The sun dipped behind the tall buildings of Johannesburg, leaving streaks of gold and crimson across the sky. Pamela sat at her desk in the university library, her laptop open but untouched. The cursor blinked on a blank page — just like her thoughts.

Her mind wasn’t on her assignment. It was on Renaldo.

She hadn’t seen him in two days, ever since they almost kissed at the café. She thought staying away would make things easier. But the silence between them only made her miss him more.

Her phone buzzed.

Renaldo: “Still mad at me?”

Pamela stared at the message for a few seconds before replying.

Pamela: “I was never mad.”

Renaldo: “Good. Because I’ve been thinking about you all week.”

Pamela’s heart skipped a beat.

Pamela: “Renaldo, please don’t start.”

Renaldo: “Meet me. Just one last time. I need to talk to you.”

Pamela hesitated. Her hand trembled slightly. She looked at the clock — it was almost 7 p.m.

I shouldn’t go, she thought. But I owe him an explanation.

That evening, Pamela met Renaldo at the small café where they used to study together. The lights were soft, the air warm, and faint music played in the background.

Renaldo stood up as she entered, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her.

“You came,” he said softly.

“I almost didn’t,” she replied, sitting down.

There was a heavy silence before Renaldo finally spoke.

“Pamela, I can’t pretend anymore.”

“Renaldo—”

“No, let me finish,” he said quickly. “I’ve tried to respect the fact that you’re engaged, but every time I see you, I feel something I can’t ignore.”

Pamela’s eyes filled with tears. “Don’t say that.”

“I love you,” he whispered. “And I know you feel it too.”

Pamela stood up, shaking her head. “No… I can’t do this. Felix—he’s done everything for me.”

Renaldo rose too, stepping closer. “I’m not asking you to choose. I just needed you to know the truth.”

His voice broke something inside her — something she had been holding together for too long.

Pamela felt her chest tighten. “Renaldo… please don’t make this harder.”

But then he reached out, gently brushing away a tear from her cheek. His hand lingered, and in that moment, Pamela stopped fighting.

Their eyes met. And before she could think, Renaldo leaned in and kissed her.

It was slow, soft — and devastatingly real.

For a few seconds, the world disappeared. There was no Felix. No guilt. Just warmth, heartbeat, and longing.

When the kiss broke, Pamela stepped back, her breathing heavy.

“I have to go,” she whispered, turning away.

“Pamela, wait—”

But she ran into the night, tears falling down her face, knowing something sacred had just shattered.

The next morning, she couldn’t look at herself in the mirror. The guilt felt like a stone in her chest.

She ignored Renaldo’s calls. She ignored Felix’s messages too.

Felix finally called that evening.

“Babe, I’ve been trying to reach you all day,” he said. “Is everything okay?”

Pamela forced her voice to sound normal. “Yes, I’ve just been studying.”

“I miss you,” Felix said. “I’m planning to come visit next weekend.”

Her heart clenched. “That would be nice.”

“You don’t sound happy.”

“I am. I’m just… tired.”

“Alright,” Felix said quietly. “Get some rest, my love.”

When the call ended, Pamela burst into tears.

“What have I done?” she whispered.

A week passed. Renaldo kept his distance — giving her space, but never truly leaving her mind.

During one of her business lectures, she caught sight of him sitting at the back of the hall. Their eyes met briefly.

Pamela looked away immediately, but her hands trembled. She couldn’t focus for the rest of the class.

That afternoon, Renaldo found her alone in the courtyard.

“We need to talk,” he said gently.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” she said, avoiding his gaze.

“You think ignoring me will make your feelings disappear?”

Pamela snapped, “You don’t understand! I love Felix. I owe him everything!”

Renaldo stepped closer. “And yet you kissed me.”

Pamela froze.

Renaldo sighed. “Pamela, you can keep pretending if you want, but I know what I felt that night. And so do you.”

Tears filled her eyes. “It was a mistake.”

Renaldo nodded slowly, pain flashing in his eyes. “If that’s what you want to believe… I’ll respect it.”

He turned and walked away — leaving Pamela standing there, heartbroken and confused.

That night, Felix called again. This time, he sounded excited.

“I have amazing news,” he said. “I got promoted! They’re moving me to head attorney. We’re finally going to have the life we dreamed of, Pamela.”

Pamela tried to sound happy. “That’s wonderful, Felix. I’m proud of you.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” he said. “After your graduation, we’ll start planning the wedding.”p>

Pamela smiled weakly, but inside she felt hollow.

After the call, she sat by her window, looking out at the city lights. Her engagement ring sparkled faintly under the moonlight.

But instead of feeling joy, all she felt was guilt — and the faint echo of Renaldo’s voice saying “I love you.”

As the semester ended, Pamela’s grades remained high, but her peace was gone.

She avoided Renaldo as much as she could, though every time they passed each other in the halls, she felt her heart ache.

Rumors began spreading around campus about the two of them. Some classmates whispered, others stared.

Pamela felt the pressure building. She wanted to tell Felix everything — but the fear of losing him was unbearable.

She told herself that the kiss meant nothing. That it was just confusion. That she still loved Felix.

But every lie she told herself chipped away at her soul.

One evening, she received a message from Renaldo.

Renaldo: “I’m leaving for Cape Town tomorrow. My dad needs help with the family business. I just wanted to say goodbye properly.”

Pamela stared at the screen, her heart racing.

She typed… deleted… typed again. Finally, she sent:

Pamela: “Where are you?”

Renaldo: “At the old café.”

Pamela grabbed her jacket and left her room without thinking.

When she arrived, Renaldo was already standing outside. The streetlights reflected in his eyes.

“You came,” he said softly.

Pamela nodded, tears threatening to fall. “I couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye.”

They stood in silence for a moment before she whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Renaldo shook his head. “Don’t apologize for loving me.”

“I didn’t say I—”

Before she could finish, Renaldo pulled her into his arms. She didn’t resist. She rested her head against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

They stood there for what felt like forever, both knowing this was the beginning of something they couldn’t control — and the end of something they once believed was unbreakable.

Pamela whispered, “Goodbye, Renaldo.”

“Goodbye, Pamela.”

As she walked away, she knew that no matter what happened next, her life — and her heart — would never be the same again.

End of Chapter 5