h4Chapter 511: The Alternative Was Just As Painful/h4

    No way... Was Arthur worried Somto wouldn’t approve of him?

    That’s too petty, Carl thought.

    He shifted slightly, trying to ease the growing tension.

    Arthur’s one of the best people we know. If he loves Nnenna, really loves her, then isn’t that a good thing?

    Shouldn’t Somto be d? One more person to protect their precious little sister?

    Carl decided to speak up, hoping to ease the pressure building in the silence.

    "Don’t look so angry, Somto," he said with a small smile. "We all practically grew up together. And honestly... I think Arthur would make a good match for Nnenna."

    "Plus," Carl added with a light chuckle, "when you finally win over that heartbeat of yours you mentioned during your coronation, Nnenna will have someone her age to hang out with too."

    Arthur’s eyes snapped open.

    Surprise shot across his face so fast he couldn’t even hide it.

    Carl... doesn’t know?

    He quickly nced at Somto, still silent, still unreadable. His expression hadn’t shifted once. Still dark. Still distant.

    But Arthur’s mind was racing now.

    So Carl doesn’t know that Somto likes Nnenna?

    He pieced it together quickly, Somto must have told Carl about liking someone... but left out who. That much was clear.

    But why?

    Carl was their closest friend. He would’ve supported Somto, probably even helped. So why hide it?

    And then there was Nnenna.

    Arthur’s chest tightened slightly.

    She likes Somto. That much is obvious. The way she looked at him, listened to him, rxed around him, it wasn’t subtle. At least, not to Arthur.

    Yet... she hadn’t told Carl either.

    That’s new.

    Nnenna never kept anything from Carl. She confided in him about everything, or so it always seemed.

    So what was going on?

    Why all the hiding?

    Arthur stared at the ground now, thoughts spinning.

    A tangled web was forming right under their noses, and they had all been too close to see it.

    Still... it wasn’t his ce to speak.

    Somto or Nnenna, that truth belonged to them. And when they were ready, they would be the ones to say it.

    With that thought, and everything he had pieced together on his own, Arthur finally turned back to Carl. Somto still hadn’t spoken, and Carl was looking more confused by the second.

    Arthur took a breath and spoke.

    "It’s alright, Carl," he said gently. "I didn’t say anything before because... I don’t n to act on it."

    Carl blinked, caught off guard.

    Arthur continued, voice calm but firm, like he was exining it to himself as much as to the others.

    "The truth is... I don’t even meet the conditions you just gave. A good chunk of my heart still belongs to that person."

    He looked down, hands resting on his knees. "So I feel divided."

    There was a pause, just long enough to feel heavy.

    "The worst part is... I keep seeing her in Nnenna. In her movements. Her words. Her spirit." He shook his head slowly. "That means my feelings are... clouded. And that’s not fair to Nnenna."

    His voice dipped softer now, full of quiet honesty.

    "I can’t love her the way she deserves. Not like this."

    The silence that followed was thick, but Arthur wasn’t done.

    "So I’ve decided," he said, lifting his gaze. "I’m going to eliminate these feelings. Let them go. And focus on finding the one I’ve carried in my heart for over a decade."

    He exhaled, the tension loosening just slightly in his shoulders.

    "She’s the one I really love."

    And he meant those words, for Carl, for himself...

    And most of all, for Somto.

    But something still didn’t sit right with Arthur when he nced at Somto.

    Somto’s expression hadn’t changed. If anything, it looked even darker than before.

    Why?

    I just told him I’m not trying to take Nnenna from him. That I’m not acting on my feelings. Doesn’t he trust me?

    Arthur’s brows furrowed slightly, his chest tightening with a dull ache.

    Doesn’t he remember that when I say something... I mean it? I’ve never gone back on my word. Not with him. Not ever.

    Or... is it something else?

    Was Somto jealous?

    Even if I’m not nning to do anything, maybe it’s still hard for him to ept that I ever felt that way about Nnenna in the first ce.

    Arthur looked down, shame washing over him.

    Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything at all.

    I just wanted to be honest... because he’s my best friend. I didn’t want to hide something that important from him.

    But now...

    Maybe I made a mistake.

    The words settled in his heart like cold stone.

    He couldn’t take it back now.

    What Arthur didn’t know... was that the storm behind Somto’s silence had little to do with jealousy.

    Somto wasn’t angry because of Nnenna.

    He was angry... at himself.

    His fists clenched slightly at his sides.

    So it’s true. Arthur’s in love with the person he’s been searching for all these years...

    This was something Somto had long suspected

    Then what does that make me?

    His chest ached.

    If she really is the one Arthur’s been carrying in his heart... then I’ve been betraying my best friend this whole time.

    Would I have to give up... on any thoughts of having something with Nnenna?

    The question echoed in Somto’s mind like a whisper he didn’t want to hear.

    But then another thought pushed in, so quiet, yet so loud.

    What if she doesn’t even choose her past?

    What if she chooses her present?

    The life she remembered now.

    The rtionships she has now.

    Somto swallowed hard.

    What would she choose in the end?

    The idea of Nnenna choosing Arthur made his chest tighten, as though something invisible was squeezing his heart.

    But... the alternative was just as painful.

    If Nnenna chose him when he tells her everything, and Arthurter found out who she truly was, the person he had been holding in his heart for over a decade, how could he ever face him again?