Bubble Tea

A soul adrift

Song for the chapter: Moral of the story by Ashe

Andres' POV:

The next day dawned with a tentative hope in my heart. After Seb's comforting presence and his wise advice, I felt a renewed sense of determination to face Audrey. It was time to confront the mess I had created, to seek forgiveness, and to try to make things right.

I spent the morning preparing mentally, rehearsing the words I would say to Audrey. The weight of guilt and regret hung heavy on my shoulders, but I knew I had to face it head-on. Bringing a small bouquet of her favorite flowers seemed like a feeble attempt to soften the blow of my confession, but it was all I could think to do.

As I made my way to Audrey's house, nerves churned in my stomach. The walk felt longer than usual, each step echoing my inner turmoil. I kept reminding myself that I had to do this, no matter how difficult it might be.

Arriving at her doorstep, I took a deep breath and rang the bell. The house was quiet, confirming that Audrey was likely home alone. My heart raced as I waited for her to answer, unsure of what reception awaited me.

I stood outside Audrey's door, clutching a bouquet of flowers in shaking hands. My heart raced with apprehension, knowing this moment could irreversibly change everything between us. I took a deep breath and knocked softly.

The door swung open, revealing Audrey. Her eyes, once filled with warmth for me, now held nothing but disappointment and anger. "What do you want, Andres?" Her voice trembled with a mixture of hurt and resentment.

"I... I came to apologize," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I know I messed up, Audrey. I never meant to hurt you."

Audrey scoffed bitterly, a hollow laugh that echoed in the hallway. "You never meant to hurt me? Do you even understand what you've done?" Her words cut deep, laced with a pain that mirrored my own.

"I do," I replied, my throat tightening with emotion. "And I'm so sorry, Audrey. I know sorry isn't enough, but..."

"But what, Andres?" Her voice rose, filled with frustration. "Do you think a few flowers and an apology will erase everything? Do you think this is a fairy tale where everything magically gets fixed?"

"I don't know," I admitted, tears welling in my eyes. "I just had to try... I couldn't let things end like this."

Audrey shook her head, her expression hardening. "You should have thought about that before you kissed Nicoli. Before you betrayed my trust."

"I know," I murmured, my voice cracking with emotion. "I was stupid. I let Nicoli manipulate me again, and I hurt you in the process."

"And now you're here with flowers," she said bitterly, taking the bouquet from my hands. Without hesitation, she threw them into the nearby trash bin, the sound echoing in the silence between us.

"I thought... maybe..." I struggled to find the right words, my mind a whirlwind of regret and guilt. "Maybe I could make things right somehow."

Audrey's gaze hardened, her eyes narrowing with resolve. "You can't make this right, Andres. You broke us."

"I don't want to lose you," I blurted out, desperation creeping into my voice. "I... I really like you, Audrey. I don't want our fake relationship to end like this. I want something real with you."

Audrey's expression softened briefly, a flicker of sadness crossing her features. "Real things don't start on a foundation of lies," she said quietly. "I trusted you, Andres. And you betrayed that trust."

"I never meant to," I pleaded, tears streaming down my cheeks. "I care about you, Audrey. More than I can say."

"Care isn't enough," she replied, her voice filled with resignation. "I can't do this anymore, Andres. I can't be with someone I can't trust."