Is it love?

Chapter VIII - Don't you dare!

As we walked in silence, my mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Marcus seemed to be the center of it all, his presence looming large in my thoughts. How had he managed to entangle himself so deeply in my life? I'd been drawn to him for as long as I could remember, almost as if he were a magnet pulling me in.

Then it hit me—the words of my mother echoing in my mind. 'Get along with Marcus, he's a good guy.' She had said it so often, with such conviction. But now, faced with the reality of Marcus's manipulative behavior, I couldn't help but question her judgment.

A manipulative person, that's who he is.

Christian and I walked in silence, the moon casting a gentle glow over our path. He seemed more nervous than before, and I could feel the tension between us growing with each step. Finally, I decided to break the silence and sat down on a nearby bench, Christian joining me.

"I'm sorry for the kiss, Karla. I don't know what got into me," he said, his voice heavy with regret.

He put his hands on his face, relaxing his head. I could feel the tension between us.

I reached out and gently squeezed his hand, trying to reassure him. "Hey, it's okay. It was nothing. Don't dwell on it too much," I replied, hoping to alleviate some of his guilt.

But Christian couldn't shake off his remorse. "It was a bad thing, Karla. I shouldn't have done that," he insisted, his eyes searching mine for understanding.

We sat there in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. I couldn't help but compare Christian's blue eyes to Marcus's intense gaze, so different yet equally captivating. Marcus was like a dark shadow looming over me, while Christian was a ray of light trying to break through the darkness.

They don't look alike at all. I mean, Marcus, with his black hair and also black eyes. And on the other way, Christian, blonde with blue eyes, exactly like me. Nothing alike.

I knew I had to do something to ease the tension between us, but I didn't want to hurt Christian in the process. It was a dilemma I couldn't seem to escape, a tangled web of emotions spun by Marcus's influence. But I had to find a way to break free from his hold over me. It was time to take control of my own destiny and make my own choices, no matter how difficult they might be.

In a moment of impulse, I leaned in and kissed him. His surprise was evident, but he didn't hesitate to reciprocate, his hand tenderly caressing my face. When I pulled back, all I could muster was an apology, overwhelmed by a rush of conflicting emotions.

"I am sorry," I murmured, feeling the weight of my actions. "I feel so bad right now." I continued.

He remained silent, his expression a mix of astonishment and joy. It was as if I had granted him a wish he never dared to make. The world seemed to stand still for a few precious moments, even the chirping of crickets falling silent in awe.

"Don't be. It felt good," he finally replied, breaking the spell of silence.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered my thoughts. "You're a wonderful person, and I enjoy spending time with you. But I can't lead you on. I'm... complicated, and I don't want to hurt you," I confessed, intertwining my fingers with his.

"I understand," he said, his disappointment thinly veiled. "No hard feelings. Marcus is a lucky guy."

I couldn't help but scoff at that. "Too bad he doesn't give a shit about it."

"Well, I have seen his actions and the way he is looking at you. He definitely wants something." Christian nodded in agreement, his expression serious

With a heavy sigh, I stood up from the bench, my heart heavy with uncertainty. I asked Christian to walk me back to the dorms, and he silently acquiesced.