Page 75 of The Bittersweet Bond

Today was the date with Sergej.

I’m not sure how I feel.

It was intense... different from anything I’ve ever experienced.

He has this way of seeing through me, understanding me without me having to say much. It’s both terrifying and fascinating.

We didn’t talk much, but somehow, everything felt clear. And then that kiss—demanding, unapologetic. Uff…

It was like he was pulling me into his world without me fully knowing what I was getting into.

Hot!

But it wasn’t just that.

There’s more to him than I initially thought. He told me about his family, and I saw a softer side, something he hides behind his façade. It makes it harder to dismiss him. Sure, he’s demanding, dominant even, but I can feel that he takes me seriously—in his own way.

And then there’s the fact that he’s 21. It shouldn’t matter, but it does. He carries himself so differently—so sure of what he wants. And I can’t tell if that excites or scares me.

Maybe that’s what pulls me in—the way he makes decisions for both of us, without hesitation.

So there’s this pressure. I know he wants more, faster than I’m ready for. But he also makes it clear he can wait—at least for a while.

And I can’t deny that I enjoy holding onto that control, not giving it to him immediately. It’s as if, for once, I can make him feel what I’ve felt for so long—power.

And then there’s Bas. I know I might be using Sergej to hurt him. But it feels good. For once, I’m not the one waiting, not the one getting hurt.

Now, I’m the one making the choices.

But it also makes me wonder: Is this really what I want? Or am I just running away from the pain?

yours.

Lately, she’d found herself reaching for her diary more often—something Evin hadn’t done in months. But with Sergej, with everything she couldn’t say out loud, the pages had become the only place that didn’t talk back. The only place that let her be honest.

Chapter 21

Chased By One, Caught By Another

Sebastian

Bas never thought he'd have to convince his friends not to go to the Pearls, but Chris and Bellamy seemed to be craving more variety lately. It was Friday night, and after the usual back-and-forth about where to go, they actually settled on a club Bellamy had suggested. The Mosaic was the kind of club where anyone could get in, a little dive with peeling walls and cheap lighting, but the music was electric, the kind that crawled under your skin and made you forget where you were. It was across town.

"A different neighborhood, a different vibe, different girls," Chris had said with a grin.

"No Pearls tonight," Bellamy added with a smirk.

"Mosaic?" Bas shook his head as they walked, the streets narrowing, the lights becoming less familiar. "I don’t know... When’s the last time we even went here?" he asked, a mix of skepticism and amusement in his tone.

Chris, however, seemed thrilled. "Change of scenery, man. Trust me, this is where the best party in the city is tonight."

Maybe this was exactly what he needed—new faces, no history breathing down his neck.

A flicker of anticipation stirred in him, unexpected but not unwelcome.

When they finally stepped through the Mosaic’s narrow entrance, they were immediately hit by the pounding beat of the music. The lights flickered in sync with the rhythm, and the room seemed alive with movement.

It was different—darker, tighter, yet buzzing with energy.

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