𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓 ― rafe cameron

ογδόντατρία ; 83

song of the chapter:
ALMOST FANTASY ; fog lake

Margarita's feet carried her through the streets without her fully realizing where she was headed, though deep down, she knew. Her mind swirled with a thousand emotions, but her body moved with purpose. Her heart hammered in her chest, each step feeling heavier as she approached JJ's house. The air was cool, the night eerily quiet, but inside her, a storm raged.

When she reached the familiar street, her breath caught in her throat. She didn't know exactly what she was expecting, but a sinking feeling told her that what she feared most was waiting for her just ahead.

The door to JJ's house was unlocked, as it often was, and she pushed it open with trembling fingers. The creak of the door seemed louder than usual, echoing through the silence. Margarita stepped inside, her heart pounding in her ears as her gaze shifted left, toward the living room.

And there it was.

Her breath hitched in her throat as her worst fears came to life before her eyes. JJ and Kie, on the couch, locked in a kiss. Their bodies pressed close, the same spot where she had once sat with him, where he had kissed her with the same passion that now burned between him and Kie.

Margarita froze in the doorway, unable to move, unable to breathe. Time seemed to slow, her mind racing to catch up with what she was seeing. The sharp sting of betrayal cut through her chest like a blade. JJ's hands were tangled in Kie's hair, the same hands that had once held her so carefully. His lips, now pressed to Kie's, had once promised her the world.

She felt sick, her body trembling as she stood there, powerless to look away. A small part of her wanted to turn around, to leave before they noticed her, but it was too late.

Kie's eyes fluttered open first, her expression shifting from surprise to shock as she saw Margarita standing in the doorway. She pulled back from JJ, her hand quickly dropping from his chest.

"Margarita—" Kie's voice was breathless, guilty, like she had been caught in a moment she hadn't meant for Margarita to see.

JJ turned then, his face pale as he met Margarita's eyes. He scrambled to move away from Kie, the weight of the situation crashing down on him all at once. "Margarita, it's not—" He started to speak, but the words died in his throat, the guilt clear on his face.

Margarita didn't need an explanation. The scene spoke for itself.

She stood there, her heart splintering in ways she hadn't thought possible. She had known something was off, but seeing it with her own eyes—this—was more than she was prepared for. Her legs felt weak beneath her, and she gripped the doorframe for support, trying to keep herself from falling apart right in front of them.

"I—" JJ started again, but the words stuck in the air between them.

Margarita swallowed the lump in her throat, fighting back the tears that burned in her eyes. "You don't have to explain," she whispered, her voice thick with hurt. She felt like her world was crashing down around her, everything she had been holding onto slipping through her fingers.

JJ stood, his face stricken with regret, but Margarita couldn't bear to look at him any longer. She took a shaky step back, her chest heaving as she fought to keep her composure. She didn't want to hear any excuses. There was nothing he could say to make this right.

Without another word, Margarita turned and walked out the door, the sound of it closing behind her echoing in the night. The cool air hit her face, and she let out a shaky breath, tears finally spilling down her cheeks as she stumbled down the street, away from the house, away from JJ and Kie.

She had been trying to convince herself that JJ was the right choice, but deep down, she knew the truth now more than ever. Her heart had always been tangled in something more complicated, more dangerous—and now, there was no denying it.

She didn't know where she was going next, but this time, she didn't care. All she knew was that she couldn't go back. Not to JJ, not to the way things were.

--- end of chapter