You found me but in another man's embrace...
Chapter 5 part 1
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My eyes widened as I regained consciousness, becoming aware of what I had just done. Without a second thought, I had kissed Ryzen, fully aware that Luke William had witnessed the intimate moment.
Feeling a sense of shame, I glanced down, waiting for Luke William's reaction. Surprisingly, he remained silent, so I turned to face him. As I turned, he gently grabbed me and kissed me in return. I was taken aback, but in that moment, I didn't resist or think of Luke William. Instead, I slowly closed my eyes, surrendering to the unexpected embrace.
However, my blissful moment was abruptly interrupted as someone forcefully pulled me away from Ryzen mere moments after I closed my eyes. My heart began to tremble with fear as I anticipated the identity of the person who had intervened, even though deep down, I already knew who it could be.
I locked eyes with the man I had been waiting for, the one who had occupied my thoughts for the past two years. As Ryzen's disbelief subsided, he fiercely yanked me back toward him, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
Ryzen's voice was filled with quiet rage as he addressed the intruder, "Who the fuck are you?" Luke William made another attempt to approach me, but this time, it was I who stopped him.I firmly said, "Stop," and retreated back towards Ryzen, seeking solace in his presence.
I could see the flash of pain in Luke William's eyes as he pleaded, "Let's talk please, Kiea." Nodding, I let out a sigh of resignation.
I turned to Ryzen, who was now visibly perplexed, and said, "Okay, let's have a conversation for ten minutes." Despite his confusion, Ryzen thankfully nodded when I reassured him, "We'll just talk, you can sit here, I'll be right back." He grumbled but agreed, glaring icily at Luke William.
I gently rubbed Ryzen's shoulder, assuring him, "I'll be back; we'll just talk over there where you can see us." He let out a resigned moan and nodded in agreement. When I turned to face Luke William, he stared back at us with a mixture of resentment and longing. Aware of the lingering impact he still had on me, I averted my gaze. "Let's go talk," I said, leading the way towards the swing, with Luke William following closely behind. "You can speak now."
He gave me a long, searching look before asking the inevitable question, "Are you two dating?" Though I had anticipated it, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as his words hung in the air.
I took a moment to gather my thoughts, attempting to navigate the delicate conversation ahead. Luke William seemed to understand my reluctance to address the topic directly, and he responded with a forced smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Yes, that was indeed out of line, Wil," he admitted, acknowledging his own behavior. His grin appeared insincere, and it bothered me how easily I could see through his facade.
Taking a deep breath, I finally mustered the courage to speak. "Okay, let's talk," I said, avoiding direct eye contact. "What we need, William, is closure. We definitely need it. Our previous goodbye was painful and incomplete. The lingering pain has been carried by both of us, and leaving this place made me realize that our idyllic summer time has truly come to an end." He only looked at me in silence, so I forced the best fake smile I could manage. "But after you left, I was left grappling with the pain you left behind. Neither of us wanted it to happen, as we were consumed by the happiness of our summer romance. I believed that my love for you would sustain me, but the anguish proved to be greater and more overwhelming." I noticed tears welling up in his eyes.
"So you let go?" he questioned, his gaze penetrating mine. I couldn't withstand the intensity of his stare, so I averted my eyes. "You gave up on us? You lost faith?" He let out a fake laugh and sniffed. "Well, that seems a bit unfair. You gave up, lost faith, and lost hope in us, while I was busy fighting off the pain, battling against my own mother every step of the way. You were so preoccupied with avoiding it all, while I was desperately clinging to every sliver of hope to keep us together."
His words struck a chord within me. I felt a pang of guilt and a sense of regret for the pain I had caused him. It was clear that our perspectives and experiences had diverged during our time apart. As much as I wanted to defend myself, I couldn't deny the truth in his words. Our paths had taken different turns, and the consequences were undeniable.
"I'm sorry, William," I murmured softly, my voice filled with genuine remorse. "I never wanted it to end this way. I never wanted to hurt you. But the pain became too much for me to bear, and I thought letting go was the best decision for both of us. I didn't realize the extent of your struggles, and for that, I am truly sorry."
Luke William's expression softened, and he wiped away his tears. The tension between us began to dissipate, replaced by a bittersweet understanding of the circumstances that had driven us apart.
"I understand," he replied, his voice tinged with sadness. "I may not agree with your decision, but I understand. We both made mistakes, and we both have our own battles to fight. Perhaps it's time for us to find our own paths, separate from each other."
Silence enveloped us as we absorbed the weight of our conversation. The realization that our once vibrant love had transformed into a complicated mix of emotions was difficult to bear. But in that moment, as painful as it was, we both knew that it was necessary for us to find closure and move forward, even if it meant doing so apart.
My heart shattered into a million pieces as I watched Luke William's tears stream down his face. I longed to reach out and wipe away his pain, but my body felt paralyzed, and my gaze involuntarily shifted towards Ryzen. Frustration and anger surged within me, causing my hands to clench into fists.
"I'm sorry, Wil. I'm sorry that I gave up on us, that I let you go. I'm sorry for losing faith, even if it was only temporary. But it wasn't entirely my fault," I began, my voice trembling with a mix of regret and frustration. "You never tried to contact me, to let me hear your voice, to assure me that you were doing fine and would be coming back soon. Yes, it was only two years, but those two years were excruciating for me, both mentally and physically. I couldn't help but wonder if you had moved on and found someone new out there."
"It was just two years, Kiea! Two fucking years! Did you really think I would simply replace you during that time? I made a promise, and I wanted to fulfill it. Unfortunately, you never gave me the chance," Luke William retorted, his anger restrained but palpable.
"Yes, Wil, two years may seem short to you, but for me, those two years felt endless. They were filled with emptiness, so much so that it made me feel suffocated, suffocated by waiting," I replied, my words laced with a mix of bitterness and vulnerability. I knew I was being harsh, but the pain of facing him head-on was too much to bear. "I didn't make any promises, Wil. I didn't, because you know I've never been fond of making promises. I didn't pray for us either. I prayed for myself, for healing, and God blessed me by bringing Ryzen into my life." I spoke my truth, for I hadn't uttered any promises to him. I had merely held on to the promises he made, but how long was I supposed to wait?"
"I'm so sorry, Wil. You're two years too late. The man who has healed me, the man who has been there for me, will be the man I choose to love," I concluded, my voice trembling with a mixture of conviction and sorrow. With that, I turned away from Luke William and walked away.My heart felt heavy as I took another step toward Ryzen, wiping away my tears as I walked and ran simultaneously.
-----Kiea rushed into Ryzen's arms as soon as she turned her back on Wil, leaving him standing still, motionless, as tears continued to flow down his face. The weight of Kiea's words and actions weighed heavily on him. His knees grew weak, and his body crumbled to the ground. He closed his eyes, refusing to look back at Kiea, knowing that doing so would only intensify the pain in his heart.
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