Stella, however, wasn't ready to lose Jethro. Not yet. She fell to her knees and clutched Jethro's hand. "Please, love, don't do this. I promise I will make it right. I will block his number and cut him off from my life," Stella said, trying to convince Jethro.
Jethro looked down at her. "You lied to me, Stella. You denied it at first. How can I trust you again?"
"I will do anything to prove myself to you. Just don't push me away. I can't bear the thought of losing you. You are the only one I love." Stella confessed.
After ten minutes of begging and pleading with tears, Jethro finally spoke up. "Stella, I don't trust you again. But if you are truly sorry, then maybe I will give you a chance."
Stacey got disappointed when she heard Jethro say that. She had hoped this would be the end of their relationship, but it seemed Jethro was willing to accept Stella back.
"Thank you, love. I promise I'll make it up to you." Stella said and got up.
"Alright, but if you betray my trust again, it will be over for good." Jethro stated, and Stella nodded fervently, wiping away her tears. "I understand. I will cut him off."
When the argument finally subsided, Stacey felt hopeless and disappointed. Her smiles turned to frowns. She could feel how jealous she was. Soon, she heard Jethro's door open. She went to look and saw them holding hands while they walked away. She sighed and went back to the room.
When Anabel came out, Stacey didn't say anything, but her face could tell a lot.
"You look sad. What happened?" Anabel asked.
"Nothing, I'm just tired." She didn't want to tell Anabel the reason behind her sadness. Throughout that day, she was dull, unlike other days.
.
.
.
The next morning, Stacey woke up very late, feeling a mix of emotions from the previous day's events. She stretched and got out of bed.
"You are awake. I thought you took sleeping pills." Anabel said without looking at the back.
"What...What are you doing?" Stacey asked.
"Working on something important for my company." Anabel answered.
"Oh! But have you taken anything?" Stacey asked.
"I need to finish this before thinking about food. You are free to cook anything, though." Anabel said.
"I don't have strength for that. Let me fetch a coffee first." Stacey replied and left the room. As she made her way to the kitchen, she began to hear the sound of splashing water coming from the outside.
"Who is swimming?" She asked herself. Anabel was in her room, working on her system. So who could that be?
She got curious and walked over to the window to check who that was. She got there and was surprised to see Jethro swimming. He was swimming with powerful and graceful strokes. The morning sun was glistened off the water, casting a shimmering glow around him.
Stacey couldn't help but kept staring at him. She was so captivated by the sight that she couldn't keep her eyes away. Jethro's athletic body and the ease with which he moved through the water made her heart skip a beat.
She leaned against the window frame with a soft smile playing on her lips while she continued to watch him.
As she kept watching him, she noticed something mesmerizing about the way he was swimming. Each of his strokes was showcasing his strength and physique.
Stacey's mind began to wander, imagining what it would be like if Jethro was her boyfriend. She began to picture them spending lazy afternoons by the pool, sharing laughter and stolen kisses.
Soon, Jethro reached the edge of the pool and pulled himself up. She watched the way the water was cascading off his toned body. She admired the way his muscles rippled under his skin, the way his wet hair clung to his forehead. It was a sight that made her heart race more and more.
Stacey's smile widened as she imagined herself walking out to join him, the two of them enjoying a morning swim together. She could almost feel the cool water against her skin, the warmth of the sun on her face. The thought of being close to Jethro, the thought of sharing these simple yet intimate moments, made her wish for the impossible.
She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts aside. Jethro was still with Stella, and despite the argument they had the previous day, Stacey knew she had to respect their relationship. But it was hard to ignore the feelings that had been growing inside her, the desire to be more than just his sister's best friend.
When Jethro began to swim again, Stacey continued to watch, her mind drifting back to the few times they had spent together. She remembered the way he was assisting her during gymming. He had a way of making her feel special.
She wanted to be the one he turned to, the one he confided in. She wanted to be the one behind all his smiles.
She left what she wanted to do and decided to go and greet him. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, before making her way to the back door.