Bonus Story: Adrian pt. 2

I shift uncomfortably, feeling the weight of Anna's gaze on me. Her eyes, wide and innocent like a deer caught in headlights, pierce through my defenses, leaving me vulnerable and exposed. I search for the right words, but it's difficult to be honest in this instance.

Anna's voice breaks through the silence. "Well? Aren't you going to answer me why you don't like me?"

I swallow hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. This was supposed to be a secret kept until it was time to reveal it.

"I... I don't know," I finally stammer, my voice barely above a whisper. It's the truth, to some extent. I've never been able to pinpoint exactly why I feel this way, why there's a barrier between us that I can't seem to break down.

Anna's doe eyes glisten with unshed tears, and her shoulders slump as if my words have wounded her. "You don't know? After all this time, you can't even give me a reason?"

My heart twitches as I watch her, knowing the real reason behind my hesitation, one t