The weather outside was cold, the kind of soft chill that made everything feel slower, quieter , like the world was wrapped in a gray blanket. Inside the apartment, however, the air was warm, filled with the rich aroma of hot coffee and the faint crackle of their electric heater.
Bella sat curled up in her favorite corner of the couch, hoodie sleeves pulled over her palms, blowing lightly into her mug before taking a slow sip. Kathy was across from her, legs tucked under herself, eyes watching Bella thoughtfully over the rim of her own cup.
Neither of them had spoken for a while, just enjoying the comfort of silence, something rare these days.
Then Kathy broke it.
"Hey…" she said gently, "have you… thought about unblocking them?"
Bella looked up slowly, her brows furrowed slightly, unsure of what she just heard. "Unblock who?"
Kathy gave her a knowing look. "You know who. Justin… and Austin."
Bella sighed, her fingers tightening around her mug. "Kathy…"
There was a long pause before Bella nodded slowly, more to herself than anyone. "I'll text them… later. Not both at once. Maybe Austin first."
"I know," Kathy cut in before Bella could object. "I know it's messy. It's probably the most complicated love triangle in history. But you said it yourself , you needed space, and you took it. Now exams are almost over, things are settling a bit… don't you think it's time to give them both closure?"
Bella didn't reply immediately. Her mind was already spiraling. The last time she saw them, things had ended in flames , hurtful words, a slap, confessions, and betrayals all tangled into one chaotic moment. She hadn't spoken to either of them since. Blocking them had felt like a shield. Peaceful… but also incomplete.
Kathy continued, more softly this time, "I'm not saying take anyone back. Or restart the whole cycle. I'm just saying… meet with them. Separately. Talk to them. End it properly. You all deserve that much."
Bella looked into her coffee, swirling it slowly. "You think they'll even want to talk to me?"
"They're probably dying to," Kathy scoffed lightly. "Those boys have been at war because of you. You hold the key to ending it."
Bella chuckled dryly, brushing a tear that threatened to fall. "I never asked for any of this, you know."
"I know," Kathy said. "But you've handled it way better than you think. You just need to finish it the right way."
The conversation naturally shifted, flowing into lighter things, their exams, final papers, last-minute revisions. "Only two more papers left," Kathy said excitedly, "and we are done. Girl, I'm already planning our celebration."
Bella smiled softly. "We need it. This semester has been… something."
They clinked their mugs gently together, the sound echoing softly in their cozy little space, like a quiet promise of new beginnings.
Later that evening, Bella sat alone on her bed, the dim light from her desk lamp casting soft shadows around the room. Her phone was in her hand, the screen bright as she stared at Austin's name , the one she had blocked weeks ago. Her thumb hovered over it for a second, then with a deep breath, she unblocked him.
"I'm not doing this to start something again," she whispered to herself. "Just closure."
She opened her messages and typed slowly:
Hi Austin, I hope you're doing well. I know a lot has happened and I'm not trying to stir anything up, but I'd like to see you. Nothing serious, just to talk and clear the air. I think it's important for both of us to know where we stand. Let me know if you're open to it.
She stared at the message for a few seconds before finally pressing send.
To her surprise, his reply came within two minutes.
Bella. Yeah, I'm open to it. I'm free now, actually, no work today. If you're available, we can meet up today and get it over with.
Bella bit her lip, heart pounding. She hadn't expected him to be that quick or open. After a short pause, she replied:
Okay. Where?
Austin:
Sugar & Brew cafe
20 minutes?
Bella:
Okay. See you there.
---
The café was relatively quiet, its signature warm lighting and jazz music giving it the usual cozy vibe. It was a popular off-campus spot, tucked in the quieter corner of Lifetime College.
Austin had arrived first. He sat at a small table near the window, tapping his fingers lightly against his cup of black coffee. He looked calm, but inside, he was swirling with thoughts.
Moments later, the bell above the door jingled, Bella walked in.
Their eyes met.
She walked slowly to the table, and Austin stood halfway before awkwardly sitting back down. "Hey," he said.
"Hi," she replied softly, pulling out the chair across from him.
A beat of silence passed as they both settled into the reality of facing each other again.
