sacrificed so much, only to watch it all crumble before my eyes."

As he sat in the silence of his car, the weight of his regrets pressing down upon him, Nuea knew that he couldn't undo the past.

As Nuea's mind wandered back to their high school days, a bittersweet smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He remembered the anticipation that had coursed through him as he waited for Sam in the hallway during their lunch break, his heart racing with nervous excitement.

When Sam finally appeared, waving to him with that infectious smile of hers, Nuea's pulse quickened. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to do.

"Sam, I have something to tell you," Nuea began, his voice trembling slightly with nervousness.

But before he could continue, Sam interjected, her own excitement palpable. "Nuea, I have something to say too," she exclaimed, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Nuea's heart sank slightly at the interruption, but he nodded patiently, curiosity gnawing at him. "What is it?" he asked, eager to hear what Sam had to say.

With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Sam suggested they find Tor and Kirk first, mentioning that Mon was already waiting outside the cafeteria.

Outside the cafeteria, the five of them gathered, their laughter ringing out in the crisp afternoon air. As they chatted and joked, Sam suddenly burst with excitement, her joy infectious.

"Guess what, everyone?" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with happiness. "Mon and I are officially dating!"

Nuea felt a pang of disappointment shoot through him, but he quickly masked it with a forced smile. He watched as Tor and Kirk exchanged mocking glances, their laughter grating on his nerves.

When Sam turned to him, her eyes bright with anticipation, Nuea plastered on a smile and nodded. "Of course, Sam," he replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil roiling within him. "I'm happy for you."

But as he gazed into his reflection on his car's side mirror, a part of him couldn't help but wonder what could have been if he had mustered the courage to speak his heart all those years ago.

Nuea sat in his car, the flashback lingering in his mind, fueling his determination. His resolve hardened as he replayed the moments in his head. The love he had buried for Sam years ago was now transforming into a fierce protectiveness. He couldn’t let her suffer any longer.

"This is it," Nuea murmured to himself, clenching the steering wheel. "I'm not going to stand by and watch Kirk ruin Sam's life."

He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his decision. "Sam deserves to be happy," he vowed, his voice gaining strength with each word. "Even if it’s not with me, she deserves to be with Mon."

Nuea’s mind raced with plans and possibilities. He would gather evidence, rally their friends, and support Sam through the legal process. He wouldn’t let Kirk’s manipulation go unchallenged.

"I swear," he continued, his voice resolute, "I will do everything in my power to get Sam out of this marriage. I’ll make sure she can be with Mon, where she truly belongs."

As he drove away from the office, Nuea’s heart was heavy with the enormity of the task ahead, but his spirit was unwavering. He knew the road would be difficult, filled with legal battles and emotional turmoil, but he was ready. For Sam, and for the love he had always carried in his heart, he would fight until the end.