08: Let's end this now

The patient's eyes widened upon hearing Richard's accusation. She yelled back.

"What the hell is your problem?" She sat on the edge of the bed, glaring at the guy who paced back and forth.

"We're going to hell if you've been lying all this time. You knew Henry had liked you for so long and even ordained as a priest because he was too broken when we got engaged," says Richard.

"I don't know what you are talking about. And, If that's the case. Then, why would you get mad over a guy I left for you? Deal with your insecurity! Do not take it out on me!"

His words tumbled out in a rush. He replied, "I can see how you looked at each other, Khana. The way he held your hand, the concern in his eyes... It's as if you two have some sort of secret connection. I'm not insecure! I'm also a man, and I understand male behavior. I'm telling you, that priest is a wolf in sheep's clothing!"

Khana shook her head. Her voice tinged with frustration. "How dare you insult a priest?! Have some decency!"

Richard brushed his head with his fingertips and closed his eyes to control his temper because he never wished to lay a hand on his bride-to-be. Harming her physically had never crossed his mind. "You call that an insult?..." I was stating a fact here. And you! We're not even married, and you're already trying to commit adultery! Convince me that you weren't simply playing with our minds, pretending to have amnesia."

He added, "Don't lie to me, Khana. I noticed your reaction when he walked in. It was as if you were relieved to see him."

Khana gulped and wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, but she never did. She casually brushed off the conversation. "Richard, I've been through a traumatic experience. If you have nothing good to say, it's better to leave this room now."

Richard's voice rises with agitation. He replied, "But that's just it, Khana! I don't think you have been completely honest with me about your memory loss. I think you're using this whole situation as an excuse to get closer to Henry."

Khana stood up, her voice trembling with indignation. She pointed her finger at him and exclaimed, "How dare you accuse me of something like that! I've been struggling to remember the simplest things, and you think I'm faking it?"

Richard's voice softened slightly, but it still carried a tone of doubt. "I don't know what to think anymore, Khana. I just... I can't shake this feeling that something isn't right."

Silence descends upon the room, the weight of Richard's accusation hanging heavily in the air.

Richard took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say to break the silence. "It's about Henry," he began, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I don't trust him, Khana. I think he is taking advantage of our situation. I might have wronged you. I apologize."

"I think he's manipulating you, Khana," Richard continued, his words growing more frantic with each passing moment. "Using your memory loss as an excuse to get close to you. To... to control you."

Khana was filled with a storm in her heart. She can't even look him in the eyes. She simply stared out the window, watching the weather shift from sunny to gloomy. Then, she continued to scratch the back of her hand.

"Having this conversation made me think if you can't trust me, Richard. Then perhaps we don't have a future together."

Her words hung in the air, heavy and laden with unspoken implications. Richard felt as if a bomb dropped into his chest, the shock reverberating through every fiber of his being. He searched Khana's eyes for any sign that this was all a misunderstanding or a cruel trick of fate, but her gaze remained steady, filled with a resolve he had never seen before.

"What do you mean?" Richard asked, his voice barely above a whisper, though the turmoil within him screamed louder than any words could convey.

Khana took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she reached out to the guy walking on the eggshell, trying to keep the tears from escaping. "Trust is the foundation of any relationship, Richard."

She stared out the window, gazing into the distance. Then, casually said, "If you doubt me now, what hope do we have for the future?"

Richard's mind raced as he tried to make sense of Khana's words. Trust had never been an issue between them—or so he had thought. But now, confronted with Khana's doubts, he couldn't help but question everything he thought he knew. He was reflecting on the fact that the argument he had raised was too shallow. He was questioning himself to see if he was too shallow.

"Khana, please," Richard pleaded, his heart pounding in his chest. "I trust you. I love you. I'll do whatever it takes to make this right. I know you are upset, but you can't doubt this heart of mine."

But Khana shook her head, her eyes glistening with tears she hadn't yet shed. "It's not just about trust, Richard. It's about us. About who we are together." She paused for a moment to take a deep breath. "And right now, I'm unsure if that's enough," she added.

The weight of her words hung between them, creating a suffocating silence. Richard wanted to reach out to her, to hold her close, and never let her go. He was hesitant to sit next to her. He felt guilty for starting an argument. Such was the unexpected ending of an argument he had never seen coming.

"So what are you saying?" Richard asked, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his own heart. Deep down, he wished not to hear the word he had already concluded in his mind. He hoped that she would never break up with him.

Khana took a deep breath, preparing for what she was about to say. "I'm saying that we should end this now. I don't want to get married anymore."