Reunion And Confessions

Chapter 45

Joe's POV

Holding the bouquet tightly in my hand, I waited in front of Tina's door. I double checked my appearance, ensuring I had picked the perfect outfit and left my face unshaven. She likes the feel of my lightly grown beard. Though summer was nearly at its end, the evening air was getting cooler. Still, I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead.

I had applied just enough cologne to feel fresh and besides, she loves the scent, so I made sure not to overdo it. Running my tongue over my teeth, I took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.

In seconds, the door clicked open, and there she was. Beautiful as always. Her eyes were bright, and a smile lit up her face. The blue shade of her dress perfectly complemented her skin tone and figure. She had left her hair loose, heavy curls cascading over her shoulders. My gaze drifted to her nape, where a delicate shell locket rested comfortably between her cleavage. I admired her for a moment. She looked absolutely gorgeous.

Before I could hand her the bouquet, she took a step forward and embraced me. The hug was tight. Tight enough to tell me that she wouldn't let go. I closed my eyes, snuggling my face into her hair, inhaling the scent I had missed the most. She smelled of jasmine and something uniquely her. I held her gently, not wanting to crush her, yet not wanting to let go either.

After what felt like forever, she loosened her hold and looked into my eyes. Tears shimmered in her gaze, reflecting the weight of our time apart. "I missed you," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

"I missed you too," I murmured, my voice thick with longing.

She reached for my face, her hands warm and soft as she cupped my cheeks, and then, with a tenderness that made my heart ache, she pressed her lips against mine. The kiss was slow, filled with unspoken words of longing, of loneliness, of love. I deepened it, my fingers tangling in her hair, savoring the warmth of her mouth. This kiss held the story of our distance, our ache, our reunion. It spoke of the nights spent missing each other, of the quiet yearning that never faded.

When we finally parted, her lips were slightly swollen, her breath uneven. A single tear rolled down her cheek, and I leaned in, kissing it away. These were the tears I had caused. The ones she had been holding back for so long. Guilt gnawed at me, but so did love. I kissed her forehead, pressing my lips against her skin as I murmured, "I'm here now."

She nodded, her body pressing into mine once more, her head resting against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close, silently promising her that I wasn't going anywhere.

"Are we going to stand here all night?" I teased, trying to lighten the moment.

She broke the hug, a soft smile gracing her lips. I handed her the bouquet, watching as she ran her fingers over the petals. "It's beautiful," she said, gratitude shining in her eyes.

"Not as beautiful as you," I flirted, loving the way she blushed at my words.

She had truly gone all out for my welcome. The lights were dim, a soft romantic melody playing in the background. Candles flickered, casting a warm glow around the room. On the coffee table sat two wine glasses, a bottle of red wine, and a beautifully arranged platter of cheese and fruit. She caught me admiring her effort and murmured, "I know this all seems like too much… I just wanted to make it special an..."

I silenced her by wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. "I love it. I missed this… I missed you." My voice dropped to a whisper as I spoke into her ear.

"I missed you too," she confessed, her eyes locking onto mine.

Before I could claim her lips again, she stepped back. "I have to put the bouquet in water," she said with a small laugh before walking toward the kitchen.

As she disappeared, the aroma of roasted lamb filled the air. My heart clenched. She had made my favorite dish. She had thought of everything. I ran a hand through my hair, overwhelmed by how much I loved this woman.

When she returned, she reached for my hand and led me to the couch. We sank into its softness, and she poured us each a glass of wine. "To us," she said, raising her glass. "We made this long-distance work."

I clinked my glass against hers, my chest tightening with emotion. "We did it, Joe. We made it through."

She took a slow sip before resting her head against my shoulder, her fingers intertwining with mine. A quiet sigh escaped her lips. "Do you think we can make our relationship work if I go back to Fiji?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

My heart stopped. I didn't know how to answer. I didn't want to upset her, didn't want to acknowledge the possibility of more distance between us. But I also didn't know what the future held.

"We'll talk about it when the time comes," I said finally, squeezing her hand. "For now, I just want to enjoy this moment.The moments we've missed."

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with uncertainty and something deeper. Pain. She had fought for us, held on even when the distance had been unbearable. She had never lost hope, and that had kept me going. I gently lifted her chin, brushing my lips over hers in a slow, lingering kiss. She melted into me, shifting slightly as she deepened the kiss. Her fingers curled into my shirt, pulling me closer.

