The Tale Of Hearts

Chapter 103

Hazel's POV

The next morning, the sunlight streamed into my room, but my mind was clouded, tangled with thoughts of Hyden. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make sense of what happened the previous night. His sudden appearance, his silence, and then leaving without a fight, it was all so unlike him. The Hyden I knew was impatient, fiery, and unapologetically demanding. I had braced myself for his anger, for him to grab my wrist, pin me to the wall, and hiss in that low, intimidating voice of his: "You can't leave me." That's who he was or at least, who I thought he was.

But the man who showed up last night... he was calm, deliberate, and maddeningly silent. His actions felt calculated, almost as if he wanted me to feel this unease, this gnawing confusion. And it worked. That's why i was feeling this bothering annoying feeling in the pit of my stomach and the clenched in my chest. What is he trying to prove? I wondered as I stood in front of the mirror, brushing out the knots in my hair. 

Was this another one of his games to get me confused? 

Another attempt to get under my skin, to show me he could still control the way I felt without even trying? 

With a sigh, I pulled on a casual sundress and adjusted the straps but even as I applied a bit of lip gloss and slipped on my sandals, I couldn't shake the memory of his hands on me, the way his voice trembled when he whispered, "I missed you." The words echoed in my mind like a haunting melody, refusing to let go but shamelessly, I had to admit I missed him too. It was the void he left behind, the hollow ache that settled deep within me. 

I had convinced myself I was doing fine, that I was better off without him but standing there, staring at my reflection, I felt the truth hit me like a wave. There was this emptiness within me, something I had tried to ignore, but now it was impossible to deny. It gnawed at me, making me feel lifeless, like I was merely existing and not really living. The worst part? That realisation came with a flood of frustration. How could I miss someone who caused me pain, who always hurt me? who always try to control me?? And yet, here I was, unable to silence the part of me that still longed for him. It was maddening, infuriating, and deeply unfair.

I shook my head, trying to snap myself out of it. Today is about moving forward, I reminded myself, "Get a grip, Hazel," I muttered to myself and the sound of Tash's voice calling me from the other room snapped me out of my thoughts. 

"Haze! Bryan's here! Come on, we're going to miss breakfast if you keep dawdling!"

"I'm coming!" I called back, forcing a smile as I grabbed my bag.

Surprisingly as planned, Bryan arrived sharp at 9 a.m unlike most of other times. I heard his familiar knock on the door, followed by Tash squealing in excitement. Dragging myself out of my thoughts, I forced a smile. Tash was buzzing with energy and it was contagious. She was thrilled that the three of us were finally hanging out again after so long. she was always complaining about last time, it had just been Bryan and me at the park, but now, with Tash's larger than life personality, this day was bound to be different. 

Bryan greeted us with his usual warm grin and his eyes slightly brushing with mine which made my breath tightened as his all words from yesterday still fresh in my mind but ignoring his foreign stares and tried be normal as possible even I myself don't know where are we now. who are we now or will i be able to find the Bryan i have known for years again.

"Morning, ladies! Ready for some fun?" Bryan asked with a small smile.

"Always!" Tash said, throwing her arms around him in a dramatic hug. "Ohh brat, you've missed out on my awesomeness for too long."