Page 184 of The Bittersweet Bond

“That was…” Dominic shook his head and came to a stop, forcing Bas to do the same. “Painful to watch.”

Bas shot him a questioning, mildly irritated look.

“I just savedyou from another awkward moment. Again. You stare at her, she stares back… and then nothing. Silence.” Dominic’s expression was laced with confusion, and it made Bas pause.

“Don’t worry. I was there. Witnessed the whole thing…” Bas trailed off, the moment flashing through his mind again. “What’s your point, hero?” He took a deep breath, bracing himself for Dominic’s words.

“My point is, that wasn’t you, man.” Dominic lingered for a second, as if to let his words sink in. His gaze was sharp, but there was also concern, frustration. “Ever since the fight, you’ve been walking around like someone pulled the ground out from under you. And then she’s right there, and you do… nothing?”

He started walking again.

“Why do you care?” Bas muttered, barely concealing his irritation. “Honestly, I’m surprised you’re not celebrating that I’m finally staying away from Evin.”

“Bro, how am I supposed to enjoy this?” Dominic countered. “If you weren’t dragging yourself around like a damn corpse, maybe I would. But look at you—you’re a fucking tragedy.”

Bas exhaled through his nose, a smirk tugging at his lips, reluctant but inevitable. “Alright, then. What was I supposed to do?” His voice was dry. He wasn’t denying it—this was wrecking him. With that thought, he squared his shoulders. “She pushed me away, Dom. She doesn’t want me. What am I supposed to do?”

Dominic let out a quiet scoff, his smirk barely there. “That’s your problem, Bas. You’re a fighter, but when it comes to Evin, you back down. You run instead of staying and fighting.”

“It’s not always about fighting, for fuck’s sake.” Bas threw up his hands, then let them drop. “Sometimes, you just have to leave people alone.”

“Leave her alone?” Dominic stepped closer, his voice lowering, growing firmer. “I’d say you’re just scared.” He tilted his head slightly, watching Bas carefully. “Scared of what happens if she really lets you in. If she shows you how broken she is. And scared that you won’t be able to handle it.”

The words hit Bas like a punch. That’s not true. His gaze flickered away, landing on the chipped paint of the wall. The way she carried her darkness, the way she hid it so well—it only made her more beautiful to him. Knowing how much weight she bore without showing it made his pulse race.

“This isn’t about fear,” he muttered. “I just don’t want to make things harder for her.”

“That’s bullshit,” Dominic shot back, his voice sharp. “Evin needs someone who stays, even when she pushes them away. Especially when she pushes them away. And you…” He let the words hang before finishing, “You’re the only one who can. But you’re the one walking away.”

Bas let the words settle, but in the background, his father’s voice echoed. “Either you break up with her, or you live with the consequences.” It hadn’t been a threat. Just a cold, matter-of-fact statement that had lodged itself in his chest like a knot.

Bas rubbed a hand over his face, as if trying to shake off both Dominic’s words and his father’s.

“What do you even know about this?” he muttered. “You don’t understand what’s between us.”

“No, I don’t,” Dominic admitted, and there wasn’t a hint of mockery in his voice. “But I know how you act when something actually matters to you. And this?” He gestured vaguely at Bas, at his entire tense posture. “This screams I’m terrified of losing even more.”

Bas remained silent, his stare fixed straight ahead. The weight of Dominic’s words pressed against his ribs. He wasn’t wrong. Bas was scared. Scared of hurting her more. Scared of showing her how much she meant to him, only to be shut out. Scared that he wasn’t enough. Scared that his father was right.

“Bro, you know what?” Dominic’s tone softened, but his words still carried the weight of absolute truth. “Enough sulking.”

Bas lifted his head, meeting Dominic’s gaze, and for a moment, there was something unspoken between them—an understanding only real friends could share.

“So,” Dominic continued, flashing his signature grin, though it seemed a little forced now. “What’s the plan? Keep brooding, or actually do something about it?”

Bas let out a quiet snort, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “You’re fucking annoying, you know that?”

“This week, I officially climbed back into the Top 3 Friendship Rankings,” Dominic quipped with a wink, pushing off the railing and strolling ahead. “And to top it off—I'm throwing a party this weekend. Beach house. For old times’ sake.”

“Nice,” Bas answered, smacking Dominic’s outstretched hand in a lazy high five. Surprisingly, Dominic had just managed to say something that actually got through to him. For once, his advice didn’t make Bas want to shut down—but instead, made him think.

Chapter 49

Dancing with Ghosts

Bas

Bro!

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