Sugar sugar baby

[67] Unexpected encounter

It had been months since Vanessa had given me the money to help my family, and I still wasn't anywhere near being able to pay her back. Every time I thought I was getting closer, something would come up—a new bill, a family emergency, something that would drain whatever savings I had managed to scrape together. The guilt weighed on me constantly, gnawing at me, reminding me of the debt I owed—not just financially, but emotionally.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I knew I had to face her again, to explain the situation, even though I knew how pathetic it would sound. So there I was, standing outside her office again, just like the last time. I had been waiting all day, feeling the same knot of anxiety in my stomach as the hours ticked by. People came and went, but there was no sign of Vanessa.

Just when I was about to give up, I saw her step out of the elevator, her long black hair framing her face perfectly, and the same guy—her new boyfriend—by her side. They were laughing about something, and the sight of them together hit me like a punch to the gut.

Vanessa noticed me standing there and stopped in her tracks. Her laughter faded, replaced by that same guarded look she had the last time we spoke. She said something to the guy, and he nodded, giving me a quick glance before walking toward the exit.

Vanessa approached me, her arms crossed, a mixture of curiosity and impatience in her eyes. "Tristan, what are you doing here?"

I swallowed hard, feeling my chest tighten. "I... I need to talk to you. It's about the money."

Her expression softened just a little, but her guard didn't drop. "What about it?"

I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. "I'm not going to be able to pay you back anytime soon. I've been trying—God, I've been trying—but it's just not happening. Things are still bad, and... well, I'm sorry."

Vanessa stared at me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she let out a soft sigh, shaking her head slightly. "Tristan, it's fine. I never expected you to pay me back."

I blinked, surprised by her words. "What?"

She shrugged, her tone matter-of-fact. "I told you when I gave you the money that it wasn't a loan. It was a gift. You don't owe me anything."

I stared at her, feeling a strange mix of relief and guilt wash over me. "But... I feel like I do. I feel like I've been dragging this debt around, and it's been eating me alive."

Vanessa gave me a small, sad smile. "You don't owe me anything, Tristan. I've moved on. You should, too."

I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest. There was something else I needed to say, something that had been festering inside me ever since I saw her with that guy. "Can I... can I be honest with you for a second?"

Vanessa raised an eyebrow, her expression cautious but curious. "Go ahead."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my emotions bubbling to the surface. "I'm jealous," I admitted, my voice low and strained. "I'm really fucking jealous of that guy. Every time I see you with him, it's like a knife to the heart. I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I do. And it hurts, Vanessa. It really fucking hurts."

For a moment, there was silence between us. Vanessa's eyes softened, but there was a distance in them that told me she was no longer the same person I had once been with.

"Tristan," she said quietly, her voice gentle but firm, "I understand that this is hard for you. But you need to realize something—I've moved on. My life has changed, and I'm with someone else now. You and I... we're over. And I think it's time for you to move on, too."