It was break time.
The school hallway was eerily quiet. Laughter and chatter came from the courtyard, leaving the main hall bathed in an almost too soothing silence.
Isabella was walking quietly, her phone in hand, when a familiar voice startled her:
—Isabella.
She turned around suddenly.
His gaze hardened instantly.
"You…" she said through her teeth, taking a step back.
Klaus stood there, leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets. His eyes, usually provocative, were strangely calm this time.
"Don't come any closer," Isabella warned, raising her hand, ready to defend herself. If you dare to take a single step wrong, I swear to you that—
— That you're going to hit me? Klaus completed with a slight smile.
He slowly raised his hands in a sign of peace.
—Relax. I'm not here to hurt you. I just…want to talk to you.
Isabella remained silent, her gaze suspicious.
- Talk ? You ? Since when do you want to "talk" instead of manipulate?
Klaus sighed softly, looking down.
— I understand your distrust. And you're right. But just give me five minutes. Five. After that, you can hit me if you want.
There was nothing mocking in the tone. None of his usual provocations.
Against all expectations, Isabella hesitated, then ended up crossing her arms.
- Alright. Five minutes. Not one more.
They walked away down a side corridor to a small, deserted staircase, bathed in light from a high window.
Klaus sat down on the first step. Isabella stood for a few seconds before finally sitting down to the side, keeping a careful distance.
A silence. Then Klaus spoke in a deep voice.
—Isabella… I wanted to apologize. For everything.
She stared at him, doubtful.
- "All" ? That's vast.
—For making you suffer. For breaking up your relationship with Ray. For manipulating you. And… for losing control that day.
The sincere tone disarmed her for a moment.
Klaus continued:
— Ever since I was a kid, I've always had this emptiness. My father never gave me the slightest ounce of affection. So when I saw other children laughing with theirs, I just wanted to hate them. This jealousy… it grew with me. She has become a monster.
He clenched his fists.
—When I saw the relationship you had with Ray, I envied it. I wanted… to be in his place. And by trying so hard, I ended up destroying everything I touched.
Isabella remained silent. His gaze had softened.
—And what has changed? she asked softly.
A slight smile stretched Klaus's lips.
—Someone made me understand that sometimes you have to appreciate what you have before you lose it all.
He paused, staring out the window.
—When I accidentally stabbed Gale...I realized how I could never forgive myself if he died. That's when I realized how much he meant to me. And how wrong I was.
A bitter laugh escaped him.
— Gale was right: when you truly love, you don't hurt. And above all, we don't force it.
Isabella looked at him, sincerely surprised by this new maturity.
— I admit… I'm surprised. Are you sure you're okay? Didn't you hit your head? Or did someone traumatize you while you were sleeping?
Klaus burst out laughing, briefly regaining his mischievous tone.
- No. Just... someone told me I could be better. That I had to become one. To be a version of myself that my brother could be proud of.
A slight smile stretched Isabella's lips.
"Well, if that's true…then I think I can forgive you."
Klaus smiled softly, holding out his hand.
—In that case, let's make peace.
But as soon as their fingers brushed against each other, a voice rang out in the hall.
— WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE, KLAUS?!
They turned around suddenly.
Ray arrived, his face contorted with anger.