She Was Just A Child (PART 2)

CHAPTER 22: FRACTURED TRUST

Dian stood in front of the training room's punching bag, her body poised and tense. The room was empty, save for her and the faint sound of her breathing. The silence was heavy, pressing in on her from all sides. It mirrored the emptiness she felt inside, a gaping void that seemed to grow larger with each passing day.

Her fists clenched at her sides, and she threw a punch, the impact reverberating through her body. She barely registered the pain as her knuckles connected with the rough canvas. She punched again, and again, each strike harder than the last.

The image of Rustam's face flashed in her mind, his words echoing in her ears.

"I can't be what you need, Dian. I'm sorry."

Her punches grew more frantic, each one fueled by the anger and confusion that churned inside her. She didn't understand why she felt this way—why his rejection had cut so deep, why it hurt so much to see him with someone else.

She had never needed anyone before. Not like this.

With a final, furious cry, she slammed her fist into the bag, her body trembling with exertion. She leaned against it, breathing hard, her forehead pressed against the cool surface.

What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she just move on, let it go, forget about him?

"Dian?"

The voice startled her, and she turned sharply to see Konig standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. She straightened, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand.

"What do you want, Papa?" she asked, her voice harsher than she intended.

Konig stepped into the room, his eyes flicking to the battered punching bag before returning to her. "You've been avoiding everyone," he said quietly, his tone gentle. "Is everything all right?"

Dian let out a bitter laugh. "Define 'all right.'"

Konig didn't respond immediately, his gaze steady and unwavering. "I know something's been bothering you," he said after a moment. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but... I'm here if you need me."

Dian looked away, her jaw tightening. She wanted to tell him, wanted to spill everything that was roiling inside her. But the words stuck in her throat, tangled and suffocating. How could she explain something she didn't even understand herself?

"It's nothing," she muttered, turning her back on him. "I just needed to blow off some steam."

"Dian," Konig said softly, and she could hear the concern in his voice, the quiet plea for her to open up. It made her chest ache, the pressure building until it felt like she might explode.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "It's Rustam," she said finally, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. "I—I saw him again. With that woman."

Konig was silent, but she could feel his eyes on her, steady and patient.

"I thought... I thought he cared about me," she continued, her voice breaking. "But he doesn't, does he? I'm just... I'm nothing to him."

"You're not nothing," Konig said firmly, his voice carrying a quiet intensity that made her look up. "Don't ever think that."

Dian shook her head, a bitter smile twisting her lips. "Then why does it feel like I am?"

Konig took a step closer, his presence solid and grounding. "You're not nothing, Dian. You're important—to me, to the team. You matter."

His words were like a balm on her raw, wounded heart, but they didn't erase the pain. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady.