Their growing bond was put to the test in the most unexpected way. Rumors began to spread after Nani was seen speaking to an old friend who happened to be his ex. The sighting quickly escalated into whispers of secret meetings and unresolved love, all of which reached Dew's ears through well-meaning friends and family. Though Dew told himself he didn’t care, each rumor stung like salt on an open wound.
Unable to contain his frustration, Dew confronted Nani that evening, his voice sharp as he demanded an explanation.
“You know, for someone who talks a lot about honesty, you sure have a funny way of practicing it,” Dew accused, his eyes dark and hurt simmering just beneath the surface.
Nani blinked, taken aback by the sudden hostility. “What are you talking about?”
“Your ex,” Dew spat, each word dripping with bitterness. “Apparently, you’ve been meeting up with her. Guess some things are just impossible to let go of, huh?”
Realization dawned on Nani, and he sighed, trying to keep his own temper in check. “Dew, it’s not like that. We were just talking, that’s all.”
“Talking?” Dew scoffed, crossing his arms. “Do you really expect me to believe that?”
Nani’s patience frayed, and his voice rose as he replied, “Why do you care so much anyway? It’s not like you’re my—”
He stopped, the words hanging heavy in the air between them. Both of them froze, the implication too raw, too close to the truth they had both been avoiding.
Dew’s expression hardened, his voice cold and quiet. “Forget it. I don’t care what you do.”
Before Nani could respond, Dew turned on his heel, leaving him standing alone, the silence echoing with words left unspoken.
Over the next few days, their home was filled with an unbearable tension. Nani missed the warmth that had begun to blossom between them, and he hated the way his heart ached at Dew's sudden coldness. He couldn’t stand the thought that a simple misunderstanding was driving a wedge between them. And so, gathering his courage, Nani resolved to set things right.
One evening, he cornered Dew in the hallway, determined to clear the air. “Listen to me,” he started, his tone gentler than before. “There’s nothing going on with my ex. We only met to get some closure, that’s all. I swear.”
Dew’s expression softened, a trace of vulnerability flickering in his gaze. “Why didn’t you just say that from the start?”
Nani sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Maybe because I didn’t realize it would matter to you.”
For a long moment, Dew said nothing, his eyes searching Nani’s face. Finally, he murmured, “I guess it does.”
And just like that, the tension dissolved, replaced by an unspoken understanding. Dew felt the weight lift from his shoulders, his heart settling as he realized he didn’t want to push Nani away—not anymore.
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Bound by Fate [ DewNani ]
FanficTrapped in an arranged marriage, Dew and Nani can't stand each other. But when a past secret resurfaces, their rivalry sparks unexpected emotions. Can hate turn into love, or will the past tear them apart? Characters belong to their respective creat...