Flashback – Two Days Ago
A Buzzzzz from her phone pulled Bella out of her thoughts. She checked the screen.
From: Alice
"Please forgive me. Can we meet tomorrow? I'll explain everything to you."
Bella's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't seen Alice in two years. And now, Alice was reaching out again?
Suddenly there a mix of emotions hits Bella—shock, frustration, and this aching feeling that just slammed into her chest. Before she even realized it, her tears filled her eyes.
With her trembling finger she try to typed a reply.
To: Alice
"I don't think we should meet."
Almost right away, Alice replied.
From: Alice
"Please, give me a time to explained it, I'll wait for you in the parking lot near the supermarket in your area!"
Bella read at the message from Alice but she choose not replying it anymore.
Then—
"Sorry, your door was slightly open. I didn't mean to peek or anything," a voice called from the doorway of her room.
Bella froze. Her head snapped up, her eyes going widely but trying not to panic.
"Did she see me crying?" Bella thought.
A wave of embarrassment hit her hard. Her cold, guarded exterior—completely shattered in front of someone she'd only known for a few hours.
Bella quickly wiped away her tears and trying to hide what she was feeling now.
"Yeah, I know" Bella said, her voice sounds a bit sharp as she walked over and grabbed the door. Without saying anything else, she slowly closed it.
Once the door was shut, Bella let out a shaky breath and press her forehead against it.
"Dammit, so embarrassing. I hope this never happens again." Bella murmured,
But it kept happening. Ellie always seemed to show up at the weirdest times—like fate was pulling them together, no matter how much Bella wanted to avoid it.
And now, two days later, she saw her again. This time, with Alice.
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D-Day – The Truth of That Night
Another buzz from Bella's phone.
From: Alice
"I'm here. I'll wait for you until you come."
Bella hesitated, staring at the message. She hadn't planned on meeting her. Seeing Alice again felt like a mistake.
But the thought of her waiting there alone…
"She's as stubborn as ever," Bella muttered, gripping her phone tight.
"Is she dumb for waiting for me? I didn't even reply to her."
Even though she was frustrated, something inside her ached against her better judgment, she grabbed her coat and went out to seeing Alice.
Now, Bella was there, ready to meet her again. Even after two years of not seeing her. From a distance, Alice, 26 years old with 167 cm tall looked so stunning under the dim streetlights, her long black hair fell over her shoulders, the fitted dress she wore hugged her body perfectly following with her pale skin seemed to glow in the artificial light, and her dark eyes held a hint of uncertainty.
Bella crossed her arms and stopped right in front of her.
"I thought you'd gotten rid of that stubborn streak of yours. Guess it's still there." Her voice had a bit of irritation, but softer, like she wasn't sure how harsh to be.
Alice gave a faint smile, almost sad.
"Are u not even going to ask how I've been first?" Alice asked, her voice was gentle and full of longing.
Bella hesitated for a moment.
"I don't think it's necessary. What you want? We both know we shouldn't be seeing each other again" Bella words were firm.
Even though Bella heart was pounding now.
Alice didn't say anything right away. Instead, she stepped closer—way too close.
Bella froze.
And then Alice reached out and pulling her into her arms.
Bella stiffened as Alice's scent hit her, bringing back everything she had been trying to forget, and the emotions rushed back.
Alice soft whisper came close to Bella ear.
"I miss you and I'm sorry." Alice said, her voice was low.
"This could'nt supposed to be happen" Bella thought
Bella heart is raced from the tightness of Alice's hug. She lifted her hands and pushed Alice away.
"What you actually want now?, is your head just hit or something? You must've forgetten that you left me two years ago" Bella asked, her voice a bit hoarse
Alice bit her lip, there a guilt written all over her face. She know if there was nothing she could say to fix the past. The pain she'd caused Bella—it would never go away.
Two Years Ago______________
Back then, the room was silent excepting Bella's shaky breathing.
She stood in the middle of the room while staring at Alice in disbelief.
Alice, the women that usually so gentle to her, now looked firm as she had already made up her mind.
"I think we need to end this. I'm sorry." Alice said, her voice was flat without a hesitation.
Bella blinked,
She's struggling to process what she just heard by now.
Her heart was pounded with her mind racing to make sense of it.
"Alice! What do you mean? You promised if we'd always be together. We've been together for four years! It still doesn't make sense that you've decided to marrying someone you barely know?" Bella replied,
She's trying to fought back her tears and hoping if her words would make Alice changing her mind.
Alice looked down at the floor, as if she was trying to pull herself together.
"Sorry." That was all she said.
"That's it? 'Sorry'?" Bella let out a bitter laugh,
Then instinctively grabbed Alice's wrist, She's not letting her go.
"Am I never worth anything to you? You can't just throw me away like this?" Bella asked, her voice cracked as she tried to speak
Alice closed her eyes for a second and take a deep breath.
"You know exactly what I'am talking about, we never meant to be. There's no future for us." Alice replied.
These words hit Bella so much than she expected. Her grip being loose, but her heart still try to refused to believe.
"No future for us? What's so wrong with us? Are u not love me anymore" Bella asked, with a full of desperation.
Alice lifted her head and looked at Bella.
At this moment for the first time, Bella can see a fear into a Alice eyes.
"Bella, You should know if we're both women. My family, my friends—what would they say? How do I explain this to them?" Alice replied.
Bella was silent. The pain that she felt was suffocating her.
"So… their opinions matter more me? You're throwing me away because you're scared?" Bella replied, her voice trembling.
Bella's trying to hold it together and wiping away her tears with her hand.
Alice swallowed with her fists clenched at her sides.
"Yes, I'm scared. I'm scared of what my family and friends will think if they know. We weren't supposed to keep going like this and maybe this decision is what's the best for us." Alice replied,
Bella froze, staring at her for a long time. Then, she finally let go of Alice's wrist and pushed her away.
"Okay, I understand! If this is what you want, then go. I don't care anymore." Bella said, her voice's a little shaky.
Alice looked at Bella again, her eyes filled with what seemed like regret, but she stayed silent.
After taking a deep breath, Alice turned and walked away, leaving Bella standing alone with tears in her eyes.
It was the moment Alice left Bella______
"And now, she's back after leaving me…"
Bella exhaled slowly, her eyes still fixed on Alice, who stood there, regret clearly written across her face.
Alice lowered her head.
"Can u forgive me?" Alice asked,
"I forgive you already, I think you should go now. You might be worried if someone sees us together." Bella replied.
Alice, without hesitation
"I don't care" Alice replied, her voice sounds calm.
Bella staring at her, disbelief flickering show in her eyes. Wasn't this a thing she used to care about?
"You should care," Bella said quietly, her voice tired.
"You should go home. Your family is probably waiting for you." Bella added.
Without waited for Alice's reply, Bella turned on her heels and walked away.
Alice stood frozen for a moment, she looks unable to find any words to stop her. But as Bella took another step, Alice tried to reached out and grabbed Bella's wrist and pulling her back.
"Let me drive you home,it's already late" Alice said softly.
Bella didn't resist. She had no energy left to argue.
So She just let Alice lead her into a car.
As the car quietly drove down the road, Bella stared out the window, her mind racing. Alice sat silently beside her, and Bella could feel her presence, heavy and hard to ignore.
"Why was she here? After all this time, after everything that had happened, why had Alice come back now?" Bella's mind was full of questions she couldn't answer.
Then— Alice broke the silence.
"I shouldn't have left" Alice said softly,
Alice words filled with something Bella couldn't understand.
Bella's heart skipped a beat.
"What was she's really trying to say?"