Guarding Her Silence

Chapter 18 - Walls Rebuilt

Jhoanna's POV

Colet's touch sent waves of warmth through me, my senses narrowing down to nothing but her, every careful movement heightening the tension between us. I felt her lips graze my neck, soft and deliberate, drawing out a breathless sound from deep within me.

"Col..." My voice barely made it past my lips, yet it felt like it carried everything I couldn't put into words.

Her hand traced up my thigh, leaving a trail of heat as she slipped her fingers under my dress. I felt her pause briefly, the warmth of her palm pressing just below my collarbone. I closed my eyes, savoring every second, my heartbeat echoing in my ears.

But then, suddenly, she stopped.

I opened my eyes to find her staring at me, her face tense and her gaze full of something I couldn't place—fear, maybe, or doubt. I started to reach for her, but she pulled away so quickly, I was left with my hand hanging in the space between us.

"Col?" I managed to whisper, still feeling the warmth of her touch lingering on my skin.

She looked away, her expression pained, and I could see the way her hands had curled into fists, like she was fighting an invisible battle. Without another word, she turned and left, walking out of the room as if I hadn't just shared one of the most intimate moments of my life with her.

I stayed there, lying on the bed, still feeling the ache, the unfinished connection. My whole body felt alive, yet hollow, and my mind spun with questions that only Colet could answer.

The morning light streamed through the curtains, and though I'd barely slept, my mind was still swirling from last night. I thought for sure Colet would be gone by now, maybe waiting by the car to avoid any conversation, but when I walked into the dining area, there she was—calmly sipping coffee, her gaze focused on a book as though last night hadn't happened.

"Good morning," I said, trying to sound casual as I pulled up a chair across from her.

She looked up briefly, gave me a slight nod, then turned back to her book without a word. A simple nod. That was it. After everything, just a nod. Seriously?

I grabbed a piece of bread and sat down, my frustration simmering. She didn't even look up from the book again, her face impassive, the same unreadable mask she always wore in public. As if she hadn't let down her guard last night, as if I hadn't been in her arms for that one fleeting, heart-thumping moment.

"What's your problem, Colet?" The words came out harsher than I intended, laced with all the frustration I felt.

Colet paused, finally looking at me, but said nothing. Her silence only made me angrier.

"Pathetic," I muttered under my breath, barely able to hold in the anger. It was enough to make her eyebrow quirk slightly, an almost imperceptible reaction, but she remained silent.

She lifted her hands, signing with curt movements, "Just pack your things so we can go."

That was it? I expected at least a conversation, an explanation. "Wow, that's the only thing you're going to say, huh?" I scoffed, my voice thick with exasperation.

She gave me a level look but stayed silent, her face betraying nothing. A wall.

"Fine, if you want to play this kind of game, I'm down for it." I pushed my chair back abruptly, standing up and heading for my room, slamming the door a little harder than I meant to.

Leaning back against the closed door, I took a shaky breath, my mind spinning. She had been so different last night—open, vulnerable. I thought that might be the turning point, a bridge between us that would change things. But no. The same cold, distant wall was back up again, leaving me to wonder if last night had been real or just some mirage that vanished with the morning.