His Secret Roommate.

Chapter - 8

She woke up at 7 a.m., finding herself alone in the room. He had already left, a first time since she started living in his room. She remembered how she had slept so late at night, her mind filled with thoughts, knowing she had hurt him. Not knowing how to explain why she reacted the way she did, she felt a pang of guilt.

She still wasn't ready to believe the fact that led her to yesterday reaction herself-how was she supposed to explain it to him? But seeing the way he was hurt weighed heavily on her heart. Shaking her head to clear her mind, she meditated for a few minutes before freshening up. As she glanced around the room, she noticed a plate of breakfast on the side table , a silent evidence to his continued care despite the distance between them.

She couldn't understand why he cared so much for someone so shallow, for someone who hurt him again and again. It made her heart ache more. She spent the day eagerly waiting for the evening, keeping herself busy by cleaning the room, organizing the cupboard, and taking care of her clothes and other tasks.

She knew she couldn't afford to be free today-the thoughts in her mind would eat her alive. As the hours passed, she hoped that when he returned, she could find the words and the courage to explain herself.

As the hours passed, she tried to prepare herself for the conversation, rehearsing words in her mind, hoping that when the time came, she could find the courage to speak her heart.
___________________________

It was late at night when he finally returned. She had anxiously waited for him all day, her nerves fraying with each passing hour. Exhausted from the emotional turmoil, she had eventually drifted off to sleep on the couch, still dressed in her day clothes.

He entered the room quietly, his heart sinking at the sight of her asleep on the couch. All the emotions from the previous night flooded back, mixing with a deep sense of regret and longing. Without hesitation, he loosened his tie and shed the cuffs of his shirt, retrieving a bag of food from his backpack. Carefully placing it on her side table, he gently shook her awake.

"Hey, wake up. You should eat." he whispered gently

Startled, she opened her eyes to see him standing over her. Her surprise turned to relief and then to concern as she registered the sadness in his eyes. "You're back," she murmured, her voice betraying her worry. "Why were you so late?" she asked, trying to initiate a normal conversation.

"I was busy with work," he replied curtly, cutting off any further conversation.

Before she could say anything else, he turned away, his attention seemingly elsewhere.

Left with unanswered questions and a heart heavy with regret, she watched as he entered into the bathroom without a second glance. The silence that followed weighed heavily in the room making mark on her, the room filled with unspoken words and unresolved emotions.

As she sat there, the food on the table untouched, she realized how much had changed between them in such a short time.

After some time, when he returned from the bathroom, she gathered her courage and tried to talk to him.

"Listen," she began softly, her voice trembling slightly. "About last night... I didn't mean......!!! I just-"

He cut her off, his tone flat and exhausted. "If it's not something important, I need to rest. I have to leave early in the morning."

His words cut through her like a knife, and she felt a mix of hurt and surprise. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back, trying to keep her composure.

She had hoped for a chance to explain, to clear the air between them, but his abrupt dismissal stung deeply. "Alright," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'll let you rest. Goodnight."

She turned off the light and lay down on the couch, the darkness of the room mirroring the heaviness in her heart. She felt a deep ache, a sense of rejection and loneliness that seemed to swallow her whole. She curled up, pulling the blanket around her tightly, and let silent tears fall.

She didn't know why his rejection hurt her so much, why his pain affected her so deeply, why him treating her like a stranger hurt her to this extent. She couldn't understand why she cared so much about his feelings, or why the thought of losing his warmth and friendship filled her with such sadness.
__________________________

His POV

The kiss and her reaction had stirred up a lot of emotions in him, more than he knew how to handle. But when she flinched from his touch and ran away, it felt like his heart had shattered.

He had been avoiding her, not out of anger or spite, but to delay the heartbreak that he was convinced was unavoidable. If she told him directly that she didn't share same feelings, he wasn't sure he could handle it. Better to keep his distance for now, before facing the truth.

Also he didn't want her to feel burdened by his feelings, especially when she was already dealing with so much. She was running from a terrifying situation, hiding in his room. He didn't want to add to her troubles with his own emotional baggage. And yet, a small part of him felt hurt by her reaction, needing time to heal before he could act normal again.

He couldn't face her, not yet. He needed more time to sort through his emotions, to find a way to protect his heart without hurting hers.

As he lay in bed that night, the darkness heavy around him, he replayed the scene in his mind. Her flinch, the tears in her eyes, the way she had looked at him with such a mix of emotions-it all haunted him.

Please vote 🙏