Chapter Four:Second Chances and Silent Hurts

After over an hour of relentless pleading from Isabella and her friends, Aiden finally caved in. He knew he was making a mistake, but love blinded him. Despite everything that had happened, he still cared for her deeply. He convinced himself that she had finally understood his worth, that she wouldn’t repeat her past mistakes. When he finally answered her call, Isabella was crying—tears of happiness this time. "I don’t want to lose you," she kept repeating between sobs. Aiden sighed, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty. He had given her another chance.

Days passed, and things seemed to return to normal. They resumed their late-night conversations, video calling each other for hours, just like any other couple in love. Aiden still carried the wounds of the past, but he believed they needed more time to truly understand each other. And so, three months passed in relative happiness, with both of them cherishing their rekindled bond.

One day, Isabella excitedly proposed the idea of finally meeting in person. Aiden hesitated. The past still lingered in his mind, making him cautious. But after much persuasion, he finally agreed. She told him that she was getting him a gift and expected one in return. Aiden, however, refused the idea of exchanging gifts on their first meeting. He didn’t want their first encounter to be about material things. But Isabella insisted, saying, "At least get me something small. I need earphones anyway—just get me any cheap pair."

Aiden eventually relented. But instead of buying a cheap earphone, he carefully selected a high-quality pair from Boat, ensuring it was something she would love. It wasn’t cheap, but he didn’t care—he wanted to make her happy. The gift arrived in an Amazon-branded package, and he smiled, anticipating her reaction.

When the day of their first meeting finally arrived, Aiden was both nervous and excited. As he saw Isabella in person for the first time, everything else around him blurred—she was the only thing in focus. They went for a short walk, enjoying each other’s company, talking and laughing as if all their past troubles had never existed.

Then, Isabella handed him a paper bag filled with chocolates, ice cream, and pastries. "Here’s your gift!" she said enthusiastically. Aiden smiled, appreciating the gesture. But when he gave her the Amazon-wrapped box, her reaction stung him.

"That’s it?" she asked, looking slightly disappointed. "I got so many things for you."

Aiden felt a pang of sadness. A gift is a gift, whether cheap or expensive. He had carefully chosen something useful for her, yet she seemed unimpressed. Still, he brushed aside his feelings, telling himself that she didn’t mean to hurt him.

That night, after returning to their respective places, they had a video call. Isabella excitedly told her hostel friends about the gift. One of them, noticing the Amazon packaging, casually remarked, "It looks cheap."

Isabella hesitated. She hadn’t even opened the box yet. Curious but cautious, she decided to unbox it in front of Aiden over the call. "Did you hide the price tag?" she asked.

Aiden felt a twinge of disappointment. "The receipt is inside the box. You’ll see."

As she saw the price, her expression changed. "This is too expensive xxxx RS ! I can’t accept it. Take it back."

"Just keep it," Aiden replied, suppressing his emotions.

Isabella examined the earphones closely. "They actually look really nice."

Aiden thought to himself, Obviously. I handpicked them for you. But instead of saying anything, he just smiled.

Later, Isabella posted an Instagram story about their meeting, showcasing the gifts they exchanged. Despite the mixed emotions, Aiden was still happy. He wanted to believe that this time, things would be different.

And so, the months continued to pass with moments of joy, uncertainty, and the lingering shadows of the past still trailing behind them.

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