Chapter 13
The Secret I Couldn't Hold Anymore
I couldn't sleep that night.
No matter how much I tried.
Ella's words…
kept repeating in my mind.
"Don't make me feel like I'm outside your life."
That hurt.
Because she was right.
And I hated that.
More than anything.
The next day…
I found her.
Sitting alone.
Quiet.
Not her usual self.
"Ella…"
She didn't look up.
"Hmm."
That one sound…
felt distant.
I walked closer.
Sat beside her.
Silence.
"I'm sorry."
She didn't respond.
"I really am."
Still nothing.
"I messed up."
A pause.
Then finally…
she spoke.
"You did."
My chest tightened.
"I didn't want to hide it from you…"
"Then why did you?"
I looked down.
"Because I didn't understand it myself."
Silence.
"I was scared…"
"Of me?"
"No."
I shook my head quickly.
"Of what it meant."
She looked at me then.
"For you?"
"…for us."
Her expression softened slightly.
"Tell me."
My heart skipped.
"What?"
"Everything."
A pause.
"No hiding."
"No lies."
"Just you."
I nodded slowly.
And then…
I started.
"It began with texts…"
Her eyes stayed on me.
Listening.
"He got my number somehow…"
"Of course he did."
she muttered.
I smiled slightly.
"We used to talk every night…"
"How every night?"
"Calls."
Her eyebrows lifted.
"Calls?"
"Late night calls."
"Jay…"
I looked away.
"He would flirt…"
"And I would scold him."
"And?"
"…he would tease me."
"And you?"
"…I liked it."
She smiled a little.
"Of course you did."
I took a deep breath.
"Then… one night…"
I hesitated.
She leaned closer.
"What?"
"…he kissed me."
Her eyes widened.
"WHAT?!"
"Shhh!"
"When?!"
"At home…"
"YOUR HOUSE?!"
"Terrace!"
"Oh my god, Jay!"
I covered my face.
"It just… happened…"
"And?"
"…I didn't stop him."
Silence.
Then slowly…
her expression changed.
Softer.
"You like him that much?"
I nodded.
"…yes."
No hesitation this time.
No fear.
Just truth.
"And he?"
"He proposed."
Her eyes widened again.
"AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME?!"
"I said yes…"
"JAY!"
I laughed nervously.
"I was going to tell you…"
"When?"
"…eventually."
She hit my arm lightly.
"Idiot."
"Sorry…"
She looked at me.
Long.
Then sighed.
"You really like him."
"I do."
"Like… serious?"
I smiled softly.
"…very serious."
She shook her head slowly.
"You're gone."
"I am."
Silence.
But this time…
it wasn't heavy.
She leaned back.
"Okay."
I looked at her.
"Okay?"
"Yeah."
"You're not mad?"
"I am."
My heart dropped.
"But…"
She looked at me again.
"I'd rather be included than shut out."
My eyes filled slightly.
"I won't do that again."
"You better not."
"I promise."
She nodded.
Then smirked suddenly.
"So… how was the kiss?"
"ELLA!"
"What?! I need details!"
"NO YOU DON'T!"
She laughed.
And just like that…
Everything felt normal again.
Because I didn't just share a secret.
I shared my heart.
And she held it carefully.
Like she always did.
And for the first time…
My love didn't feel hidden anymore.
Because someone else knew.
Someone who mattered.
And that made it feel…
a little more real.
A little more safe.
Even if…
it was still a secret to the world.
To be continued…