Chapter Text
Happy reading :)
The pale pink room was, as always, welcoming and bright, despite the impending nightfall. Everything was in its place, just like it had been for the past four years. Admittedly, some things had changed, like the photos that had accumulated on the wall, or the gifts she had received over the years, but the furniture placement and the colors had remained the same.
However, this time, the room seemed to have lost its warmth. As if Michael wasn’t really welcome there anymore. It was just an impression, but Mike truly felt that the room itself was trying to reject him.
Finally, he turned his gaze to the occupant of the room. Destiny was sitting on her bed, her hands wedged between her thighs, her eyes averted. The tension in her shoulders was abnormal. Everything here was abnormal. Since her call a few hours earlier, when she had asked if he could come over to her place.
She hadn’t said a word since, except when he had knocked on her door – they might have been together, but that didn’t stop her from asking for permission before he entered – and when she had said “you can come in” in such a soft voice that he almost didn’t hear it.
“Des?” he tried, attempting to break the silence that didn’t seem like them.
The young woman didn’t answer, lowering her head to avoid any eye contact.
He couldn’t help but feel guilty, the remorse that had gripped him ever since he had gotten together with her returning like a wave of bitterness.
Had she discovered his feelings for Micah?
If that was the case, she had every reason to be angry with him and to be cold toward him. But, in fact, she didn’t seem angry or upset. Just sad, exhausted... guilty?
Maybe simply because she wasn’t the type to get angry. Or maybe she didn’t dare break up with him despite everything?
Sitting on the bed beside her without getting too close, he let out a soft sigh.
Destiny slightly lifted her face and turned her head toward him.
What he saw when their eyes met broke his heart. Her large brown eyes were filled with unshed tears, her expression so sad that his guilt turned into a blade stabbing his chest repeatedly.
“Destiny…” he began, but the young woman cut him off, standing up abruptly.
She walked to the door, stubbornly turning her back to him, while he stood up as well, worried. He wanted to speak, say anything, even a joke, even confess everything, anything to break the unbearable ice that stood between them, but his voice remained stuck in his throat.
Instead, he stood frozen in the middle of the room, his arms hanging limply.
It was Destiny who spoke first, quickly turning around, her long blonde hair whipping the air behind her.
“Forgive me, Mike,” she began, her voice trembling. “We’ve been together for a long time, but… I like Christian.”
...What?
Mike had a moment of confusion. He didn’t react immediately, his eyes widening as he tried to process the information.
Destiny loved Christian… Since when?
How long had he trapped Destiny in this insane relationship, making her feel so guilty? He had never wanted to hurt his friend.
The young woman must have taken his silence as silent anger, because she continued, her voice weak.
“I’m sorry… It feels like I’m betraying you, I feel guilty…”
She was crying now, her gaze clouded with shame and sadness. Her shoulders shook with sobs.
“I’m so–”
Suddenly, gentle hands cupped her cheeks, wiping her tears with their thumbs. She lifted her head, surprised. Mike had gotten closer, and he was crying too.
“Destiny. Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry.”
He sniffled, tears filling his eyes.
“It is me who needs your forgiveness…”
“Huh?”
This time, it was Destiny who didn’t understand. Why was he apologizing? Everything was her fault. Why was he asking for her forgiveness? After all, it was she who was in the wrong.
“I like Micah. For years. Since forever.”
Destiny stared at him, unable to speak, breathless. She thought she knew everything about her friend, thought she knew him completely, but she had been more wrong than she could have imagined.
“I’m truly sorry, Destiny. I shamefully used you. But I didn’t know you liked Christian, I swear. I would have broken up with you if I had known.”
She felt her boyfriend’s hands tremble against her face, and her stomach tightened with pain.
“But then… Why? ”
Mike swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down in a rushed movement, and he turned his gaze away, pulling his hands from her face.
“I thought… I was trying to prove to myself that it would pass… I really love you, but not… not like that…”
Destiny saw him falter, then collapse to his knees in front of her, his face in his hands.
“I didn’t want to hurt you... I’m so, so sorry…”
Suddenly, she became aware of what was happening. When she had called him, she had intended to apologize, convinced that she was the only traitor. But in the end, it was Mike who was crying, not her.
Slowly, she sat beside him, resting her chin on his shoulder, her arms wrapped around his waist. She let her own tears fall, sharing his guilt and pain.
