𝐂𝐡𝐩𝐭 𝟏𝟓

Kamala's Pov

As we walked inside, chatting about our day, I found comfort in how effortless conversations with my sister always felt. But today, my mind was elsewhere—consumed by thoughts of my baby. The stress had been overwhelming, making it hard to focus on anything or anyone. It felt like a part of me was missing without her. Maya, always perceptive, immediately picked up on my silence.

"You don't even have to say it. Did you actually listen to what I told you and do something about it?" she asked, turning to me with her hands on her hips.

I sighed, feeling the weight of my hesitation. "No, I haven't told her yet—"

Maya didn't let me finish. She threw up her hands in frustration.

"At this point, do you even want this girl?"

Her words caught me off guard. "Of course I do! That's exactly why I'm scared, Maya. What if she leaves me over this?"

"Then show it, Kamala. How long are you going to keep her in the dark? Until she decides to walk away for good?"

"I do care," I insisted, my voice quiet but firm. "More than anything. More than I even care about myself."

"Listen, I can't make this decision for you, but just fix it before it's too late," Maya said, pulling me into a hug. The tension in the room seemed to ease, even if just a little.

"Thanks, Maya. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She gave me a reassuring smile as we pulled back slightly. "Always. You know I've got your back. Now, how about we make something sweet—just like Mommy used to?"

A spark of excitement lit up inside me. Cooking had always been something I loved, especially when it was with family.

"What should we make?" I asked, pausing on my way to the fridge.

"Hmm... how about chocolate cake?"

"Chocolate cake it is," I agreed. Then, as I grabbed the ingredients, I remembered something. "Oh, I forgot to ask—how was your first day tutoring?"

Maya's face lit up instantly, like a Christmas tree. "It actually went really well! I helped quite a few people today, but honestly, it felt good."

As we cracked open the eggs, our conversation flowed effortlessly.

"You'd tutor every student on campus if you could," I teased, throwing her a playful side-eye. "Did you run into any tough subjects?"

Maya paused for a moment, thinking back. "Not really," she said slowly. "But there was this one girl who came in... She didn't seem like someone who'd need help. I mean, she looked pretty damn smart. Turns out she needed help with 'Legal Studies.'"

"Legal Studies, huh? That's right up our alley," I said, stirring the eggs into the batter. "How'd she do?"

Maya's expression softened. "She caught on pretty quickly. Honestly, she was a really pretty girl—even her name sounded beautiful."

A smirk crept onto my lips as I glanced over at Maya, who was practically beaming.

"Sounds like someone has a little crush. What's her name?"

"Allura," she said, almost dreamily. "It sounds even more beautiful every time I say it."

I froze. A wave of heat rushed through my body, my heart pounding. Hearing Allura's name come from my sister's mouth sent me into a spiral. Did she know? I had never told her Allura's name, yet she said it so casually—completely unaware that Allura was mine.

"Oh, that is a really pretty name," I said, forcing my voice to stay even as I slowed my stirring, keeping my eyes fixed on the task at hand. "Is she coming back for more tutoring?"

"I'm not sure," Maya admitted, her cheeks tinting pink. "But part of me hopes she does... just so I can see her again."

A sharp wave of irritation surged through me. I knew Maya had no idea, but that didn't make it any less infuriating. There was no way in hell I was letting her get close to my baby. This had to be handled—before it went any further.

As we finished baking, our conversation continued, but my mind was already elsewhere. I needed to see Allura—now. I didn't bother texting first; I just had to be with her in person.

Maya started cleaning up, giving me the perfect chance to slip away.

"Hey, Maya, I'm gonna head out for a bit—just need some fresh air," I said, sliding on my shoes.

"Alright, just be careful driving," she replied without looking up.

"I will. See you soon."

With that, I grabbed my keys, hopped into my car, and started the drive to Allura's house. My heart pounded harder with every mile. How would she react when I told her? Would she hate me? My mind spun with endless possibilities, each one making my nerves worse.

As I pulled into her driveway, I let out a shaky breath. She was home.

Now all I had to do was face her.