"You look... okay," Austin said finally, attempting something close to a smile.
"You too," Bella murmured.
Neither of them touched their drinks for a moment. Just silence, thick with all the unsaid things that had happened since that explosion between the three of them.
Bella sat across from Austin at the small wooden table tucked near the window. The warm light above cast a soft glow on his face, but nothing could soften the tension hanging between them. Outside, the late afternoon sun filtered through the glass, casting faint shadows of passing students, the world continued moving, unaware that two hearts sat in limbo.
The café buzzed faintly with low conversation and the occasional hiss from the coffee machines. But for Bella and Austin, it was all a blur.
They hadn't said anything in a full minute.
Austin finally broke the silence, his voice low but steady. "So... where do we start?"
Bella looked down, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her coffee cup. "I don't even know," she said, her voice almost a whisper. "This isn't easy for me. I've gone over this a hundred times in my head, and it still doesn't come out right."
Austin nodded, quietly waiting.
Bella looked up, her eyes soft but watery. "You were amazing to me, Austin," she began. "You gave me peace when I was drowning in confusion. You were kind. Constant. Gentle. Everything a girl would want."
Austin stared at her, but his face was unreadable.
She continued, pausing to find her words. "But my heart… it never really moved on. From Justin." Her voice cracked slightly, but she didn't stop. "You didn't deserve the mess I dragged you into. I thought I was okay, I truly believed I could move forward with you. But I was just running."
Silence settled again. Austin looked down for a long time, then let out a soft breath, not of frustration, but quiet acceptance.
"I knew," he finally said, his voice calm. "Not everything, but… I saw the way your eyes searched for something else even when I was right in front of you."
Bella blinked, a single tear slipping down her cheek.
Austin leaned back, offering a faint, almost sad smile. "I'll be fine," he said, steady as ever. "I'm not going to hate you, Bella. But this us, it ends here."
He stood slowly, adjusting his jacket. "You need to heal. And I need to let go."
Bella stood too, her lips trembling. "Austin, I—"
"Don't," he interrupted gently, not harshly. "I don't need an apology. I just need peace."
He gave her one last look, a mixture of hurt, strength, and closure,then turned and walked toward the exit.
Bella stood frozen. As he pushed open the café door, a soft gust of wind rushed in. He didn't look back.
And just like that, it ended, not with anger, but with understanding and heartbreak.
Bella picked up her bag from the table, her fingers trembling slightly as she adjusted the strap on her shoulder. Her eyes lingered on the empty seat Austin had just left, the weight of the conversation still sitting heavily in her chest.
She stepped out of Sugar & Brew and inhaled deeply, letting the cool afternoon air calm her nerves. With a slow exhale, she drove back home, her thoughts racing but her mind made up.
Back at the apartment, Kathy was lounging on the couch, scrolling on her phone. The door creaked open and Bella walked in, her face giving everything away.
"You saw him?" Kathy asked, sitting up quickly.
Bella nodded, dropping her bag and sitting beside her. "Yeah… I did."
"And…?"
"It went the way it had to," Bella said quietly, staring ahead. "I told him the truth. I told him my heart never really moved on from Justin."
Kathy's eyes softened. "And how did he take it?"
Bella leaned back and let her head rest against the couch. "Better than I expected. He was mature. Hurt… but calm. Told me he knew, and that it ends here."
Kathy reached out and held her hand. "I'm proud of you. That couldn't have been easy."
"It wasn't," Bella whispered. Then she looked at Kathy and said, "But I need to finish what I started. I'm sending Justin a message. I want to meet him this evening, clear the air, get it all over with. I can't stretch this out any longer."
Kathy nodded in understanding. "You're doing the right thing. Don't let anything stay buried. Just say what needs to be said and finally breathe."
Bella gave a weak smile. "Exactly. I'll text him now."
"Hey Justin… I hope you're doing okay. I know a lot has happened, and this isn't about digging it all back up. I'd just really like to see you, not for anything serious, just to talk and clear the air. If you're free this evening, can we meet at our spot?"
Justin's Response (a few minutes later):
"Bella… I've been waiting for this. Yes, I'll be there. No expectations, just glad we can talk."