In that moment, when Alice said those words, Bella felt something deep inside that's hard to accept. No matter how much she tried to hate Alice, a part of Bella still had feelings for her. But even with all those mixed emotions, Bella stayed quiet the whole way to her home.
The Things between them are going a bit awkward, but there's also with a strange feeling—like a memory of the comfort they used to share.
The felt when every time Bella was around Alice, there was a warmth inside her a feeling she wanted to let out, but just couldn't.
They got arrived to Bella's house.
"Thx for driving me home, it's getting late, you can go now" Bella said, trying to sound calm even though her heart felt a bit heavy.
Alice stayed quiet for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"Hmm…..Okay, I'll go now," Alice said,
Bella reached for a door, but before she just could step out, Alice grabbed her wrist.
Their eyes met in silence.
"Bel, I miss you so much," Alice said.
Bella didn't say anything. She didn't feel needed to respond to what Alice just said.
Bella tried to pulled her wrist out of Alice's hand gently and then stepped out of her car.
Bella walked to her front door and her head filled with many thoughts.
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That night, Bella sat in the bathtub, soaking in warm water, trying to relax even her mind just can't stop to thinking, she constantly wondering about what was Alice really purpose now
Bella felt lost.
"After two years of silence… why did she suddenly come back? Saying she missed me? That she regrets leaving? - She should be married by now."
Bella sighed.
"I'm so stupid… Maybe she thinks I'm just too easy. So that she can hurt me and still come back like nothing happened."
Bella didn't even realize how long she'd been in the tub. Suddenly, Ellie opened the door and saw her half-naked. It was just another awkward moments between them.
And just by the next morning after that, it was Ellie who ended up bandaging Bella's injured hand.
[Flashback ends – Back to present]________
Back to earlier when Ellie and Bella were sitting together—Ellie's question about the woman with Bella last night still lingered in the air. For a moment, Bella didn't say anything. Then she finally asked,
"Did you see me last night?" Bella asked
"Yes, I think it was you," Ellie replied.
Bella's expression changed. Her usual cold, blank look shifted into something more anxious, almost scared. Just from that one question, her mind started racing.
"Did she see everything?" Bella wondered.
Ellie noticed the change in Bella's expression and figured maybe she wasn't ready to talk about it yet—or maybe it was just too personal.
Not wanting to make things worse, she quickly said
"I actually have something to do, I should go for a bit.'' Just to change the topic and give Bella some space.
And the Ellie leave-
Bella watched her leave and tried to calm herself down after Ellie's question.
She looked down at her bandaged hand. For a moment, she forgot about Ellie's questions. All she could think about now was how Ellie had taken care of her before.
"How could I be so careless?" she muttered.
Meanwhile, Ellie went out to buy some stuff to redecorate the restaurant next week, along with a few groceries. She planned to make dinner tonight—for herself and her housemate, Bella. Ellie was worried that Bella might not be able to cook because of her injured hand.
"I hope I'am not too late to make a dinner" Ellie said
Ellie got home.
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But It looked like Bella was still in her room.
"Still resting, huh? Alright, time to cook something nice" Ellie said to herself.
Ellie was pretty at cooking skill maybe because she learned it from her parents. Tonight, she made Japanese chicken curry for both of them. Ellie place it on the table but She noticed Bella hadn't come out for hours.
"I'm kinda worried the food's getting cold… Is she not hungry? Why hasn't she come out of her room for hours?", Ellie murmured.
Worried, Ellie decided to check on her. She walked toward Bella's room.
"Bel? I made dinner," she called out.
No answer.
Knock knock.
"Bel? Are you there?"
Still no response. That made Ellie a little more worried. She tried the doorknob and reliaze it wasn't locked. Gently, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Bella was lying on the bed, looking unusually pale. Ellie rushed to her side and placed a hand on Bella forehead.
"Oh no… she's burning up."
"Bel? Are you okay?" she asked softly.
"Yes, don't worry" Bella whispered in her sleep.
"Cold…" Bella added weakly.
"You're cold?" Ellie quickly got a blanket and gently covered her.
"Why are you always making people worry?" Ellie muttered,
"I guess I stayed in the bath too long…" Bella mumbled, sounding weak.
Ellie brushing Bella's hair away from her face.
"Why did you come back?" Bella asked in a soft,
She didn't sound fully awake—maybe she thought Ellie was someone else.
Bella question left her a little confused.
"Come back? I live here too, Are u forget?" Ellie replied, a bit confused.
"Cold… hold me," Bella whispered.
Ellie wasn't sure what to do until she decided to looking an another blanket and wrapped it around Bella, then sat next to her.
"Are you still cold?" Ellie asked gentle,
"Please… don't leave me again this time" Bella said softly but her voice full of sadness.
Ellie didn't know how to answer. Bella was probably dreaming. But Still, Ellie stayed close.
"Don't worry. I'm still here," she whispered.
She touched Bella's head really carefully and staying with her a bit longer, Ellie noticed something she hadn't seen before—a small mole under Bella's eye.
Curious, She try to reached out and gently pointed at it with her finger.
"I never noticed this, hmm anyway she looks kinda cute when she felt a sleep like this"
Suddenly, Bella grabbed Ellie's hand.
"I miss you too" Bella whispered.
"What????" Ellie thought
Those words that Bella just said now make Ellie heart started beating faster.
Thump... Thump.... Thump.....
Ellie chest going felt tight.
But She knew—those words probably weren't meant for her. She looked at Bella's sleeping face.
"She might be dreaming about someone else now."
Even so, Ellie stayed a little longer. Then, she pulled her hand away slowly, grabbed a cold towel, and placed it on Bella's forehead.
"I hope this helps." Ellie said
Then, She quietly left the room and walked back to the dining table—where the dinner she made sat untouched and cold.
Ellie sighed.
"I guess, we can't eat this now"
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Later that night, Ellie lay on her bed, staring at her ceiling. She can't stop thinking about Bella
"What's going on with my heart lately"