Page 25 of The Bittersweet Bond

Evin rolled onto her stomach, burying her face in the pillow. “Maybe.”

Milka snorted. “Of course.”

Evin lifted her head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean, you JUST got rid of one headache, and now you’re flirting with another.” Milka’s voice was laced with amusement but also clear skepticism.

Evin groaned, flipping onto her back again. “It’s not like that. Ben is… different.”

Milka poked her head out of the bathroom, her face half-covered in a foamy layer of cleanser. “Different how?”

Evin hesitated. “He’s… calmer. He actually listens. And he’s not, you know… complicated.”

Milka disappeared back inside the bathroom. “Yeah, because nothing about a flirty, charming, too-good-to-be-true guy screams complicated.”

Evin could practically hear her rolling her eyes.

“I just…” Evin struggled for the right words. “I want to enjoy something for once without overthinking every little thing.”

Milka let out a loud, exaggerated sigh, then popped her head out again—this time, with a towel wrapped around her hair. “I get that, but Evin, let’s be real. You’re not the ‘no-strings-attached’ type. And Ben? He’s… a risk.”

Evin sat up, crossing her arms. “Everything’s a risk.”

Milka held up a finger. “Aha! But some risks are dumber than others.” She turned back toward the mirror, muttering, “This one feels extra dumb.”

Evin threw a pillow in the direction of the bathroom door. “Thanks for the support.”

Milka laughed. “I’m just saying—don’t get caught up in another mess when you just got out of one. And for the record, if this goes sideways, I reserve full rights to say, ‘I told you so.’”

Evin smirked. “Duly noted.”

There was a pause, then Milka’s voice softened. “So… what about Bas?”

Evin stiffened. “What about him?”

Milka turned the shower on. “You KNOW he’s not gonna take this well.”

Evin clenched her jaw. “I don’t care.”

Milka let out a doubtful hum. “Mhm.”

Evin grabbed her phone, more to distract herself than anything. “I mean it. He’s hurt me enough. I just want something easy, light."

At that exact moment, her phone buzzed in her hand.

Ben

Awake?

I’m downstairs in the lounge. Feel like joining me?

Evin bit her lip. “I just don’t want to overthink things for once.”

Milka, who had just been about to close the bathroom door, paused and shot her a knowing look. One eyebrow lifted. “Mhm. Sure. That’s exactly how it always starts.”

Evin rolled her eyes, but before she could respond, Milka disappeared into the bathroom for good.

Seconds later, the sound of the shower filled the room, leaving Evin alone with her thoughts—and the message still glowing on her screen.

---