Kendrix
"Why? I know you told me your reason already but why did you end things with us? I was inconsolable for years after you left, I blamed myself for failing to protect you,"
I told her. She looked remorseful.
"I am sorry, Ken, but I did what I had to, it wasn't my first time leaving a place behind and I didn't know if it was my last, I didn't want to drag you with me,"
She explained.
"I understand that now and I am glad you are okay, ahhhhhh,"
I let out, letting go of the guilt that I had felt for years, she was okay, she was never in the fire and she was doing fine and running a successful business. I turned to see her watching me, our eyes met and there was a sudden shift in the air, I saw her lean towards me and stayed put, not doing anything even when her hand fell on my lap and we were practically face to face, I knew she was going to kiss me and I didn't stop her. Our lips met in a tender kiss and held, I inhaled deeply, her lips, even though it has been years, I didn't forget, I could never forget how they tasted like, I lifted my hand and snuck it around her neck to pull her closer and deepen the kiss, she got a lot closer and our lips mated. It didn't feel like I had gone years without knowing the taste of her, the only difference was that I was a lot more mature and bolder. Eight years ago, she was the master and the one who got all the skills, now I have skills too. I lifted her up without breaking the kiss so that she was straddling me and deepened the kiss, she opened her mouth and our tongues met and tangled. We continued kissing passionately, it was as if we waited all those years just to be back in each other's arms. Only one other woman would make me lose my mind over a kiss, the woman I left in bed who I haven't seen for a week now.
"Ariel,"
The thought of Ariel home and waiting for me, broke the moment for me, things would have been different if Ariel and I had not slept together, now I felt like I had a duty to her and kissing another woman even though that woman was the love of my life didn't feel right, I eased out of the kiss and dropped her back on her sit, feeling guilty for kissing her knowing I was currently committed to someone else. Veronica opened her eyes and looked at me confused.
"I am sorry, we shouldn't do that, I have a woman at home, she would be waiting for me to return already, I should have been home earlier today but I had to stay back and help, I have to return to O-when tonight, her best friend's wedding is tomorrow,"
I explained to her. She didn't look pleased and I couldn't blame her, after the way I made an issue about her not caring about our relationship yesterday, she might have expected me to be single too, and technically, I should be but I couldn't say I was, I might not love Ariel but I do care about her feelings and I didn't want to hurt her.
"Wait, you have a woman? Why did you act like you have been single and waiting for me all this while? Why did you let me kiss you and you kissed me back?"
She asked. She was pissed and she had every right to be.
"I am sorry, I got carried away, you know what we shared in the past, you know how much I loved you, I, meeting you again awake a lot of feelings because I haven't looked at any other woman the way I looked at you, haven't loved any other woman beside you, meeting you again, knowing that you are alive and well brought it all back and I forgot about Ariel for a moment, I shouldn't have, she deserves better,"
I let out.
"That's not enough excuse, Kendrix, you made a big mistake, hmm, I can't believe you didn't think about your other woman,"
She said in distaste.
"She is not my other woman, Veronica, Ariel is my woman,"
I corrected. Her saying it like that made it feel like I was two-timing when I wasn't, the kiss was a mistake, and I got carried away, like I already told her.
"She is but you don't love her? What would you think if she finds out you don't love her and your heart belongs to someone else?"
I didn't like the way she sounded even though she was telling the truth and even Ariel was aware that I didn't love her. It has never been love for us.
"We recently got together, we are a new couple,"
I told her.
"Oh, not solid yet, that's easy,"
She stated.
"What is easy?"
"Hmm, I mean you can easily forget her since your relationship is pretty new,"
She responded. I didn't like her response at all, it was as if she was dismissing what I have with Ariel and that's not what I wanted. Even though Veronica was the only one I loved and wanted to be with, I couldn't anymore, at least not until what I had with Ariel was over and I couldn't tell Veronica to wait for me either. Also, she would never be willing to move back to O-when with me, I shouldn't even be thinking about that, whatever we had ended when she left and now my life was with Ariel, I couldn't send her away, I didn't want to, I owe her so much to just drop her just because Veronica suddenly returned.
"It is not going to be easy to forget her just like I haven't forgotten about you, you were and you will always be important to me. Ariel is important to me too; she gave me a special gift and I will be a fool to pay her back by breaking things off with her."
I told her. If it wasn't for her, Jordan would have gotten the Orient and chances of being the next king would have been off the table already. The last thing I wanted right now was for Ariel to find out I kissed another woman while I was supposed to be working.
"You are serious about her, hmm,"
"Yes, I am,"
I replied and there was a moment of silence. I knew that if we went our separate ways like this, we would truly be over, something not even death had been able to make me do, now seeing her again and knowing it might be the end did hurt a lot.
"So, this is goodbye?"
She asked and I nodded.
"Yes, this is goodbye, I hope you have a great life, I mean, you have been fine all these years, I am sure a little brush with your past won't disrupt that,"
"You have no idea, anyway, thank you for helping, bye,"
"Take care of yourself, it was nice to meet you again,"
I said and she nodded.
"Same, thanks for helping me, bye now,"
She said, stood up, turned around, and walked away but not before I saw the hint of sadness in her eyes, it broke my heart to see that but there was nothing I could do about, it if I hadn't come to Dilgem, we might never have met and I would have still believed that she was dead.
"It is all in the past,"
I told myself. It was all in the past and I should do well to remember that no matter how much I loved her, she didn't pick me, if she did, she would have told me about her plans and I would not have had to leave in pain for years over her.
"It is really all in the past now,"
I told myself again as I stood up and walked away, I have to leave Dilgem now if I ever want to get to O-when by morning and attend the wedding like I promised Ariel.