Serena:

  "You know, I’ve been watching you. I don’t think you realize how much of yourself you’ve given away these last few weeks."

  Loren:

  "I think I’ve figured out that I don’t have to be the guy everyone expects me to be. Maybe I don’t want to be that guy anymore."

  Serena:

  "I’ve heard that line before. Don’t fool yourself, Loren. This isn’t just a phase. You’ve changed."

  Loren leans back, a rare, serious expression on his face. For the first time in his life, he’s scared of losing someone. And it’s real.

  Loren:

  "Yeah. I have. And I think I might be falling for you."

  Serena smiles softly, her walls still high, but there’s a glint of something softer in her eyes now.

  Serena:

  "Let’s just take it one step at a time."

  Loren (smiling):

  "One step at a time. Yeah. That sounds good."

  Loren:

  "I’ve been thinking a lot. About us."

  Serena (raising an eyebrow, taking a sip of wine):

  "You do that a lot, don’t you?"

  Loren (with a chuckle):

  "Maybe. But this time, it’s different. I never thought I’d feel like this about someone."

  Serena (with a small smile):

  "You mean you never thought you’d feel vulnerable?"

  Loren (his expression turning more serious):

  "Exactly. I’ve always kept my walls up. But you... you’ve been knocking them down."

  Serena pauses for a moment, contemplating. She places her glass down, her eyes studying Loren closely.

  Serena:

  "What happens when we hit a wall that you can’t charm your way through?"

  Loren (leaning in, earnest):

  "Then I’ll find another way. I’m done with the games, Serena. I’ve been a fool for too long. And I think I’m ready to show you who I really am."

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Serena:

  "That’s a nice idea. But we both know that showing someone who you really are takes time. It’s not just about words. It’s about actions."

  Setting: A few days later, Loren gets a call from an ex-girlfriend who he had left behind without much explanation. She’s in town for a few days and wants to meet him for closure. Loren is conflicted. He has been with Serena for a while now, and things are beginning to feel serious. Yet, a part of him wants to revisit the past and tie up loose ends.

  Loren (talking to himself in his apartment):

  "This could be nothing. Just closure. It doesn’t mean anything. But... what if it does? I don’t want to hurt Serena. But I don’t want to leave things unfinished either."

  He takes a deep breath and leaves, his mind racing.

  Setting: The café where Loren meets his ex. She’s sitting at a corner table, waiting, and Loren can tell she’s been crying. There’s an awkward, heavy silence between them as Loren sits down.

  Ex-girlfriend (looking up):

  "I didn’t expect you to show up, honestly. But... I needed to see you."

  Loren:

  "I know. I’m sorry for disappearing like I did. I should’ve handled things better."

  Ex-girlfriend:

  "Yeah, you should’ve. But that’s what you do, Loren. You never face anything real. You always run. And now you’re here. Why?"

  Loren looks at her, guilt surfacing. He never expected this confrontation to be so emotionally charged. For the first time, he feels the weight of his past actions.

  Loren (softly):

  "I guess... I guess I don’t want to keep running anymore. I don’t want to hurt anyone, especially not Serena."

  Setting: That evening, Loren returns to his apartment and finds Serena sitting on the couch, waiting for him. There’s a tension in the air. She looks up as he walks in, her face unreadable.

  Serena:

  "Where were you?"

  Loren (pauses, hesitates):

  "I met up with my ex. She needed closure."

  Serena (calmly, but with an edge):

  "And what kind of closure did you give her?"

  Loren knows this is the moment to be honest. He sits down beside Serena, looking her in the eye, the weight of his previous actions making his heart pound.

  Loren:

  "I told her I was sorry for how I treated her. I told her that I’ve changed, that I don’t want to keep running from the past anymore."

  Serena:

  "Is that all?"

  Loren (softly):

  "No. I told her that... I didn’t want to hurt her, but I don’t want to hurt you either."

  Serena is quiet for a long moment, her gaze intense but calm. Loren holds his breath, waiting for her response.

  Serena:

  "You’re not going to run anymore, are you?"

  Loren (shaking his head):

  "No. I’m not. I’m here, Serena. For as long as you’ll have me."

  Serena nods slowly, her expression softening. There’s a shift in the air — a sense of understanding between them.

  Serena:

  "We’ll see, Loren. But I need you to show me, not just tell me."

  Loren has taken a crucial step forward by facing his past and coming clean with Serena. The road to trust will be long and filled with challenges, but for the first time in his life, Loren is committed to trying.