Truth finds its way

                                    

                                          


A sound echoed through the air.
"Cann, honey, I’m home!"
It was Delitz’s voice, clear and familiar. She had returned from her mother’s, back to Cann’s apartment.
Ritika froze, confusion washing over her. *Who’s calling Cann ‘honey’?* 
Cann’s expression shifted from calm to panic, guilt spreading across his face. 
"Ritika, you need to go," he said, trying to stay composed, though there was fear in his voice. He stood up abruptly.
Ritika, still bewildered, asked, "What’s going on? Is someone at your place, Cann?"
"No, no one," Cann said quickly, distancing himself from her. "But I really need to go."
Feeling disrespected and confused by his sudden change in behavior, Ritika’s face hardened. Without another word, she turned and stormed off, her mood darkening.
As Ritika disappeared from view, Delitz stepped out onto the balcony, oblivious to the tension that had just unfolded.
"Oh, honey, I missed you! Look, I’m back!" Delitz threw her arms around Cann, her smile wide as she tried to hug him. 
Cann stiffened but didn’t return the embrace.
"How was your trip to Cappadocia?" she asked, running her fingers through his beard. "I heard you stayed an extra day. Why’s that?"
"I had some work," Cann replied, his eyes darting toward the neighboring balcony, hoping Ritika hadn’t overheard.
"Work, huh?" Delitz laughed playfully, trying to get closer. "Well, maybe you can do some work on me." She leaned in, attempting to kiss him, but Cann pulled back.
Delitz, frustrated, backed away. "What’s wrong with you? You can’t even kiss me properly." Her voice was sharp, a mixture of anger and disbelief. With a huff, she stomped off inside.
Cann sighed and ran his hands through his hair, feeling the weight of everything. He turned and caught sight of Ritika, standing in the corner of her balcony, watching the entire scene unfold. 
Her eyes were filled with betrayal, hurt pooling in them. Cann could see the questions swirling in her mind: *How could he do this? Why did he lie to me? I thought he loved me…* 
She couldn’t stand it—the sight of him, the weight of the moment. She felt like the air had been sucked out of her lungs.
"Ritika, wait—" Cann started, stepping toward her.
But Ritika didn’t listen. She turned and ran, her heart breaking with every step, tears streaming down her face. She reached her room and slammed the door shut, locking him out.
Cann stood there, helpless, staring at the closed door. He had no idea how to fix this. With a heavy heart, he slowly walked back to his apartment.
Delitz, now lounging on the bed in her bathrobe, glanced at him. "I didn’t expect you to be so distant," she said, stretching lazily.
Cann rubbed his face, exhausted. "I didn’t expect you here either."
"Well, my father came home, so here I am," Delitz replied, giving him a teasing smile. She moved closer, trying to reignite the spark between them, but Cann was already lost in his thoughts—thoughts of Ritika.
As Delitz leaned in, trying to seduce him, Cann barely reacted. His mind was spinning, thinking of how he’d ruined everything. *This is the worst day of my life.*
"Truth sets us free… but it also sets us apart," he muttered to himself, sinking into his own regret.
Seeing him uninterested, Delitz sighed and went to the balcony for some air. She sipped her coffee, looking out at the night sky, her thoughts far from Cann’s turmoil. As she turned to head back inside, she noticed a light coming from the apartment next door.
"Who’s living there?" she wondered aloud, before heading back to Cann’s room. 
"Do we have new neighbors?" she asked. "I saw a light from the apartment next door."
Cann’s heart skipped a beat, anxiety creeping up. *What if Delitz and Ritika meet?*
"Yeah," he replied cautiously. "Someone moved in about a week ago."
"A week?" Delitz raised an eyebrow. "And you didn’t bother telling me?"
"You never asked," Cann shot back, his tone defensive.
Delitz scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Well, I apparently did."
Cann sighed, irritated. "Twice in one week—great job. Now can we just sleep?"
"Oh, please, all you’ve done is sleep this past week," Delitz snapped, her irritation growing.
"Well, it’s been the best week of my life," Cann retorted, his frustration boiling over.
"Then I should leave," Delitz said sharply. "Maybe then you’ll have the perfect life." In a fit of anger, she grabbed a nearby vase and hurled it to the floor, shattering it.
Cann shot up from the bed and grabbed her arms, trying to calm her down. "If you want to fight, we can. But not tonight, Delitz. Not today. I’m sorry, this is my fault."
Delitz, still fuming, yanked her arm away and flopped onto the bed, scrolling through her phone, ignoring him.
Cann sighed and lay down on the other side of the bed, closing his eyes. But sleep didn’t come.
---
On the other side of the wall, Ritika lay awake, unable to stop thinking about Cann. Her mind replayed every moment they shared—saving him during his cardiac arrest, the way he kissed her, the care he’d shown her.
But now, all of that felt like a lie. *Delitz is his girlfriend?* Her heart shattered as the truth sunk in. Cann had never admitted to being in a relationship, but he’d also never said he loved her.
Still, she couldn’t ignore how Cann made her feel—the warmth of his care, the connection they shared. Yet the sting of betrayal overshadowed everything.
*How will I face him now?* Ritika thought, her tears soaking the pillow. She resolved to ignore him, to pretend like he didn’t exist. But deep down, she knew she couldn’t simply unlove him.
Unloving Cann would be like forgetting someone she’d never met. Even though he lied, she knew, somehow, she would forgive him. Because no matter what, she would always love him.