Defy: Taennie Special

- 13

Koen in his couch, staring blankly at the stack of cards on his desk. He was angry with himself more than anyone else.

He had chosen to walk away from Cielle, to protect her from the inevitable pain of their impossible relationship. Their age gap, the disapproval from her family—it all added up to something that couldn't work. But that didn't stop him from wanting her. That didn't stop him from loving her.

He slammed his hand down on the center table, the sharp sound echoing in the empty living room. The frustration was overwhelming. He had done the right thing by distancing himself from Cielle, but it didn't feel right at all. It felt like he was tearing his own heart out.

He sighed, rubbing his temples. His thoughts were a mess, tangled in regret, jealousy, and guilt.

Koen stood up abruptly, grabbing his coat. He needed air. He needed to get out of the suffocating silence of his office and clear his mind.

As he left the condominium and made his way to his car, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen, expecting another work-related message, but his breath hitched when he saw Cielle's name flash across the screen.

For a moment, he stood there, staring at her name, debating whether to open the message or not.

His heart pounded in his chest as he finally unlocked his phone and read her message, "Koen, I need to talk to you."

Koen closed his eyes, torn between his desire to stay away and the deep pull he felt toward her. He wanted to talk to her—needed to, even—but what would he say? How could he explain everything that had happened without making it worse?

Before he could decide, another message came through, "It's important."

Koen swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words sink in. He knew this was it—the conversation that would either break them completely or somehow bring them back together.

He climbed into his car, his heart pounding with anticipation, fear, and hope, all at once.

Cielle sat on her bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hands. She had sent the messages to Koen, unsure if he would even respond. But she needed answers—she needed to understand everything that had been happening. Lucian's confession, Pauleen's lies, and Koen's coldness—it was all too much for her to bear alone.

She had trusted Lucian, leaned on him during her worst moments, and now she didn't know what to believe. And Pauleen—her own sister—had kept her in the dark, manipulating her for reasons she still didn't fully understand.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought about Koen. No matter how hard she tried to push her feelings for him aside, they always came rushing back. She missed him—missed his calm presence, his steadying influence in her chaotic world. But he had pushed her away, too, and now she didn't know if there was any way to fix what had been broken between them.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. She looked down and saw Koen's reply, "I'll come over. Be there in 20."

Her heart leaped in her chest. He was coming. They were finally going to talk.

But as the minutes ticked by, a sense of dread crept in. What if this conversation ended things for good? What if there was no going back from everything that had happened?

Cielle wiped away her tears, steeling herself for whatever was about to happen. One way or another, she was about to get the answers she needed—whether she was ready for them or not.

The streetlights cast long shadows over the sidewalk as Koen pulled up in front of Cielle's dorm. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. He was nervous—something that rarely happened to him, but Cielle always managed to bring out feelings in him he couldn't control.

He sat there for a moment, staring at the building. He knew what was about to happen might change everything between them, and a part of him wasn't sure he was ready. But another part of him, the part that loved her, couldn't stay away any longer.

With a deep breath, he got out of the car and made his way to the front door, his heart pounding with every step.

Cielle was waiting for him in the lobby, her eyes red and swollen from crying. When their eyes met, a flicker of something passed between them—something unresolved, something neither of them had been able to let go of.

Koen's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He didn't know where to begin. Instead, he simply gestured for her to lead the way, and they climbed the stairs in silence to her apartment.

Once inside, the silence between them grew thick with tension, both of them unsure of how to start the conversation they had been avoiding for so long.

Finally, Cielle broke the silence, her voice shaky. "Why did you push me away?"

Koen stared at her, his heart breaking all over again at the sight of her tears. "I thought it was for the best," he said quietly. "I didn't want to hurt you."

"But you did," Cielle shot back, her voice growing stronger. "You hurt me more than anyone ever has."

The room went quiet for a moment, the weight of Koen's decisions hanging between them.

"You don't understand," Koen said, his voice breaking slightly. "I pushed you away because I didn't want to be selfish. You see I'm a busy man. My priorities are way off for a college student like you. I feel like I can't give you enough time and attention."

Cielle took a step toward him, her eyes locking onto his. "But I never wanted anyone else, Koen. I only ever wanted you."

His heart lurched at her words. Every wall he had built around his heart began to crumble, and for the first time in weeks, he felt the full weight of what he had done.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I thought I was doing the right thing, but I was wrong. I never stopped loving you, Cielle. Not for a second."

Cielle's breath hitched as Koen cupped her face in his hands. His touch was gentle but filled with an intensity that spoke of his deep regret and unspoken love. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the world outside seemed to fade away.

Without another word, Koen leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was both tender and desperate. It was a kiss filled with longing, remorse, and a deep, aching need for reconciliation. Cielle responded, her arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened, their emotions pouring out in that one intimate moment.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other. Koen looked into her eyes, his own filled with unshed tears. "I love you, Cielle. I never stopped."

Cielle's eyes softened, but there was still a trace of uncertainty. "But what about everything that happened? How do we move past it?"

Koen gently wiped away a tear from her cheek. "I don't have all the answers. But I want to try. I want to make things right. If you'll let me."

Cielle nodded slowly, her heart aching but hopeful.

Koen smiled faintly, his heart lifting slightly. For now, it was a start. They had a long way to go, but the kiss they shared was a promise of a new beginning, a chance to mend what had been broken and build something stronger from the pieces.