When The Love Comes

_Apologizing even when she wasn't at fault, arranging their meetings, which was harder than performing brain surgery.

"It's your choice: either stay with someone so insensitive or free yourself from this cursed cage,"

The blonde girl said before rushing to her friend, who was calling her.

"Ayor! What were you doing? We'll miss our flight!"

shouted the girl with long brown hair as her eyes landed on a scene of a 25-year-old man kissing someone.

"Darin," she cursed under her breath. "What's he doing here?"

"My love, I missed you. Thank you for coming to welcome me,"

She overheard and thought bitterly, Just what I needed before leaving this city—a dose of disgust.

"My darling, I'd do anything for you. I couldn't believe you gave our relationship another chance. I was lost without you, destroying myself every day because I mistreated you. I'm truly sorry. During this time apart, I wanted only one thing—to see you and spend my life with you,"

Darin said as he slowly got down on one knee, offering her a ring.

The murmurs of admiration from travelers around them only added to the moment's intensity.

"When I heard about your engagement, I took the first plane to come to you. I couldn't believe you'd moved on. I felt like a fool for leaving you. I'm truly sorry,"

said the beautiful girl as she extended her hand for him to place the ring. Darin kissed her palm before pulling her into a tight embrace.

Icould see the love in Darin's eyes, feelings I never thought he was capable of.

"Teal, isn't that your cousin? Aren't you supposed to marry him today? Look, he's hugging another girl. Luckily, we're leaving, and he won't ruin your life,"

said my friend to me, suppressing my shock.

"I don't care what he does. It's not like I'm dying to marry him,"

I said, shrugging . 

"At least he's also uninterested in the wedding. Let's go, Ayor. I don't want to see any more of this mess,"

Teal glanced one last time at Darin and the buildings of London before heading to the departure lounge.

I had always dreamed of traveling abroad, being far away from home. She sighed before turning off her phone.

"Sorry, Mom, but I won't marry someone I don't know,"

I muttered, staring out the window and listening to motivational clips.

My thoughts drifted to the way Steven had abandoned me. That idiot. I would've never held him back from advancing in life, she thought bitterly, cursing her luck, especially in relationships.

...

"Dear Evik, tell me, where is your daughter? You said she read your messages, but where is she now?"

Darin's mother asked while repeatedly trying to call her son, who wasn't answering.

Both women were in an unenviable position. In their excitement, they had arranged for the wedding to take place in one of the grand halls. Evik had saved money just for this moment, spending it all on the wedding preparations.

By midnight, most guests had left, leaving the two mothers sitting on the stage, staring at the decorations, dishes, and musical instruments. The hall was eerily silent.

"Could our children have abandoned us?"

Evik wondered, recalling her daughter's boldness and occasional stubbornness.

Her thoughts were interrupted by an anonymous call to Darin's mother.

"Damn it! What do you mean my son was in a car accident on the highway?"

She dropped the phone and rushed to the hospital, followed closely by Evik, who felt like the day would never end.

If something happened to Darin, her daughter's chance to marry a wealthy man would vanish. At least with him, Teal wouldn't have to work exhausting hours, wake up at 2 AM, or walk to work because she couldn't afford the bus fare.

Evik prayed nothing would ruin this opportunity for her daughter.

"Where is my son?"

Darin's mother stormed into the hospital reception, grabbing a passing nurse by her uniform.

"Don't tell me to calm down! Where is my son, Darin Wickett? He was brought here after a car accident!"

Her shouts echoed through the hospital, attracting attention.

"Darin is fine. He suffered minor injuries and a sprained ankle. But the girl with him… she didn't survive,"

the nurse replied.

"What girl?"

Darin's mother froze, a wave of dread washing over her.

Evik's heart sank, and everything around her blurred as she fainted. Could this day get any worse?

"I told you not to worry. My brother has arranged everything for us; he owes me a lot," Eyor said as she hauled her bags into the student dormitory near the university. It had been a long journey. "Take note—I've changed my number," I said, glancing at my messages with Noah one last time.

"Are you not going to tell your mom where you are? She's going to worry," Eyor asked as she unpacked her suitcase. Tomorrow was their first day of classes. Although they were in different faculties, they planned to meet during breaks.

...

"Ha, don't forget my mom was a retired police officer. If she wanted to find me, it wouldn't take her more than a few hours," Tieal buried her face in the pillow, deep in thought about her life. Everything had changed drastically. She needed to find a job quickly—there was so much to think about: her living expenses and especially helping her mother.

She didn't have the luxury to feel sorry for herself or succumb to emotional breakdowns. She had to be strong. There were no fairy tale princes coming to make her life easier; she had to rely on herself.

After hours of scrolling through job postings and classifieds, she applied to several companies. Hopefully, luck would smile on her, and she'd land a job. Of course, she wasn't going to rely on Eyor's money or indulgence.

---

"Alex, my friend, why are you so late?"

Sitting in a wheelchair with a broken leg, he flirted with the beautiful nurse pushing him. Taking her hand and gazing into her eyes.