Rassel sat frozen, disbelief tightening in her chest. Did I hear that right? Nuala… has a crush on Noah? The words echoed in her mind, looping over and over. For a moment,
she couldn't breathe.
Her thoughts spiraled. The family contract marriage, the sudden twists, the blurred lines between affection and obligation—it all tangled together, creating a knot of confusion deep in her stomach. But then again, she reasoned silently, Noah and I aren't official. Not really.
That made sense, didn't it?
Nuala looked at her, brows furrowing with concern. "Are you okay?"
Rassel blinked and forced a small smile. "Yeah… I'm fine. Just thinking about your birthday and everything coming up."
Nuala seemed satisfied with the answer and continued talking, her voice soft and animated. Eventually, her words slowed, fading into quiet as sleep overtook her.
Rassel sat in silence, eyes fixed on nothing. From this moment on, I need to be careful, she thought. If Nuala finds out I've been seeing Noah, she might think I hid it from her on purpose.
She drew her knees to her chest and rested her chin there, her mind still spinning. The weight of secrets pressed in on her, and for the first time, she wasn't sure which side of the truth would hurt more.
Nuala had been Rassel's anchor since she moved to the city. With her parents living elsewhere, their friendship became her lifeline, a source of comfort and trust that Rassel couldn't imagine losing.
She loved Noah. That much was clear. But her loyalty to Nuala ran deep, and every moment spent with him made her feel like she was betraying something sacred. The emotional weight was beginning to take a toll on her body. Fatigue lingered. Her appetite faded. She felt unwell, though she refused to acknowledge it at first.
Over time, her replies to Noah's messages grew delayed. Their conversations became awkward, stripped of their usual warmth. Noah noticed the shift. He sensed something was wrong, but Rassel kept her silence.
One evening, as she left work, she found Noah waiting for her outside. He offered her a gentle smile and opened the car door. Usually, his presence would lift her spirits—but tonight, she felt numb.
She slid into the passenger seat without a word and leaned back. Exhaustion overcame her, and she drifted off before they were halfway home.
When they arrived at her apartment, Noah carried her inside with quiet urgency. Her skin was hot to the touch, and his concern deepened as he realized she had a fever. He worked quickly, trying to cool her down—damp cloth, medicine, water.
Hours passed before she stirred. When she finally opened her eyes, Noah sat beside her, watching closely.
"You need to go to the hospital," he said gently.
She shook her head. "It's just work stress. I'll be fine."
He hesitated, clearly unconvinced. "You
shouldn't have to push yourself like this. I can help you find a better job, something with less pressure, better pay. You don't have to do this alone."
The offer should have comforted her, but it unsettled her instead. The idea of relying on him—of letting go of her independence—made her uneasy. She didn't know why.
"I'm fine, really," she said, forcing a smile. "I can manage both work and my health."
But her voice betrayed her. There was a tremble there she couldn't hide.
Noah's eyes narrowed slightly, not out of anger but concern. "There's something you're not telling me."
Rassel lowered her gaze, unable to respond.
The silence lingered.
Then, softly, his hand brushed against hers. His touch was gentle, but charged. His voice dropped.
"I want to make love to you."
Her heart skipped. The room felt warmer, smaller, like the air had thickened between them. Her body wanted to close the distance, but her mind pulled away.
She couldn't. Not like this. Not when she was so confused… so torn.
Why does it feel like I'm betraying both of them?
"His hand paused mid-motion, and his eyes dimmed. The desire in his expression faded into quiet concern. But he didn't push—he just nodded and pulled her gently into his arms."
"It's okay, baby. You need to rest."
She let herself melt into him, the warmth of his body calming her nerves. Yet the heaviness in her chest remained.
Because even in his embrace, she couldn't escape the truth:
The deeper they fell, the closer everything came to breaking.
The night deepened, and the city outside Rassel's apartment grew quiet. The hum of passing cars faded, replaced by the soft rhythm of Noah's breathing beside her.
Rassel lay in his arms, eyes open, staring at the ceiling. Her body rested, but her mind was anything but still.
Noah's warmth should have comforted her. Instead, it reminded her how fragile everything had become. One wrong move, one word spoken too soon, and everything—her friendship with Nuala, this delicate connection with Noah, could shatter.
How did I end up here? Loving someone I was never supposed to.
Noah's fingers gently brushed her hair away from her face, even though she wasn't sleeping.
"I know you're still awake," he whispered.
Rassel stiffened slightly but didn't respond.
"I don't need you to explain everything right now," he continued, his voice low, calming. "But I want you to know that whatever it is… I'm not going anywhere."
His words pierced through her like a blade wrapped in silk. Kind. Reassuring. Painful.
Rassel swallowed hard and finally turned to face him, eyes glassy with unshed tears. "I don't want to hurt anyone, Noah."
He studied her expression, his brow furrowing with quiet understanding. "Are you talking about me? Or someone else?"
Her lips parted, but no words came. The guilt pressed down like a weight on her chest.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, not even sure who the apology was for, Noah, Nuala, or herself.
Noah leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Don't be sorry. Just don't shut me out."
She nodded weakly, unable to promise more than that.