Patiently Awaited Love

Chapter 2

The next few weeks after our first date, it felt almost unreal, like the universe had finally stopped messing with me and decided to give me something soft for once.

Kaden and I settled into this quiet rhythm, one that felt natural in a way that almost scared me. We weren’t loud about our relationship, but we weren’t exactly hiding anymore either. People had already seen us kiss and cling to each other on the 28th of July, like two people who genuinely didn’t care how shocked everyone was.

But real relationships aren’t just about the cute parts. I learned that quickly. As more days passed, so did the relationship as it moved gracefully.

Kaden walked me to class every morning. Not because he needed to but because he genuinely wanted to. Sometimes he’d hold my hand; other times he’d jokingly bump my shoulder, teasing me about my iced coffee addiction or the way I gasp dramatically whenever he did something nice for me or he remembered something from a previous conversation where I had been yapping.

He was soft in quiet ways,waiting for me to finish assignments even when he was tired,

sending me voice notes when I felt overwhelmed, reminding me to drink water in the middle of long study sessions.

And for the first time in a very, very long time, someone actually appreciated me, without conditions or pretences.

But as much as we were good, we were still human, and as humans, we messed up.

It started small as if nothing would come out of it as we were sitting in the library one afternoon, I was working on an assignment, and Kaden was scrolling on his phone and i took a chance to glance at him only to find that he looked annoyed, sighing under his breath. Not wanting to disturb him, I kept typing away until he finally cracked and spoke about what was troubling him.

“Luce… why didn’t you tell me you were stressing about tuition again?” His tone wasn’t harsh. It was just tight like he was frustrated that I didn't tell him. But why would I tell if it only concerned me.

I looked up slowly and quietly said“Because it wasn’t something I wanted to worry you with.”

“You worry about me all the time. Why can’t you let me do the same for you?” His jaw tightened as he began to raise his voice.

“It’s not the same,” I murmured.

He set his phone down, looking straight into my eyes with a painful expression. “Then explain it to me. Because right now, it feels like you don’t trust me with the difficult parts of your life.”

The words stung, not because he intended to hurt me, Kaden wasn’t that type. They hurt because they were close to the truth.

“I didn’t tell you because I’ve always had to deal with things alone,” I said quietly. “It’s hard to switch off that instinct. It's not like me telling you you will change anything. "

He leaned back, arms crossed. It's a bad sign. “So you’re planning to keep things from me? Is that how we’re doing this? He said, still leaning back in frustration from what I had said.

My chest tightened. “Kaden, don’t twist my words.”

“I’m not twisting anything. I’m trying to understand why you shut me out.”

“It was one thing. One situation. And I just wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.” I murmured

He shook his head and stood up abruptly, running a hand through his hair. “I hate feeling useless, Luce. I hate knowing you’re hurting, and I can’t do anything because you won’t tell me.”

Hearing him say that made my stomach drop. I hated making him feel that way. But I also hated feeling like I had to open every wound immediately just to prove something. However, we are still young, and I just wanted to live happily without having to worry about my problems and burdens in my life.

“So now I’m a bad girlfriend for handling something on my own?” I snapped back before I could stop myself, which actually surprised the least to say cause I was never one to argue.

His head snapped toward me, eyes widening slightly, with a shocked gaze “That’s not what I said.”

“That’s what it feels like.” I exclaimed

Silence filled the room with its thick, uncomfortable aura.

People around us pretended not to listen even though most were preying.His jaw tightened again before he spoke as if to calm himself down before he said something that would hurt me and he would end up regretting.

“I’m going to step outside for a bit.” His voice was steady, but his eyes weren’t.

He walked out, not slamming anything, not raising his voice just leaving with that frustrating calmness he had when he didn’t want to say something he’d regret.

I sat there for five whole minutes, heart racing, hands shaking.I hated fighting. I hated the concept of conflict, and most importantly, I hated the idea that maybe this was the moment things would start falling apart like they always did with other people. My heart dropped at the thought, but then Kaden wasn’t other people, I reassured myself. So I stood up, packed my things, and went to find him.

Leaving the building, I saw him outside on one of the benchs, elbows on his knees, head lowered, maybe feeling a sense of guilt for fighting just the same way I felt. Walking up to him slowly, he raised his head to look up at me. The frustration was still there, but so was there softness and love, always that stupid, overwhelming love.

I sat beside him, leaving maybe two inches between us.“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he took a slow breath. “I’m sorry too,” he finally said. “I shouldn’t have reacted like that.”

We turned toward each other at the same time.“I’m learning,” I said quietly. “I’m trying. It’s just hard to let someone in when all I’ve known is disappointment.”

His expression softened instantly. He touched my hand gently. “And I’m learning how to be patient with you. I’m not going anywhere, Luce. You don’t have to be afraid of that.”

My throat tightened. “I know. I just… didn’t want you thinking less of me.” I choked as tears tried to form.

He slightly squeezed my hand at my sudden wave of emotions“Never that. I just want to be part of your world. All of it, not only the pretty parts.”

I exhaled shakily and nodded.

Then he moved closer, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead, the kind that made every muscle in my body relax. The kind that made one's face lit up when a loved one kissed them.

“We’re good?” he asked softly.

“We’re good.” I replied back softly.

“Good,” he murmured. “Because I really love you, and I hate fighting with you.” My heart did that annoying fluttering thing again. “I love you too.”

His smile returned the warm, boyish one I adored. He pulled me into his chest, and I melted into him, breathing him in like I’d been holding my breath for too long.

And just like that, we resolved our first argument, which didn't break us but showed us how to better communicate, how to apologize, and how to love without letting fear speak louder than truth. Which strengthened our bond.

And as I leaned into him, his hand tracing circles on my back, I realized that love wasn’t perfect, but it was real, and it was ours to live with forever.