The silence between them didn't break that night.
It deepened.
Maya sat by her window, knees pulled to her chest, watching the city lights blink like distant promises. Her phone lay beside her—silent, unmoving, almost mocking her patience.
If he wanted to talk… he would, she told herself.
But her heart refused to listen.
Every memory came rushing back—Adrian's voice, his protective gaze, the way he held her as if she were something fragile and precious. And yet, here she was… feeling invisible.
A tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it.
"I trusted you," she whispered into the empty room.
---
Adrian — A Truth He Can't Run From
Adrian stood under the cold shower, water rushing down his face like it could wash away guilt. But guilt didn't leave so easily.
Shiya's words echoed in his head.
Choices have consequences.
He leaned against the tiled wall, closing his eyes.He had chosen Maya. There was no doubt in his heart.
But choosing her meant dragging her into a world filled with secrets, enemies, and unresolved wounds.
He stepped out, grabbed his phone, and finally typed a message.
> Adrian: I need to see you. Please.
He stared at the screen, breath held.
Seconds passed.
Then—
> Maya: Where?
Relief hit him so hard he had to sit down.
---
The Meeting — Fragile Emotions
They met at a quiet riverside café. The air between them felt tight, heavy with words unsaid.Maya arrived first, her expression calm but distant.
When Adrian walked in and saw her, his chest tightened.
She looked… hurt.
"Maya," he said softly.
She didn't smile. "You wanted to talk."
He nodded, pulling out the chair across from her. "I should've called you. I know."
"Yes," she replied. "You should have."
The honesty in her voice stung more than anger would have.
"I didn't want to lie to you," Adrian said. "And I didn't know how to tell you the truth."
Maya's eyes searched his face. "Try."
He took a deep breath. "Someone from my past is back. Someone I thought I was done with."
Her fingers curled slowly around her cup. "A woman?"
"Yes."
That single word cracked something inside her.
"And you didn't think I deserved to know?" she asked quietly."I was trying to protect you," he said.
She laughed bitterly. "By disappearing?"
"I was scared," he admitted. "Scared you'd look at me differently."
Maya stood up.
"That's the problem, Adrian," she said, voice trembling. "You decided for me."
He reached for her hand, but she stepped back.
"I like you," she continued. "But I won't be an option you hide behind when things get difficult."
Her eyes shimmered. "If you want me in your life… then I need honesty. Not silence."
She turned and walked away.
And this time—
Adrian didn't chase her.
Not because he didn't want to.
But because he finally understood—
Love without truth was just another lie.
---Meanwhile — Seeds of Jealousy
That same night, Lila and Emila sat in a café, laughing over desserts and talking about an upcoming party.
"We should go," Emila grinned. "No overthinking. Just fun."
Lila raised an eyebrow. "Without them?"
"Especially without them."
Across the city, two different phones buzzed.
Photos.
Lila laughing.
Emila smiling.
Max stared at his screen, jaw tightening.
Alex leaned back in his chair, eyes dark.
Jealousy had just found its spark.
---