CHAPTER 42: APOLOGY ACCEPTED... WITH ADD-ONS

I sat there for a long time after the door slammed.

Not moving. Not thinking anything useful. Just... existing in that hollow, buzzing way you do after someone drops a bomb on you and leaves you in the smoke.

By the next morning, nothing felt clearer — if anything, the quiet was worse.

Normally, Celestia would’ve texted by now. Something dramatic, maybe a You’re dead to me gif or a selfie where she looked stunning but captioned it murder eyes. Or maybe she’d call just to yell at me until I said something stupid enough for her to hang up on.

But my phone was silent.

No buzzing, no chime, no screen lighting up with her name.

The silence was worse than the shouting.

I leaned back into the couch, rubbing the back of my neck. I’d messed up somehow — that much was obvious — but the problem was, I didn’t even know what the rules were this time. Was I supposed to chase after her? Give her space? Apologize for something I didn’t fully understand?

Every option felt like stepping into a minefield without a map.

My thumb hovered over her contact anyway. Just call. Just... call and fix it.

But what if she didn’t answer?

Or worse — what if she did answer, and I said the wrong thing again?

I tossed my phone onto the coffee table and stood up, pacing the small living room like that would magically help me think.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized I wasn’t thinking at all, I was spiraling.

I glanced at the phone again.

If she wasn’t calling me... maybe that meant I had to figure this out on my own.

Except, I had no idea how to do that.

Which is how, about fifteen minutes later, I found myself scrolling down to a contact I probably shouldn’t touch right now.

Marina.

My thumb hovered.

This was dumb. This was really dumb.

But maybe she could... explain? Translate Celestia logic into normal human logic?

Before I could stop myself, I hit call.

It rang twice before her voice came through, smooth but with that faint undertone of amusement she always had.

"Well, this is a surprise. Should I be flattered or worried?"

"Hey," I said, and immediately regretted how awkward it sounded. "Uh... can we talk?"

There was a pause, and I could almost hear her raising an eyebrow through the phone.

"Talk? As in, now?"

"Yeah. In person, if you’re free."

Another pause, then a dry laugh. "Wow. I hope your girlfriend won’t murder me for this. I mean, I like my life the way it is — murder-free."

I ran a hand through my hair. "She’s not... she’s not exactly talking to me right now."

"Ohhh," she said, drawing the word out like she’d just uncovered a juicy secret. "So I’m Plan B when the heiress gives you the silent treatment?"

"That’s not—" I stopped, groaning. "Look, I just... I need to clear my head, okay? I thought maybe we could meet somewhere public. You know, public, so there’s no reason for anyone to commit homicide."

"Wow, you’re really selling this invitation," she said, but I could hear her smile. "Fine. There’s a 24-hour coffee place near campus. I’ll be there in twenty."

"Thanks."

"Don’t thank me yet," she replied lightly. "I haven’t decided if I’m here to help you or roast you for whatever you did to make Celestia mad."

She hung up before I could answer.

I stared at my phone for a moment, realizing that somehow, I’d just chosen the dumbest possible option in this situation — and I was already committed to it.

---

She was already parked when my Uber dropped me off. I spotted her leaning against the driver’s side of an older blue hatchback, hands shoved into the front pocket of her hoodie, hair falling loose over her shoulders. No makeup, no jewelry, no effort — and somehow she still looked like the kind of girl an indie song would be written about.

"Hey," I said, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets.

"Hey," she echoed, giving me a once-over. Then her mouth curved just enough to make it dangerous. "I hope your girlfriend won’t murder me for this."

I half-laughed, half-groaned. "She’s not the murdering type."

Marina’s eyebrow went up. "Right. Sure. Totally believe you." She jerked her head toward the passenger side. "Get in before I change my mind."

I slid into the seat, the faint scent of vanilla and coffee curling around me.

"So," she said slowly, "what’s this about?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "The party. Last night."

Her expression shifted instantly — not surprised, but alert. "Ah. You mean the part where your girlfriend and I verbally slapped each other?"

"That... yeah. That part."

She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. "And?"

I hesitated, staring at the dashboard like it had the right words printed on it. "And... she left. Walked out before the night was even over. Didn’t say much after that."

Marina tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. "Okay... and this is unusual because...?"

"Because she hasn’t called. Or texted. Or sent a meme about murdering me in my sleep. Nothing. Complete radio silence."

That made Marina pause, her brow lifting. "Wow. Cold shoulder and a full ghosting. Must’ve been some fight."

"It wasn’t just a fight," I said quietly.

Her voice softened, just a touch. "Then what was it?"

I blew out a breath. "She told me to choose."

Marina blinked. "Choose...?"

I glanced at her. "Between you and her."

Her mouth opened, closed, then she let out a low whistle. "Damn. I wasn’t expecting that one."

"Yeah." I leaned back in the seat. "And I froze. Like an idiot. Didn’t say a thing. Just... nothing."

She didn’t respond immediately — which for Marina was almost as shocking as what I’d just told her. Finally, she smirked faintly, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Well. That’s... bold of her."

