"Hey, Bella!"
Aaron, her boyfriend, greeted her with his signature smile that always made Bella blush. They had been in a relationship for a year, but there was something still holding Bella back.
“Cieee...” Callista teased, glancing at Aaron before turning to Bella with a knowing smile.
“Shut up!” Bella whispered as she playfully elbowed her friend. Her cheeks flushed, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
“Let’s go out tonight?” Aaron asked, his gaze full of hope.
“Oh, okay. But as usual, I can’t stay out too late,” Bella replied, a small smile curling on her lips.
“Just this once, Bella.” Aaron’s tone grew more serious, almost pleading. He felt Bella was still keeping him at arm’s length, even after a year together. In his eyes, their relationship had matured enough to take the next step—just like his friends had, including sleeping together.
Bella bit her lower lip, a sense of guilt in her eyes. “I can’t promise, Aaron,” she said softly, full of regret.
“Alright.” Aaron sighed, trying to mask the disappointment creeping in. Bella, fully aware of the look in his eyes, gently held his hand.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, hoping Aaron would understand that it wasn’t about love, but her trust which hadn’t fully formed yet.
Aaron simply nodded, attempting to accept it. Soon, he walked toward his office, leaving Bella to return to her desk, her feelings mixed.
"Why are you like that with Aaron?" Callista asked as soon as Aaron left.
"Like what?" Bella asked in return, her brow slightly furrowed.
"Seriously, you don’t want to sleep with him?" Callista asked straightforwardly, without any hesitation.
Bella fell silent. Her eyes gazed out the window, her thoughts drifting far away. “I can’t trust him yet, Callista,” she murmured finally. “What if after that, Aaron leaves me?”
"Bella, you love Aaron, right?" Callista leaned forward, her gaze sharp yet gentle.
Bella nodded slowly. “Very much.”
"If you love him, I think you have nothing to worry about. Aaron loves you," Callista said, trying to reassure her.
But for Bella, it was more than just love. It was about vulnerability, the fear of loss after giving too much.
“I can’t, Callista,” Bella replied in a soft tone, almost like a whisper. There was an unspoken sadness in her voice.
Callista sighed deeply, choosing not to push further. She knew Bella wasn’t the type to be easily convinced, and behind her strong demeanor, there was a fragile heart—full of wounds that hadn’t fully healed.
Elsewhere, Aaron stared silently at his phone, the teasing messages from his friends about his relationship with Bella felt like thorns. He loved Bella, but deep inside, doubt was starting to grow—wondering if love alone was enough to make their relationship last.
That night, Bella felt her heart racing, but not out of love—it was a fear she couldn’t quite explain. The atmosphere in the club was overwhelming, the loud music pounding in her ears, and the neon lights flashing, cutting through the darkness with a glare that hurt her eyes.
Aaron, now sitting across from her with his face flushed from drinking, didn’t seem like the same man she had known for the past year. His gaze was sharp, filled with insistence that made Bella feel cornered.
“Come on, sweetheart. Just one sip,” Aaron urged again, his voice heavy and slurred from the alcohol.
Bella shook her head, her voice soft yet firm. “No, Aaron. I’ve never drunk before, and I’m not starting now.”
“For God’s sake, Bella,” Aaron sighed loudly, looking at her with visible frustration. “You’re an adult. Why do you have to act so uptight all the time?”
Bella met his eyes, her disappointment clear. “Why are you like this, Aaron? You know I’m not comfortable with this kind of thing. You can’t force me.”
Aaron clicked his tongue in irritation, swirling the drink in his hand until it almost spilled. He had held back for a year, but his patience was wearing thin. “You’re so stubborn, Bella. Don’t you realize? All my friends think I’m stupid for waiting this long!”
Bella froze, his words cutting through the chaos of the club like a blade. “What do you mean, Aaron? Love isn’t about—”
“Love?” Aaron interrupted her with a bitter laugh. He leaned in closer, his movements abrupt and rough. He grabbed her arm, pulling her closer until their bodies were nearly touching. Bella could smell the alcohol on his breath, making her even more uneasy.
“If you love me,” he whispered in her ear, his voice low and pressing, “then you’ll give me what I want. We’ll stay at a hotel tonight, just the two of us.”
Bella was stunned. His words felt like a knife slicing through her heart. She bit her lip, holding back the tears that threatened to spill. The Aaron she had known—the kind and patient man she had fallen for—seemed to have vanished entirely that night.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Am I only worth that much to you? Is it just my body you’re after?”
Aaron let out a small, humorless laugh. “Bella, stop being so dramatic. We’re adults. What’s so wrong about me wanting more?”
Bella stared at him for a long moment, her heart breaking. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely audible above the music. “If that’s what you want, Aaron, then maybe you’re in love with the wrong person.”
She pulled her arm free from his grip and stood up. Without another glance, she walked out of the club, leaving behind the pounding music and the raucous laughter.
Outside, the night air was cold, biting at her skin. But it felt better than the coldness of Aaron’s heart that she had felt inside. Bella looked up at the sky, the stars twinkling faintly above her, and with a heavy sigh, she whispered to herself, “I deserve better than this.”
Aksara