The rain softened—
But the tension didn't.
It lingered in the air, heavy and suffocating, wrapping around the three of them like something waiting to explode.
Andrea couldn't breathe.
Marco's words echoed in her mind.
"I never stopped choosing you."
Her chest tightened.
Why now… why are you saying this now…
She clenched her fists.
Because if he had said that before—
Everything would be different.
"Let's go."
Daniel's voice cut through her thoughts.
Firm. Controlled.
But beneath it—
There was something else.
Impatience.
Andrea opened her eyes.
Daniel was already looking at her, his hand still resting on her shoulder—but now it felt heavier.
Like a decision being forced on her.
"Daniel…" she whispered.
He softened slightly.
Just slightly.
"We don't need to stay here," he said quietly. "Not in the middle of the rain. Not with… this."
His eyes flicked briefly toward Marco.
Andrea followed his gaze.
Marco hadn't moved.
He stood there, soaked, silent—
Watching her.
Not demanding.
Not forcing.
Just waiting.
Why are you making this harder…
"I'm not done," Andrea said.
The words surprised even her.
Daniel's hand stiffened.
"Andrea."
"I need to hear everything."
"From him?" Daniel asked, disbelief creeping into his voice.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then—
"No."
The word was sharp.
Final.
Andrea looked at him.
"Why not?"
"Because it doesn't matter," Daniel said, his tone calm but now clearly strained. "Whatever he says doesn't change anything."
"It changes everything," she replied.
Daniel let out a short breath, shaking his head.
"You're letting your past control you."
"And you're trying to control my present."
Silence.
That hit.
Andrea saw it.
The shift in Daniel's expression.
Not anger.
Not yet.
But something close.
Marco stepped forward slightly.
"You're afraid," he said quietly.
Daniel turned to him.
"I'm not afraid of anything."
Marco didn't look convinced.
"You're afraid she'll choose me."
The air snapped.
Andrea's heart skipped.
Marco… stop…
Daniel let out a humorless laugh.
"Choose you?" he repeated. "You mean the guy who disappeared for two years?"
Each word was precise.
Calculated.
Sharp.
"You had your chance," Daniel continued. "You lost it."
Marco didn't react.
But his voice came out steady.
"I never stopped fighting for it."
Andrea felt her chest tighten again.
Why does that still matter to me…
"Enough."
Andrea stepped between them.
"Both of you, stop."
Her voice trembled—
But she didn't back down.
"I'm not something you argue over," she said, her eyes moving between them. "I'm not a decision you make for me."
Marco nodded slightly.
Daniel didn't.
"Then decide," Daniel said.
Andrea froze.
"…What?"
"Decide," he repeated. "Right now."
Her heart dropped.
"Daniel—"
"No," he said, his voice firm. "You said this changes everything. So decide."
The rain picked up again.
Soft at first.
Then heavier.
Like the world was urging her forward.
"Stay with me," Daniel continued, his gaze locking onto hers, "or go back to him."
Andrea felt like the ground disappeared beneath her.
Right now…?
I can't…
"I need time," she whispered.
Daniel shook his head.
"You've had two years."
That hurt.
Because it was true.
But also—
It wasn't.
Marco stepped forward again.
"Don't rush her."
Daniel turned sharply.
"You don't get to tell me what to do."
"I'm not telling you," Marco said calmly. "I'm telling her."
Andrea's breath hitched.
Why does it feel like you're the only one not forcing me…
"Why now?" Andrea suddenly asked, looking at Marco.
Both men went quiet.
"You had two years," she continued, her voice breaking slightly. "Why come back now? Why tell me now?"
Marco held her gaze.
"Because I saw you again… and I realized I couldn't lose you twice."
Her heart cracked.
You already did…
Daniel stepped closer.
"Andrea."
His voice was softer now.
Different.
"I'm here," he said. "I stayed. I chose you when things were easy… and when they weren't."
Andrea looked at him.
He wasn't wrong.
He never left.
He never disappeared.
He was steady.
Safe.
Everything Marco wasn't.
So why…
Why does my heart still hurt like this…
Marco spoke again.
"I know I don't deserve another chance."
Andrea looked at him.
"And I won't ask you to forget what I did."
His voice dropped.
"But if there's even a small part of you that still feels something…"
Her chest tightened.
"…then don't lie to yourself."
Silence.
Rain.
Heartbeat.
Everything blurred together.
Andrea closed her eyes.
And for a moment—
She imagined two futures.
One where everything was stable.
Predictable.
Safe.
And one where everything was uncertain—
But real.
Painfully real.
She opened her eyes.
And made the hardest move of her life.
She stepped back.
Away from both of them.
"I can't choose," she said.
Both men froze.
"Not like this. Not tonight."
Daniel's expression darkened.
"So that's it?"
"No," Andrea said quickly. "This isn't the end. It's just—"
"A delay?" he cut in.
"Yes."
Marco stayed quiet.
Watching.
Waiting.
Andrea took a deep breath.
"I need the truth. All of it," she said, looking at Marco. "No more secrets."
Then she turned to Daniel.
"And I need space."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"You're asking me to wait… while you figure out if you still love him?"
Andrea didn't answer.
Because that was exactly what she was asking.
The silence that followed was heavy.
Painful.
Real.
Then—
Daniel stepped back.
Slowly.
"Fine," he said.
But his voice had changed.
Colder.
Distant.
"You have your space."
Andrea felt something shift.
Something she couldn't take back.
Marco exhaled quietly.
But he didn't move closer.
Not yet.
The rain kept falling.
But now—
It felt different.
Because for the first time—
Andrea wasn't standing between them anymore.
She was standing alone.