Chapter Eleven: When She Came Back
2213 Words
Nila had tried not to think about Remire.
She really had.
But after nearly a week of not seeing him around campus, she could no longer pretend she wasn't worried.
Every morning, her eyes unconsciously searched the crowd for him. Every lecture hall felt strangely different without his familiar presence. Even when she sat beside Kimberley, her thoughts sometimes wandered to the same question.
Where is Remire?
She never asked anyone.
Who would she even ask?
She couldn't exactly turn to Kimberley and ask about another guy, especially when she knew exactly how much Kimberley disliked Remire.
So she kept her concern buried.
One afternoon, Nila finally found herself sitting with Betty.
Betty studied her face for a moment before speaking.
“You're worried about him.”
Nila immediately looked away.
“Who?”
Betty sighed. “Nila, please.”
Nila remained silent.
Betty knew her too well.
“You haven't asked about Remire once,” Betty continued, “but I've seen the way you look around whenever you enter a place. You're looking for him.”
Nila swallowed hard.
“He hasn't been in school for days.”
“I know.”
“Is he okay?”
Betty's expression softened.
“That is exactly what I'm trying to tell you. You're worried about him because, deep down, you still care.”
Nila shook her head.
“No. I just... I don't want anything bad to happen to him.”
“Then go and see him.”
Nila immediately frowned.
“Betty, I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because Kimberley has always been there for me.”
“And?”
“And Remire is just being unreasonable. He was trying to be possessive. There are so many girls out there who are prettier, richer, smarter and probably better suited for him. Why does he keep looking at me?”
Betty stared at her.
“Because he loves you.”
Nila's heart skipped.
She didn't answer.
Deep down, she knew there was some truth in Betty's words.
She still remembered the day Remire had stood up for her.
After everything she had done to him, after all the times she rejected him and pushed him away, he had still stepped forward when she needed someone.
That memory refused to leave her.
And now he was gone.
Something inside her wouldn't let her ignore it anymore.
“I just want to check on him,” she finally whispered.
Betty smiled faintly.
“Then check on him.”
That was how the plan began.
Nila decided to leave school quietly and visit Remire at home.
Kimberley couldn't know.
Not yet.
Betty helped her figure out how to slip away without attracting attention, and by the time Nila left the school premises, her heart was pounding.
She wasn't going there to confess her feelings.
She wasn't going there to promise anything.
She simply wanted to know if he was okay.
At least, that was what she kept telling herself.
---
Meanwhile, Kimberley had problems of his own.
For several days, the unknown number had continued calling and sending threatening messages.
At first, he ignored them.
But that evening, while he was outside the mansion after lectures, his phone rang again.
He stared at the unfamiliar number before answering.
“Hello?”
A deep voice came through.
“You're wasting my time.”
Kimberley's expression hardened.
“Who are you?”
“You'll know soon enough. Come outside.”
“Outside where?”
“Behind the campus. There's an unfinished building there.”
Kimberley frowned.
“You expect me to walk into some random place because an unknown number told me to?”
The man chuckled.
“I'm already closer to you than you think.”
Kimberley looked around.
“What are you talking about?”
“I'm looking at the mansion you're staying in right now.”
His blood ran cold.
The voice continued.
“Come down. Let's settle this man to man.”
“Who the hell are you?”
“Someone connected to Nila.”
Kimberley's jaw tightened.
“Nila?”
“Yes.”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
The call ended.
Kimberley stood still for several seconds.
Every sensible part of him told him not to go.
But when it came to Nila, his judgment had never been particularly reliable.
He grabbed his phone and headed toward the campus.
---
The unfinished building stood in silence behind the campus.
Kimberley stepped inside cautiously.
Then he saw him.
A man stood several feet away.
He was older, broader and visibly stronger than Kimberley. There was something intimidating about the way he stood, completely relaxed despite the tension surrounding them.
Kimberley stopped.
The man looked him over.
“So you're Kimberley.”
“Yes.”
“You're the one dating Nila?”
Kimberley frowned.
“What's it to you?”
The man took a step forward.
“My name is Xavier.”
Kimberley said nothing.
Xavier folded his arms.
“I've been watching the situation between you, Nila and Remire.”
“And?”
“I wanted to see what kind of man you are.”
Kimberley scoffed.
“You dragged me to an unfinished building to test me?”
“I didn't bring you here to fight.”
“Then what do you want?”
Xavier's expression hardened.
“I want you to understand something. Nila is not a prize for you and Remire to compete over.”
Kimberley's eyes narrowed.
“I know that.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Then stop acting as though loving her gives you ownership over her.”
Kimberley stepped closer.
“I've never forced Nila to do anything.”
“Good. Then you won't have a problem with what I'm about to say.”
Xavier paused.
“If Nila chooses Remire, you let her go.”
Kimberley's face changed instantly.
“No.”
Xavier's eyes narrowed.
“You answered too quickly.”
“Because there's nothing to think about.”
“And if she chooses Remire?”
“She won't.”
“You sound very confident.”
“I know Nila.”
Xavier shook his head.
“You think you know her because she's with you now. But feelings change.”
Kimberley clenched his jaw.
“My feelings for her haven't changed.”
“That's not what I asked.”
“I don't care what you asked. Nila loves me.”
Xavier stared at him.
“And you believe that is enough?”
“It is.”
“What if Remire changes?”
Kimberley laughed bitterly.
“Remire already had his chance.”
