Chapter 5: The Tension Builds
The tension between Amelia and Victor was palpable. He had always been persistent, his advances bold, but something in his demeanor had shifted recently. He could sense her pulling away. Whenever they saw each other now, the once-easy camaraderie was overshadowed by something unspoken—an expectation that Amelia couldn't meet, a distance she couldn't close.
Victor had never been one to hide his feelings. He had always worn his heart on his sleeve, and when he wanted something, he went after it without hesitation. But with Amelia, something had changed. He could feel that her attention was divided, that her gaze often lingered on someone else—someone who wasn't him.
That someone, of course, was Elena.
Victor had noticed the quiet, intimate connection between Amelia and Elena. He had seen the way they exchanged glances when they thought no one was watching, the way their conversations flowed effortlessly, as if the world around them disappeared. At first, he had dismissed it as friendship. But the more time he spent around them, the more he began to feel the gnawing sensation of jealousy, of being sidelined by a connection he didn't understand.
One evening, at a gathering hosted by a mutual friend, the tension between the three of them came to a head. Amelia was standing with Elena, laughing at something Elena had said, when Victor approached. His eyes were sharp, his smile forced.
"Amelia," he said, his voice louder than necessary, "I was hoping we could talk for a moment. Alone."
Elena raised an eyebrow but said nothing, stepping back slightly to give them space. Amelia's heart sank, knowing where this was headed. She had been avoiding this conversation for weeks, hoping the awkwardness would dissipate on its own. But now, with Victor standing before her, the words seemed inevitable.
"I've noticed you've been… distant lately," Victor said, his tone tinged with frustration. "I'm not sure what I've done wrong, but I don't like it, Amelia. You've been keeping things from me."
Amelia felt her breath catch in her throat. She didn't want to hurt him, but the truth was, she didn't know how to explain the growing bond between her and Elena, or how much she was struggling with it.
"I'm not keeping anything from you, Victor," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "I just—" she paused, looking over at Elena, who had been watching them from a distance. "I'm not sure what I want. I don't know where I stand with you… or with her."
Victor's eyes flickered with understanding, but it was the kind of understanding that felt like betrayal. His jaw tightened, and for the first time, Amelia saw the cracks in his otherwise confident façade. He had never been good at sharing, never been able to handle the thought of someone else claiming what he believed should be his.
"You're choosing her, aren't you?" he asked, his voice rough.
Amelia's heart ached as the truth settled into her chest. She wasn't choosing Elena over him—not yet. But the fact that he had asked the question, the way his voice had cracked with jealousy, made her feel like she had already betrayed him.
Before she could respond, Elena walked over, her presence soft but undeniable. "Victor," she said, her tone calm, "maybe you should give her some space."
Victor's eyes flared with something unrecognizable—resentment, maybe, or disappointment—but he simply nodded and turned away.
Amelia felt a rush of guilt and relief at the same time. She hadn't chosen, but somehow, she had lost Victor anyway. And it was all too much to handle.