My Summer Love Story | ✔️

ch. 44 ✰ familiar blue eyes

I whirl around, my heart beating erratically against my chest as I look up into deep and welcoming and recognizable blue eyes. My breath hitches in my throat, and I gnaw at my lip, watching him stride towards me.

His large hands are pushed into his jean pockets, and he has a plain black tee on that tightens around his taut chest and muscles. I have just now realized that I have never seen this man in jeans, and I feel my breath quickening as his eyes look at me cautiously, as if he is afraid of me.

"Reeya?" he says again, his jaw clenched. "Is everything okay?"

Is everything okay? His concerning words reiterate into my mind as it runs around awry. He stands in front of me as my back collides against the barstool, completely flabbergasted and astonished by the fact that he showed up.

"You... you came," I gulp, slightly shaking my head to myself as if I just could not believe it.

"Well, of course," he lets out a humorless laugh. His eyes look tired and strained, as if he hasn't gotten sleep for the past week. He just seems tired in general, but that still does not deter from the fact that his eyes still swarm at me excitedly, as if part of him is slowly coming back to life. The way he bites his lip and furrows his brow slightly makes my heart rate quicken, and I can't help but blush as I think to myself that this man and I have done plenty together.

"If I'm being honest, Reeya," he starts to say, pursing his lips together. "I haven't been able to live with myself lately, considering how bad our last encounter ended. I also haven't slept for nights because I just couldn't stop thinking about you," his voice cracks, and I feel my heart cracking as well. "It's not you pushing me away that hurt me, but it was the fact that I couldn't see, hear, touch, or feel you that made me miserable."

"Akash, I..." his words register into my mind, and I abruptly clear my throat as I completely force myself to look him in the eyes, lifting my chin up a little as well. "I did that for a reason."

"And what reason was that?" he challenges, cocking his head at me. "You were so ready to give up on us, which you did! If you couldn't see the amazing chemistry we had, then that's your own problem, Reeya. But I did, and I thought that with a little patience and appreciation, we can get there together. Obviously, you weren't willing to do that."

"I didn't give up," I murmur. His eyes narrow at me as his lips part in confusion, as if he's telling me to elaborate. "I just felt... lost. Confused. Confused on how and where to go with this, to go with you. I am not the best at relationships mainly because I just came out of one barely a month ago. And I am obviously not best at seeing my faults, which I come to a major fault in that." I look at him deep in the eyes and feel my heart throbbing against my chests, and I nervously clench my fists at my side.

"I admit my mistakes, and I admit that me cutting all ties with you was something I should have not done at all. I felt overwhelmed just thinking about what we were back then, and that made me just think at the spur of the moment to never associate with you. It took forever for me to realize that, and with a help of a special person, I finally had realized it."

"Realized what?" he anticipatingly breathes out.

I close my eyes for a quick moment, just to regain my composure, and I open them up again as I meet eyes with Akash. Here goes nothing. "I realized that I should have given you a second chance, a chance for you to be able to open up at your own time and comfort. It was super wrong of me to pressure you to reveal every single aspect of you at that very moment. I am super sorry, and that is why I am here to... let you have a second chance. With me... if you want," I say the last sentence in a whisper.

Then, I embarrassingly look down at the ground, feeling my cheeks heat up as I just could not believe that I just said that to him. The actual guts I had as well.