Page 22 of The Bittersweet Bond

“Don’t kid yourself, Evin.” Bas stepped closer. “You ruined it, and now you won’t even own up to it.”

“I didn’t ruin anything!” Her voice rose, her hands balling into fists. “You’re the one who always bails the second things get serious.”

“Maybe because you don’t know what you want.” His gaze swept over her, disdainful. “Keep playing your little games, Evin. Just leave me the hell out of it. I don’t give a damn about you anymore.”

Evin boiled. “And you? You never play games? You act like you don’t have feelings, but then you lose your mind the second someone else so much as talks to me.”

“Stop trying to control me,” he shot back. “I’m not one of your loser friends you can push around.”

Fragments of their argument replayed in her mind, sharp and vivid. Bas had gone all in, as usual. The jabs, the accusations—they came quick, like punches in a fight. But loser friends? What the hell was that even supposed to mean? She wasn’t even friends with Ben.

“Control you?” she’d shouted. “I’m trying to fix something I didn’t even break. Did you talk to Ben?”

He’d just smirked at her, turned on his heel in the middle of the conversation, and walked away. His hair ruffled slightly as he moved, and the school bell rang, its sound like an exclamation point on their fight.

"Just let it go," he said over his shoulder, flicking his hand like she wasn’t worth the effort. But then—he hesitated. Just for a second, like there was something else he wanted to say. And then, just as fast, he shut it down.

“Bas!” she’d called after him. He stopped, and she took a breath, but he didn’t turn around. This wasn’t the first time he’d picked a fight with her, and as always, he was tense, his guard up. She knew he’d hurt her again, but if he wanted to play this game, she could play too.

“Don’t think I’m going to chase after you,” she spat.

Slowly, he turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "You keep pushing me to say things. To feel things. To mean things. Maybe I don’t. Maybe I never did. And I’m not gonna pretend just because that’s what you want."

“What? When have I ever asked you for that?” she snapped, trying to mask the sting his words left in her chest.

He tilted his head slightly, giving her one of those looks that always made her feel like he was holding something back—something he’d never admit. “I’ve realized I’m not the type to settle down. Not with you, not with anyone.”

“Wow. Shocking. And now, can you at least listen?” Her voice cracked slightly, but she pressed on, refusing to let him see how much it hurt.

He exhaled sharply, his eyes hardening. “Enough’s been said.”

And just like that, he flipped the switch, shutting himself off again.

“What is your problem? I didn’t do anything!” she yelled.

“Exactly,” he shot back.

She ignored him, her voice rising. “And now you’re blowing this out of proportion! You’re free, Bas. Is that what you wanted to hear?” She gestured to the small crowd that had gathered to watch the scene unfold. "I don’t know what bullshit they’ve been whispering in your ear, but that’s your problem, not mine."

"Evin," he cut in, his voice so calm it felt like an insult. "You're free. Free like a fucking bird. Do whatever you want, with whoever you want. Just don’t come near me again."

His words echoed in her mind, cutting deeper with every replay.

The thought of that fight made her blood boil all over again—as if she hadn’t already burned enough.

He’d left her standing there, in front of Catarina and so many others, humiliated her, and instead of telling him the truth—that Ben had started it—she’d let her anger take over and said all the wrong things.

She buried her face in her hands, rubbing at her cheeks in frustration.

At least she had the class trip to look forward to. A weekend away with her history class felt like the escape she desperately needed.

Right now, Mission Santa Esperanza felt less like a class trip and more like an escape route.

Chapter 6

A Hollow Escape

Evin

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