Forbidden Love | Jude Bellingham

006. Misunderstanding

~ Jobe Bellingham ~

Misunderstanding

"What is going on here Ava?"

I slowly woke up, the soft rays of the morning sun spilling through the curtains and bathing the room in a warm, golden glow. The air was filled with a peaceful stillness, the kind that only early mornings could offer. I stretched lazily, savoring the comfort of the bed and the serenity of the moment. Turning over, I instinctively reached out to the other side of the bed where Ava should have been. But to my surprise, her side was empty, the sheets cool to the touch. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand. The screen lit up, revealing the time—9:58 AM.

I swung my legs out of bed, the soft carpet cushioning my feet as I stood. My mind wandered as I made my way to the closet, pulling out some clothes for the day.

Once dressed, I headed to the bathroom. The cool tiles beneath my feet contrasted with the warmth of the sun-drenched room. I reached for my toothbrush, the familiar routine grounding me in the quiet of the morning.

I finished brushing my teeth, the minty taste lingering as I rinsed my mouth. After splashing some water on my face, I left the bathroom and headed downstairs. The house was quiet, except for the faint murmur of voices coming from the kitchen. As I reached the last step, the voices became clearer, and I instantly recognized them—Ava and Jude.

Curiosity piqued, I paused. They were talking, but I couldn't quite make out the words. I took a few cautious steps closer to the kitchen doorway, straining to hear their conversation.

Ava's laugh suddenly broke through the air, light and carefree. "Yeah sure."

My chest tightened. What was so funny? What had Jude said to make her laugh like that?

A flood of questions filled my mind, each one laced with a trace of something I didn't want to acknowledge. I wasn't jealous. At least, I didn't think I was. Maybe a little, but not in the way most people would think. It wasn't that I liked Ava in that way. She was my best friend, has been since freshman year. But there was something about the way Jude, my older brother, seemed to captivate everyone—even her—that bothered me.

I lingered by the doorway, my thoughts running wild. Jude had always been the golden boy, the one who seemed to have it all. He'd gotten into all the best football clubs—Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, and now he was part of the English national team. He was the one everyone admired, the one who had girls practically throwing themselves at him. And it wasn't that I didn't love him. I did. He was my brother, and I supported him through everything, just as he did for me.

But for once, I wanted something for myself, something that Jude couldn't just take without even trying. Ava had always been that something—or someone, rather. She was the one person I had that he didn't. The thought of losing her, of seeing her drawn into Jude's orbit like everyone else, gnawed at me in a way I couldn't ignore.

I leaned closer, trying to catch more of their conversation, but my mind was already spinning. Was I overthinking this? Maybe. But the fear of losing Ava, of losing the one thing that felt like mine, was hard to shake.

"Thanks, Jude. I needed to hear that," Ava's voice floated into the hallway, her tone sincere, almost relieved.

"Anytime," Jude replied. His voice carried that easy confidence he always had. "Just promise me you'll tell him soon, okay? The longer you wait, the harder it'll be."

My heart sank, a sudden weight pressing down on my chest. Tell someone what? A cold wave of dread washed over me. Were they talking about me? What could Ava possibly need to tell me? My thoughts raced, connecting dots that I hoped didn't form the picture I was dreading. It couldn't be... Could it? Ava and Jude—together?

"I will," Ava's voice softened, almost hesitant. "I'll tell him."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Tell me what? And why did she have to thank him? What did he do for her that I didn't know about?

"Hey, that's what I'm here for," Jude said, a light chuckle following his words, casual as ever. But it only fueled the growing pit in my stomach.

"So, when are you leaving?" Jude's question landed like a final blow. Leaving? My face paled as panic set in. Leave? Leave for what? My mind spun with possibilities, each one worse than the last. Was she planning on going somewhere? Was she leaving because of Jude?

The need to know overwhelmed me. My feet moved on their own, and before I could think twice, I stepped into the doorway, revealing myself to both of them.

"Ava, what's going on?" I asked, my voice sharp as I stood behind them. They both turned around slowly, their backs still slightly angled away from me. Ava met my gaze, and immediately, I could see it—the worry and sadness etched into her eyes. Something was wrong, and the heaviness of the moment pressed down on my chest.

I looked at her, my voice growing firmer. "What is going on here, Ava?"

"Jobe—I..." Ava began, but I wasn't in the mood for delays.

"Are you leaving?" I interrupted, frustration lacing my words as I stared her down, trying to piece together the puzzle in my head. The possibility of her leaving made my heart pound in my chest, and I couldn't hide the edge in my voice.

"Jobe, just let me explain, I—" Ava tried again, her voice trembling, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. But I was too wrapped up in my emotions to let her finish.

"Did I do something wrong?" I demanded, my voice rising in frustration. I knew I should let her speak, but I was too overwhelmed to think clearly. The uncertainty, the fear—it all bubbled over, clouding my judgment.

"Jobe, no," she managed to say, her voice breaking as tears began to stream down her face.

And then, the question that had been gnawing at me forced its way out. "Are you together with him?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, but every word cutting through the air like a blade. My finger pointed accusingly at Jude.

Ava's lips parted, but no sound came out. She looked like she wanted to say something, anything, but the words seemed to choke her. The silence was deafening.

Jude stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "Jobe, just let her expl—"

"I don't need to hear anything from you right now!" I snapped, anger flashing in my eyes as I pointed at him, cutting him off before he could finish.

I took a step back, shaking my head in disbelief. "You know what? I don't need to hear anything from either of you anymore." The words tumbled out of my mouth, bitter and final.

turned away from them, every step feeling heavier than the last as I made my way to the door. "Jobe, no, please wait," Ava cried out behind me, her voice trembling with desperation. But I couldn't stop. I couldn't face her—face them—any longer. The pain was too raw, too overwhelming.

I reached for the door and swung it open, only to be met by my parents standing on the other side. My mom's face lit up with a warm smile as she began to greet me. "Hey, Darli—" But her words faltered as soon as she saw the hurt and anger etched across my face.

I couldn't bear to explain. I couldn't even find the words to try. So, without a second thought, I brushed past her, ignoring the concerned look she exchanged with my dad. I stepped outside, the cool air hitting me like a wave of relief. All I knew was that I needed to get away—away from the house, away from them, away from everything.

"Jobe, what's happening?" my father's voice called out behind me, a mix of confusion and concern. But I didn't turn back. I didn't answer. I just kept walking, my feet carrying me further and further away. I didn't know where I was going, but it didn't matter. I just needed to escape—to find some space to think, to breathe.

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