Previously : "If I may ask…" her voice was softer than usual, but still filled with curiosity "Last night, I saw you in the supermarket parking lot, with someone. I thought it was a woman—though I'm not entirely sure since I only caught a glimpse from afar. You two seemed pretty close, but… there was this tension between you. I just wanted to make sure everything's okay. What happened?"
Ellie paused for a moment, studying Bella's reaction carefully. Her voice was softer now, full of concern, though she tried to hide the curiosity she felt building up.
Bella stopped chewing, her fingers tightening slightly around her fork. She didn't respond right away, simply staring at her food as if searching for an answer.
Ellie noticed the subtle shift in her demeanor and continued, "Are you okay?"
Silence stretched between them. Bella finally lifted her gaze, meeting Ellie's eyes. Her expression remained calm, but there was something in her stare—something Ellie couldn't quite decipher.
"Why are you asking?" Bella's voice was flat, but Ellie could sense something hidden beneath the surface.
Ellie shrugged, trying to sound casual. "I was just curious. That person… they seemed a little …..."
Bella jump in before Ellie finish her words. "It's none of your business."
Ellie raised an eyebrow "its okay if u wont to talk about it right now" but if u need a friend to sharing u have me now, I will being a good friend for u started by now.
Ellie's question lingered in Bella's mind, pulling her back to the memory of what had truly happened two days ago—the night Ellie had seen her with that woman.
Flashback – Two Days Ago
A soft buzz from her phone snapped Bella out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen.
From: Alice
"Please forgive me. Can we meet tomorrow? I'll explain everything to you."
Bella's breath hitched. Her grip on the phone tightened as she read the message. She hadn't seen Alice in 2 year. And now, just like that, she was reaching out again?
A wave of emotions crashed over her—shock, frustration, and an unbearable longing that clawed at her chest. Her vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away with trembling hands.
With shaky fingers, she typed a reply.
To: Alice
"I don't think we should meet."
A reply came almost immediately.
From: Alice
"Please, I'll wait for you in parking lot supermarket near your house."
Bella stared at the message, but she didn't respond. Her throat felt tight, her heart pounding as silent tears began to spill down her cheeks.
Then—
"Sorry, your door was slightly open. I didn't mean to intrude," a voice called from the doorway.
Bella froze. Her head snapped up, eyes wide in alarm.
Did she see me crying?
A fresh wave of embarrassment crashed over her. Her cold, guarded exterior—completely shattered in front of a stranger.
She swallowed hard, hastily wiping at her face as she tried to mask her emotions. "Yeah, I know," she said curtly, turning away and reaching for the door. Without another word, she closed it—slowly, deliberately.
As the door clicked shut, Bella exhaled shakily, pressing her forehead against the cool wood.
This is humiliating…
She squeezed her eyes shut.
I hope something like this never happens again.
But it kept happening. Somehow, Ellie always appeared in these strange moments—like fate pulling them together at the most inconvenient times.
And now, two days later, she had seen her again. This time, with Alice.
D-Day – The Truth of That Night
Another buzz from her 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 going. Seeing Alice again felt like a mistake. And yet, the thought of her waiting there alone…
"She's as stubborn as ever." Bella muttered under her breath, clenching her phone tightly. "Is she an idiot for waiting for me? I didn't even reply to her message."
Despite her frustration, something in her chest ached. Against her better judgment, she grabbed her coat and headed out.
At the parking lot, she spotted Alice immediately.
Even from a distance, Alice was breathtaking. She stood gracefully under the dim streetlights, her long, silky black hair cascading over her shoulders. The fitted dress she wore accentuated her elegant figure, and her heels clicked softly against the pavement as she shifted her weight. Her fair skin glowed under the artificial light, and her deep black eyes held an unreadable expression—worry, perhaps. Or maybe… regret.
Bella approached, crossing her arms as she stopped in front of her. "I thought you'd gotten rid of that stubborn streak of yours. But I see it's still clinging to you." Her tone was irritated, yet soft, as if she wasn't sure how harsh she wanted to be.
Alice's lips curved into a faint, almost melancholic smile. "You're not even going to ask how I've been?" she said, her voice gentle, laced with longing.
Bella hesitated for a second. "I'm fine. But that's not the point. Why did you want to meet? We both know we shouldn't be seeing each other." Her words were firm, but her heart pounded in her chest.
Alice didn't respond immediately. Instead, she stepped closer—too close. The space between them disappeared, and Bella found herself frozen in place. She should move, step back, say something—anything—but she couldn't.
