What The Heart Wants.

Unspoken tension

His presence disrupted everything. Guilia froze, her eyes wide as she looked at him in shock. I could tell she hadn’t expected him to come back today.

“George, are you okay?” she asked, climbing out of the pool, water dripping from her hair and body.

He didn’t answer immediately. His eyes lingered on mine for a brief tense second before he turned to her and gave a small nod. Then, without a word, he walked back into the house.

“What’s his problem?” Guilia mouthed at me. I only shrugged, pretending not to care, even though my heart hadn’t stopped pounding since he showed up.

“Your cousin is so hot, Guilia. I wish he’d notice me,” one of the girls gushed from the pool.

Guilia rolled her eyes and laughed. “You can try, but he only has short flings. Don’t come crying to me when he breaks your heart.”

Their laughter echoed across the pool and she added. “But seriously, girl, you know I'm not allowing anyone to date my brother right? It’s so eww”

I couldn’t bear to hear more. “Excuse me,” I muttered, turning to Roman. “I just need to grab some water.”

Inside the kitchen, the cool air hit my skin. My phone buzzed again — Grandma. I sighed. She’d probably been calling all day. I pressed the answer button.

“Grandma,” I said softly, leaning against the counter.

“Rayna,” her voice came through, shaky but warm. “I’m so sorry I crossed the line earlier. I shouldn’t have brought up your parents. I thought… maybe you were ready to talk about them, since you’ve kept silent for so long. But I was wrong. I hurt you, didn’t I?”

Her voice cracked, and guilt tugged at my chest.

“Yeah but I’m sorry too, Grandma,” I said, my voice breaking a little. “I shouldn’t have raised my voice. It’s the first and last time, I promise.”

“Alright, sweetheart. I’ll call you again soon, okay?”

“Okay.”

When the call ended, I stood still for a moment, staring at my reflection in the glass door. My eyes were still slightly red. With a deep sigh, I turned to grab a bottle of water from the fridge and froze.

George stood at the doorway, watching me.

My breath caught. I looked away quickly, pretending to focus on the fridge. My fingers fumbled with the bottle as I tried to calm my heartbeat. I was not going to allow him make fun of me again.

One… two… three. I just needed to walk past him.

Almost there.

But as I brushed past him, his hand caught mine, firm and warm.

“Don’t touch me!” I snapped, jerking my hand away as if his skin had burned me. Shock flashed across his face, but it disappeared as quickly as it came, replaced by that cold, unreadable expression. There we go again.

I turned to leave, but he stepped forward and caught my wrist again, gentler this time.

“Hey… hey… heyyy,” he said quietly, his voice low and careful as he did that as if he was scared of my reaction. “Look, I’m sorry for earlier, Rayna. I shouldn’t have said that. Any of it.”

The apology hit me harder than I expected. I looked up, my eyes darting to his face, but quickly looked away again. If I kept looking, I’d lose control like how it always happened.

“Have you been crying?” he asked, his tone softer now, almost confused.

“It has nothing to do with you,” I snapped, forcing the words out even though my throat tightened. I was not about to make him feel bigger than he probably already did.

“And you should actually leave me alone George. It’s better that way.”

His gaze darkened, and then, slowly, he reached out to tilt my chin up. My breath hitched.

“Look at me, Rayna,” he said, stepping closer.

I shook my head, backing up. “Please…”

“Just look at me,” he repeated, his voice low, almost pleading.

Our eyes met and just like that, everything around us faded. The world blurred into silence, my pulse thrumming in my ears. His touch was careful this time, almost hesitant, as if he didn’t trust himself either.

Then the door burst open.

“Rayna, you’ve been here for—” Guilia stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes darted between us, taking in the space that wasn’t really there.

I stepped back instantly, my face hot. “Oh, you’re here…… with George,” she said, her voice quiet and unreadable.

George only shrugged, though I could tell he was just as shaken by my presence as I was with his.

“No, I was just leaving,” I blurted, grabbing Guilia’s arm and pulling her out. “Let’s go.”

Back by the pool, the laughter and music had returned. Guilia didn’t mention what she saw, but her silence made my skin prickle. I sat quietly on the poolside chair, exhausted and hollow, while the others played. Roman tried to flirt again, but I barely responded.

By six, Guilia finally decided we should head back to campus.

“Thank God.” I whispered silently.

I changed and joined her in the car. But unlike her usual chatter, the drive was painfully quiet. The air between us was heavy, thick with things unsaid.

When we reached the school gate, I reached for the door handle, trying to get out but her voice stopped me.

“Rayna… are you and George up to something?” she asked suddenly. Her tone wasn’t accusing, but there was distance in it.

My heart dropped. “No… no,” I said quickly. “I know what you saw, but it’s not what you think. There’s nothing there.”

I hesitated, then added, deciding to tell her the truth, “He’s also in my class, Guilia. He’s my partner for a psychology project.”

She went quiet. The silence stretched, filled only by the hum of the car engine. Finally, she spoke.

“Is that why you were crying today? Did he make you cry?”

“No,” I said softly. “It was Grandma. Believe me.”

Her expression softened a little, but her next words came slow and firm. “Rayna, don’t get involved with him. He is just there to complete his studies. Then he will go back abroad to take over the company. You have a good heart, and as much as I love my cousin, George is not good for you. I can’t watch you get hurt. Promise me.”

I nodded, looking straight at her.

“With words, babe,” she pressed.

I sighed. “I promise, okay? And… Thank you for today. I really appreciate the fact that you stayed with me.”

Her face relaxed. She smiled faintly and pulled me into a hug before I stepped out of the car.

As I walked toward my hostel, the cool night air brushed against my skin. Her words echoed in my head —‘ Don’t get involved with him.’

But my heart already knew the truth. I was in too deep to walk away now.