Far Yet Forever

Chapter 14

"Her voice was like a breath of fresh air, calming the storm inside me. In that moment, everything else faded, and all I wanted was to hear more of her."

(Aarin’s POV)

As I sat in my living room, trying to calm my thoughts, the weight of everything that had happened today was pressing down on me. Aarisha hadn’t called or texted, and I could feel the growing distance between us. I wanted to give her space, but at the same time, I felt uneasy, unsure of where I stood in her life now.

I tried to push the thoughts away, but the buzzing of my phone kept pulling me back to the tension in the air. Every time it buzzed, I hoped it was Aarisha, but it was just messages from friends or pointless notifications. It didn’t help. I was lost in my own head, wondering if I had done something wrong by confessing to her, or if I had pushed her away somehow.

Just as I was sinking deeper into my thoughts, a sudden knock echoed from the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone. With a sigh, I stood up, already feeling the irritation boiling inside me.

When I opened the door, my stomach dropped. There she was—Leah, the one person I didn’t want to see. The girl who had broken me, made me hate love, and pushed me into becoming the cold, distant person I was before Aarisha came into my life.

Without thinking, I blurted out, “What are you doing here?”

Leah smirked, her eyes gleaming with the same confidence and arrogance that had once drawn me in. “I came to visit my ex, of course,” she said, her tone casual as if nothing had ever gone wrong between us. Before I could react, she stepped inside, walking past me like she owned the place.

I clenched my jaw, not bothering to hide the anger rising within me. I hadn’t even invited her in, and here she was, acting like she still had any right to be in my life. This was the last thing I needed right now, especially when I was already dealing with the mess in my head regarding Aarisha.

“Leah, I don’t have time for this,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm but failing. The frustration was evident, and I didn’t care if she noticed.

She laughed softly, a sound that used to send chills down my spine, but now only made my skin crawl. “Oh, come on, Aarin. Don’t be so serious. I’m just here to talk,” she said, walking further into the house as if she belonged here.

I shut the door behind her, feeling my fists clench at my sides. Memories of our past flooded back—her lies, the manipulation, the games she played. She was the reason I had given up on love, the reason I had shut myself off from trusting anyone.

And now, just as I was beginning to open my heart to Aarisha, Leah showed up, like some kind of cruel reminder of my mistakes.

“Talk? About what, Leah?” I snapped, my patience wearing thin. “You made it very clear that we have nothing to talk about when you left. So why are you here now?”

Leah turned to face me, her smirk never faltering. “Oh, Aarin, don’t be like that. You’re acting like I did something unforgivable. We had fun, didn’t we? I thought you might’ve missed me.”

Her words hit me like a slap, and I felt my anger spike. Fun? That’s what she thought we had? She had destroyed me, left me in pieces, and here she was, acting like it was all a game.

“No, Leah. I didn’t miss you,” I said coldly. “In fact, I’m happier without you in my life. So why don’t you just leave?”

For the first time, her smirk faltered, and I could see a flicker of something in her eyes—was it hurt? Or just surprise that I was no longer the naive guy who fell for her charms?