The Line Between Us - Alejandro Balde Love Story

Chapter 28: The Break That Burns

The argument between Alejandro and Iñaki weighed heavily on my mind. I hadn't spoken to either of them since I walked out of the café, and now, sitting alone in my apartment, the silence felt suffocating.

I kept replaying the moment over and over in my head—Alejandro's voice full of frustration, Iñaki's accusations, the tension that crackled between them. But most of all, I kept thinking about the things Alejandro had said.

I care about her more than you think.

Those words had lodged themselves in my chest, refusing to let go. He cared. I knew that. But I couldn't help but wonder if it was enough. My heart ached, torn between the overwhelming pull I felt toward him and the fear of what it would mean to truly let myself fall.

A sudden knock at the door startled me out of my thoughts. I stood up, my heart racing as I crossed the room, hoping and dreading at the same time that it might be Alejandro.

When I opened the door, there he was.

He looked... tired. The usual playful light in his eyes was dimmed, his expression serious. His gaze met mine, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. The tension from the café still hung in the air between us, and I could feel the weight of everything we hadn't said pressing down on my chest.

"Can I come in?" he asked quietly.

I nodded, stepping aside to let him in. He walked in slowly, his shoulders tense, and I closed the door behind him, unsure of what to say. The silence between us was thick, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.

Alejandro turned to face me, his eyes searching mine. "I'm sorry about what happened earlier," he said, his voice low. "I didn't mean for it to get so... heated."

I swallowed hard, nodding. "I know."

He let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. "I don't want to make things harder for you, Bella. I really don't. But... your brother..."

"My brother is protective," I said softly, finishing the sentence for him. "He's always been that way."

"I get that," Alejandro said, his frustration flickering for a moment. "But this isn't about him. It's about us."

His words hung in the air, and I could feel my chest tighten. Us. It sounded so simple when he said it, but everything felt far from simple.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm of emotions swirling inside me. "I know. But I don't know what to do, Alejandro. I don't know if I can..."

Alejandro stepped closer, his voice, soft but firm. "Do you care about me, Bella?"

My heart raced. I could feel the intensity in his gaze, the sincerity in his voice. He wasn't just asking for reassurance. He was asking for everything.

"I do," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Alejandro's eyes softened, and for a moment, it felt like the weight of the world had lifted. But then, the tension returned, heavier than before.

"I don't want to be the reason you feel torn," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "And right now, I feel like that's exactly what I'm doing."

I shook my head, my heart aching at the pain in his voice. "You're not—"

"I am," he interrupted gently.

"I think we should take a break," I said, my voice trembling slightly.

Alejandro hesitated, his jaw clenched as he searched for the right words. "If you think it's what you need."

My chest tightened, and I could feel the sting of tears threatening to spill over. This was the last thing I wanted, but I needed this. I needed space to figure out what I was really feeling. The weight of my brother's disapproval, the fear of getting hurt—it was all too much. But the thought of being away from Alejandro... it felt unbearable.

"Is that what you want?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alejandro's eyes softened, and he reached out, gently brushing his thumb across my cheek. "No, Bella. It's the last thing I want."

His touch lingered for a moment longer before he let his hand drop. I felt the warmth of his fingers fade, replaced by the cold emptiness that settled in my chest. I knew he was right. We needed this break. But that didn't make it any easier.

My throat tightened as I forced the words out. "We need to take a break."

The words felt foreign on my tongue like I was betraying my own heart. Alejandro's expression tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might make me change my mind, that he might pull me into his arms and tell me everything would be okay.

But he didn't.

Instead, he gave me a sad smile, his eyes full of unspoken words. "Take the time you need, Bella. I'll be right here."

My chest ached at the sound of his voice, at the weight of the unsaid goodbye hanging between us. I wanted to reach out, to stop him from walking away, but I couldn't. I stood frozen in place, watching as he turned and walked out the door, leaving behind a silence that felt like it would never be filled.

The moment the door clicked shut, I sank to the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees as the tears finally spilt over. The space I had thought I needed felt suffocating, and the ache in my chest only grew sharper with each passing second.

I had thought taking a break would give me clarity, but all it did was make me realize how deeply I cared about him. And now, with him gone, the emptiness was unbearable