Every touch, every breath between us was filled with desperation and devotion. I ran my fingers along her jawline, tracing the path to her neck, where I pressed soft kisses. She shivered in response, her breath hitching.

"I missed you," I whispered against her skin, my hands roaming gently, as if memorizing every inch of her.

She pulled back slightly, her eyes half-lidded, a smirk playing on her lips. "After dinner."

I groaned in protest, making her laugh as she placed a finger on my lips. "Patience."

I leaned in close, my lips barely brushing against hers, teasing her with the anticipation that sparked between us. "Can I have my dessert before dinner?" I teased, my voice laced with mischief.

Her eyes locked onto mine, a smoldering gaze filled with unspoken desire. I slid my hand under her dress and explored her smooth thighs and as I slid my fingers beneath the delicate lace of her panties, I felt the warmth of her skin, the way she trembled under my touch. A soft gasp escaped her lips as my fingertips traced slow, languid circles over her clitoris, drawing out a shiver of pleasure. Her breath hitched, and her fingers gripped my arm as if she were holding onto reality itself.

She nodded, a silent invitation, and I wasted no time. I unfastened my pants, letting them slide down as I kissed my way down her thighs. She arched beneath me, her body reacting to every touch, every press of my lips. The red lace of her panties was breathtaking against her skin, a sight so alluring I almost didn't want to remove them. Instead, I nudged them aside, savoring the moment, the way anticipation pulsed between us.

Her legs parted in silent surrender, her hands gripping the cushion as I slowly entered her. A gasp, a whisper of my name, and then the world around us faded into nothing but the rhythm of our bodies moving as one. I held her close, our breaths mingling, our heartbeats aligning. Every movement was deliberate, gentle, passionate, and intimate.

We had waited for this moment, longed for it, and now that it was finally here, I wanted to make it last. I kissed her deeply, our lips moving in perfect harmony, matching the unspoken words between us. Time ceased to exist as we lost ourselves in each other, our passion igniting like a slow-burning flame that refused to fade.

But the intensity of our desire soon took over, and neither of us could hold back. The pleasure built up, crashing over us in waves of ecstasy until we both reached the peak, shattering together in perfect synchrony.

As we lay there, tangled in each other's arms, her fingers traced lazy patterns on my skin. She exhaled softly, a contented sigh escaping her lips. "I love you," she murmured, her voice tender and filled with emotion.

A smile tugged at my lips as I kissed her forehead, pulling her even closer. "I love you too," I whispered, sealing the moment with a lingering kiss, knowing that this was only the beginning of something even more beautiful.

Tina's POV

Trisha was curled up on the sofa, clutching a cushion tightly against her chest. Her gaze was distant, lost in thought, as if replaying something painful over and over in her mind. She had just returned from India last night, and the first thing she did was message me to come over. That alone told me something was wrong.

When I walked in and saw their faces, my heart sank. Veronica sat across from Trisha, her expression filled with concern. I raised my eyebrows, silently asking what had happened. She simply gestured toward Trisha, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"She hasn't said much," Veronica murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "She just said she'd tell us when you got here. But I can tell…it's not good."

I took a deep breath and approached Trisha. The moment she looked up at me, I saw the unshed tears glistening in her eyes. My chest tightened. Whatever had happened in India had shattered her. I sat beside her, while Veronica took the opposite seat.

"What happened?" I asked gently.

Trisha let out a shaky breath. "Nothing happened the way we planned," she whispered. "I have to go back to India… and get married in December."

Silence. A heavy, suffocating silence. My mind struggled to process her words. Veronica was the first to react.

"What?!" she exclaimed, sitting up straight. "Trisha, that's insane! You can't be serious."

I swallowed hard and asked the question that was already forming in my mind. "Did you talk to Nikhil?"

She nodded slowly. "He was okay with it… he agreed that we could wait until after I finished university and graduated with my bachelor's." She paused, blinking away tears. "But his dad didn't agree. He said he wants us married this year. He wants us to move to another city in India or anywhere and take over his business there."

I clenched my fists. "How can someone just decide something so huge for you? Just like that?" Veronica's voice was laced with anger, mirroring the frustration building up inside me.

