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Part 17: Colorblind

Thandar sat quietly on her bed, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of the television. She had just finished watching Evan's interview, where each word seemed to tug at her heartstrings. The memories she had tried so hard to bury began to resurface, each one more vivid than the last. Hesitantly, she reached for her old phone—the one she hadn't touched since their breakup.

With trembling fingers, she powered it on, watching as the screen flickered to life. Her heart raced as she scrolled through the messages, each one a painful reminder of what they once had. But one message stood out, one she had never seen before. It was from Evan, sent long after they had parted ways.

Her breath caught in her throat as she opened it, and the words hit her like a wave.

"To my dearest Thandar,

I hope you're doing well. I hope you're happy even though I'm not there beside you. Whatever the reason you left me, I will always understand it. No matter what you say when we meet again, I will accept it. If you left because you're not happy anymore, then I accept that too. It just hurts, but that's okay as long as you're doing well. I love you so much, Thandar—my everything."

Tears welled up in Thandar's eyes, and before she knew it, they were spilling down her cheeks. She had never imagined that Evan had felt this way—that he had been hurting just as much as she had. His words were filled with a deep, unconditional love that she hadn't realized she still longed for.

As she sat there, overwhelmed with emotion, she was unaware that Evan was on the other side of the city, pacing in his apartment. His mind was racing, filled with thoughts of Thandar. He couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to reach out to her, to hear her voice again.

In a moment of desperation, he dialed the only number he had for her—the old one he hadn't tried in months. His heart pounded as he listened to the ring, each tone filling him with a mix of hope and dread.

On the other end, Thandar's phone buzzed in her hand. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw the familiar number flashing on the screen. For a moment, she just stared at it, her mind torn between the urge to answer and the fear of what she might say. The ringing continued, each chime like a plea from the past, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to pick up. The call went unanswered, and the silence that followed was deafening.

Evan's shoulders slumped as the call went to voicemail. He knew it was a long shot, but the disappointment still stung. With a heavy sigh, he set the phone down, his heart aching with the weight of everything left unsaid.

Later that day, Thandar found herself drawn to a place she hadn't visited in years. It was the spot where she and Evan had shared their first date—a secluded park by the river, where they had spent hours talking and laughing as if the rest of the world didn't exist. The memories of that day were still vivid in her mind, each one bittersweet.

As she approached the familiar bench, she felt a strange mix of nostalgia and sorrow. She sat down, her fingers tracing the worn wood, and closed her eyes, letting the memories wash over her. She hadn't expected to see anyone there, let alone the one person she was trying so hard to avoid.

But when she opened her eyes, there he was—Evan, standing just a few feet away, his expression one of shock and disbelief. For a moment, neither of them moved, both too stunned to speak.

"Thandar..." Evan's voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes wide with surprise.

Thandar's heart raced, and her first instinct was to flee, to run from the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm her. She stood up quickly, turning away as if she could escape the situation by simply walking away.

"Wait!" Evan called after her, his voice filled with desperation. "Please, don't go."

Thandar paused, her back still turned to him. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to steady her breathing. She didn't trust herself to speak, not when her emotions were so raw.

"I just want to talk," Evan continued, taking a cautious step closer. "I know things didn't end the way we wanted, but... seeing you here, it feels like fate brought us back to this place. Can we just... talk? Please?"

"Talk about what?" Thandar replied, her tone colder than she intended.

"About the last time we met, about those rumors... It's not true. I'm not dating Elaine," Evan explained, his voice softening.

"I know. I watched your interview." Thandar's words were clipped as she tried to turn away.

"Your phone... are you using it again? I tried to call you just now, and it rang, which means you finally opened it," Evan said, slowly approaching her.

"Yes, I opened it just now," Thandar admitted, taking a step back, trying to maintain the distance between them.

"Then you must have read my messages?" Evan asked, his voice tinged with hope as he stepped closer, nearly closing the gap between them.

"Yes, just now. But what's the point? Reading it now doesn't change anything. We already broke up, and that will always stay the same," Thandar replied, her tone icy, though her heart was far from cold.

"Then why are you here? If it will always stay the same, why come to this spot? It's not a place most people visit, but seeing you here... it means something, doesn't it?" Evan's voice grew more emotional, his eyes glistening as he asked the question that had haunted him for years. "Why did you leave, Thandar?"

"I'm just... lost, that's why I'm here," Thandar said, avoiding his question, trying to keep her composure.

"Oh, so you were lost five years ago too?" Evan's tone was sharper as he reached out, grabbing her waist to keep her from fleeing. Their faces were so close now that she could feel his breath on her skin.

"You didn't notice it. I was a walking red flag, and I always will be. That's why I left you that day," Thandar confessed, pulling away from his grip, her voice trembling.

"Then... you must accept that I'm colorblind," Evan whispered, pulling her close again, this time not allowing her to escape. Their lips met in a passionate kiss, a mix of longing and unresolved emotions pouring out as he held her tight, refusing to let go.