Chapter 14: Only You

Noah stepped into the apartment like he was walking on thin ice, unsure of where to stand, what to say first, how close he was allowed to be. Bora didn't say anything either—just quietly shut the door behind him and leaned against it, arms folded protectively across her chest.The silence between them was heavy, but not angry.It was aching.Noah was the first to speak. His voice was gentle, careful."I should've come sooner."Bora looked down, fingers gripping her sleeves. "I should've opened the door sooner."That softened something in him.He sat on the edge of the couch, clasping his hands together, elbows on his knees. "That girl you saw... nothing happened. She's just a friend—someone I helped after she had a bad fight with her boyfriend. She didn't want to go home alone.""I believe you," Bora whispered.Noah looked up, surprised. "You do?"She nodded slowly. "Now I do. But back then, I didn't want to hear anything. I thought it'd hurt less if I ran away before I got the full story.""I get it," he murmured. "I've never been the most... careful with my reputation. I know people think I'm good with women—maybe I used to be. But the truth is..."He looked her straight in the eyes."My apartment? That space? That life? It should've always been you. You're the only one who should ever stay over. The only one I want to stay."Bora's breath hitched."I should've set boundaries. Should've made sure no one ever made you feel like they had a place in my life that belonged to you," he said, guilt etched in every word. "I'm sorry, Bora. For not seeing it sooner. For not protecting what we had, even when it was fake."Her throat tightened. "It wasn't fake. Not for me. Not anymore."He smiled, sad and relieved all at once. "Same here.""I'm sorry too," she said, voice trembling. "I got scared. I let the worst parts of me take over. I didn't give you a chance to explain, and I shut you out even though... I missed you every day."Noah stood slowly, crossing the space between them."Then let's stop running."She looked up at him, heart pounding in her chest."I don't care how complicated this gets," he said, taking her hands gently. "I don't care if we don't have it all figured out. But I want you, Bora. No more pretending. No more what-ifs."Her hands curled around his. "No more running?"He shook his head. "Not unless we're running toward each other."Bora exhaled, a soft, shaky laugh slipping past her lips.And this time, when he leaned in—slow, deliberate—she didn't hesitate.Their lips met in a kiss that wasn't uncertain or stolen.It was real.And finally, completely theirs.