At First Sight: A Love That Couldn't Last

Chapter 7: Distance and Secrets

Tiara packed her suitcase with mixed emotions. She was heading home for the holiday festival, a time of celebration with family, but she would be away from Robin for a whole month. After the intensity of their relationship had deepened, she found it hard to imagine spending so much time apart. Yet, she couldn’t deny the warmth that filled her as she thought about seeing her parents and celebrating with them. The small town where she grew up had its charm, but the thought of leaving Robin behind made her heart ache.

As she boarded the train home, Tiara stared at her phone, waiting for Robin’s message. The trip was long, but the excitement of seeing her family helped distract her from the creeping anxiety. Just as she reached her hometown station, a message from Robin finally popped up.

Robin: You made it okay? Missing you already.

Tiara smiled, her fingers flying over the keyboard.

Tiara: Just arrived! I miss you too. It feels weird not seeing you every day.

After exchanging a few more sweet messages, Tiara tucked her phone away. Her parents were waiting at the station to greet her with wide smiles and warm hugs. The familiarity of her home, the smell of her mother’s cooking, and the comfort of her childhood bedroom all soothed her. But despite the cozy environment, Tiara couldn’t help but feel a lingering emptiness without Robin by her side.

That night, after dinner, Tiara excused herself early to go to bed, but instead of sleeping, she lay in the darkness, clutching her phone. She knew her parents were strict, and if they found out she was dating someone, especially while still in med school, they would disapprove. They had always been focused on her studies and career. No distractions. No relationships. But how could she hide Robin from them?

Her phone buzzed.

Robin: What are you up to?

Tiara quickly typed back.

Tiara: Lying in bed, thinking about you. I wish you were here.

Robin’s reply came quickly.

Robin: I wish I was there too. It feels strange not being able to see you, hold you…

Her pulse quickened at the thought of his embrace, the memory of their last night together fresh in her mind. But reality sank in—she had to be cautious. Her parents were just in the next room, and they always had a way of sensing when something was off.

For the next few days, they exchanged messages in secret. Tiara would sneak glances at her phone during family activities, texting Robin whenever she had a free moment. She found herself staying up late, whispering into her phone under the covers while her parents slept in the next room.

Tiara: It’s so hard not being able to talk to you normally. I hate sneaking around.

Robin: We’ll make it through this. I promise. Besides, when you come back, we’ll have so much time together.

As the days passed, the conversations between them grew more intimate, more desperate. Robin told her how much he missed her, how he thought about her constantly. Tiara felt the same, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different. Robin seemed more intense, more urgent in his messages, almost as if he was holding onto her for dear life. He wanted reassurance, asking over and over if she was thinking about him, if she missed him as much as he missed her.

One evening, as her family gathered around for the holiday festival preparations, Tiara slipped away to her room for a quick check-in with Robin.

Tiara: I have to keep hiding my phone, I’m so scared they’ll find out about us.

Robin: They won’t. You just have to be careful. But… I don’t want to wait any longer. I hate not having you around.

His words made Tiara’s heart race. She wanted to be with him too, but the tension of hiding their relationship was wearing on her.

Tiara: I know, Robin, but we’ll be together soon. Just a few more weeks.

The twist came late one night. As Tiara lay in bed, her phone buzzed with a message from Robin. But instead of the usual sweet text, his words left her cold.

Robin: Tiara, I can’t do this anymore. I need to talk to you, but it’s not something I can explain over text.

Her heart dropped. Something was wrong. What could he mean? She quickly texted back, asking him to explain, but Robin’s response was cryptic.

Robin: When you come back, we need to talk. I just… I’m dealing with something heavy right now, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep it together.

Tiara felt a wave of dread wash over her. What was Robin hiding? And why did it feel like everything they had built was suddenly slipping away?

The month in her hometown, which she had hoped would be a short separation, was now filled with an ominous sense of foreboding. Something had shifted, and Tiara couldn’t shake the feeling that when she returned, her relationship with Robin would never be the same.