I started going to the library.
After three years away from studying, I forced myself to focus on the books in front of me.
But within minutes, frustration crept in and I set the book down.
The truth was painful. I barely understood what I was reading.
Just as I was sinking into disappointment, my phone chimed. Babur had sent me a message.
"How's the studying going? I've sorted through some of my old books. You might find them useful."
I nearly jumped out of my seat.
That message felt like proof he regretted everything, like he was helping me win him back.
I agreed without hesitation.
When I arrived at his place, the rug by the door had somehow turned pink again.
"You're here. Valerie, I'll grab the books for you."
When he placed the neatly stacked books in my hands, I deliberately brushed my fingers against his palm.
"Thank you, Babur. But I don't really understand them. Could you teach me?"
"Of course. Come to the study."
I sat at his desk while he stood behind me, his arms braced on either side of my shoulders, almost as if he were holding me. His chest pressed lightly against my back, his scent surrounding me.
"What part don't you get?"
His lips hovered near my ear, his breath sending a shiver through me.
I pointed at a random paragraph.
He explained patiently, but my attention stayed fixed on his handsome face.
I wished time would freeze right there, keeping this gentle version of Babur beside me forever.
Night fell quickly. I sat there twisting my fingers nervously.
Would he send me away again? The thought gnawed at me.
But Babur took my hand and looked at me gently.
"Valerie, it's late. It's not safe for you to go back alone. Why don't you stay?"
I squeezed his hand back without thinking. Everything that followed felt inevitable. When morning sunlight streamed through the window, I was gazing down at his sleeping face.
Sweetness spread through my chest. It felt as though we had returned to the early days of our love.
Babur stopped saying those cutting, cruel things to me. He even unfroze the card he had given me.
When I cautiously asked if I could move back in, he offered to help me pick up my things from Lacey's place.
"Did you two get back together?" Lacey asked quietly. She looked exhausted.
I assumed she had just been overworked lately.
"I think so. We never said it outright, but he's treating me the way he used to." I answered with a smile.
Lacey's expression shifted again. She pulled me aside and showed me a post on Instagram.
"Does the necklace around Daphne's neck look familiar?"
I glanced at it and realized it was the same design Babur had given me before. But I brushed it off.
"It's a popular design. I guess we have similar taste, same necklace, same man. But the necklace might be identical. Babur isn't. There's only one of him, and he's mine."
The thought made me smile.
Lacey looked like she wanted to say more, but Babur had already finished loading my bags.
I waved goodbye and moved back into our home.
Everything seemed to return to normal. I was once again the rose Babur kept sheltered and pampered.
But he grew busier than ever. He left during the day and came home late at night, sometimes carrying the faint scent of women's perfume.
"It's for networking. You know how the finance world works," he said.
And I chose to believe him.
The Redmont prep books were soon abandoned in a corner.
Babur was back with me. I no longer needed admission to Redmont to win him over.
Time passed quickly, and the day came for Babur to leave for Redmont.
He didn't allow me to see him off, claiming he wouldn't be able to leave if he saw me.
What he didn't know was that after he left, I secretly bought a ticket to Baybridge.
I had already picked out an apartment there. I planned to study alongside him.
I finalized the lease with the landlord and headed to Redmont Campus to surprise him.
From a distance, I saw Babur standing at the entrance with his friends.
I ran toward him, already picturing the delight on his face when he saw me.
But as I drew closer, I heard one of his friends ask, "Babur, aren't you already with Daphne? Why are you still letting Valerie live with you?"
What?
My knees nearly gave out. Babur was seeing someone else?
That couldn't be true. It had to be a joke.
But Babur's answer shattered the last illusion I had left.
"Daphne's from a powerful family. I can't push her too far. Not like Valerie. She's pretty and easy. We're not married. Might as well have some fun with her while I can."
