62. SHATTERED

JAYDEN | THEN

Something changed between them. Ayla became distant again. Ever since she cried in his arms, she started to avoid him. She cried in front of him before without feeling insecure or inferior. It took a lot of time for her to open up. Now, she went back to being reserved again.

Jayden was left with a nibbling feeling inside. Something was off. Something was off between them. She kissed him back when he kissed her. It wasn't just the same passion. She said I love you too, when he said, I love you. It wasn't just the same intensity. She didn't pick up the phone after the third ring or the fourth like she usually does. She barely replied to his messages.

Her windows weren't opened anymore. Jayden stood, outside her house, staring at her dark room, not knowing where it all went wrong. He called her. It was 11 PM. She has been staying late for a year now. Sometimes they talked until 3 AM. She was online. But his messages were left unread. He lost it then. Gritting h