Jealousy and Regret

AJ looked down at the picture that Noel had sent to him, his thumb slowly caressing the face on the screen. He could see that Noel had clicked the picture secretly, showing only her side profile, but even then he could see how sad she was. Her eyes, always glowing with mischief, were downcast and swollen.

For the first time in his life, he felt regret. Regret for not telling her everything. Regret for agreeing to Kig Delroy's proposal. And regret his promise to Noel. He especially hated that Noel had made him promise not to go looking for her. To give her time. What she needed was to know the entire truth and not what she had heard in the library.