Champagne Problems // English's Version

Chapter 20: Unexpected Return

Kyle woke up with a heavy head and a feeling of confusion. It had been a night of celebration, like many others. After spending the evening dancing and drinking at a disco, he had found himself in the house of a stranger. He didn't even know her name, but that night had not mattered. They had let themselves go, both in search of distraction, of a temporary escape from reality. But the next day, there was nothing left. Kyle returned to his life, to that frenetic job that had made him one of the most sought-after lawyers in New York.

It had been a year since he had last heard from Agatha, and in those months he had built a new life, full of professional successes, but empty of authentic feelings. He often reflected on how intense their story had been and how it had all ended, but he had promised himself not to think about it anymore, not to look for her.

One evening, after a long day at the office, he decided to join his colleagues in a pub to distract himself. The atmosphere was cheerful, laughter mingling with the clinking of glasses. He felt at ease, immersed in the chatter of the latest lawsuits and professional successes. But as they spoke, his gaze wandered beyond the group, drawn by something he couldn't identify.

The television in the room was playing the news, and when he looked up, his heart stopped. Agatha's face appeared. She looked different, no longer the girl he had loved, but a strong and confident woman. She had a new haircut, which framed her face elegantly, and the spotlight made her shine. Kyle was speechless, enraptured by that vision, while Agatha spoke passionately about a subject that eluded him. She had become a journalist for an international channel, realizing the dream she had always had.

«Kyle, are you okay?» asked a colleague, interrupting his thoughts. «You look like you've seen a ghost.» His friend's words brought him back to reality. He stood up quickly, trying to hide the emotional impact that discovery had had on him.

«I need some air.» he said, forcing a smile. He left the pub and found himself on the street, the cold night air whipping his face. The sight of Agatha had shaken him more than he cared to admit. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts: how was she? Was she happy? Had she found her place in the world? And most of all, did he want to hear it? The idea of ​​calling her tormented him. A year of silence, of distance, seemed like an abyss difficult to cross.

Kyle found himself at a crossroads. On one side, there was the desire to know how Agatha was, to find out if the woman he loved was finally at peace with herself. On the other, the fear of reopening a wound that had never completely healed.

He leaned against the wall of a building, closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to find a balance between the past and the present.