TO LOVE AGAIN

Chapter 6

HER POV

I woke up to the sound of what seemed like an argument. I opened my eyes but was immediately blinded by the light. I tried to open them again, this time more slowly until they adjusted to the brightness. The first thing I saw was the white ceiling of the room I was in. I scanned the surroundings, seeing nothing but white-painted walls. I realized I was alone in this room.

I tried to sit up, but my hand quickly went to my head as I felt a sharp pain. I reached out, feeling the bandage wrapped around it. Looking at my hand with an IV attached, I realized I was in a hospital room.

"Damn you! You really have the guts to show your f*****g face here after what you did to Claire! Look what you have made?! She almost killed herself!" I heard Kyle's angry voice from outside the door.

"For God's sake, Mikael! Leave! Your presence won't help Claire! You're only hurting our friend even more! Have some mercy on her!" Just hearing his name made tears start to fall again. All the pain I felt before I ended up in this place came rushing back. I didn't know whether to be grateful that I was alive or to feel like I was slowly being killed by the pain.

"No! Please! Please, just let me see her! I'm begging you guys, please... I need to see her! I admit, I am a jerk! I'm an asshole! But I love her! All the love I have, all that I've shown, everything was real! I know, it's hard to believe, but I truly love Claire." He was crying, no, he was sobbing, begging, frustrated, in pain, but I didn't care! Those words couldn't change the pain, the anger, the hatred I felt in my heart right now.

"Leave!" I heard my father's roaring voice.

"Uncle, please..." he tried to beg again.

"You don't deserve my daughter, and hell if I'm going to let you come near her again! I've already told you once, Mikael! Never break my trust!" I cried even more when my father's voice broke. "Leave! Before I rip your neck till you can't breathe anymore!"

"Just leave now, Mikael! You've already caused so much trouble!" It was Ely's voice again.

A brief moment of silence fell outside the room. All I could hear now were footsteps.

The door opened, revealing my mother, her eyes swollen from crying. She looked tired, as if she had deprived herself of sleep. I felt guilty. My chest tightened again, my breathing quickened, emotions flooding in as I saw Mommy, as if I had found an ally, someone I could confide in, someone who could bear the weight of my heartache, someone I could unload the burden of my heart onto.

She looked at me, trying to hold back her tears. The pain was evident in her eyes, and it hurt me even more to see her like this. She covered her mouth with one hand to stifle a sob, but when she started to tear up, I began to break down. "Mommy..." Mommy approached, enveloping me in her arms. I cried so hard against her chest. "Mommy... it hurts... It hurts so much. I... I didn't do anything wrong... I loved him. I loved him so much..."

"Shh... it's going to be okay. Mommy's here. He may have broken your heart, but I promise... Mommy promises to help you put all your pieces back together." Mommy kissed the top of my head. She tightened her embrace around me. "God, I almost lost you..." Mommy sobbed. "Please never do it again, baby. Mommy loves you, there are many who love you so much, who will not hurt you. I love you, my child, your daddy and I love you. We can love you more than the love you seek. Just please... don't leave us. Please... it will drive Mommy crazy." Mommy cried so hard while holding me. She kept kissing my head, pouring out all her love and care.

How could I be so selfish, just thinking about myself? Not considering my parents' feelings? The pain I could cause them if I die? I couldn't bear to think about the heartache my parents would feel if they lost me.

Right then and there, I promised myself that no one would make me feel like this anymore—to make me feel miserable, to make me question my worth, to trample on my dignity.

I will cry about everything today. I will let out all the pain and sorrow I have in my heart, and tomorrow I will be a better version of myself, braver and stronger.

His POV

Every day, I sent flowers to Glyden's condo unit, but she just returned them to me. Every night, I came to visit her place, but she didn't open her door for me, even though I knew she was just inside her unit. It's been a month since that night she thought I cheated on her. I'm losing hope that we'll ever reconcile. I've already exerted too much effort. I've already wasted too much time, but she never cared at all. She made me feel like I had never existed in her life. Like tonight, I've been waiting outside her condo for over an hour, hoping she would talk to me this time. I didn't want to give up, but this whole thing was already exhausting. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying not to think, it's too tiring, my mind is filled with too many thoughts. These last few weeks, I needed her more than ever, but there she was, still angry with me, closed off to my explanations until now. I already miss her so much. For the past three years, she became my comfort, my cheerleader, my companion. It's hard when you're so used to someone, when you depend on them too much, when with just one call they'll be there for you, because when that person is gone, there's nothing left for you. I took my phone from my pocket, went to my contact list, and dialed Adrianne's number. On the first ring, he picked up. "Drinks?" I chuckled a bit because he immediately guessed my intention. "Which branch are you at now?" He owns the number one leading bar in the country. A'choholic. It already has three branches, and there are plans to open a new branch in the coming months. "Main branch." "Okay! I'll be there in five minutes," I said before I turned on my engine and hung up the phone. I parked my car next to Adrianne's. I could already hear the loud music coming from inside the bar. I went inside. I headed to the bar counter where Adrianne was hanging out, sometimes mixing drinks and flirting with chicks. I shook my head when I saw him flirting again with his customers. I glanced at the pretty girl next to the woman he was flirting with, and I chuckled when our eyes met. Damn! "Flirt, bro," I teased him, we shook hands and did our bro hugs. "She's too pretty, p’re," he said. "Who's that?" "The one with short hair, but she just turned legal." He laughed.

"Ah, I see," I replied, noting the sash she was wearing that read "Welcome to Legality." I chuckled along with him. He gestured for me to follow him to the couches lined up by the dance floor. I furrowed my brow when I saw our other friends already there.

I went over to each of them, giving them a bro hug.

"Cheater, bro! You only called Adrianne!" Migs complained.

"Sorry, man, just planning for a few drinks!" I replied.

After grabbing a few bottles of beer, I had already downed a couple when I decided to go to the bathroom. I passed through the middle of the stage since it was closer to the bathroom, squeezing through the crowd of people dancing. Suddenly, a woman with short hair grabbed both of my hands. She turned around, guiding my hands to wrap around her waist. Her back pressed against my chest, her waist small, her body shapely. I cursed internally when she started to grind against me, lifting one hand to rest on my neck while the other was placed on her waist. I couldn't help but notice her pert posterior brushing against me seductively as she danced. It sent a jolt through me, eliciting soft curses from my lips.

Then, she turned to face me. She was still dancing, her eyes closed. My hands remained on her slim waist. I stole a glance at her face, lifting one hand to tuck a few strands of hair away from her beautiful and gentle face. I hadn't meant to stare at her face, but as soon as I did, I couldn't help but see her beauty. She looked like an angel, but with a hint of color. She seemed familiar, but I couldn't remember where I'd seen her before. I was still gazing at her when she suddenly opened her eyes. She smiled at me, but it didn't reach her eyes; they held sadness and pain. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her just by looking into her beautiful eyes.

I couldn't resist the urge to brush my thumb across her smooth cheek, causing her to close her eyes again. I gazed at her thin lips, as if they were inviting me to kiss her. I didn't know what prompted me to kiss her, but I found myself leaning in to claim her lips.

She responded to my kiss, but I could feel the pain she was carrying.

She is hurting inside. She is broken, and she is in deep pain.

I released her lips, feeling the tears streaming down her cheeks.

"What's wrong?" I asked softly, wiping away the tears with my thumb.

She shook her head, unable to speak, but the pain in her eyes spoke volumes.

I couldn't leave her like this, not when she looked so vulnerable. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a comforting embrace as she buried her face against my chest, sobbing softly.

I held her close, silently vowing to help her through whatever pain she was going through.