The Morning After
The soft morning sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting golden streaks across the room. It slowly crept up Isabella's body, gently coaxing her eyes open. For a moment, she simply blinked, disoriented. The ceiling was too high, the sheets smelled like lavender instead of vanilla, and the pillows weren't hers. It took a few seconds before she remembered—she wasn't home.
She was far away now. Far from everything familiar. Far from Leonardo.
Her body felt heavy as she sat up slowly. Her hair was tangled, her cheeks were slightly puffed from sleep, and she was still wearing the same clothes she arrived in. The pink teddy bear Leonardo had given her was still pressed tightly to her chest. It smelled faintly like him, and somehow that made everything hurt even more.
She reached for her phone, her heart clinging to a shred of hope. She dialed his number, but after three rings, the call disconnected.
No answer.
She tried again. Same result.
This time, she stared at the screen, her eyes hollow. Then, a bitter smile curved her lips as she whispered to herself, "Guess I'm not worth calling back."
Her heart clenched, but not a single tear fell. It was like she'd cried herself dry twelve years ago—when her mother left, when her world shifted, and when she learned how to wear a smile even when she was crumbling inside.
A soft knock came at the door.
Before she could respond, it opened slowly, and in walked Jayden with his usual bright energy, followed closely by Lucas, calm and collected as always.
"Hey there, beauty!" Jayden beamed, stepping in like a ray of sunshine. "Man, I missed you. It's been so boring without your sarcasm to keep me grounded."
Isabella arched a brow and smirked. "Hey, hey—enough with the compliments. You're going to make me blush."
"But I really did miss you," he said more seriously, stepping forward and wrapping her in a tight hug.
"Me too," Isabella whispered, holding on just a little longer than necessary. For once, someone felt familiar.
Lucas stepped in with a teasing smile, tapping her nose gently. "So, how's my little demon doing?"
"I'm not a demon," she said, half-laughing, half-pouting. "And I'm... okay."
"You wanna grab something to eat with us?" he asked.
"I'd rather stay here today," she said, quietly sinking back into the bed.
Lucas and Jayden exchanged a look but didn't push further.
---
Two Days Later
Isabella didn't leave her room for two whole days. She barely ate, barely slept. She stared at her phone endlessly, waiting for a call that never came. Not a single message. Not even a missed call from Leonardo.
For the first time, she truly understood what it meant to be heartbroken—not the kind you get from a crush or a short-term fling, but the kind that sits deep in your chest and makes everything feel cold, even in the sun.
On the second evening, she called Chloe. Her best friend appeared on the screen, sitting in a hospital room beside her father, who was asleep on the bed behind her.
"Girl, you look like a sad Disney princess," Chloe said gently. "Come on, you need to get out of that room."
"I just... I feel down," Isabella mumbled, hugging her teddy bear.
Chloe leaned closer to the screen. "You haven't even been on social media. Your followers are going crazy. People are actually worried. They think you disappeared or something."
Isabella smiled weakly. "Maybe I did."
"Stop that," Chloe said firmly. "Listen, I know it hurts, but sulking in that room won't bring him back. Go outside, take a walk, join the boys, I don't care. But don't let him turn your world into a cage."
"I guess… he's my ex now," Isabella whispered, the word tasting bitter on her tongue.
Chloe's face softened. "Then prove you can still shine without him."
Isabella sighed and finally nodded. "Fine. You win. I'll go outside."
---
Dragging herself out of bed, Isabella pulled on a hoodie and shorts, tied her hair into a messy bun, and walked down the stairs. The sound of laughter echoed through the house. She followed it to the backyard.
Just as she stepped outside, a basketball bounced off the court—and hit her squarely on the head.
"Ow—what the hell?"
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" Jayden ran toward her, hands raised in apology.
"When did you become so bad at basketball?" she teased, rubbing her forehead with a smirk.
Lucas called out from across the court, "Bella, replace him! We need actual talent!"
"I haven't touched a basketball in months!But it will be nice kicking your ass" she laughed, stepping onto the court reluctantly.
Just then, her teammates turned turned toward her, his eyes locking with hers.
Time froze.
Isabella's breath caught.
Leonardo.
He stood there, casually spinning a basketball on one finger. He wore a black t-shirt, his hair messier than usual, but his eyes… his eyes hadn't changed. They were still as intense as the first time they met.
For a long moment, she couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe.
He was here?
Jayden waved in her face. "Uh, Earth to Bella? Aren't you going to help me out?"
But Isabella didn't respond.
Her entire focus was on the man she thought she'd lost. The man who never called. The man who now stood in front of her, silent, unreadable.
Was he here for her? Or was it just another twist of fate?