No Regrets

I inhaled, staring into his shaky hazel eyes—those familiar thick brows curved in a soft furrow, looking at me with both longing and gentle warmth.

"You've... been different," I murmured, letting out a breath as I pinched the bridge of my nose. Alex stilled, his brows drawing slightly upward.

Argh. I shouldn't have let my guard down.

"You don't like it?" he asked, eyes scanning mine like he was trying to read every thought I was too scared to say aloud. "Well, I thought... this might be my last chance, since..."

He trailed off and looked away, bowing his head until I could feel the warmth of his breath brush softly against my neck.

"Never mind," he mumbled, pushing a hand through his hair with a weak, defeated gesture. "You probably think I'm pathetic."

My brows knit in confusion. "What do you mean?"

He finally looked up, and the moment our eyes met, my breath caught.

Tears were welling in his eyes. His lashes fluttered, and his expression twisted into one of pain, his voice cracking as it escaped him.

"You left me for ten years, ruckus!" His voice cracked, rising as the tears broke free, streaking violently down his cheeks. "Ten fucking years, Leo!"

He hissed the words like they tasted bitter in his mouth, then tore himself away from me, crawling back until he sat upright, trembling.

I couldn't move. I just sat there, frozen, as he buried his face in his palms.

Hic.

The sound of his sobs filled the room—loud and raw, underscored by sniffles and a trembling wail. Guilt tightened around my chest like a fist.

I crawled to him slowly, settling beside him. I gently placed a hand on his head, guiding it to rest on my shoulder. My other arm wrapped around him, my hand moving up and down his back in steady, soothing strokes as he wept.

"Didn't know you could be this dramatic, Xaxa," I murmured, letting out a small breath. And finally, I gave in—to the weight of yesterday's storm and the tenderness left behind.

Alex slowly lifted his head and looked at me.

I expected a mess—but this... this was something else.

His face was wrecked. His eyes were red and swollen from crying, shimmering with unshed tears. His nose, usually sharp and proud, was flushed and puffy. His lips, parted slightly to catch his breath, trembled with vulnerability.

Hic.

My chest tightened again.

So... this was what he saw whenever he comforted me?

"Sorry," I whispered. "I'm sorry."

I leaned in and kissed his hair, lingering there as I closed my eyes. His scent, warm and familiar, wrapped around me.

Then, his arms slipped around my shoulders and waist, holding me tightly.

"Shh, it's fine now," I whispered, brushing his hair with my fingers, gently scratching at his scalp. He clung to me, his grip unrelenting, like I might disappear again.

Something warm brushed my shoulder, and I flinched, glancing down.

His lips were pressed there—soft and trembling.

He looked up at me, eyes still vulnerable. I blinked twice, startled.

"You... did you just cry so you could get your way in me?" I teased, raising a brow.

His brows tilted, and a small smile tugged at his lips.

"In you?" he echoed, and then that smile deepened into a smirk.

"It's supposed to be 'with you', Lia—ahem, Leo," he corrected playfully, glancing away. A flush crept onto his cheeks. "Not in you."

My eyes widened as realization struck.

"But I'd like to be in you too," he murmured with a cheeky grin, leaning close—his lips barely brushing my neck.

He didn't touch me, but his breath sent a shiver crawling down my spine.

"If it's alright..." he added softly, voice breathy and trembling.

I bit my lip, eyes drifting up to the ceiling.

"But I'm a man now, Alex," I said, quietly but firmly.

He didn't move, didn't retreat.

"I don't care," he said, a soft sigh escaping his lips. "As long as it's you."

My chest throbbed, a strange warmth unfurling inside me and crawling lower.

What... is this?

Alex shifted, sitting upright again, pulling just far enough to meet my gaze.

"If we can't make love," he whispered, "just let me hold you like this... just for a bit."

"Let's have sex."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them, and for a second, everything stopped.

Alex's head snapped toward me, eyes wide with shock. I felt a hard thing pressed on my stomach, slightly tingling. Lowering my head, I looked to what it is.

The bulge in his pants became larger.

I gulped.

I didn't know why I said it.

But I did know one thing.

I didn't want to walk away with another regret.

And if this is the end of our story... then I want to feel it.

All of it.

So I can carry no more what-ifs after this is over.