Chapter 19

Erik

I knew that I had made a mistake by sleeping with Crystal, and the guilt was almost unbearable. I decided to go to my boss, Mr. Wayne, and ask him to take back the task of helping Crystal. But of course, I didn't say that I had touched his daughter.

But instead of telling me no, Mr. Wayne looked at me with a serious expression on his face and said, "Erik, you have already made an impact on her. She needs your help now more than ever. So, I'm extending your task, help her get enrolled in the university."

I could tell that he meant what he said - that helping Crystal reach her goals would be worth any risk we took together.

With a new resolve and determination in my heart, I went back to Crystal and

started pursuing her to enroll. It wasn't easy, but I was determined to do it. I was going to have to keep a close watch on her, make sure that she didn't fall off the horse.

In a way, I felt a sense of pride that I was able to help her. It has been a long time since someone looked up to me with such admiration.

Soon, Crystal's classes began and she was matriculating well. I knew she wasn't ready for a long-term relationship with me, but I was determined to try.

Crystal and I went out for dinner on Friday night, just like we had been doing regularly for the last few weeks. I wanted to take the chance to see if we could move our relationship to the next level. As we were finishing dinner and getting ready to leave, I reached across the table, took her hand, and said, "Crystal, I have something to tell you."

She looked at me with a curious expression, and I felt my heart pounding in my chest. I took a deep breath and continued, "I know that we've only been seeing each other for a short time, but I feel like we have a connection that's deeper than just physical attraction. I want to be with you, Crystal. I want to explore this relationship and see where it takes us."

I could see the hesitation in her eyes, but she didn't pull her hand away. Instead, she gave me a small smile and said, "Erik, I don't know if I'm ready for a relationship right now. I'm still figuring things out for myself."

I felt a pang of disappointment, but I knew that I couldn't push her. I nodded and squeezed her hand, "I understand, Crystal. Just know that I'm here for you, whenever you're ready."

As we left the restaurant and walked towards her car, I couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. I wanted to be with her, but I knew that I had to be patient.

We said our goodbyes and as I watched her drive away, I knew that despite the challenges ahead, I was willing to do whatever it took to keep Crystal in my life. And who knows, maybe one day she'll feel the same way about me.

But as the days went by, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Crystal was slipping away from me. She became distant and uninterested in our regular dinner dates. I tried to talk to her about it, but she always brushed it off, saying that she was just busy with schoolwork.

One night, I decided to surprise her with a visit to her apartment. As I knocked on the door, I could hear shuffling inside before it opened. Crystal stood before me, her eyes wide with surprise and her hair disheveled. I couldn't help but notice the musky scent in the air and the sound of low music coming from inside.

I knew what was going on. Crystal had moved on and found someone else. But I couldn't help the pain that pierced my heart as I saw her with another man. She looked at me, her eyes filled with guilt and apology, but I couldn't bear to hear her excuses.

I turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm, "Erik, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

I pulled my arm away, feeling anger bubbling up inside me, "Save it, Crystal. You made your choice."

I made my way back home, feeling a mixture of sadness and anger. I knew that Crystal had moved on and it hurt to accept that our relationship was over. I tried to push the thoughts away and focus on the future, but it was hard to forget all the time we had spent together.

When I woke up the next day, I was surprised to find Crystal sitting on my couch. She looked up at me, her eyes full of emotion. "I made a mistake," she said softly. "I realized that you were the one I wanted, and I want us to try again."

My heart skipped a beat as I looked into her eyes and saw the genuine emotion in them. Despite all the pain she had caused me, I couldn't deny that I still loved her.

Without another word, we embraced in a tight hug and all my anger melted away. We talked for hours about our past mistakes and how we could make things work this time around. By the end of the night, we decided to give our relationship another chance.

We hugged again before Crystal left, feeling hopeful for what lay ahead of us. Who knew if it would last this time round, but one thing was certain: no matter what happened between us, my life would never be quite the same again.

To show my commitment to Crystal and our new relationship, I decided to surprise her a few days later with a bouquet. I chose the most beautiful selection, with deep red roses surrounded by frilly white petals and lush green foliage. I knew it was cheesy, but I could already imagine the look on her face when she opened the door to find me holding the bouquet out to her.

The next evening, as I walked up to her door, my heart raced with anticipation. I knocked on the door and waited for what felt like an eternity. Finally, Crystal appeared in front of me, her face filled with surprise when she saw the flowers in my hands. She took them from me slowly, admiring each bloom before looking back up at me with tenderness in her eyes.

"These are beautiful," she said softly, "Thank you."

We both knew that this gesture meant so much more than just a bunch of pretty flowers – it was a promise of love and loyalty that would last forever between us.

But I was surprised when I looked past Crystal to see someone else in the hallway – a woman with long brown hair, wearing a pretty white dress. She smiled at me and I recognized her instantly – it was Violet, my ex-girlfriend.

My heart sank as I took in the sight of her standing there, but Crystal seemed unphased by her presence. "I know your past," she explained. "We bumped into each other and she told me everything." A wave of emotion suddenly swept through me as I looked back and forth between them, realizing that they were now standing in the same room together.

Violet stepped forward and held out her hand for me to shake, her eyes filled with kindness and understanding. "It's nice to see you again Erik," she said warmly before adding, "I'm so happy for you both."

We all shared an awkward smile before Violet said goodbye and left us alone again. At that moment, I knew that no matter what happened between us in the future, we would always have this one moment where our paths crossed once more.