Ayla's POV
"Then help me. Help me understand," she said gently.
I hesitated, maybe because I had run out of words. Or excuses.
How could I explain that it wasn't only about the project or atoning for my mistake? It was more about my confusion about Elena. What unsettled me wasn't the kiss itself, but what it revealed in me.
That I had leaned in.
That I hadn't pulled away immediately.
That part of me wanted her for more than just a kiss.
I finally looked up and met Mira's eyes.
She wasn't angry. That was what unsettled me most. If she had raised her voice, if she had scolded me properly, I might have folded. I might have agreed just to end the tension. But she stood there quietly, giving me space. Asking instead of ordering. Trusting me to explain myself.
"I don't know how to explain it," I admitted.
My voice sounded smaller than I wanted it to.
Mira tilted her head slightly, her gaze never leaving my face. "Try. Explain it any way you can. I'll understand."
