Ryan’s expression fell, but a small smile curled on his lips. A smile that, after a long time, felt unburdened by any guilt or regret. A smile that only came after realizing and accepting the reality —and finally letting go.
"You don’t owe me forgiveness, Arwen," he said, turning to finally look at her. She still kept her back his way. "But I do owe you several apologies. Saying it once won’t be enough. But still, I would try."
He paused before speaking again, his tone laced with true remorse. "I am sorry, Arwen —for being a jerk for years. I am sorry for treating you the way no woman deserves to be treated. For ignoring you every single time, for embarrassing you, and for leaving you when I should have carried you to the hospital. I truly apologize."
Arwen didn’t respond immediately. She heard him, every word of it, but those apologies didn’t stir her. Not anymore.
To be honest, she didn’t hate Ryan for anything. He never liked her, and he never pretended otherwise. She doesn’t blame him. She never expected him to give her the emotions they never shared, but she did expect him to show the little humanity that every single being should have inside them.
But when he walked away with Delyth in his arms, leaving her behind to die —she even lost that small hope she had for him.
But anyway, those were no longer important. She had moved on ...
"As you said, I don’t owe you any forgiveness. So, don’t bother listing your apologies and guilt," she replied, her voice calm, almost indifferent. She didn’t turn around fully — just tilted her head slightly, gazing at him over her shoulder. "I just hope —and wish that you never appear in my life again. And that’s it. Nothing more."
Ryan smiled and nodded, a weight lifting off his chest even as her words stung. "I won’t," he promised. "Our paths will definitely cross. But I assure you, I will never appear and remind you of the history that we ever shared. I am glad that you found your happiness. You deserve every bit of it. Just ... always stay happy, Arwen."
She said nothing more. Just gave a subtle nod and walked away.
Not far away, Alfred was waiting with the car. When she came, he opened the door for her, and Arwen slipped inside without another word.
"Drive," she instructed softly, leaning her head back on the seat.
As the car pulled away, she closed her eyes — not to rest, but to breathe. Everything felt so exhaustive now. Fortunately, it finally got over.
Meanwhile, behind, Ryan still stood, watching the car disappear. He didn’t move even after it was completely gone. He just waited to settle everything inside.
Taking a deep breath in, he tilted his head up at the sky and closed his eyes to feel the air brush his face.
Letting go was equally painful. But holding something back, even knowing that it would never return to you, was the worst.
He was willing to bear the worst if that could assure him of having a part ... a memory of Arwen with him forever. But when today she made him see that they never shared anything to carry forever, he realized even torturing himself with the worst won’t lead him anywhere close to her.
Then why bother?
"Ryan!"
The voice caught him off guard, and he turned to look, only to find his friend standing at a distance.
"Daniel!" he muttered.
"Good to know that you haven’t forgotten me yet?" Daniel said, walking towards him, closing the distance.
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