Alice reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Bella stiffened. The scent of Alice's perfume wrapped around her like a memory she had tried so hard to bury.
A soft whisper brushed against her ear.
"I miss you. I'm sorry."
Alice's voice was low, almost breaking, filled with something that sounded like regret.
Bella squeezed her eyes shut.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
Bella stared at Alice, her expression unreadable. Her heart was still pounding after feeling the tight embrace of the woman standing before her. She lifted her hands and pushed Alice away.
"What do you really want?" Bella's voice was hoarse, thick with restrained emotion. "You left me 2 year ago, and now you say you miss me? 'Sorry,' is that all you have to say?"
Alice bit her lip, guilt written all over her face. She knew that no words could undo the past.
Because the wound she had inflicted on Bella—it would never truly heal.
2 Year Ago
Rain poured heavily outside. The room felt eerily silent and filled with Bella's unsteady breathing.
She stood in the middle of the room, staring at Alice in disbelief.
Alice, who was usually so gentle, now stood with a firm expression, as if she had already made up her mind.
"I think we need to end this. I'm sorry." Alice's voice was flat, devoid of hesitation.
Bella blinked, struggling to process what she had just heard. Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing to find an explanation.
"What do you mean? You promised we would always be together. We've been together for four years, Alice! And now, suddenly, you've decided to marry someone you barely know?" Bella fought back tears, hoping her words would make Alice reconsider.
Alice averted her gaze, staring at the floor as if searching for strength.
"I'm sorry." That was all she said.
"That's it? 'Sorry'?" Bella let out a bitter laugh before her hand instinctively reached out, grasping Alice's wrist, refusing to let her go. "Was I never worth anything to you? How can you throw me away so easily?"
Alice closed her eyes for a brief moment before taking a deep breath. "You know we were never meant to be, Bella. There's no future for us."
Those words hit Bella harder than she had expected. Her grip weakened, but her heart refused to accept it.
"No future for us? What's so wrong about us?" Bella's voice was barely a whisper, filled with desperation.
Alice finally met her gaze, and for the first time, Bella saw fear in her eyes.
"You know what I mean, Bella. We're both women. My family, my friends—what will they say? How am I supposed to explain this to them?"
Bella was silent. The pain in her chest deepened, suffocating her. "So… their opinions matter more to you than I do? You're throwing me away because you're afraid?" Her voice trembled, but she tried to remain strong, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.
Alice swallowed hard, her fists clenched at her sides. "Yes, I'm afraid. I'm scared of what my family and friends will think. We were never supposed to last this long… and maybe this is what's best for both of us."
Bella stared at her for a long moment.
Then, without warning, she let go of Alice's wrist and pushed her away.
"If that's what you want, then go. I don't care anymore."
Alice looked at Bella, her eyes wavering as if she wanted to say something—but in the end, she stayed silent. With one final deep breath, she turned and walked away, leaving Bella standing alone in an apartment that suddenly felt colder than ever before.
This was the moment Alice left Bella.
"And now, she's back after she left me" Bella exhaled slowly, looking at Alice, who was still standing there with regret etched all over her face.
"Now do you understand why I can't take you back, Alice?" Bella's voice was quiet, but colder than before.
Alice lowered her head. "I know. But I still can't erase my feelings for you."
Bella shook her head slowly, this time without anger—just exhaustion.
"Unfortunately, Alice… feelings alone aren't enough. U should go, you might be scare if there someone gonna see us now"
Alice, without hesitation and with unwavering conviction, responded, "I don't care if anyone sees us."
Bella stared at her, disbelief flickering in her eyes. Wasn't this the very thing she used to care about? The very reason they had to separate in the first place?
"You should care," Bella said, her voice quieter now, laced with exhaustion. "You should go home. Your family is probably waiting for you."
Without waiting for Alice's response, Bella turned on her heels and walked away.
Alice stood frozen for a moment, unable to find the words to stop her. But just as Bella took another step, Alice reached out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back.
"At least let me take you home," Alice said softly. "It's late."
Bella didn't resist. She had no energy left to argue. She simply let Alice lead her to the car, her heart a tangled mess of emotions she didn't want to face.
"As the car hummed quietly down the road, Bella stared out the window, her thoughts racing. Alice remained silent beside her, the weight of her presence in the car almost suffocating. Why was she here? After all this time, after everything that had happened, why was she suddenly back? Bella's mind churned with unanswered questions, but before she could voice a single one, Alice broke the silence. 'I never should have left, Bella,' she murmured, her voice low and filled with something Bella couldn't quite place. Bella's heart skipped a beat. What was Alice really after?"