The infirmary room was eerily quiet, save for the steady breathing of Noah, who lay on the bed. Layla sat beside him, her fingers nervously fiddling with the hem of her sleeve.
The usual playful and mischievous aura that surrounded her seemed absent now. Her eyes were downcast, her lips trembling slightly, as if she was trying to gather the courage to speak.
Noah, though still weak, noticed the change in her demeanor. His sharp gaze shifted toward her, curiosity piqued by her unusual silence. He had seen Layla in all sorts of moods—cheerful, sarcastic, flirty—but never like this. The air was thick with unspoken words.
"Layla..." Noah's voice, still hoarse, cracked through the stillness. "What's wrong?"
Layla's breath hitched, and she looked up, her amber eyes glistening with unshed tears. For a moment, she said nothing, as if the weight of her emotions had rendered her speechless. But then, with a shaky exhale, she finally spoke.
"I—I'm sorry, Noah," she whispered, her voice thick with sorrow. "For everything I've done to you... ever since we were kids."
Noah blinked in surprise, taken aback by her sudden vulnerability. Layla had always been the one to tease him, to poke fun, but he'd never seen her so... fragile.
"I know I pushed you too far sometimes," Layla continued, her voice breaking slightly. "I never meant for it to go that far. All those times I made fun of you, or dragged you into things you didn't want... I thought it was just fun, you know? But I realize now that I hurt you more than I ever thought. I never meant to cause you pain." Her voice cracked again, and she quickly wiped her eyes, the tears threatening to fall.
Noah's heart tightened as he watched her struggle to hold herself together. He could tell this wasn't easy for her. Layla, who had always been the one to control situations with her teasing and banter, was now completely open and raw in front of him.
"I never wanted to hurt you," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know you don't need my apology... but I need to say it. I need you to know that I see you now. And I'm sorry for everything. For teasing you, for pushing you, for making you feel small... For making you think I didn't care. I care, Noah. I really do."
Noah's heart was torn. A part of him wanted to remain angry, to push her away and protect the small wound she had left on his heart. But another part of him—something deep inside, something connected to the soul imprint that he could now feel pulsing in his chest—urged him to soften.
A soft pink glow seemed to pulse within his chest, reacting to Layla's words. It wasn't just his own emotions that were flaring up; it was as if the essence of the previous Noah—the one who had lived before him—was resonating. He could feel it, this deep, unspoken connection to her.
The imprint... it reacted strongly, and Noah could feel its warmth, its emotions seeping into him, telling him that the previous Noah must have really cared for Layla. He understood now—the playful banter, the way Noah had always allowed her to tease him, even when it hurt. It wasn't just a game for Noah. He had loved her, too.
But then there was another thought that nagged at him. Another layer to their complex relationship that he couldn't ignore.
He remembered what Layla had said before, her brief mention of Arthur. Noah had never really pressed her about it, but now it felt... important.
He watched her closely, his voice softer now. "Layla... I know you never meant to hurt me. But... there's something I need to understand." His eyes locked with hers. "What about Arthur? I know you had feelings for him, too. Was that part of this—your teasing, the way you always pushed me away? Was it because of him?"
Layla's breath hitched again, but this time, her expression hardened slightly. She shook her head slowly, her hands clenched tightly into fists at her sides.
"I never had any feelings for Arthur," she admitted quietly, her voice cold. "I only pretended to. I—" she paused, her eyes narrowing as if pushing back the memory. "I never liked him. Not even for a second. I made it seem that way to keep you at arm's length, to push you away. Because, if I'm being honest with you..." Her voice dropped, her gaze turning distant. "I was terrified of how much I cared for you."
Noah's breath caught in his throat. Her words were so different from anything he had expected. Layla had never truly liked Arthur. Everything about their past, all the times she had teased him, had been a mask. A mask to hide her own fear of her growing feelings for him.
"I hurt you by pretending," she continued, her voice low but steady. "Arthur... I tortured him. I never wanted him. I only did it because I couldn't bear the thought of letting anyone close to me. I was scared, Noah. Scared of letting someone in. And so I pushed you away. Even though deep down, I knew it was always you. Always."
Noah sat there in stunned silence. He had no words at that moment, only the soft glow from his soul imprint pulsing gently, comforting him in ways he couldn't quite explain. He could feel the previous Noah's emotions, and it only confirmed what Layla was saying. The bond between them was real, deeper than all the teasing and hurt.
"I never meant to make you suffer," Layla whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm sorry, Noah. For all of it. For making you feel worthless when you were never that. I just... I didn't know how to show you that I cared without messing things up."
Noah's heart softened as the final pieces of the puzzle clicked into place. He understood now. He understood everything.
"I forgive you," he said softly, his voice calm but firm. "I can't hate you, Layla. I never could."
Her expression softened as relief washed over her face, tears streaming freely now. She leaned forward, hesitating for just a moment before wrapping her arms around him, holding him tightly.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice full of gratitude. "Thank you for forgiving me."
Noah gently returned the embrace, feeling the weight of the years of misunderstandings and pain lift from both of them. This moment—this raw honesty—was what they needed to move forward.
The past was behind them now. There was no more pretending. Layla had shown him her true heart, and that was enough. Together, they could heal. And Noah realized, as they held each other, that this was the start of a new chapter for both of them.
To be continued...