SHATTERED HEART: Because every love story has an ending

**Chapter 6: Doubts**

**Chapter 6: Doubts**

The days following Yuvan’s surprise visit passed by in a blur. On the surface, everything seemed fine between him and Irish. They laughed, they talked, and to anyone watching, it seemed like they were just as close as before. But beneath the surface, Yuvan couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that something had shifted. It was subtle at first—Irish's fleeting glances, the way her laughter didn’t quite reach her eyes anymore, and how she suddenly seemed so busy, always hurrying off to "work on projects" or "study with friends."

One evening, Yuvan sat at their small dining table, two plates of her favorite pasta waiting. He glanced at the clock. She was late again. This was the third time this week. As the minutes stretched on, his thoughts began to spiral. He tried to remind himself of the trust they had built over the years, but with each ticking second, doubt crept deeper into his mind.

The front door creaked open, and Irish stepped in, her face flushed, eyes darting to Yuvan before quickly looking away.

“Hey,” she said, forcing a smile. “Sorry I’m late again. Got caught up at my friend’s place with some last-minute project work.”

Yuvan smiled back, though it felt strained. “No problem. I made dinner. Thought we could eat together.”

She hesitated, glancing at her phone. “Actually, I’m not that hungry. I grabbed something on the way. Maybe later?”

A tightness clenched Yuvan’s chest, but he swallowed it down. "Oh, okay. Maybe next time."

Irish disappeared into the bedroom, leaving Yuvan alone with the untouched meal. The silence of the room felt suffocating. He pushed his plate aside, trying to convince himself that he was overthinking things. She was just busy, right? But still, that familiar warmth between them seemed to have slipped through his fingers, replaced by an icy distance.

Later that night, Yuvan gathered the courage to talk. He knocked gently on the bedroom door before entering, finding Irish engrossed in her phone.

"Irish, can we talk?" he asked, his voice soft but edged with concern.

She looked up, her expression guarded. "About what?"

Yuvan sighed, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "I just feel like… something’s off between us lately. You’re distant, always busy, and I can’t help but feel like there’s something you’re not telling me."

Irish stiffened, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Yuvan, you're imagining things. I’ve just been focused on my studies. That's all."

"But it feels different, Irish. I feel like I’m losing you."

Her gaze faltered, and for a brief moment, her facade cracked. But she quickly composed herself. "You’re not losing me. I promise."

Despite her words, Yuvan couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. That night, as Irish slept beside him, Yuvan lay awake, staring at the ceiling, a pit of unease forming in his stomach. Was she telling the truth? Or was he starting to lose her in ways he couldn’t yet understand? The more he tried to ignore it, the more the doubt grew, whispering to him in the silence of the night.

Weeks passed, and the distance between Yuvan and Irish only seemed to grow. On the surface, they still functioned as a couple—sharing smiles, brief conversations, and the occasional meal together. But Yuvan could feel the weight of her absence even when she was right beside him. Her excuses became more frequent, and her explanations, vaguer. She often avoided eye contact, rushing out the door with a half-hearted kiss on the cheek.

One evening, Yuvan decided to confront the tension that had been building up inside him. He couldn’t ignore it any longer—the fear, the doubt—it was eating him alive. After all they had been through, he deserved answers.

“Irish,” Yuvan called softly as she sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone.

“Yeah?” she responded, barely looking up.

“I need to ask you something,” he began, his voice steady but his heart racing. “Where have you really been going?”

Irish tensed, her fingers freezing on the screen for a split second before she  changed. You don’t talk to me like you used to. You’re not… here. You’re not present.”

Irish sighed deeply, putting her phone down and finally meeting his gaze. Her eyes were tired, and her voice was tinged with frustration. “Yuvan, you’re overthinking things. I’m just stressed with everything going on.”

“Am I?” Yuvan’s voice cracked with the vulnerability he could no longer hide. “Because it feels like you’re slipping away. Like there’s something—someone—else.”

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, a flicker of something flashed across her face. Was it guilt? Panic? Yuvan couldn’t tell. She quickly composed herself, shaking her head. “You’re being ridiculous. There’s no one else.”

But Yuvan wasn’t convinced. He had always trusted her without question, but this time, that trust felt fragile, like it could shatter at any moment. “I’m not trying to accuse you of anything, but I need to understand what’s happening between us. We’re not the same, and I can feel it.”

Irish stood up abruptly, her frustration now palpable. “I can’t do this right now, Yuvan. You’re suffocating me with all these questions. I’ve told you—nothing is going on!”

Before he could respond, she grabbed her coat and stormed out of the apartment, leaving Yuvan standing there, stunned. The slam of the door echoed in the quiet room, each second stretching into painful silence.

As he sank back onto the couch, Yuvan’s mind raced. Doubt had taken root in his heart, but now, it felt like something deeper was unraveling between them. Irish’s defensiveness, her sudden anger—it all pointed to something more than just stress from school. He wondered if the relationship they had built was crumbling beneath the weight of secrets and silence.

For the first time, Yuvan considered the possibility that love and trust, which he had held so sacred, might not be enough to hold them together. And for the first time, he truly feared losing her.