"What are you doing?!" I snap as Justin drags me into the room and shuts the door behind us.
I try to pull my hand away.
"Let go of me!"
"Who is that guy? Is that your husband?" he asks immediately, his voice low but tense.
I glare at him.
"I don't owe you any explanation."
His jaw tightens.
"So this is why you've been refusing to go out with me?" he says. "Because of that thing over there?"
My eyes widen slightly.
"That thing over there has more respect than you ever had," I fire back. "So you better watch how you talk about him."
He lets out a short laugh.
"Wow… so that's how it is, huh?"
I fold my arms, holding my ground.
"Yes. That's exactly how it is."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
He steps closer and I step back.
"Princess" he says trying to touch my face
"Don't" I say "don't call me that" I continue and he sighs.
"How do I make this right" he asks
"By leaving me alone. Let me be Justin. Let's forget that we both exist" I say
"I can't do that" he says defeatedly
"I've moved on Justin so should you" I say and something like sadness reflects in his eyes and I wondered if I imagined it or if he is actually sad at the fact that I have moved on from him
"And you moved on just like that?"
I scoff.
"It's been five years Justin, five." I say almost at the verge of tears. "You don't expect me to still be crying over you do you? I came to you when I was pregnant but you accused me of cheating and refused to believe me. I thought you loved me enough to trust me but you didn't"
"i did love you more than anything" he says immediately.
I scoff "so why did you push me away huh. Why did you act like I meant nothing. Why would you ever think I would cheat on you"
He runs a hand through his hair, frustrated.
"i saw it." he says and I became confused
"saw what?" I ask.
"you and him together that night."
"Me and who. What are you talking about?" I ask confused
"look it dosent matter anymore"
"It matters to me" I say, the tears flowing freely from my eyes and his eyes soften. He tried to reach out to me but I stepped back
"Don't," I say. "Don't stand here like you care. You lost that right a long time ago." I say wiping the tears from my eyes.
He steps closer again.
Too close.
My breath catches, but I don't move.
"Tell me that you feel nothing for me" he says
"I don't" I reply
"Then why are you nervous?" he murmurs.
"I'm not," I say quickly.
"You always do that," he says softly. "When you're nervous."
"I am not nervous," I insist, even though my voice betrays me.
His gaze drops to my lips.
And my heart flips.
No.
"Justin, don't—"
"Tell me you don't feel anything," he says quietly.
I freeze.
"Tell me none of this affects you anymore…" he says tracing his fingers on my arm and I could feel goosebumps on my skin from where he touched. I can't believe after all these years, he still has a huge effect on me "and I'll walk away." he continues
My heart pounds.
Loud.
Fast.
Say it.
Just say it.
But I can't.
He notices.
Of course he does.
And slowly…
He leans in grabbing me by my waist and I gasp. He traces the tip of his nose on the column of my neck carefully.
Like he's giving me time to stop him.
My breath hitches.
Everything around me fades.
All I can feel is him.
His presence.
His closeness.
The memories. Then he looks at me asking for permission and I could feel his breath on my lips.
Our lips are only inches apart when reality hits me.
Hard.
I push him.
"Stop it!" I snap, stepping away from him.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
He looks at me, frustrated.
"You don't get to do that," I continue. "You don't get to come back into my life and act like nothing happened!"
"I'm not acting like nothing happened—"
"Yes, you are!" I cut him off. "You left me, Justin! You walked away like I meant nothing!"
His jaw tightens.
"You think it was easy for me?" he says.
"I don't care!" I fire back. "You made your choice."
Silence.
Painful silence.
I shake my head.
"You need to stay away from me," I say, my voice softer now but firm. "I mean it."
He looks at me.
Like he wants to say more.
But doesn't.
I turn and walk out of the room without looking back.
But even as I return to the table…
Even as I sit across from Colin…
My heart is still racing.
My hands still shaking.
And one thing keeps echoing in my mind—
I couldn't say it.
I couldn't tell him I feel nothing.
Because that would be a lie.
"Are you okay" Colin asks bringing me back from my train of thoughts and I manage a smile "yes, I'm just not feeling too well" I say
"I could take you home if you want"
"Yes I would like that" I say and Colin pays for our bill and takes me back home.
"I'm sorry about tonight." I say feeling bad for ending my date so abruptly. Colin deserves better than this
"It's fine" he says smiling
"No it's not. I ruined the date" I say and he shakes his head
"Just get better and then maybe we could do this when you are feeling better" he says and I nod
"Thank you and thanks for the dinner" I say and Colin leaves.
I go inside my room to take a shower but my mind kept on replaying everything that happened in the closet between Justin and I. God why did he have to make things so complicated. I was doing better before he decided to waltz back into my life like nothing happened. After my shower I tried to get some sleep but it didnt come so easy so I decided to review the company stocks and arrange everything I needed for my launch. We are about to release a new line of collection into the market and thanks to Justin's investment we had all the necessary finaces we needed to do so. Speaking of Justin, he said he saw me with some guy that night. But what guy was he talking about and what night. I couldn't think of any guy I could've been with. I tried to remember if I met a guy but I couldn't remember. After pondering for some minutes I was finally able to get some sleep but one thing was at the back of my mind and that was the mystery guy Justin claims to have seen me with.