"That’s Val," I said without thinking.

Marina’s gaze sharpened instantly. "You call her Val"

"...Yeah?"

Her smirk returned full force, now with a side of mock offense. "Wow. Years of knowing me, and I still get stuck with ’Marina’ like we’re in a business meeting. But she gets a nickname? Interesting."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "It’s not like that."

"It’s exactly like that," she said, eyes glinting. "You don’t just hand out cute little two-syllable names unless someone’s special."

"She’s my girlfriend," I said, exasperated.

"Mm-hm," Marina hummed, clearly enjoying herself. "Guess I’ll just have to earn mine someday."

I groaned. "You’re missing the point."

"No, I’m savoring it," she corrected. "You’ve been best friends with me for how long? And you’re over here handing out pet names like candy to Little Miss Choose-Or-Lose."

I narrowed my eyes. "You are impossible."

"Thank you," she said sweetly, then waved a hand. "Anyway. Back to the drama. She gave you an ultimatum, and you froze. And now she’s mad."

"She’s not just mad," I muttered. "She’s... I don’t know. Done. Or at least acting like it."

Marina tilted her head, studying me. "So, what now?"

"I don’t know," I admitted. "That’s why I called you. I thought maybe you could..." I trailed off.

"Fix it for you?" she supplied.

"Help me figure it out," I corrected.

She smirked. "That’s what I thought. And sure, I can help. But..." Her eyes lingered on me for a beat too long. "...ever thought about us dating?"

I nearly choked. "What?"

"Relax," she said quickly, lips curving in a sly smile. "Me neither. Just wanted to see your face. Totally worth it, by the way."

"You’re insane," I muttered, still recovering.

"Maybe," she said, eyes dancing. "Or maybe I just like reminding you I could be competition if I wanted to be. Keeps you on your toes."

I shook my head. "You’re unbelievable."

"And you’re predictable," she countered. "Which is why Val saw this coming before you did."

That hit a little too close to home. I sank further into my seat, wishing I had some clever comeback ready.

Marina noticed, of course. She always did. She sighed, softer this time. "Look, I’m not here to steal you from her. But I’m also not going to pretend I don’t care what happens. You’re my friend, Kai. And you’re in way over your head with that girl."

I stared at her. "You think I can fix this?"

Her smirk returned, gentler now. "You? Probably not. But maybe Val doesn’t want perfect. Maybe she just wants you to stop freezing."

---

By the time I got back to my place, my brain felt like it had been through a blender. Talking to Marina hadn’t exactly... clarified things. If anything, she’d just confirmed what I already knew — I’d messed up, and Val wasn’t going to let it slide.

I sat on the edge of my bed, phone in hand, thumb hovering over her name in my contacts. My stomach twisted.

She hadn’t called. She hadn’t texted. But maybe she was waiting for me to make the first move.

Screw it. I hit the video call button before I could talk myself out of it.

She picked up almost immediately.

Her face filled my screen, hair a little messy like she’d just gotten out of bed, eyes sharp but unreadable. "Wow," she said, tilting her head. "The missing boyfriend returns."

I winced. "Hey... uh, listen, about last night—"

"You’re starting with that?" she interrupted.

"Yes. No. I mean—" I scrubbed a hand down my face. "Look, I’m sorry, okay? I’m really sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking, or not thinking, or whatever. I froze, and it was stupid, and I— I just... yeah. I’m sorry."

Her lips curved slightly, but she didn’t let it become a smile. "Go on."

"Go on?" I repeated.

"Mhm." She leaned her chin on her hand. "So you love me."

"Yes," I said without hesitation.

"And you don’t like Marina."

"Right— wait."

She narrowed her eyes playfully. "You paused."

"I didn’t pause, I just— fine, yes. I don’t like Marina. Like that," I added quickly.

Her grin grew. "And you’ll choose me over anyone else."

"Obviously."

"And..." she drew the word out, pretending to think, "you’ll touch me more from now on."

"Uh—?"

"See, that’s the one you paused on."

"I— it’s not that I— what do you mean, ’touch you more’?"

"I mean normal touch," she said, looking mildly offended that I had to ask. "Like holding my hands and cuddling me and hugging me and..." She waved a hand. "...you know. I’m your girlfriend and you don’t touch me unless I beg for it, or force it, or manipulate you into it. I don’t mean sex—" she shrugged innocently "—although I’d like that too."

I stared at her. "I thought you were mad."

"I am mad."

"You just— you literally just smiled at me."

"Mhm," she hummed. "You apologized already and made a lot of promises that will probably get you in trouble. So I’m good now."

I blinked at her, trying to keep up. "You’re... good now?"

She nodded like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I’m coming over tonight."

My brain scrambled for a response. "...Wait, what?"

"You heard me." She smirked, and before I could say anything else, the screen went black. Call ended.

I sat there, staring at my reflection on the darkened screen, trying to figure out if I’d just defused a fight or walked straight into a trap.

Probably both.

---

To be continued...