NOT IN MY HEAD.
765 Words
Lavender's POV.
The next morning, Tessa and I were busy packing for our trip.
Well, to be more specific, I was done packing.
Tessa, on the other hand, was taking forever.
"Tessa!" I shouted from the living room. "Hurry up! We're going to miss our flight!"
"Give me a minute!" she yelled back from her room.
"You've been saying that for the past twenty minutes!"
I sat on the couch with my suitcase beside me and let out a sigh.
My mind drifted back to the events of the previous night.
Mark.
The breakup.
Kai.
The impossible disappearance.
I was so lost in thought that I almost didn't hear the knock on the door.
Knock. Knock.
I frowned.
Who could that be?
Getting up, I walked to the door and pulled it open.
My mood instantly soured.
Mark.
The moment I saw him, I tried to shut the door in his face.
Unfortunately, he caught it before I could.
"Aven, please."
"Go away. And stop calling me that."
He was the only one with the right to call me that, but now he's the only one that doesn't get to call me that.
"Please, just listen to me."
"No. Get out!"
He pushed the door open slightly.
"Please. I was drunk that night."
I stared at him.
"What?"
"I was drunk. I didn't know what I was saying. I woke up the next morning and realized what I'd done."
I almost laughed.
"You were drunk?"
"Yes."
I folded my arms.
"Well, I was perfectly sober, Mark. And I heard every single word that came out of your mouth."
His expression fell.
"I didn't mean any of it?"
"You told me I wasn't enough."
"Lavender—"
"You told me I wasn't enough," I repeated. "Don't blame alcohol. Don't blame your friends. Don't blame anybody else. You said it yourself."
Mark lowered his head.
For a moment, he looked guilty.
Then, before I could stop him, he stepped inside the apartment.
My eyes narrowed.
"Excuse me?"
His gaze landed on the suitcases.
His eyebrows furrowed.
"Are you leaving?"
I didn't answer.
I simply stared at him.
His expression immediately became panicked.
"You're taking the trip alone?"
Still, I said nothing.
"Please let me come with you."
I blinked.
"What?"
"I'll come with you. We can fix this."
I laughed.
The audacity.
"Mark, get out."
"Please—"
"Get out."
Before he could continue, a bedroom door swung open.
Tessa emerged carrying two bags.
She froze when she saw him.
"What is he doing here?"
Without waiting for an answer, she marched over and pulled me to her side.
"How could you let this insane man into the apartment?"
"I didn't," I muttered.
Mark rolled his eyes.
"You don't understand anything."
Tessa gasped dramatically.
"Oh, I understand perfectly."
"No, you don't."
"Oh, I do."
The two of them glared at each other.
For a second, I genuinely thought Tessa was about to throw a punch.
"Tessa," I warned.
She pointed at Mark.
"He cheated on you."
"I know."
"He insulted you.He deserves jail time."
I couldn't help but laugh.
Mark groaned.
"This isn't funny."
"It is a little funny," Tessa said.
Mark turned back to me.
"Please forgive me."
I shook my head.
"No."
His shoulders slumped.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he sighed heavily.
"I understand."
For the first time since he arrived, he looked defeated.
Without another word, he turned around and walked out of the apartment.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Tessa immediately locked it.
"Good riddance."
I nodded.
"Good riddance."
★★★★★
A few hours later, we were on our way to the airport.
By some miracle, we arrived on time.
After checking in our luggage and getting through security, we headed toward our boarding gate.
Tessa chatted excitedly about all the things she wanted to do in Los Angeles while I listened absentmindedly.
Soon, we boarded the plane.
People moved up and down the aisle, placing bags in overhead compartments and finding their seats.
Tessa was busy organizing our things when a man walked past us.
The moment he passed, a familiar scent filled the air.
My entire body froze.
That scent.
My heart skipped a beat.
Slowly, I turned around.
The man continued walking down the aisle.
For a second, I couldn't breathe.
My eyes widened.
It was him.
Kai.
The same face.
The same eyes.
The same man from the limo.
My pulse thundered in my ears.
I stared at him in complete shock.
Oh my God.
The night wasn't a dream.
Kai was real. He is here.
- Writer
