Chapter 160: Tell Me The Truth
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Adrien opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, then just shut it again, his face twisting into a mix of unease and conflict. He rubbed his hands on his jeans, avoiding my gaze, and the nervous energy coming off him made my stomach tighten.
"Because what?" I asked softly, watching him struggle with his words. "What... were you going to say?"
He shook his head almost right away, letting out a hollow laugh as if trying to brush it off. "I... it’s nothing. Just forget it, Noah. It really doesn’t matter."
But it did matter. I could feel it deep down, that instinctive pull telling me he was standing on the edge of the truth, desperately trying not to fall into it. I’d spent years swallowing things people wouldn’t explain, years accepting silence like it was all I deserved, and I was too tired for that anymore.
"No," I said, surprising myself with how firm my voice was as I sat up a bit straighter. "That’s not right. You don’t get to just stop halfway and pretend it means nothing."
Finally, he looked at me, clearly surprised that I was pushing back.
"You said you were sorry," I pressed, my heart racing but my determination growing stronger. "You said you wanted forgiveness. So tell me the truth. Why did you bully me, Adrien? Really. Not the watered-down version, not the cleaned-up one. I deserve to know."
His jaw tightened, and he looked away again, exhaling slowly through his nose like he was trying to calm himself. "Noah, just...just let it go."
"I can’t," I replied, my voice trembling now—not from fear, but from exhaustion. "I’m tired of people deciding what I can handle and what I can’t. I’ve spent years wondering what was so wrong with me that you and your friends treated me like I was invisible. If you want me to forgive you, then you need to be completely open with me."