Chapter 3
1009 Words
Chapter 3: Unspoken Truths
Celestine stood frozen, Isaac’s question echoing in her mind.
Are you happy?
It should have been an easy answer.
She had a stable career, a loving fiancé, and a future that was clear and secure. She had spent years carefully building her life after Isaac, making sure she never had to feel the heartbreak he had once caused her.
So why did her throat feel tight?
Why did her heart hesitate?
“I’m happy,” she finally said, her voice steady but quieter than she intended.
Isaac studied her, dark eyes unreadable. His fingers tapped lightly on his desk, a habit she recognized from years ago—he only did it when he was deep in thought.
“You don’t sound convinced,” he murmured.
A spark of irritation flared in her chest. “I don’t have to convince you, Isaac.”
His jaw tightened. “I’m not asking you to.”
Silence stretched between them, thick with tension. The air in the office suddenly felt suffocating.
Celestine shook her head. “I should go. Michael’s waiting for me.”
Isaac’s expression darkened at the mention of her fiancé, but he said nothing. Instead, he simply nodded. “Of course. Have a good evening, Celestine.”
She turned on her heel and walked away, determined not to look back.
But as she stepped into the elevator and the doors slid shut, she realized her hands were trembling.
And she hated that he still had this effect on her.
That night, as Celestine lay beside Michael in bed, staring at the ceiling, she felt restless.
Michael had fallen asleep quickly, his breathing slow and even. He always made things look so easy—his love, his commitment, his certainty in their future.
She envied that.
Because right now, her heart was a mess.
With a sigh, she carefully got out of bed and stepped onto the balcony of their apartment. The city lights stretched out before her, bright and endless.
She closed her eyes, inhaling the crisp night air.
Are you happy?
Isaac’s voice wouldn’t leave her mind.
And the worst part?
She didn’t know if she had been lying to him—or to herself.
Days passed in a blur of work and forced normalcy, but Celestine knew she couldn’t avoid what was coming.
The double date.
She sat across from Michael in an upscale restaurant, her fingers curled around the stem of her wine glass. Across the table, Isaac and Sophia looked effortlessly elegant.
The setting was perfect. The company was pleasant.
So why did it feel so wrong?
Sophia, always charming, leaned forward with a warm smile. “It’s so nice to finally do this. I mean, you two have been together for years, and Isaac and I… well, we should have done this sooner.”
Michael chuckled. “I agree. It’s funny, though. Celestine never mentioned she and Isaac were so close back in the day.”
Celestine’s grip tightened on her glass.
Isaac glanced at her, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Oh, we go way back. Best friends for years.”
Sophia’s lips twitched. “Best friends?”
Isaac tilted his head slightly. “Something like that.”
Something like that.
Celestine felt Michael’s hand rest on hers, grounding her. He had no idea how deep those words ran.
Trying to shift the conversation, she cleared her throat. “How did you two meet?” she asked Sophia, forcing a smile.
Sophia brightened. “Oh, it’s a funny story, actually. I was handling a campaign for a fashion brand, and Isaac was working with the corporate team. He was so serious, barely spoke to anyone at the event. But I guess I like a challenge.”
Isaac smirked. “I wasn’t that bad.”
“Oh, you were,” Sophia teased. “But eventually, I got him to open up.” She looked at him with genuine affection. “And now, here we are.”
Celestine shouldn’t feel anything.
But watching Sophia talk about Isaac like that, like she knew him better than anyone—
It made something inside her chest tighten.
Michael squeezed her hand. “That’s great. Celestine and I have a simple story. We met at a conference and just… clicked. No dramatic twists, no complications.”
Simple.
No complications.
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
Isaac’s gaze met hers for the briefest second, but she tore her eyes away before she could get lost in the weight of it.
She needed to survive this dinner.
And more than that—
She needed to remember who she was now.
After dinner, the couples parted ways.
Michael offered to drive Celestine home, but she insisted she wanted some air. He kissed her forehead, trusting her without hesitation, and left.
She was halfway down the sidewalk when she heard the footsteps behind her.
“You always hated nights like this.”
She turned.
Isaac stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets.
She sighed. “Isaac—”
“Let’s talk.”
She crossed her arms. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
His expression darkened. “Don’t lie to me.”
Celestine hated how well he still knew her.
She shook her head. “I moved on, Isaac.”
“Did you?” He stepped closer, his voice softer. “Because tonight, it didn’t feel like it.”
She should walk away. She should end this conversation.
But instead, she whispered, “It doesn’t matter.”
Isaac’s jaw clenched. “It matters to me.”
She looked away, hating the way her heart was betraying her.
After a moment, he sighed. “Tell me something, Celestine.”
She hesitated. “What?”
He exhaled, his voice almost broken. “If I had fought harder for you back then… would we be standing here like this?”
Her breath caught in her throat.
Because for the first time in years, she had no idea what to say.
And that terrified her more than anything.
To be continued…
- Writer
