Chapter 47: Apology.
Kyle finally returned home, and while his body hadn’t gone through too much physical exertion during the day, he still felt an overwhelming wave of weakness the moment his apartment building came into view. He could already picture himself collapsing onto the soft cushions of his couch, embracing the peace and simplicity of uninterrupted slumber.
After parking his car in its usual spot, Kyle stepped out and immediately noticed Mr. Jones’ vehicle parked nearby, which for some reason gave him a small but reassuring sense of ease. Even so, there was no way to predict what exactly awaited him inside the building, and this uncertainty hung over him like a shadow.
He silently hoped not to cross paths with Aiysha again, as the day’s earlier encounter with her had left him more conflicted than he cared to admit. Kyle knew that if they kept running into each other repeatedly, it could easily lead to situations that neither of them needed, and the consequences could be disruptive. He didn’t fully trust himself to always exercise the same level of restraint as he had earlier.
More than anything, though, he wished that Calista had already left his apartment by now because he desperately needed his space and solitude. The weight of everything that had happened was beginning to take its toll, and Kyle simply needed time to gather himself. Fortunately for him, his walk into the building went uninterrupted—no Aiysha, no Calista, and no distractions. Just the silence of an empty hallway.
As soon as he entered his bedroom, Kyle allowed himself to collapse onto the soft mattress, sighing deeply as he felt the tension in his body begin to dissipate. Living shouldn’t feel this exhausting, he thought, especially after a relatively uneventful day.
"Why am I so tired from doing so little?" Kyle muttered under his breath, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Restless and unable to sleep, he tried to distract himself, but the faint scent of Calista still lingered in the air, pulling his mind back to earlier events. Her words from their phone call echoed in his thoughts, leaving him with a strange, lingering unease. With a resigned sigh, Kyle lazily reached for his phone, staring at the screen for a moment before unlocking it with a swipe.
"Do I really have to do this?" he mumbled to himself, half-reluctantly opening his messaging app and staring at the blank text box.
After a brief pause, he typed a quick message:
Hey, I know you think you bombed the interview, but I’m absolutely certain you’ll get that role. I have no doubt about it. So get ready to nail it—I believe in you.
Kyle cringed slightly at how cliché and corny the text sounded but decided it would suffice for now. Reassurance, he knew, was a powerful tool—a simple but effective way to feed someone’s need for security.
Before he could even put the phone down, her response came through immediately:
Calista: You wouldn’t believe it! I got the role! I don’t know how you have so much faith in me, but thank you!!
Kyle allowed himself a small smile and replied quickly:
Kyle: I knew you could do it! You’re Calista Wave, for crying out loud. There’s nothing you can’t do. I mean, you even got me fir—
He paused mid-sentence, thought better of it, and erased the last part, deciding it was best not to reopen old wounds.
Kyle: I knew you could do it! You’re Calista Wave, for crying out loud. There’s nothing you can’t do!
Her next message came through quickly:
Calista: Hey, Kyle, about that day...
Calista: I never got the chance to apologize for getting you fired. You embarrassed me, and I wanted to hurt you. I didn’t mean for you to lose your job.
Kyle froze, his expression shifting to one of disbelief and disgust. "The hell?" he muttered under his breath, his mind racing as he processed her words. Her actions had gone far beyond petty revenge—she had deliberately doctored an AI-edited video to ruin his life.
Looking back, Kyle realized that if he had stood his ground and fought back, he likely could’ve proven his innocence. But at the time, he had been too mentally and emotionally exhausted to deal with the fallout. Of course, even if he had cleared his name, he doubted it would’ve saved his job, considering the incompetence of his former boss.
He typed back bluntly:
Kyle: It’s fine. I was planning to quit soon anyway. But yeah, you really were a cunt. LOL.
Her response came swiftly:
Calista: I’m so glad! I can neither deny nor confirm those allegations. >_<
Kyle chuckled despite himself, shaking his head at her reply. It was a humorous response, but it didn’t erase the damage she had done. Her apology felt less like genuine remorse and more like an attempt to secure her current position in his life.
"What the hell even is that emoji?" Kyle muttered, squinting at the screen in confusion. His lack of familiarity with modern texting shorthand was starting to show.
Another message came through before he could ponder further:
Calista: I enjoy spending time with you, Kyle.
Kyle smirked, his thoughts dripping with sarcasm. "More like you enjoy the perks," he thought cynically, but he decided to play along for now.
Kyle: What a coincidence! I enjoy spending time with you too. Another thing we have in common!
Her curiosity was piqued immediately, as he knew it would be.
Calista: Another? What’s the first?
Kyle grinned mischievously, satisfied that she had taken the bait.
Kyle: Where’s the fun in telling you that?
He knew leaving the conversation on a cliffhanger would drive her crazy, keeping her guessing and ensuring she stayed invested in the interaction. Before he could see her reply, though, his eyelids grew heavy, and he finally drifted off to sleep.
---
Meanwhile, Aiysha welcomed her husband home, noting the unusual pep in his step and the gleam of excitement in his eyes. Jones walked through the door with an air of enthusiasm that was contagious, radiating joy from every pore.
"Darling, are you okay?" Aiysha asked with a warm smile, noticing how unusually energized he seemed.
"I am! I think the solution to all our problems just fell into our laps!" Jones exclaimed, his voice brimming with uncontainable joy.
Aiysha laughed softly, intrigued but not wanting to interrupt his enthusiasm. She knew Jones had a routine—he always greeted the kids first, spending a few precious moments with them before turning his full attention to her.
When he finally came back, his face was still lit up with excitement as he explained the details.
"Kyle offered that?" Aiysha’s expression shifted from shock to surprise, then back to shock as the information sank in.
"Yes, baby!" Jones said, barely able to contain himself. "I don’t want us to celebrate too soon, but things are looking really good. I’ll wait until everything is signed and sealed, but this could be it for us!"
Aiysha couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Jones had always been kind to Kyle, offering him support when he needed it most, and now, it seemed that kindness was being repaid in an extraordinary and unexpected way.
In the end, perhaps kindness really did pay off.
