New Life : A Second Chance

"I am not a mind-reader," Kyle said, "Unless you talk to me, I will never know."

"Even though I always told you I love you, and asked you if anything was wrong, it wasn't enough, was it?" Kyle mused loudly.

"I guess having a long-distance relationship with someone that doesn't trust you will never work."

Sari bit her lower lips and couldn't refute him. 

He was right. 

She didn't trust him.

No matter how many times he told her of his love, instead of being reassured, she started thinking that he said it too much. Too often, as if he was hiding something. 

Whenever he asked her if everything was alright, she would lie and say things were fine.

When he said he missed her, she didn't believe him fully since he didn't call everyday.

She found it hard to ask him about anything. Even now, she still couldn't bring up the subject of Nialla.

"I don't blame you, Sari," Kyle said softly, "It's obvious that you're happy with Hamdan. I can see that. He's the one that fits you, not me. He can make you happy, not me."

"So, go and be with him with a clear conscience," Kyle said, "Sometimes, love just isn't enough. It's a romantic ideal, but not reality."

Sari looked up in surprise at that, and could see the sincerity in his eyes as he said that.

It was only then that she realised, that he was letting her go not because he didn't love her - but because he did love her. 

"Sometimes, love just isn't enough," Kyle repeated softly.

He then took out a folder and gave it to her.

"For you," he said and left before she could react.

Sari looked at the folder and opened it.

It was the title deed to the house that Kyle lived in while he was here. 

Sari clutched the file and tears started flowing down again. She was so confused.

She loved Kyle, she did. She had feelings for Hamdan, but it wasn't the same as it was with Kyle. 

Did she make a mistake?

Should she have gone after Kyle?

She shook her head.

No, she had to be strong.

Seeing him in front of her, hearing his voice directly rather than through the phone … all of it hit her so hard. The love that she had for him sprang up to blossom when it had been withering away due to the absence.

But she knew, if she stayed, she would have the doubts all over again.

As she was pondering this, the doorbell rang.

Sari went to open the door and was shocked to see the person outside.

"Kayla??"

"You know me," Kay said, "Good. This makes it easier. Can I come in?"

"Of course," Sari said, standing aside.

Kay walked in and looked around. It was a cozy home and Sari was a sweet girl. Kay could understand why her brother fell so deeply in love with her. 

Kay wasn't here to cause trouble.

Kyle had made his choice. 

But she had to make some things clear.

Sari was extremely nervous.

Surprisingly, more nervous than when Kyle was here.

"I'll go get some drinks first," Sari said.

Kay saw the teapot and cup that was in the living room. Sari was putting it on a tray to bring to the kitchen when Kay stopped her.

"It's okay," Kay said, lifting the teapot, "I'll just use Kyle's cup. There's still plenty of tea in here."

"You knew he came earlier?" Sari asked in surprise.

"Of course," Kay said, "I waited until he left before I came."

"Oh," Sari said, not knowing what else to say. She sat back down, since she had no reason to go now. She did, however, feel slightly uncomfortable to see Kay using Kyle's cup so easily.

Sure, they were siblings, but they were of the opposite gender. 

Kay poured herself a cup and blew on it, even though it wasn't that hot anymore. She took a sip, and Sari couldn't help but think about the fact that her lips were touching the exact same spot that Kyle's lips had been.

Kay began, "When Kyle first told me about you, my first reaction was … I didn't like you."

Sari paled and Kay laughed a bit at that.

"Don't get me wrong," Kay said, "It had nothing to do with you, personally. I just didn't like the idea of my brother getting a girlfriend when I did not know who she was."

"But you were his choice," Kay continued softly, "And I was happy for him. Because he was so happy. And so in love."

"I was, too!" Sari said quickly, wanting this girl to know that her feelings were genuine as well. Why did she have to make it sound like she had been playing with Kyle's feelings?

Kyle wasn't the only one that was in love. She was, too.

"So what happened?" Kay asked.

"I …" Sari began and hesitated. Again. How could she tell this girl, about how uncomfortable she was about Nialla? About their lifestyles?

To them, it was normal, right?

Kay sighed loudly, while rolling her eyes, "See, you're doing it again. You're pretty annoying when you do that, you know?"

"Do what?"

"Not asking. Not opening your mouth. Letting your stupid imagination run wild and making fiction, into fact," Kay said, crossing her arms across her chest.

"I do not," Sari replied.

"So, you believe Dina more than Kyle?" Kay asked.

Dina?? 

Sari was shocked. What had Dina got to do with anything?

"You're probably wondering what Dina has got to do with all of this, right?" Kay asked in amusement, finding her open expressions funny. No wonder Kyle fell for her.

"Haven't you realised it yet? Everything you know about our supposed life, you heard from Dina," Kay pointed out.

"And you chose to believe her wholeheartedly rather than Kyle. What is it about Dina that makes her more trustworthy compared to your own boyfriend?"