In the world of billionaires, Ryan Mendez was a name that commanded both awe and fear. As the CEO of a global empire, his life seemed perfect....money, power, and influence at his fingertips. But beneath the polished surface lay a shadowed past, one...
Rose gently guided me to a chair in the garden and handed me a cone of my favorite ice cream, her silent way of offering comfort. She settled beside me, her hand resting on my back while she held my other hand, just like I used to do for her during her panic attacks. The warmth of her presence was already lifting my spirits.
I hugged her tightly, feeling the familiar ease of our bond.
"Alright, spill it. Who made you cry? Because their days are numbered" she said, her voice edged with fierce protectiveness.
"Calm down, Rose. It's not as bad as it seems..." I sighed, trying to downplay it.
"Tell me" she insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.
I took a deep breath, preparing myself. "You probably don't know this, but Aaron used to come to the library every weekend. Just for half an hour, but he came every Saturday or Sunday. We'd have coffee, maybe share a dessert, and spend time reading. It felt... perfect. Nothing seemed like it could go wrong or ruin a thing."
I paused, catching a glimpse of Rose's expression. Her eyes sparkled mischievously, and despite the situation, she was trying to suppress a smirk. I narrowed my eyes at her, but she just nodded for me to keep going.
With a slight roll of my eyes, I continued. "But it's been a month now. He's stopped coming. I got worried, so I tried calling him a few times, just quick missed calls. I thought he might be busy."
Rose's brow furrowed, but she nodded again, closely being all ears.
"Then today, he picked up before it went to voicemail. And me, being completely foolish and desperate, asked if he would come to the library again. His response... it left me crying on the stairs."
Rose's face softened, her expression unreadable. "What did he say?"
"He said I'm childish, that he's too busy for casual hangouts. He even said, 'It's not like we're dating or anything.' We're just friends, according to him, and I shouldn't keep expecting him to show up. He told me to stop calling him." I swallowed hard, my voice trembling. "But... Rose, he's not just some ordinary guy."
Tears filled my eyes as I whispered the words. "He's special. I like him, Rose."
Rose's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, you like him?"
I nodded, my gaze dropping to the ground. "I do. I can't explain it, but today on the phone, his voice... it was full of anger and frustration. That's not like him."
Rose gave me a sad smile. "So, it was him."
I nodded again, this time silently, the weight of it all pressing down on me.
"EVS!" she suddenly shouted, startling me.
I blinked at her, confused. "Why are you shouting?"
She grinned. "Usually, that's my line to you."
Her words made me chuckle despite myself. But the knot in my chest remained.
"Forget Aaron for now, okay?" she said, her voice softening as she pulled me closer. "He's busy, and you're not being childish for caring. Everyone sees things differently, but that doesn't mean you should change for some guy. Especially not him."
I managed a weak smile as she grabbed my hands, pulling me up from the chair. "Come on, we're going to have dinner at my place. No more tears, okay?"
I let her drag me along toward her house, but my thoughts stayed on Aaron. It's just not like me. I've always pushed guys away when they got close, but with him... it's different. Rose's support means the world, and for a moment, I feel lighter. But deep down, I know there's still a part of me that's hurting.
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Aaron's Pov:
I slammed my fist hard on the table, the sound echoing in the empty room. For what felt like an eternity, I'd been sitting at my workbench, but Ryan still hadn't shown up at the office. My frustration boiled over.
"That's it, I can't stay mum any longer" I muttered to myself, my heart pounding in my chest. My mind raced with guilt, replaying the scene in my head. She's too innocent for my tantrums, and I...I regret every cruel word that spilled from my mouth. How could I have been so heartless, shouting at her like that? It disgusted me, the way I acted, and the anger I couldn't control.
Running a hand through my hair, I groaned in frustration. "Ughh, I can't focus."
Being honest, really honest with myself, I've started to gather feelings for her. It's not just her pretty face that's been haunting my thoughts, it's her kindness, her softness her bubbly nature. But we're on a mission, one that requires my full attention, and I can't afford to get distracted. That's why I tried to distance myself, why I pushed her away with a heavy heart. But now, I'm starting to regret it all.
Suddenly, I stood up, grabbed my jacket, and stormed out of the office. The elevator felt too slow, so I ran down the staircase, my steps quick and unsteady. The moment my feet hit the street, I didn't stop. I kept running, my breath short and my mind racing.
Finally, after what felt like a race against time, I spotted her. My girl.
She was standing with Rose, but something was wrong. Her eyes were puffy and red. She'd been crying. Because of me? No, please don't cry because of me. I'll end myself.
Without thinking, I walked over and stopped in front of her
I breathed heavily due to running. "Eva," I called her name softly, my voice barely steady. She lifted her head, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw me standing there.
"Eva... l-listen to me" I stammered, feeling the tears forming up in my own eyes.
Rose took a step back, smirking knowingly as she waved at me before disappearing, leaving us alone. Thanks to her. For now all I cared about was Eva.
But then her words cut through me. "Aaron, please don't come any closer," she said quietly, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I'm not ready for more hurtful words."
Her sadness hit me like a punch. My jacket slipped from my hands and landed on the road. I closed the distance between us i pulled her closer wrapping my arms around her before she could move away. She didn't hug me back, didn't react at all, but I couldn't let go. I held her tightly, my hands trembling as I caressed her back, trying to comfort her, to make her stay.
"Please, just let me explain" I whispered, my voice breaking with regret.
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