Kiara's pov
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"I choose…... Ben."
The words slipped from my lips like a dagger, piercing through the fragile tension in the air. The moment I spoke, I felt a heaviness settle in my chest. Kyle's face twisted with anger and betrayal, and without a word, he turned on his heel and stormed out. The door slammed shut behind him, echoing the finality of my choice.
Ben stood there, a grin spreading across his face as if he had just won a battle. "Close the door," he said, his tone smug and triumphant.
But I felt hollow inside, as if the very essence of who I was had been stripped away. "I'm sorry, but I can't do this," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the chaos in my heart.
"Well, if we can't have sex, I think we should… end this relationship" he said casually, turning to leave as if my turmoil was nothing more than an afterthought.
His words hung in the air, but they didn't register. All I could feel was an overwhelming wave of regret crashing over me. My heart pounded painfully in my chest as the reality of what I had just done settled in.
I was broken—shattered into a million pieces. The exhilaration of making a choice quickly faded, leaving behind a chasm of despair. Why had I chosen Ben? The thrill of his energy had blinded me to the truth: he was toxic, and his love came with conditions that suffocated me.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I sank onto the floor, curling up into myself as waves of sorrow washed over me. Memories of laughter and warmth with Kyle flooded my mind—his gentle smile, the way he made me feel safe and cherished. How could I have thrown that away for someone who treated love like a game?
The silence in the room felt suffocating as I wrapped my arms around my knees, feeling utterly alone. It was hard to breathe through the pain; each inhale felt like a reminder of my foolishness.
I could still hear Ben's mocking laughter echoing in my ears—a stark contrast to Kyle's soothing voice that now seemed so far away. The realization hit me hard: I had lost something precious because I let fear guide my heart instead of love.
As I sat there on the cold floor, every heartbeat reminded me of the emptiness inside me. All that was left was an aching sense of loss for what could have been—a love that could have flourished if only I had chosen differently.
---
I sat on the floor of my room, the weight of my choices pressing down on me like an anchor pulling me into darkness. The silence felt suffocating, wrapping around me like a heavy blanket, when suddenly, a soft knock broke through the gloom.
My heart raced as I glanced at the door. Could it be? I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to face anyone after everything that had just happened. But curiosity got the better of me, and I called out, "Who is it?"
"It's me," came a familiar voice—Kyle.
A rush of emotions surged through me: shock, regret, and a flicker of hope. I quickly wiped my tears away, trying to compose myself before opening the door.
When I finally turned the knob and saw him standing there, my heart skipped a beat. His eyes were soft yet filled with concern, and for a moment, time stood still as we locked gazes. "Hey," he said gently, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
"I didn't expect to see you," I stammered, feeling a mix of relief and guilt wash over me.
Kyle took one look at my tear-streaked face and immediately knelt beside me. "What happened?" he asked softly, his voice soothing like a balm on my wounded heart.
"I messed up…" I admitted, my voice trembling as I tried to hold back more tears. "I chose Ben."
He sighed, disappointment flashing in his eyes for just a moment before he reached out to wipe away my tears with his thumb. "You're allowed to make mistakes, Kiara. It doesn't define who you are or what you deserve."
His touch was gentle and reassuring; it felt like coming home after a long journey through a storm. Kyle always knew how to lift my spirits, even when I felt completely broken.
"I'm so sorry for what happened," I murmured, feeling the weight of my choice pressing heavily on my conscience.
"You don't have to apologize for feeling lost," he replied, his expression softening as he gave me a warm smile that melted some of the ice in my heart. "I'm here for you. Always."
In that moment, surrounded by his warmth and understanding, I felt a glimmer of hope ignite within me. Kyle was always there—steady and unwavering—ready to catch me when I stumbled.
"Let's do something fun," he suggested with a playful grin that reminded me of all the laughter we shared before everything became so complicated. "How about we binge-watch our favorite show? Or we can order some pizza?"
I couldn't help but smile through my tears at his enthusiasm; it was just what I needed—a distraction from the chaos swirling in my mind. "Pizza sounds perfect," I replied softly.
Kyle stood up and offered me his hand, pulling me to my feet with a gentle tug. As we settled onto the couch together, I felt grateful for his presence—the way he made everything feel just a little bit lighter.
In that moment, surrounded by comfort and laughter once more, I realized how lucky I was to have someone like Kyle in my life—someone who could mend the broken pieces of my heart with kindness and love.
---
as the pizza arrived, the delightful aroma filled the room, bringing a sense of normalcy back into my chaotic world. kyle handed me a slice, and i took a big bite, savoring the cheesy goodness. "see? this is what you need," he said with a grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"pizza therapy," i chuckled, feeling the tension in my shoulders begin to melt away. we settled onto the couch, surrounded by blankets, and pressed play on our favorite show.
the familiar theme song played, and for a while, we lost ourselves in the laughter and adventures of the characters on screen. i could feel kyle's presence beside me—comforting and steady—reminding me that i wasn't alone in this.
during a particularly funny scene, i burst out laughing, and kyle joined in. it felt good to let go of my worries, even just for a moment. "you know," he said between laughs, "no matter what happens, i'll always be here to cheer you up."
i glanced at him, his sincerity shining through. "i don't deserve you," i admitted softly.
"don't say that," he replied firmly. "everyone makes mistakes. what matters is how we move forward."
his words resonated within me, sparking a flicker of hope. maybe i could find my way back to myself again with his support.
as the episode ended, i turned to him. "thank you for being here tonight, kyle. it means more than you know."
he smiled warmly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "you're stronger than you think, kiara. just take it one day at a time."
we shared a comfortable silence for a moment before kyle reached for the remote to start another episode. but before he pressed play, he looked at me seriously. "if you ever feel overwhelmed or lost again, promise me you'll reach out to me?"
i nodded earnestly, feeling grateful for his unwavering support. "i promise."
with that assurance hanging in the air between us, we dove back into our show, laughter filling the room once more as we enjoyed each others company
" So I have to leave" he said living
As the door clicked shut behind Kyle, a wave of silence enveloped the room, contrasting sharply with the warmth of his presence just moments ago. I sank into the couch, my heart still racing from the laughter they shared, but now it was mixed with an unsettling realization.
"Why was I crying over a dickhead?" i mused aloud, frustration bubbling up inside me. I hugged my knees to my chest, staring blankly at the wall. Memories of their arguments flooded her mind—the careless comments, the times he brushed off my feelings as if they were nothing.
Yet, despite all that, there was something about tonight that felt different. He had been there for me when i needed someone the most. But did that excuse his past behavior? She felt torn between gratitude and anger.
"Ugh!" i groaned, burying my face in my hands. "I can't believe I let him get to me like this." It was maddening how someone could make her feel so alive one moment and so conflicted the next.
I rose from the couch and paced around the living room, replaying their conversations in my head. Why did i keep letting him back in? Maybe it was time to draw a line in the sand. I needed to remember my worth and not settle for someone who didn't treat me right.
Taking a deep breath, i resolved to take control of my emotions. "No more crying over him," she declared to herself. "I deserve better than this."
I grabbed my phone and texted a couple of friends, inviting them over for an impromptu girls' night. Laughter and support were what i needed right now—not more confusion from Kyle.
As i set about preparing snacks and drinks for her friends, felt a sense of empowerment wash over her. It was time to focus on myself—my happiness mattered more than any fleeting moment with someone who didn't appreciate me