Scars of Time

Chapter 66: "Know him better"

Hope's POV

In this life, I always knew I was never going to find love. It stings when people have the audacity to say it to my face, but it doesn't surprise me. I'm used to being used.

It's funny, actually. How every person enters my life with the sole intention of shattering it before moving on. But there is one person. Only one. Someone I would trust unconditionally, even if they commanded me to take a jump out of the window right this moment. I'd listen to him.

He sacrificed everything for me. He even killed for me. Or so I thought.

The devastating truth reverberated through my soul, leaving me gasping for air. "Evan Astor, alive!" I had to choke back the disbelief that threatened to consume me, forcing the words to escape my trembling lips once more. How could fate be so cruel? How can he still walk among the living, while my world still crumbles into ruins?

With his hands pressed against his tear-stained face, Time sat across from me, his cries echoing through the air. I can't help but feel sorry for him. But you know what? It doesn't even come close to easing the pain I'm going through right now. He straight up lied to me. I've wasted all these years, living my life without a care in the world, when I should have been getting ready to see Evan Astor again. And now, I've got so little time to figure out my next move.

"I'm sorry" Time choked out, his eyes red and swollen, as he looked at me.

"Are you? Because I don't believe a word coming out of your mouth anymore."

"What the hell does that even mean?" He screams in anger this time. "I've given up everything for you."

"I thought so too. But it turns out it was all a lie."

"What do you expect me to do? Because I will not hesitate to kill him if that's what will bring you solace."

I let out a bitter laugh, filled with irony, as I coldly turned my back on him. "I don't even want to see you right now."

Without uttering another word, he snatched his keys from the ground and raced to his car, driving as fast as he could.

I turned around, fixing my gaze on Alex, who was just standing there, not knowing what to do or say. "What do you want?"

"Aren't you going a little overboard?"

"Don't talk to me" I said, and stormed inside, but he disregarded my words and followed me.

"Why are you following me?"

"Because I'm your bodyguard."

"Are you my bodyguard or are you Time's?"

"I'm yours," he had the nerve to utter, much to my irritation. I let out an aggravated sigh and made my way indoors, hoping to shut the door in his face. Yet, he obstinately prevented it and barged in alongside me.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance before plopping down on the couch and switching on the TV.

"Time did everything he could for you" he persisted, blocking my view. I tried to focus at the screen, but it was impossible to avoid him standing in front of it.

"I have a question" I finally said, knowing he was not intending to move.

"What is it?"

"Do you still love Josephine?"

"Where did that come from?"

"Answer me."

"It's hard to answer this question. You know that too."

"So, you do!"

"I'm trying to move on."

"That means you still do" I declared as I stood up, fixing my gaze directly on his eyes. He tried to avoid it, which means he was lying.

"Why do you ask all of a sudden?"

"You still love her."

"No...I......" I used my finger to cover his mouth and make him stop talking.

"At least I can still read you. That's good."

"Why are we talking about Jo all of a sudden? Aren't you concerned about Time? What if he does something to himself?" In an effort to shift the focus, he skillfully removed my hand from his lips and subtly distanced himself, creating a gap between us.

"Because even though I may have been mistaken about certain things, I'm still the one who knows him better than everyone else. He is not like me. He doesn't hurt himself when he is mad. He hurts others."

...............

Alex's POV

What does she mean by that? She didn't elaborate any further. Is he going to do something stupid? What if he hurts someone? What if he hurts Jo? I need to at least give her a call and update her on the situation. But I can't do that in front of Hope. So, I had to either find another room or convince her to leave the room.

"Do you want something to drink?" she questioned, leaving me surprised because of how convenient that was.

"Sure" I exclaimed, and hastily grabbed my phone to send a text to Jo. But before I could even finish typing, a sudden noise erupted from the kitchen, causing me to fling my phone away in a frenzy. Well, at least Jo will know about her boyfriend now!

I was being quick assuming Hope would be back in a flash, but it took so long for her to grab two drinksx This prompted me to go and check on her. However, when I found her, she was replacing her bottle of beer with water. What could she possibly be up to?

The instant she walked in and placed the drinks on the table, I swiftly grasped her hand and locked my lips with hers, all the while discreetly exchanging the bottles without her noticing.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she shouted, shoving me away with frustration.

"I'm sorry. I tend to get drunk easily."

"You didn't even... Forget it." Overwhelmed with annoyance, she stood up abruptly from the sofa, making sure to bring her bottle along.

She must have thought it was water when she took a big chug of it, regretting it immediately. She was not sure if she should ask or not, because that would expose her.

"It's tasty, isn't it?" I smirked, and she realised I already knew.

"You jerk."

I chuckled, "Were you attempting to make me drunk so you could take advantage of me? There's no need for that. I'll willingly be with you." My statement seemed to make her even angrier than before.

"I knew I couldn't trust you."

"What were you trying to do? Were you trying to go somewhere?"

"It's none of your business."

"It is, though, because I'm your bodyguard."

"Then you are fired."

"You can't fire me. I don't work for you."

"Get out."

"Fine. I'll be outside."

"I don't want to see your face either."

"Too bad, because I love my job and I'm not intending to go anywhere."

"I'll get rid of you. You'll see."

"Good luck with that."

I got out of the house...or....she threw me out, but at least I was able to stop her from trying to do something stupid. I don't care if she hates me, as long as I can protect her. But I think at this moment, it might be Time who needs protection.

I called Ben, in case he had heard from him. But instead he told me about the problems with the company. It got me thinking how Time managed to have a normal conversation with me earlier, as if everything was fine. I must say, sometimes I can't help but admire him, even if I don't want to admit it. I used to think that everything I had experienced was incredibly difficult, to the point where I even contemplated ending my own life. Little did I know that things could actually get much worse. If there's anyone who has the absolute right to be angry at life, it's him.

That's why I'm sure that Hope mistaken. She claimed that he was going to hurt someone else. But even if that were the case, that person would be someone deserving of it. My only hope is that he doesn't end up hurting himself in the process.