Page 92 of The Bittersweet Bond

Sergej hummed, tilting his head slightly. “Oh?” His fingers drummed once against his knee, his tone just curious enough to seem harmless. “Didn’t think you two were that close.”

Evin’s grip on her phone tightened. She exhaled sharply, forcing a casual tone. “Our teacher paired us up for a project. It’s not like I had a choice.” She shrugged, hoping it sounded indifferent enough.

She wanted to pocket her phone, bury it deep inside her jacket, but Sergej’s voice came again, smooth and easy. “I mean, if it’s nothing, go ahead and play it.”

It was said so softly, so offhandedly, that for a second, it almost felt like she was the one making a big deal out of it.

Evin swallowed. Her heart pounded against her ribs as she hesitated, debating whether to refuse or comply. But Sergej had already leaned back, arms crossing over his chest. His smirk was gone—replaced with something unreadable.

“Well then,” he said smoothly, “go ahead and play it. Unless it’s too private—then, of course, you can listen to it later.”

There it was.

The shift. The part where concern turned into something else—something sharper, something that left her stomach twisting uncomfortably.

Evin inhaled through her nose and forced herself to keep her hands steadyas she pressed play.

Bas’s voice filled the space, his words unraveling in quiet desperation. Evin’s fingers twitched against the phone. Then— "… I’m sorry, okay? For everything…"

Her throat felt tight.

Her thumb hovered over the screen for a moment, as if it had a mind of its own. One single swipe, and the words would be gone—as if Bas had never spoken them. As if she had never heard them. Her chest tightened, a quiet, unnameable ache settling beneath her ribs. Then, before she could stop herself, her finger moved across the screen.

She could feel Sergej watching her. Not speaking. Not moving. Just watching.

The air in the room had shifted.

Evin forced out a breathy, dismissive laugh, swiping sharply across the screen. “See? Unimportant.”

She deleted the message.

But even as it disappeared, Bas’s words still clung to the air like smoke.

Chapter 27

Vulnerability Unleashed

Sebastian

Bas stared at the screen of his phone. After typing and deleting the same sentence five times, he took a deep breath and hit record.

"Evin… I don’t even know if this will matter to you anymore, but I just need to say it. If I don’t, I’m going to lose it."

His voice was quiet, a little shaky, almost like it was the first time he’d let himself be this vulnerable.

"I’m sorry, okay? For everything. For every stupid thing I keep screwing up."

He paused for a moment, as if he was trying to find the right words.

"I know I’ve acted like I didn’t care... like you didn’t matter to me. But that’s not true. Not even close. You’re the only person who matters. And I have no idea how to show you that without messing everything up again. I’m sorry it took me this long to realize it."

A quiet, almost broken laugh slipped out before he continued.

"I’ve missed you, Evin. More than I’ve ever let myself admit. And I don’t want this to end—not like this."

He took a deep breath, his voice dropping even lower, softer, almost pleading.

"Please, just one more chance. Let’s talk. I need you to listen."

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