67 The mind, a noisy calm (2/2)

”How the hell on earth can you even think about it?”, he beamed. Then he quickly pulled back his gaze from her, ”Forget it, it's my fault in the first place which made you think such”.

”I'm sorry”, Seb apologized.

”Don't, it's not your fault”, Iven was reverting eyes from her, ”Things started going wrong from the middle and nobody predicted it. Iason was not meant to happen, and that's where my plans laid wrong. Even though things were going good between us, and I stopped referring to my layout anymore, I had to bring'em back due to Iason. Even you meeting the boys was a pure coincidence. But since Iason forced the blow upon us.... that's when things went twisted”.

Iven looked up again.

His moist eyes were dried.

”Whatever you decide now Belle….', he spoke,” …...I'll accept it without a retort. I've been lying to you this whole time, I'm sorry to have done this to you. I thought things would go better if I didn't”.

Seb continued to stare at him for a moment.

Iven started flushing after a few seconds.

Her eyes were completely unreadable. No surprise, no shock, no disappointment. A complete poker face for the time. Iven was ready for the worse to come. He brought this on himself anyways. If Seb chooses to leave him, he'll have to accept it. She has the right! If he wouldn't have met him, she would still be in her best form and not in such a mess right now.

”So, you're telling…”, Seb started to speak folding her hands,” …. all this while you kept me in the dark?”.

-Yes.

”Even though you knew me, based on your pride you let me come to you instead of approaching me?”

-Yes.

”You basically tricked and lured me in your trap?”

-...yes...

”Everything that happened till now is a lie?”

-Yes.

”...…even your feeling? Whatever we have between us?”

-No! Every bit of my words to you were true.

”You arranged for these all to happen because you wanted it?”

-Yes.

Seb paused.

Iven knew what was coming based on her voice and inquiry. That was it for him. Any moment she might tell it now.

Seb sighed and said,”I…..I'm glad you did!”, came out her unexpected words.

Iven looked up at her. She was smiling softly at him. Her face was sincere. His eyes were bulged enough to debate if he has heard clear. What's with this unpredicted reaction? Does she really doesn't mind? Or is it one of her theories again? Does she not realize the situation she had been through? He gazed motionless, recalling her words again.

I am glad!

Why? Hasn't she suffered a lot already? Was it not enough to despise him? Yet she's got that smile worn on her face. She can't be lying with that sort of an expression. Her voice is too honest. Did she forgive him? If not for him, she won't have to lay broken on the bed. He planned her fate, and still she sits facing him wearing that warm smile.

”What…. did you just say?”, he asked doubting his ears.

”I said I'm glad you did all that”, her voice sounded matured like never before.

”But why?”, Iven objected to it, ”You're won't be here if not for my stupid obsession!!!”.

”I'm alive due to that”, Seb corrected, ”And it's not stupid, it's true”.

”Get it straight already”, Iven was still having a hard tie grasping on to the words, ”I played with you. I laid this disaster for my own sake. Why aren't you furious?”

”Call it whatever”, Seb said, ”I'll still say the same. Even if the moments I spent with you were planned, it was true for me and you made that happen.

”But…...but why?”, Iven was dumfounded.

”Why you say….”, saying Seb suddenly reached over and presses her lips against Iven's, pulling back within 5 seconds,”…..why I wonder!”.