My Unrequited Love For My Guardian

and me to get along, though let's be real, there wasn't much about her I didn't like aside from the fact that she now shared a home with the man I

she brushed it off with a wave of her hand and a chuckle, "No worries at all. I understand life gets busy, and besides, I wouldn'

of them together. My heart burned to witness his random displays of affection towards her – the touches, the kisses, the attentive care he

s attention fully on her. Meanwhile, I sat quietly beside him, pushing my food around on my plate. Not once did he ask why I wasn't eating. Though I had a

ement at the firm we partner with. Almost a year and a half ago, when I first met Eva, we were in a tight spot with some risky investmen

ou're amazing," I said with a feigned chuck

e. With the way he's leading the company, it won't be long before it becomes a trillion-dollar enterprise. His tactics are

ey showered each other with compliments, I pretended to be interested, masking my true feeli

Eva asked, cutting a piece of

eplied politely but briefly. I let out an awkward chuckle, adding, "I'm no genius like you t

orensic psychology. Her attention to detail would be a real asset in the field." It was the first time Atlas mentioned me all night, b

etween Atlas's demeanor with me and with Eva. Witnessing his genuine smiles and affectionate gestures towards her stirred an unsettling mix of envy and resignation within me. With Eva, Atlas displayed a tenderness and

on took on a more paternalistic tone, akin to a protective guardian rather than a romantic partner. Though I cherished hi

onship. While I cherished Atlas's presence in my life, I couldn't shake the lingering sense o

masking my true feelings. "But I need to call it a night. I have a test on Monday that I need

nding the day with Jess, far away from these two lovebirds. Eva bea

e Atlas watching us closely. I knew I had to play the part-if I didn't act polite and friendly with Eva, Atlas would surely no

to the heart, and the urge to tear them apart scared me with its intensity. The thought of having to get out of bed was unbearable, but the prospect of dressing up to

he facade of normalcy that seemed increasingly out of reach. The tears I had held back in the privacy of the shower n

reality that awaited me. I cried until exhaustion took over, eventually falling i

I fumbled for my phone to check the time-three in the morning, far too early to be awake. I reached for the water

ng, I begrudgingly abandoned the warmth of my bed and padded across the floor, my attire-revealing shorts and a top with no bra beneath-scarcely app

rie shadows against the walls. The silence enveloped me like a heavy blanket, br

mething about its crispness that quenches my thirst like nothing else. As the first sip trickled down my throat, followed by another, I couldn't

re going to give yourself a sore throat from drinking such cold water," the voice admonished, sending a shiver down my spine. Startled, I turned to find A

ousled, and his eyes held a hint of fatigue, suggesting he had just awoken. However, my attention was drawn to his neck,

ater," I chided, eliciting a soft chuckle from him. "And secondly, cold water can exacerbate a cold or respiratory infection. It can

" I asked, my voice barel

r into the kitchen. I noticed

ght from the fridge illuminated his features, and I couldn't help but stare. Freshly out of bed, he looked even more

ers. Would you like some?" he asked, pull

ry too, but I'm not eating th

in the microwave. "I can't sleep

ack in the fridge. "Well, I can," I

to leave, he calle

n. He continued, "I was too harsh on you the other day. I shouldn't have said what I did. I was wrong, Harp

tant ache I had grown accustomed to in his presence. "You were not wrong, Atlas. I am selfish," I admitted with a wry smile, the bitterness of self-awaren

uzzled expression deepen. "Your girlfriend is very cute, Atlas," I remarked, deliberately bringing Eva into the conversation, further perplexing him with

questions, but I didn't look back. The ache in my chest dee