The waves lapped softly against the boat, but to you, they sounded deafening. You sat stiffly on the edge, gripping the sides with white-knuckled hands, your heart pounding in your chest. The water stretched endlessly around you, a vast, dark expanse that seemed to mock your fear. You had begged Kai not to bring you here, begged him to reconsider, but he had simply stared at you with those unreadable, piercing eyes and said, “You’ll understand soon.”

And now he was gone.

“I’ll show you exactly how you made me feel four years ago.” he’d said before diving into the water without a second glance, disappearing into the depths beneath the boat.

“Kai.” you whispered, your voice trembling as you scanned the surface. There was no sign of him. The stillness felt suffocating, like a heavy weight pressing down on your chest.

“Kai!” you called louder, the tears pricking your eyes, blurring the already endless horizon. You tried to steady yourself, but the memories were relentless.

Four years ago, you’d left without a goodbye, too shattered, too afraid to face the aftermath of that night. His best friend, the lies, the betrayal—it had been too much. And yet, how could you have known what your silence would cost him? That he’d been calling you, needing you, in the midst of his own storm.

Your chest heaved as the memories sharpened, the weight of your guilt heavier than the fear of the water surrounding you.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the haze, soft but piercing.

“That’s how I felt four years ago when you left. You were always my weakness.”

The words were distant but unmistakable, and you froze. You didn’t dare look up, too consumed by the fear and the guilt crushing you. The boat shifted, a soft thud reverberating beneath you as the unmistakable sound of wet footsteps grew closer.

In an instant, strong arms encircled you, pulling you into a firm, familiar embrace.

“Please, look at me.” Kai whispered, his voice low, tinged with both anger and pain.