A Royal Obligation
Chapter 158: Wasn’t Letting Him in

Chapter 158: Wasn’t Letting Him in

Drystan stood slowly, walking toward him. He reached out, hesitating for a moment before gently placing a hand on Sadiki’s shoulder.

The tension in Sadiki’s muscles was evident under Drystan’s touch, and for a moment, Drystan feared he might pull away again. But instead, Sadiki stood still, his body trembling slightly as though he was fighting an internal battle.

"You don’t have to do this alone," Drystan said softly. His voice was filled with a tenderness he hadn’t been able to express before. It wasn’t just about the anger anymore; it was about the fear of losing Sadiki, of being shut out from the person he loved most.

"Whatever it is, we can face it together."

Sadiki’s head dropped slightly, and for a moment, Drystan thought he might finally open up. But then Sadiki sighed, the sound heavy with exhaustion. "It’s not that simple, Drystan," he muttered, his voice laced with frustration and sadness. "There are things I can’t tell you."

Drystan’s heart sank. He had hoped, prayed, that whatever was bothering Sadiki, they could work through it together. But this wall that Sadiki had built between them seemed impenetrable, and the harder Drystan tried to break through, the more distant Sadiki became.

"Why?" Drystan asked, his voice raw with emotion. He stepped around to face Sadiki, his eyes searching Sadiki’s face for any sign of hope. "Why can’t you tell me? Is it me? Have I done something wrong?"

Sadiki’s eyes flicked up to meet Drystan’s, and for the first time, there was a flicker of guilt there. "No," he whispered. "It’s not you."

"Then what?" Drystan pressed, desperation creeping into his voice. He stepped closer, his hands reaching for Sadiki’s, but Sadiki pulled them away, stepping back.

"I..." Sadiki started, but the words seemed to catch in his throat. His eyes darted away, and he clenched his jaw. "I don’t want to hurt you."

Drystan’s chest tightened at the words. He had heard them before, those ominous words that always preceded something terrible.

"You’re already hurting me, Sadiki," he said softly. His eyes were pleading now, filled with unshed tears that he fought to keep at bay. "Every time you push me away, every time you shut me out, it hurts. I just want to help you, but you won’t let me."

Sadiki’s eyes softened for a moment, and Drystan could see the war raging within him. But then, just as quickly, the hardness returned, and Sadiki’s face closed off again. "I can’t, Drystan," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I’m sorry."

Drystan’s heart shattered at those words. His breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he felt as though the ground had been ripped out from under him. "Sorry?" he repeated, his voice trembling. "That’s all you have to say?"

Sadiki’s silence was deafening. He stood there, his eyes filled with something that looked almost like regret, but still, he said nothing. The distance between them felt insurmountable now, and Drystan wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep reaching for someone who refused to reach back.

"Do you even love me anymore?" Drystan asked, the question slipping out before he could stop it. His voice was quiet, almost broken, as though he was afraid of the answer.

Sadiki’s eyes widened slightly, and for the briefest moment, Drystan thought he saw something, an emotion so raw it took his breath away. But then Sadiki blinked, and whatever had been there was gone. He shook his head slightly, his jaw tightening once more.

"It’s not about love, Drystan," he said softly, almost as though he was trying to convince himself as much as Drystan.

"Then what is it about?" Drystan demanded, his frustration bubbling to the surface again. He couldn’t understand, couldn’t comprehend, how Sadiki could stand there and act like this wasn’t tearing them apart. "Why won’t you just tell me?"

Sadiki turned his back again, his posture rigid. His hands clenched at his sides, his knuckles white. "Because it’s too complicated," he whispered. "And I can’t drag you into it."

Drystan stared at him, feeling as though his heart was being crushed under the weight of Sadiki’s words. "I want to be dragged into it," he said quietly, his voice breaking. "That’s what love is, Sadiki. We face things together. You’re not protecting me by shutting me out, you’re hurting me."

Sadiki flinched, but still, he remained silent.

The room felt too small, too suffocating. Drystan couldn’t stand it anymore. The helplessness, the frustration, the pain, it was too much. He took a step back, running a hand through his hair as he tried to gather himself, but his emotions were a storm inside him, tearing him apart.

"I can’t keep doing this," Drystan finally said, his voice shaking. He felt as though he was standing on the edge of a cliff, one step away from losing everything he had with Sadiki. "If you can’t trust me enough to let me in, then I don’t know how we’re supposed to move forward."

Sadiki’s shoulders slumped, but still, he didn’t turn around. He didn’t say anything, didn’t offer any hope or reassurance. The silence between them stretched on, thick and suffocating.

Drystan felt a lump form in his throat, and he swallowed hard, trying to keep the tears at bay. "I love you, Sadiki," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "But I can’t be the only one fighting for this."

With that, Drystan turned and walked toward the door. His heart felt heavy, his chest tight with the weight of everything unsaid. He hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering over the door handle, waiting, hoping that Sadiki would call out to him, stop him, give him some reason to stay.

But Sadiki remained silent, standing rigidly by the bed. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, his body frozen in place as if rooted to the spot. He watched Drystan’s broad shoulders sag in defeat, watched the way Drystan’s hand trembled ever so slightly before he grasped the handle.

Sadiki’s breath caught in his throat, his heart thudding painfully in his chest, but still, he didn’t move, didn’t speak.