The Heart's Compass : Guiding the Soul's Quest for Love

The Truth Unraveled

Tia paced around her living room, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts. Vanshika's story was still fresh in her mind, and it gnawed at her. The Evan she knew—confident, charming, and seemingly straightforward—didn't match the person Vanshika described. But then, how well did she really know him?

With a deep breath, she picked up her phone and dialed Evan's number. It rang twice before he answered, his warm voice bringing a slight sense of relief.

"Hey, Tia. What's up?" he said, sounding relaxed.

"Hey, Evan," Tia replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "Can you come over? There's something we need to talk about."

There was a brief pause. "Sure, I'll be there in about twenty minutes. Is everything okay?"

Tia hesitated, unsure how much to reveal over the phone. "Just... come over. We can talk then."

"Alright, see you soon," Evan said, his tone filled with a hint of concern.

As she hung up, Tia felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. She didn't know what to believe, but she was determined to find out the truth.

True to his word, Evan arrived twenty minutes later. He entered the apartment, his usual confident demeanor softened by a look of mild concern. He took off his sunglasses, his eyes searching hers for an answer.

"What's going on, Tia?" he asked, walking towards her.

Tia motioned for him to sit on the sofa. She joined him, maintaining a comfortable distance between them. She took a deep breath before speaking. "Vanshika came by earlier today."

Evan's expression shifted, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. "Vanshika? Why would she come here?"

"She told me something... about you," Tia continued, watching his reaction closely. "She said you were involved in some shady business deals with a guy named Raj and that it led to a lot of trouble. She claimed that's why you two broke up."

Evan's face paled slightly, his jaw tightening. He looked away, running a hand through his hair. For a moment, Tia feared he might confirm Vanshika's story. But then, he spoke, his voice low and steady.

"Tia, listen to me. Whatever she told you, it's not the whole truth." He looked back at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and hurt. "Yes, there was a guy named Raj, and yes, he tried to rope me into some bad deals. But I never went through with it. I walked away before things got too deep."

Tia listened, her heart pounding. "Why didn't you tell me about this before?"

Evan sighed, leaning back against the sofa, careful not to invade her personal space. "Because it was a dark time in my life. I was young, naive, and desperate to make it big in this industry. Raj seemed like a way to fast-track my career, but I quickly realized he was just a con artist. I cut ties with him before any real damage was done. It was a lesson learned, but not something I like to revisit."

He paused, searching Tia's face for understanding. "Vanshika knew about it because she was with me at the time. But we didn't break up because of that. We had our own issues, unrelated to Raj. I guess she's using this as a way to... I don't know, maybe stir up trouble or get back at me."

Tia felt a wave of relief, mixed with lingering doubt. "But why would she lie about something like this? What does she gain from it?"

Evan's eyes softened. "Tia, Vanshika and I didn't end things on good terms. I think she might still have feelings for me, or maybe she just doesn't want to see me happy with someone else. I can't speak for her motives, but I can tell you that I'm not hiding anything from you. I care about you too much for that."

Tia looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of deceit. All she saw was sincerity and a hint of vulnerability. She nodded slowly, feeling a mixture of emotions—relief, trust, and a deepening affection for the man before her. Despite her aversion to physical touch, she felt a strong urge to comfort him and reassure herself.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "It's just... her story was so detailed, and I didn't know what to think."

Evan smiled gently. "It's okay. I get it. But I'm here now, and I want us to be open with each other. If you ever have doubts or concerns, just talk to me. We'll figure it out together."

Feeling a mix of relief and affection, Evan opened his arms wide, inviting Tia in for a hug. "Come here," he said with a warm smile, expecting her to reciprocate the gesture.

To his surprise, Tia recoiled, her face contorting with discomfort. "Whoa, no way," she exclaimed, taking a step back and holding her hands up as if warding him off. "I don't do hugs."

Evan blinked, his arms still awkwardly outstretched before he slowly dropped them, looking baffled. "Wait, what? You don't like hugs?" He stared at her, clearly taken aback. "How can someone not like hugs?"

Tia sighed, crossing her arms and looking a bit exasperated. "I know, it sounds weird, but I just hate physical touch. Always have," she explained, shrugging. "It makes me uncomfortable."

Evan scratched the back of his head, still trying to process her words. "Huh, that's... different," he muttered, clearly perplexed. "I mean, I love hugs. They're comforting, you know? Like a warm blanket."

Tia chuckled, shaking her head. "Not for me," she replied, a wry smile playing on her lips. "More like being wrapped in cling film—suffocating and sticky."

Evan laughed, albeit a bit awkwardly. "Wow, that's quite the visual," he said, grinning. "I guess everyone has their thing. But seriously, you've never liked hugs? Not even as a kid?"

Tia shook her head again, a bit more firmly this time. "Nope. Even as a kid, I was always the one who'd squirm away from hugs and handshakes. My parents thought I'd grow out of it, but nope, still hate it."

Evan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That's wild. I can't imagine not liking a good hug. It's like... a universal sign of affection," he mused, then quickly added, "Not that there's anything wrong with not liking it! Just... different."

Tia smirked at his attempt to backpedal. "Yeah, I get it," she said, amused by his reaction. "But I'm not a touchy-feely person. It's just not for me."

Evan nodded, clearly still trying to wrap his head around the concept. "Well, I guess that means I'll have to find other ways to show you I care," he said, a playful glint in his eye. "Like... waving enthusiastically from a distance?"

Tia laughed, feeling more at ease. "Waving is good," she agreed, nodding. "Or you know, verbal affirmations work too."

Evan grinned, leaning back on the sofa. "Noted. So, no surprise hugs, no shoulder pats... I'll just stick to compliments and witty banter," he teased, giving her a playful wink.

Tia grinned back, enjoying the lighthearted exchange. "Exactly," she replied, crossing her arms with mock seriousness. "Consider this your official warning: Any attempt at physical affection will result in a very awkward situation."

Evan chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Message received, loud and clear," he said, still smiling. "I'll keep my distance and stick to verbal affection. Promise."

As the conversation shifted back to less personal topics, Tia couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something was still off about Vanshika's story. Despite the reassurance from Evan, she found herself reflecting on her earlier insight: "Even the smallest detail can be a crucial clue. If something seems insignificant, it might just be the key to unraveling the entire case."

________________________________________<3
Stay tuned for more.💗