“And you think one mistake erases years of feelings?”
Kimberley's expression became serious.
“Whatever feelings Nila once had for him are her business. Right now, she's with me. She chose me.”
Xavier nodded slowly.
“You're stubborn.”
“And you're interfering in something that doesn't concern you.”
Xavier's face hardened.
“It concerns me because I know what Remire has been going through,he is my bro”
Kimberley didn't flinch.
“That's unfortunate. But I won't abandon Nila because another man is hurting.”
Silence filled the building.
Xavier studied him for a long moment.
“You really won't step aside?”
“No.”
“Even if Nila asks you to?”
Kimberley hesitated for the briefest moment.
Then he answered.
“If Nila looks me in the eyes and tells me she doesn't love me anymore, I'll leave. But until then, nobody is going to tell me to give up on her.”
Xavier nodded.
“That's your answer?”
“Yes.”
“Then listen carefully.”
Xavier stepped closer.
“I'll give you one more chance to think about this. Not because I'm afraid of you. Not because I want a fight. But because once you make a choice, you may not like what comes after it.”
Kimberley stared directly into his eyes.
“I've already made my choice.”
Xavier's expression remained cold.
“Then be prepared to live with it.”
Kimberley turned and walked away.
Xavier watched him disappear into the darkness.
“This isn't over,” he muttered.
---
At almost the same time, Nila stood outside Remire's house.
Her heart hammered against her chest.
She hesitated before knocking.
Once.
Twice.
The door opened.
Remire appeared.
The moment his eyes landed on her, he froze.
“N...Nila?”
His voice cracked.
“What... what are you doing here?”
His eyes were already filling with tears.
Nila's heart tightened.
“I was looking for you. I... I mean—”
She stopped herself.
“Can I come inside first?”
Remire immediately stepped aside.
“Of course.”
Nila entered.
Remire closed the door slowly, still staring at her as though she might disappear if he blinked.
He couldn't believe it.
Nila had come to his house.
On her own.
After everything.
For the first time in days, something inside him felt alive again.
Nila turned toward him.
“I heard you've been sick.”
Remire stared at her.
“That's why you're here?”
She nodded.
“I just wanted to check on you.”
He looked away, trying desperately to control his emotions.
“You came all the way here... just to check on me?”
“Yes.”
A tear slipped down his cheek.
He quickly wiped it away.
But Nila had already seen it.
“Remire...”
He suddenly dropped to his knees.
Nila's eyes widened.
“Remire!”
“Nila, please.”
His voice trembled.
“I know I've hurt you. I know I've made mistakes. I know there were times when I made you feel like you weren't enough, and I'll regret that for the rest of my life.”
“Please get up.”
“I can't.”
He looked up at her.
“I can't stand here and pretend I'm okay anymore.”
His eyes were filled with desperation.
“I love you, Nila. I have loved you for so long that I don't even remember what my life felt like before you became such a huge part of it.”
Nila's eyes began to sting.
“Remire...”
“Please give me another chance.”
He swallowed hard.
“I'll change. I'll listen to you. I'll respect your choices. I'll stop trying to control everything. I'll stop hurting you whenever I'm angry or jealous. Just... please don't shut me out completely.”
Nila's tears finally fell.
Remire continued.
“You don't have to forgive me today. You don't even have to love me again today. Just give me a chance to prove that I can be better.”
His voice broke.
“I can survive you hating me, Nila. But watching you walk away while knowing I could have done better... I don't know how to live with that.”
Nila covered her mouth as another tear rolled down her cheek.
Remire slowly stood.
“I miss you.”
He stepped closer.
“I miss talking to you. I miss seeing you every morning. I miss the way you used to laugh at my stupid jokes. I miss having you beside me.”
Nila couldn't speak.
Remire reached for her and pulled her into a tight hug.
For a few seconds, she allowed herself to stay there.
She could feel his heart pounding.
Then she gently pulled away.
Remire immediately released her.
Nila wiped her tears.
“I didn't come here to promise you anything.”
His expression fell slightly.
“I know.”
“I only came because I heard you weren't okay.”
She handed him the bag in her hand.
“I brought you some fruits.”
Remire stared at the bag.
Then at her.
“You bought these for me?”
Nila nodded.
A tiny smile appeared on his face.
“Thank you.”
She stepped toward the door.
“I should go before Kimberley notices I'm gone.”
Remire quickly stopped her.
“Nila.”
She turned.
He smiled through the tears still shining in his eyes.
“I'm glad you came.”
Nila said nothing.
“You gave me a reason to smile again.”
His voice was soft.
“I feel better already.”
Nila smiled faintly.
“Take care of yourself.”
“You too.”
She opened the door.
“Goodbye, Remire.”
“Goodbye, Nila.”
He stood at the doorway and watched her walk away.
He didn't move.
Not even when she reached the gate.
Not even when she turned briefly and gave him one last small wave.
He remained there until the gate closed behind her.
Then he slowly shut the door.
For the first time in weeks, Remire smiled.
He held the bag of fruits against his chest and laughed quietly to himself.
Nila had come to see him.
She had actually come.
Maybe it wasn't a second chance yet.
Maybe it wasn't love.
But to Remire, it was enough to give him hope.
And that night, his happiness was impossible to hide.
Even Xavier noticed it.
Remire was finally smiling again.
But neither of them knew that the choices being made around Nila were about to change everything.
TBC...
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