A Valentine’s Day to Remember: When Love Arrives Too Late
Valentine’s Day settled over the city like a soft promise. The streets glowed beneath a blush-colored evening sky, and everywhere you looked, there were flowers, lights, and laughter. Inside the Crystal Pavilion’s ballroom, candle flames flickered gently while lanterns hovered overhead, scattering delicate shadows across the polished floor.
It was a night made for romance.
But King hadn’t come for the decorations or music.
He came for Delicia.
He arrived early, dressed sharply in a black suit, standing calm on the outside, though inside his pulse wouldn’t slow. He kept glancing toward the entrance, waiting for her.
And then she appeared.
The moment Delicia walked in, everything else faded into the background. Her deep red dress caught the golden light, and she carried herself with effortless grace. But despite the crowded room, her eyes searched only for one person.
When they found King, her face softened into a smile that spoke louder than words.
They met near the center of the room, drawn together as if they had always been meant to stand there.
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“Happy Valentine’s Day,” he said quietly.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” she replied, just as softly.
Talking felt easy, natural. They shared memories, joked about the past, and spoke honestly about fears they never admitted to others. Time slipped away unnoticed.
After a pause, Delicia asked gently,
“Do you ever think some people are meant to find each other… no matter how far they drift?”
King looked directly into her eyes.
“I don’t think,” he murmured. “I know.”
The music slowed.
He stepped closer.
Her hand rested against his chest, feeling his heartbeat. Their foreheads touched, and for a moment the entire world narrowed to the quiet space between them.
Then they kissed.
Slow. Certain. Long overdue.
But the moment didn’t last.
The ballroom doors suddenly opened, letting in a rush of cold air.
Iman walked in.
He hadn’t intended to come at all. Something restless had pulled him there — a feeling he couldn’t explain. And the second he saw them, the world around him went silent.
King and Delicia.
Together.
Kissing.
He froze where he stood.
His chest tightened painfully. The laughter, the music, the celebration — none of it mattered anymore. Only that image stayed in his mind, repeating again and again.
Why did it hurt this much?
He had no claim over her. No promises had been made. Yet anger and disbelief tangled inside him.
King noticed him first and slowly stepped back. Delicia turned, following his gaze.
“Iman…” she whispered.
But he barely heard her.
His mind was still stuck on what he’d just seen.
For years, he had convinced himself their connection was simple — friendship, loyalty, shared history. They had always been there for each other. He believed that was enough.
Standing there now, he realized the truth he had buried:
He loved her.
He always had.
And he never said it.
“Since when?” he asked quietly, though the question cut sharp.
Delicia stepped closer, unsure. “Iman, I—”
“You didn’t think I should know?” he interrupted, even as he knew the question wasn’t fair.
King answered calmly, without hostility.
“It isn’t about knowing. It’s about feelings.”
The word hit harder than anything else.
Feelings.
Iman let out a bitter breath. He wasn’t really angry at them — he was angry at himself. Years of silence, assuming there would always be another chance.
But love doesn’t wait forever.
Delicia’s voice softened.
“You never told me.”
She was right.
Among roses and confessions happening all around them, the truth finally settled inside him: he never fought for her.
His frustration slowly faded into acceptance.
King gently held Delicia’s hand. Not as a challenge — simply reassurance. They had chosen each other.
Iman exhaled, forcing a faint smile.
“I guess,” he said quietly, “I’m the one who showed up too late.”
No one argued.
The silence carried understanding instead of tension.
Above them, Valentine’s confetti drifted slowly downward, marking the end of something unspoken and the beginning of something understood.
Because sometimes love isn’t about how deeply you feel it.
Sometimes it’s about saying it before the moment passes.
And sometimes, jealousy is just love arriving after its chance is gone.