HARRO.
The next morning, I found myself pacing a little as I shared my thoughts with Orion. "I need to set things straight with Kai," I said, my voice steady but my heart racing. I had spotted him casually strolling by our window, and I could practically hear his thoughts: Did his little game last night succeed in driving us apart?
I tracked him down to the poolside of the resort. Standing at the edge of the pool area, I felt the cool morning breeze ruffle my hair. The sun was rising, casting a golden glow that should've felt warm, but all I could feel was the tension coiling inside me like a tightly wound spring. My stomach twisted with unease, but I pushed back the nerves. No, I was not nervous. Just upset—furious, really—that he had played the role of the scorned ex just to hurt Orion.
"Why did I let this happen in the first place?" I muttered to myself, fists clenched tightly. I should never have let things go that far with Kai. But it was too late for regrets now; what's done was done. Taking a deep breath to center myself, I continued marching forward. It was time to confront Kai and put an end to this mess.
As I approached, I noticed Kai acted like he was busy with his phone the moment he spotted me. But that smug smile plastered across his face said it all—he was enjoying himself. Anger bubbled up inside me at the thought that he believed his little antics could actually break us apart. Not a chance in hell. I'm never going to let him disrespect Orion ever again.
"Hey!" I called out, stepping closer. Kai looked up, his amusement instantly shifting into surprise at my scowl.
"Look who it is, the knight in shining armor," he smirked, sarcasm lacing his words. "Are you upset because I messed with your boyfriend?"
I took a deep, shaky breath, trying to push my anger aside to find clarity. "Yeah, about that; we need to talk," I replied, my voice surprisingly steady. "You need to stay away from me and Orion while we're here. And, don't ever disrespect him like that again."
Kai raised an eyebrow, pretending to be amused. "Oh? You think I disrespected him? Or are you just mad because I told Orion your secret?"
"I don't care about that stupid secret," I said calmly, closing the gap until we were just feet apart. "Orion means the world to me, and I think you know that deep down. What you did yesterday was utterly disrespectful to the man I love. What happened between us in the past was a mistake, and I've moved on. It's time you did too."
"A mistake?" Kai laughed, but the bitterness in his voice was obvious. "I think you mean a great time. You don't just forget that."
"Forget it? It's not about forgetting!" I snapped, my fists clenching tighter as frustration seeped into my voice. "It meant nothing to me. Orion deserves respect—not just because he's my boyfriend, but because he's a good person. You acting like this only proves you haven't grown up at all. You can't keep throwing that one night in my face just to feel better about yourself!"
"Why should I do what you're asking?" Kai scoffed, leaning back, trying to look relaxed. "Look at you, defending your boyfriend. It's almost cute. I never thought I'd see the day."
"Enough!" I interrupted, my mind racing. I had to remind myself—this was what Kai did best. He thrived on making you doubt your own feelings. "You're not dragging this out any longer. Orion is the only one I want to be with. He's the one I'm committed to."
For a moment, I could see it register with him, the boldness in my voice piercing through whatever facade he maintained. "But you know the truth—"
"The truth?" I stepped closer, lowering my voice to a more serious tone. "The truth is I've chosen Orion. Respect that, even if it doesn't fit your twisted idea of what we had. I won't let you disrespect him ever again."
Kai opened his mouth, probably to retort, but hesitation flickered in his eyes. It was like the wind shifted; I was standing my ground, and I'd be damned if I let him speak to Orion like that again.
"Consider this your final warning. Stay away from us while we're here on vacation," I declared, my voice steady, laced with confidence. "I won't let you ruin what we have."
As I turned to walk away, a weight lifted from my chest. I was finally breaking free from the grip of my past with Kai.
Orion was waiting for me on the couch when I returned, his beautiful smile lighting up the room. I felt my heart swell with love as I approached him.
"Hey," I greeted softly as I settled onto the couch. He opened his arms wide, inviting me in. As I nestled into his embrace, he kissed my forehead gently. Looking into his eyes, I whispered, "It is done."
"And now we forget about him," Orion said gently. I nodded, feeling lighter.
"Yeah. I'm really sorry about everything," I said, regret heavy in my chest. "He undermined our relationship because of me."
Orion wrapped his arms around me tighter, his voice soothing. "He did what he did because he wanted to hurt us; you didn't ask him to do it."
"I know," I replied, pulling back slightly to meet his gaze. "It shouldn't have happened in the first place."
"It's alright now, my love," Orion reassured me, his voice soft. "Let's put it behind us and enjoy our vacation like we planned." His words brought a smile to my face.
"We're going to have the best vacation ever," I promised, the intensity in my gaze matching his as his hands tightened around me.
"That's all I need to hear," Orion chuckled, and I felt my heart warmed up.
Kai was now truly behind us. Now, it was time to focus on creating beautiful memories with the man I truly loved on this vacation, just like we planned.