A TWIST OF FATE

CHAPTER 14 :

The days felt like they were dragging on, each one blending into the next, a haze of missed opportunities and unspoken words. I continued to ignore Nex, convincing myself that it was for the best. But every glance of his that I avoided only deepened the ache in my chest. I cried every night, my pillow soaked with tears, as I wrestled with my feelings and the guilt that consumed me.

Despite my efforts to distance myself, I felt an undeniable pull toward him. I tried to drown my emotions in my studies, surrounding myself with friends and keeping busy, but no matter what I did, thoughts of Nex invaded my mind. I would catch myself daydreaming about his laughter, the way his eyes lit up when he talked about things he loved. It was maddening.

As I sat in the art studio, working on my latest project, I heard the door creak open. I looked up to see Nex standing there, his expression a mix of determination and concern. My heart raced, panic and longing battling within me.

"Clare," he said softly, stepping inside. "Can we talk?"I felt the walls I had built around myself start to crack. "I'm really busy right now," I said, my voice trembling despite my efforts to sound firm."Please," he begged, his eyes searching mine. "I need to know what's going on with you. This distance... it's killing me."

I looked down, unable to meet his gaze. The emotions swirling inside me felt too overwhelming to articulate. "I just... I think it's better if we don't talk," I managed to say."Better for who?" he asked, frustration creeping into his voice. "You? Me? Or both of us?"I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat tighten. "Both. I don't want to hurt you, Nex. I can't keep feeling this way, and I thought if I ignored it, it would go away."He stepped closer, his expression softening. "But it's not going away, is it? Ignoring it only makes it worse."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "You don't understand. I can't be the reason for any pain. You have a girlfriend. This is wrong."Nex sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I know it's complicated, but you're not being fair to yourself. You can't just pretend you don't care.""I care too much," I whispered, the words barely escaping my lips. "And that's the problem."The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words and emotions. I could see the hurt in Nex's eyes, and it shattered my heart. "What do you want from me?" I finally asked, my voice shaky.

"I want you to be honest with me," he said, his tone earnest. "I want to know how you really feel."I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "I feel lost, Nex. I like you, but I know that liking you means stepping into a mess. I don't want to hurt you or your girlfriend. I don't want to be the one who complicates everything."His gaze softened, and he took a step closer. "Clare, I've been trying to make sense of this too. I care about you, and I've felt this connection between us for a long time. Ignoring it doesn't change how I feel."I opened my eyes, meeting his gaze. "But what about her? What about the life you've built with her?"Nex hesitated, and I could see the conflict in his eyes. "Things have been complicated with us for a while now. I don't know where we stand. But I do know that I can't deny how I feel about you."

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That night, I cry myself in bed. I was silently crying. Holding my voice from coming out. 

I just wanted to stop liking him. This is hurt. painful. I wanted to move on.