Forever and Always

As Akai was heading to the terrace, the telephone rang, piercing the silence. She hesitated for a moment, her heart racing with anticipation. She slowly made her way to the phone, her hand trembling slightly as she reached for the receiver.

"Hello?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's Ryder," the voice on the other end replied, his tone laced with a mix of uncertainty and determination.

Akai's grip on the receiver tightened, her mind racing with emotions. She felt a surge of anger, hurt, and frustration, all swirling together in a toxic mix. Her hand shook slightly as she struggled to maintain her composure.

"Hello?" Ryder repeated, his voice laced with concern. "Akai, are you there?"

But Akai remained silent, her throat constricted with emotions. She couldn't bring herself to speak to him, not yet. The pain and betrayal still felt too raw, too real.

Without a word, she ended the call, her finger slamming down on the receiver. The sudden silence was deafening.

Ryder's voice echoed in her mind, "What happened? Akai, please answer me!" But she had already disconnected, leaving him with only silence.

Akai took a deep breath and headed out to the terrace, seeking solace in the fresh air and the warmth of the sun. She needed to escape the turmoil brewing inside her, if only for a moment.

As she walked, she felt the cool breeze on her face, but her mind remained a whirlwind of emotions. She couldn't shake off the feeling that Ryder's call had stirred up, like a storm brewing on the horizon.

As Akai descended to her room, she noticed a figure sitting beside her grandma, their faces lit up with warm smiles. Their eyes met, and Akai felt a fleeting sense of hypnotic connection, her heart skipping a beat. But she quickly broke free from the spell, her mind still reeling from their last encounter. Without a word, she turned and headed towards her room, her feet heavy with reluctance, her heart feeling like a burden.

"Oh dear, here you are! I was going to call you," her grandma exclaimed, her voice laced with excitement, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Ryder came to pay us a visit!"

Akai's heart sank, her mind racing with reasons why he would show up uninvited, her thoughts a jumbled mix of anxiety and apprehension. She didn't want to face him, not now, not ever, her pride and hurt feelings still raw and tender.

"Grandma, I want to take her to a special place," Ryder asked, his eyes pleading with her grandmother, his voice filled with hope and longing.

But before her grandma could respond, Akai interjected, her voice firm and resolute, her words laced with a hint of anger and hurt. "I don't want to go out now."

Ryder's face fell, his eyes clouding with disappointment, his expression a picture of sadness and despair. "Akai, please... today is my birthday, and I wanted you to spend it with me ,"he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Akai's heart tugged at the mention of his birthday, her conscience pricking her with guilt, but she steeled herself against the pang, her mind still reeling from their last encounter. "No," she repeated, her voice firm, her resolve unshaken. "I don't want to go out."

Her grandma's eyes filled with empathy, her voice laced with understanding. "Akai, dear, Ryder's birthday is a special day. Won't you reconsider?"

But Akai was unmoved, her heart still hurting from their last encounter. "No, grandma. I need some time alone."

With that, she turned and disappeared into her room, the door closing behind her with a soft click, leaving Ryder and her grandma in an awkward silence. Ryder's eyes met her grandma's, his expression a mix of sadness and understanding.

"Did you two quarrel about something?" her grandma asked, her brow furrowed with concern, her voice laced with empathy.

Ryder sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat, his eyes downcast.

"No, grandma... actually, she got sad when she learned I'm going to Scotland for my studies."

Her grandma's eyes filled with empathy, her hand reaching out to place a comforting touch on Ryder's shoulder, her voice filled with warmth and understanding. "I understand. I hope you don't mind her behavior, Ryder. She's just struggling to come to terms with your departure."

Ryder nodded, his eyes still downcast, his emotions raw and exposed, his heart heavy with sorrow. "I know, . I think she can't bear the thought of losing you ,of being so far away."

Her grandma's grip on his shoulder tightened, her voice filled with compassion. "It's okay, Ryder. She'll come around. She just needs time."

After going to her room, Akai was resolute in her decision not to go out with Ryder. She needed time to process her emotions, to come to terms with the pain he had caused her. But Ryder was persistent, his regret and sorrow palpable as he stood outside her room, knocking gently. "I am sorry, Akai, for my earlier behavior," he whispered, his voice laced with remorse.

But Akai remained silent, her door a barrier between them. Ryder's heart sank, his hopes of reconciliation dwindling. He turned to leave, but then the door creaked open, and Akai stood before him, her eyes red and puffy, her face contorted in pain.

Ryder's heart broke at the sight, his regret and sorrow intensifying. He took a step closer, his eyes fixed on her face, his hands reaching out to her. "I am sorry, Akai. Will you forgive me?" he asked, his voice cracking with emotion.

Akai nodded her head, her eyes welling up with fresh tears. She threw her arms around Ryder, holding him tight as she burst into sobs. Ryder's heart wrenched, his own tears falling as he held her close.

"Akai, I am going to Scotland for studies, but I promise to come back to you," he whispered, his voice filled with conviction. "I will never leave you again. I promise."

Akai's sobs intensified, her body shaking with grief. Ryder held her tight, his arms wrapped around her, his heart overflowing with love and regret. He rubbed her back, his fingers stroking her hair, his tears mingling with hers.

As they stood there, holding each other, Ryder knew that he would never let her go again. He held her tight, his heart overflowing with love and regret, his tears falling like rain.

Finally, Akai's sobs subsided, her body still shaking with occasional hiccups. Ryder pulled back, his eyes locking onto hers, his face etched with pain and regret.

"It's okay Akai don't cry" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Akai's eyes searched his face, her expression softening.

Ryder's face contorted in relief, his eyes filled with gratitude. He pulled her back into his arms, holding her close as they both stood there, their hearts heavy with emotion.

"I love you, Ryder," Akai whispered, her voice barely audible, her words lost in the embrace. She held him tight, as if she would never let him go, her arms wrapped around him like a lifeline. Her heart poured out all the emotions she couldn't express with words, her love, her pain, her fear of losing him.

Ryder's heart swelled with love and regret, he held her close. He felt her warmth, her trembling body, her love, but didn't hear the words she longed to say.

But before he could sense more, Akai's grandma called out from the other room, "Akai, dear, can you please come here for a moment?" Akai's eyes flashed up, her gaze meeting Ryder's, her face still etched with pain and sadness. She wiped her tears, her voice hoarse from crying, "Yes, grandma."

Ryder's eyes never left hers, his face filled with longing and love. "So, you're coming with me?" he asked, his voice laced with hope, his heart yearning for her presence.

Akai's expression faltered, her eyes welling up with fresh tears. She tried to feign anger, her voice trembling, "I don't know, Ryder. I need time to think." Her actions screamed her love, but her words failed to express it.

Ryder's heart sank.He knew he had hurted her and he didn't blame her. He had broken her trust.

As Akai turned to leave, Ryder's arms felt empty, his heart heavy with sorrow. He watched her go, his eyes never leaving hers, his love for her shining brighter than ever before.

"Akai, please," he whispered, his voice barely audible, his heart breaking with every step she took away from him.

Akai's grandma noticed her distress and wrapped her arms around her. "What happened, child? What's wrong?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

Akai buried her face in her grandma's shoulder, her body shaking with sobs. "Ryder's leaving, grandma. He's going away," she whispered, her voice muffled by tears.

Her grandma stroked her hair, her voice soothing. "It's okay, dear. He'll come back to you. He loves you, and you love him. That's all that matters."