Trisha let out a bitter laugh as a tear finally escaped down her cheek. "Maybe that's my destiny."

I reached out and took her hand in mine. "Trisha… you don't have to accept this."

She gave me a sad smile, her fingers tightening around mine. "I have no choice. I only have a few months left before I leave. I thought my life would be different after I left India. I thought I'd graduate, find a job, and pay back Nikhil's dad. I wanted to free myself from this loan."

Veronica leaned forward, her eyes filled with determination. "Okay, but first, tell us everything. From the beginning. How did you even meet Nikhil?"

Trisha wiped her tears and exhaled deeply. "The first time he saw me was at his office. I was dropping off some files for my dad since he was sick. I told him to rest, and I took the files on my way to college. The next time we met was at his dad's birthday party, where my family was invited."

"That's it?" I asked, frowning. "He saw you twice and just decided you were the one?"

She shook her head. "Not exactly. He mentioned to his dad that he liked me. But maybe this was all meant to be. When I applied for scholarships, I didn't get a single response, even though my grades were good. My dad had to ask Nikhil's dad for a loan." She hesitated, then continued, "I always wanted to be a doctor. That was my dream since I was a child. But his dad had other plans. He agreed to give the loan, but only if I studied business instead of medicine. And not in India. He sent me here. On one condition… that I marry his son after graduation."

The room fell into stunned silence.

Veronica let out a slow breath, shaking her head. "That's… manipulative."

Trisha nodded. "I fought against it. I applied to every medical university I could for scholarships, but nothing came through. My dad told me he couldn't afford my fees since he had to pay for my sisters' education too. My mom was overjoyed about the arrangement. She said I'd become the daughter-in-law of one of the richest men in the city, and that it was an honor for our family. Seeing the happiness on their faces…" Her voice cracked. "I agreed."

Veronica moved from her seat and knelt in front of Trisha, placing a comforting hand on her knee. "But do you even like Nikhil? I mean, you were in love with Edam before… what about Nikhil?"

Trisha hesitated, looking down. "He seems nice. He supported me coming here. He promised that once we're married, he'll let me continue my studies."

That made me relax. A little. But deep down, I knew that promises weren't always kept. Life had a cruel way of changing in an instant.

A heavy silence lingered in the air until I finally spoke up. "There's something I need to tell you both too." I hesitated, then took a deep breath. "The real reason I came here to study… was to run away."

They both looked at me, confusion written across their faces. "Run away?" Veronica repeated.

I nodded, feeling my throat tighten. "From my best friend. And my ex."

Trisha frowned. "What do you mean?"

"They were dating behind my back. My best friend and my boyfriend. Secretly. And he was pretending to love me while being with her all along." I swallowed hard. "They were after my wealth. That's why, when I came here, I kept a low profile. I didn't want people to like me for my money. I just wanted real friends… friends who liked me for who I am."

They both reached out, grabbing my hands in comfort.

Veronica inhaled sharply. "Since everyone's putting their heart out… I need to tell you both something too." She looked at us with a pained expression. "Do you remember how I always made excuses not to go to parties?"

Trisha and I nodded.

She took a deep breath. "I was molested at one. By my dad's cousin. He was drunk and tried to force himself on me. When I tried to run, he cornered me in the bathroom and tried to…" Her voice broke. "If it weren't for another cousin who showed up in time, I don't know what would have happened."

Trisha's hands flew to her mouth, eyes brimming with tears. "Oh, Veronica… we're so sorry."

I clenched my fists, my heart aching for her. "We never should have pushed you into coming to parties with us."

She shook her head. "No… you guys helped me face my fear. Without you, I never would have stepped into a party again."

A heavy silence filled the room before I finally spoke. "See? We all have our own battles. But we're stronger together. And Trisha, I believe Nikhil will support you. He seems to genuinely care."

Trisha nodded. "I hope so."

Veronica suddenly grinned. "And besides, we still have four months left. So we're going to study our asses off and party like animals."

Trisha and I laughed, the weight on our hearts lifting just a little. We pulled each other into a tight embrace, sealing our silent promise to always stand by one another. Because in the darkest times, the only way out was with the people who truly loved you, holding your hand and guiding you toward the light.

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"A heartfelt reunion, where unspoken words find their voice and truths are finally revealed