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“Does this mean you forgive me?” Rayane asked, his eyes sparkling with hope.
“I don’t know, what do you think?” Jack replied with a smile, his face lit up with an expression of complicity.
They immediately exchanged another kiss, less delicate and more intense than the previous one. Holding each other tightly, they had no intention of letting go. Rayane, with glistening eyes, felt Jack’s hand gently caressing his cheek. In a soft voice, he said, “I missed you so much, Jack. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“I missed you too, Rayane,” Jack replied, bringing his forehead closer to Rayane’s. “You have no idea how much.”
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Rayane happily accepted Audrey's invitation to stay for dinner. She welcomed them warmly, along with the rest of the family, celebrating with hugs as soon as they walked together through the door. Rayane had been in that house just the day before, but now he was surrounded by a warm and inviting atmosphere. Yesterday, he was an unwanted guest; today, Jack had welcomed him back into his life.
Dinner went smoothly, filled with laughter and playful teasing. The two kept exchanging quick glances, their eyes communicating the unspoken words they still had for each other. Jack, eager to leave the table and spend some time alone with Rayane, stood up to start clearing the dishes.
“Well, let’s say you’re off the hook today; you two can go,” Audrey said, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she watched them. She was finally seeing her Jack radiant and happy again after weeks of getting used to seeing him with his eyes cast down, dim and lacking that spark that defined him.
Jack grinned widely and, after thanking her, motioned for Rayane to follow him to his room.
Now that they were alone again, Rayane could still sense a slight tension between them. He studied Jack’s face, taking in every detail.
Sitting on the bed, half a meter apart, neither of them dared to break the silence. Jack felt his cheeks grow warmer and, for a moment, lowered his eyes, then smiled faintly. “I need to get used to your gaze again,” he began, wrapping his hands around Rayane’s neck and pulling him closer. “Come here,” and he kissed him.
The kiss grew more passionate as they lay down on the bed, their hands eagerly seeking each other’s bodies, exploring every inch with a fervor they had missed.
Suddenly, Rayane pulled back slightly, breathless. “I think we should calm down a bit. At this rate, your family will come knocking on the door,” he said with a teasing smile.
“I guess you’re right,” Jack replied, laughing, his eyes shining with renewed emotion.
After a moment of silence, as they continued to look at each other intensely, Rayane, needing to get a weight off his chest, spoke—abruptly. “I was so scared that I had lost you forever.”
Jack took a deep breath. “Rayane, I want you to know that I never meant to hurt you every time I pushed you away. It’s just that…”
“I know, I know, Jack. You don’t have to explain,” Rayane interrupted, trying to comfort him with a gentle touch.
“No, I need to say this,” Jack insisted, sitting up. “You have no idea how much you hurt me that day at the Spoon. It felt like a stab in the back. And even when I found out it was to protect me, I couldn't stop thinking that you chose to exclude me from your life instead of talking to me. This, even after I was always there for you.” He paused, as if the words were stuck in his throat, but then continued. “Rayane, I would have been by your side through all of this. We could have faced it together. I felt extremely betrayed when you left me.” He looked down once more, his voice filled with emotion.
Rayane felt the weight of Jack's pain in his words. Taking Jack's hand, he said with a trembling voice, “Jack, I’m so sorry. I wish I could erase what I said that day. Not only did I get myself into one mess after another, but I handled everything in the worst possible way. I never, ever wanted to hurt you. I thought I was protecting you by pushing you away, but now I know I should have talked to you. In the future, I promise I will always talk to you. About everything.”
Jack squeezed Rayane's hand tightly, looking him straight in the eyes. “I believe you,” he said firmly.
Unable to contain the emotion stirred by those words, Rayane tenderly kissed Jack. They lay down on the bed wrapped in each other’s arms, enjoying the renewed sense of intimacy and peace.
After a moment of silence, Jack broke the mood with a playful smile. “So, how about I sneak into the kitchen and see if there's any ice cream left?”
Rayane, pouting playfully, replied, “No, I’m not letting you go now.”
Jack laughed, his eyes sparkling with joy. “Not even to go to the kitchen?”
Rayane responded with laughter, holding him tighter. “No.”
They looked into each other's eyes, their laughter fading, and simply stayed there, embraced, enjoying each other's presence.