I walked up to the door, my hand hovering just before I knocked. My nerves kicked in. Take a deep breath, Kamala. You can't back out now.

I knocked three times, waiting. The door swung open, and there she was—sweatpants, a tank top, and that gorgeous hair cascading down her back. For a moment, I forgot how to speak, completely caught up in her effortless beauty.

"Hey," she said, leaning against the doorframe. "Come in."

I stepped inside, my nerves tightening. God, give me the strength to get through this. I knew how Allura was—she didn't play when it came to things like this.

I settled onto the couch, and she followed, sitting close. I took a deep breath, my chest heavy. The way she looked at me with those longing eyes told me everything—I had hurt her. She had every right to be upset.

"Go on," she said, reaching for my hand, her touch sending warmth through me. "Tell me what's wrong."

I swallowed hard. I had missed this—missed her touch, missed that soft voice more than anything.

"First, I just want to say how much I missed you," I admitted. "I know I've been distant, and it wasn't fair to you. It wasn't about you at all—it was me."

She inched closer, closing the space between us. "What happened?"

I exhaled slowly. "When I went to have dinner with Stanley, everything was fine at first... but when I was about to leave, she kissed me."

Silence filled the room, heavier than anything I had ever felt. Allura just stared at me, her gaze piercing through my soul. Her grip on my hand loosened slightly, and though her face softened, she only gave a small nod—urging me to continue.

"I knew it was wrong," I said, voice quieter. "The moment I realized what was happening, I told her I couldn't do it." I finally looked back up at her.

But she didn't say anything. She just stared at me, and I had no idea what was going through her mind.

Allura took a deep breath, looking away for a moment before finally speaking.

"Kamala, you could've just told me instead of acting like I didn't exist," she said, her voice steady but firm. "I had a feeling something like that would happen if you went, but you didn't listen to me."

I sighed, guilt weighing heavy on my chest. "I know. I should've listened to you, and I'm sorry, sweet pea. From the bottom of my heart, I mean it." I gently cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing against her skin. "I was just scared... scared that if I told you, I'd lose you."

To my surprise, Allura let out a mischievous laugh. I frowned, confused.

"What's so funny?"

She shook her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Kamala, I love you more than anything, and I'm not about to let Stanley push me away from you."

My eyes widened slightly. "Wait... so does this mean you forgive me?"

"I forgive you, but let me tell you some thing." she said, standing up and hovering over me. "But don't think it's just because you're giving me those puppy dog eyes." Her expression turned serious, yet filled with warmth. "I'm forgiving you because I love you. And I love you enough to give you a second chance. But don't ever try some shit like that again."

Before I could even process her words, my lips were on hers. The kiss was slow, deep, and full of everything I had been craving. God, I missed this girl. My hands instinctively found her waist as she sat down beside me, and I couldn't help myself—I started planting soft kisses all over her face, savoring every moment.

"You're not off the hook entirely, Kamala."

I paused between kisses, my lips still lingering against her skin. "What do you mean?"

Allura smirked, her voice laced with mischief. "I mean... I'll be beating Stanley's ass."

I froze mid-kiss, pulling back to look at her. My eyes widened. "Wait—are you serious right now, or are you just messing with me?"

She raised a brow. "Have I ever been one to play?"

"Allura, no," I said firmly. "You're not doing that. I'm not letting you throw away your future over Stanley."

"She only acts like that because she knows I like you," Allura said, her voice low but full of fire. "And she disrespects me all the time at school. But I'd be in the wrong if I just swung on her one good time, right?"

I couldn't help but let out a quick laugh, trying to hold it back. "Listen, I know you're not a fan of her, but I'm not letting you do that. Do you want to get kicked out of school?" I said, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"No, but she makes me want to put my hands on her sometimes. But I won't because you asked me not to."

"Thank you," I said, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

Allura leaned back on the couch, her arms reaching out to me. "I still missed you more than anything. Cuddle with me."

I almost tripped getting to her, but I didn't care. These were the moments I missed most—just being wrapped up in her arms after a long day.