The Cost of Truth

I went to meet him at the café, wearing my favorite black gala dress. Its elegance gave me a boost of confidence. I also had a client meeting scheduled at the same location, which added to the complexity of the situation. As I entered, Aryan's eyes locked onto me, and despite the tension, his stunned expression provided a small sense of relief. Even in this difficult moment, I could still captivate him.

I tried to maintain a serious demeanor as I pulled out the chair and sat down in front of him. The tension was palpable. Suddenly, Aryan broke the silence. "Let's just order something."

"Yes, please," I agreed.

"What will you have?" he asked.

"I can eat anything. Order whatever you like," I replied.

He ordered two sandwiches and two Frappes. After collecting the order, he returned to the table.

"Now, let's get straight to the point," I said firmly.

"Yes, please," Aryan responded, eager to start.

"Are you seriously in love?" I asked.

"Obviously," he answered.

"Then why did you file a complaint against me? I never betrayed you, nor did I commit to anything," I challenged.

"I just want you back in my life," Aryan admitted.

"No, babe, you just want revenge," I countered.

Aryan reached out and held my hand. "I have always loved you."

"Aww, really? If you truly loved me, why didn't you make me realize it?" I asked, my voice tinged with sarcasm.

"Because you never loved me," he retorted.

"Aww, I was unaware that love could be like this. For me, love means sacrifice. If I love someone truly, I can sacrifice everything to protect them. I'm sorry, but you don't fit as my partner. For me, love always means this," I explained.

"I truly love you. I just want you back in my life. That's why I did this," Aryan insisted.

"No, you don't. You just want revenge," I said firmly.

"It's just the situation," Aryan tried to explain.

"I'm sorry, dear, but you're on the wrong track. If you can't accept that you did this out of revenge, then we have nothing to talk about. Let's just end it here," I declared.

"Yes...yes. I did it for revenge. I wanted you to know how it feels to be insulted publicly," Aryan admitted, his voice breaking.

"Thank you for accepting it," I said softly.

"Now, for God's sake, can you tell me if you love me or not?" Aryan pleaded.

"At this moment, I'm not sure about our relationship status," I confessed.

"Was everything that happened between us fake?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"No, not at all. You were wonderful at bed, but that doesn't mean we are in a relationship. I need time to think about this," I replied.

"Then you just used me to fulfill your lust," Aryan accused.

"Did I do anything against your will?" I asked pointedly.

"Ummm..." he hesitated.

"No, right? It happened with both of our consent. So why are you questioning it now?" I said.

"I love you...really. I can't live without you," he sobbed, holding my hand tightly.

We were both emotionally shattered. I managed to pull away gently, standing up. "I just need to be excused," I said softly, tears welling up as I walked away, leaving Aryan alone in his heartbreak.