“You should have told me, Mikey…” she whispered with all the softness she could offer.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” he repeated, trembling. “I realize how horrible I’ve been. I should never have done that. It’s all my fault… I would understand if you don’t want to see me anymore.”
Destiny’s heart tightened painfully as Mike’s words pierced her soul.
“Mike… You’ll always be my friend, you know that…”
She pulled away from him and took his hands in hers. She offered him a smile, a warm and gentle smile, like a breeze after a storm. A smile he didn’t think he deserved.
“We were both in the wrong. Even though we didn’t have feelings for each other, we had a commitment. And I never told you about Christian, I’m just as guilty as you. So, please, don’t cry about that…” she whispered, squeezing his hands against her own heart.
She wished she could tell him not to cry, that she’d love to see his carefree and radiant smile again, like always. But she could tell that the reason he was crying came from a deeper wound than he let on.
He straightened up slightly, blinking his eyes to chase away the tears.
“…You’re not angry with me?” he dared to ask.
“Of course I am.”
Mike flinched at the answer, though he had expected it, and tried to pull his hands away from Destiny’s grip, but she tightened her hold on them gently.
“I’m angry that you weren’t honest with me, just like I’m angry at myself for not realizing how bad you were feeling in this relationship. I’m angry that you got into a relationship with me four years ago when you didn’t love me, just as I’m angry that I hid Christian from you.”
Mike swallowed one last sob and threw himself against her, gently hugging her as if he were afraid to break her, as if she were made of crystal. Destiny jumped in surprise, then smiled and hugged him back, her forehead against his shoulder.
They stayed like that for several minutes, the light fading as the sun set. When their sobs had quieted, they pulled apart, but their fingers remained intertwined, a gentle promise.
They looked at each other for a moment before starting to laugh softly at their clumsiness.
“We really aren’t good at this, are we?” Destiny asked, lying down on the floor, her long hair spreading around her soft, radiant face.
Mike joined her, their little fingers still hooked together. He wiped his face with his arm and nodded slowly.
Even though everything seemed better now that they had been honest, a twinge of bitterness continued to press on his heart with insistence. Destiny was now free to be with Christian. As for him, he was doomed to remain alone. To suffer in silence. As always.
“What are you thinking about?” Destiny’s clear voice pulled him from his thoughts.
“The fact that you can now live a beautiful life with Christian. I still feel guilty for holding you back like that, for such a selfish reason.”
He stared at the ceiling, but saw nothing but emptiness. An emptiness that perfectly reflected his state of mind. He didn’t feel particularly bad, but he didn’t feel good either.
“I’m sorry for you,” Destiny suddenly apologized.
Mike turned his head, surprised.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t think Micah loves you like that. In the end, it’s only me who will have a happy outcome…”
Mike gave her a smile that was a mix of sadness and warmth. She was so gentle and caring. Christian better not make her suffer, or he’d make him pay dearly. Well, that was another story…
“I know, but you shouldn’t blame yourself for that. And besides, Micah is right. I understand. Zeyn is a beautiful girl. I’m sure without her, life would have been dull.”
There was a silence. They both knew he was right. Zeyn was the link that kept them balanced. A fragile link, yes, but necessary.
“Do you realize we’ve been together since adolescence? Time flies…”
Mike propped himself up on his forearm, leaning toward Destiny, his eyes bright. He had regained his big smile, although it seemed so unstable, so fragile that it could have blown away with a single gust of wind.
“All the more reason to enjoy every moment you’ll have with Chris! Why don’t you go see him, by the way?”
“I don’t know…” she replied, hesitating.
She sat up as well, fiddling with the fabric of her top.
“What’s going on?” Mike asked, sensing that Destiny wanted to say something.
“You said you got with me thinking it would pass… But what exactly were you talking about? Micah or…” She couldn’t finish her question.
Mike sat cross-legged facing her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“Both. I stupidly thought that if I got with a girl, this attraction to guys, and to Micah as well, would pass. It was foolish, I know. I hurt us for nothing in the end.”
He said it just like that. As if he was simply stating a fact. But Destiny saw through this calm façade, and she knew he still blamed himself.
“I’m sure that one day, someone will love you for who you are, for what you are…” she said, placing her hand over Mike’s.
“I’m sorry, Destiny… I don’t have the strength to wait while suffering…” he thought, the rope in his hands.