Leia's phone buzzed unexpectedly while she was at work. Glancing at the screen, her eyebrows furrowed in surprise—Lina. She hesitated before opening the message.
Lina: Leia, let's meet. Just the two of us. There's something you should know.
Leia felt a strange sense of unease settle in her chest. She had no reason to meet Lina, nor did she particularly trust her intentions. Yet, curiosity gnawed at her. With a deep breath, she typed her reply.
Leia:Where?
–
That evening, Leia arrived at the quiet café Lina had chosen. She spotted Lina sitting by the window, looking every bit as confident and poised as she always did. With a composed expression, Leia walked over and took a seat.
"I appreciate you coming, Leia," Lina said, a saccharine smile on her lips as she stirred her coffee lazily. "I thought it was time we had a real talk."
Leia tilted her head, her voice neutral. "Is there something you need to say?"
Lina sighed dramatically before pulling out her phone. "I just think you deserve to know the truth."
She tapped on the screen and turned it toward Leia. The video played—a dimly lit setting, voices filled with laughter and teasing. It was clearly from a university gathering. Leia watched as someone off-camera asked Nathan, 'Is there someone in your heart? Tell us the name!'
Nathan, younger yet still carrying the same composed aura, had simply smiled and said, 'The girl's name starts with L.'
Another voice chimed in, 'How many letters?'
Nathan had taken a sip of his drink and replied, 'Four.'
The teasing continued, 'Come on, just tell us the last letter!'
Nathan's voice was clear, confident. 'A.'
The video ended. Lina leaned back, a smirk playing on her lips. "Nathan has liked me for years, Leia. Even back in university, when we were in the same circle, everyone knew he had someone special in his heart. And now, you just popped out and took my place."
Leia's fingers tightened around the edge of her coffee cup. She didn't know what to think. The name 'Lina' fit perfectly, and the way Lina spoke with such certainty made it hard to ignore.
"I don't know what you're trying to do, Lina," Leia said evenly, masking the emotions swirling inside her. "But Nathan and I are together now. If he wanted to be with you, he would have been."
Lina chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, Leia. Men don't always end up with the person they truly want. Sometimes, they settle for what's convenient. Are you sure he's not just with you because I was out of reach?"
Since high school, Lina is well known for her good looks and wealthy family background. At that point of time, Nathan's family background could not compare to hers. Leia felt a dull ache in her chest. She wanted to trust Nathan, to believe in what they had, but doubt had already started to creep in. She pushed back her chair, standing up. "I don't need to justify anything to you, Lina. If you think a university video is enough to shake me, you're wrong."
Lina merely smiled as Leia walked away, but the self-satisfied gleam in her eyes unsettled her.
–
That evening, Nathan picked Leia up as usual, but from the moment she slid into the passenger seat, he knew something was wrong. She was unusually quiet, her fingers lightly gripping the hem of her dress, eyes downcast as if lost in thought.
"Leia?" His voice was gentle, filled with concern. "What's wrong?"
She hesitated, forcing a small smile before shaking her head. "It's nothing."
Nathan didn't start the car. Instead, he reached over, his warm fingers enveloping her delicate hand. "Leia, I can tell when something's bothering you. Talk to me."
Leia bit her lip, debating for a moment before finally exhaling. "Lina asked to meet me today. She showed me a video from your university days." She paused, swallowing hard. "Someone in the video asked if you had someone in mind, and you said her name started with L, had four letters, and ended with A."
Nathan's brows furrowed briefly before realization struck. His grip on her hand tightened slightly. "And she told you that person was her."
Leia nodded, looking away. "Nathan, I am trying hard to tell myself to believe you. I just need a little bit more time to digest. I never saw you in university. I don't know what your life was like then. And what if… what if she's right?"
Nathan exhaled sharply, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes. He couldn't bear the thought of Leia doubting his feelings, not after everything. He immediately turned to her, cupping her face with both hands, his thumbs gently brushing against her cheeks as he made her look at him.
"Leia, listen to me," he said, his voice steady but urgent. "The girl I was talking about in that video was you."
Her eyes widened. "Me? But we barely spoke in high school. I didn't even think you knew I existed."
Nathan let out a soft chuckle, his forehead pressing lightly against hers. "I knew, Leia. I noticed you from the moment you started helping at my mom's café. I saw how hard you worked, how kind you were to my mother, how selfless you were. I watched you from afar because I didn't know how to approach you back then. I was so focused on my studies, on responsibilities, that I never had the courage to reach out."
Leia's heart pounded. "So… you've liked me since high school?"
Nathan nodded. "I didn't fully understand my feelings at the time. But when I was in university and people asked if I had someone in my heart, I thought of you. And because I was too much of a coward to say it outright, I gave hints instead. I thought maybe one day, fate would let us cross paths again. And it did."
Leia searched his face, looking for any trace of doubt or hesitation, but all she saw was sincerity, raw and unfiltered. A warmth spread through her, melting away the unease Lina had planted in her heart. She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Nathan, do you know how ridiculous this sounds? You liked me for years, and I spent just as many years thinking I was invisible to you."
Nathan chuckled, leaning in to press a lingering kiss to her forehead. "I guess fate really likes playing tricks on us."
Leia sighed in relief and rested her head against his shoulder. "Thank you for telling me. I trust you."
Nathan wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "And that's all that matters."
The drive home was quiet, filled with the comfortable silence of two hearts now fully aligned. When they reached Leia's apartment, Nathan insisted on walking her inside, not ready to part from her just yet.
The moment the door closed behind them, Leia turned to face him. "Nathan…"
His eyes darkened slightly as he took a step closer, his fingers tilting her chin up. "Leia, do you know how scared I was that you might actually believe Lina? The thought of losing you, even for a second, made me crazy."
She reached up, cupping his cheek, her thumb tracing slow circles against his skin. "I told you, I trust you. But I think… I just need you to remind me a little more tonight."
Nathan's gaze flickered with understanding and something deeper. Without another word, he leaned down, capturing her lips in a slow, passionate kiss. Leia melted against him, her arms wrapping around his neck as his hands found her waist, pulling her flush against him.
The air between them shifted, growing hotter, more desperate. Nathan's lips trailed from her mouth down to her jaw, then lower to the sensitive spot just beneath her ear. Leia gasped, her fingers tightening in his hair as his touch sent shivers down her spine.
He lifted her effortlessly, carrying her toward the bedroom without breaking their kiss. When they reached the bed, he gently laid her down, hovering over her with an intensity that made her breath hitch.
"Leia…" His voice was husky, filled with longing as he traced slow, reverent kisses down her collarbone. "You're the only one I've ever wanted. Only you."
Leia's hands roamed over his shoulders, pulling him closer. "Show me," she whispered against his lips.
And Nathan did.
That night, he erased every doubt, every insecurity, and replaced them with only love, passion, and the undeniable truth—he had always belonged to her, just as she had always belonged to him.