18

I went into Haru's private room. Haxilla is assisting me as I walk because my leg is still too weak for me to walk on my own.

We're only a few steps away from the door, but we can hear shouts that someone is in a fight.

"Haru, this is your second time in this situation. When are you going to want to change your attitude?!" A man yelled, and the sound of breaking glass followed.

"I have no idea why Brian's dogs are following me when I'm on my way to Selena's house," Haru said calmly.

"I think we should go for now, let's come back later," Haxilla said, shaking my arm slightly.

I nod at her, and we're about to walk away when Haru's father speaks up again.

"What's your relationship with that Selena that you're almost ready to take your life at risk?"

"I love her, I love her so much. I don't care if we just met for almost 5 months, but she's the one who changed my perspective on life. "

I couldn't stop smiling when I heard those words from him. I don't know that he loves me that much. It never came to my mind that he could be serious in his words. 

"Stop smiling like an idiot, Selena," she said and I pinched her arm. We're on our way back to our room now.

"You're just jealous," I teased and she immediately removed her hands from my arm and walked away.

I have no choice but to hold at the wall and keep my balance not to fell off on the ground. What the fudge, she really left me!

Someone grabbed my arms and help me to stand and walk.

"What did you say to make Haxilla left you like this?" Raven asked while helping me to walk.

"I just teased her about what Haru said," I said while pouting. My eyes widened when he removed his hands from my arms too.

"Hey, Raven!" I shouted out of fear. He laughed and got back to helping me again.

"Just kidding, by the way, Haru is better now than last week. You can actually visit him."

"We're about to visit him earlier but his father is shouting at him so we decided to go back later."

"Haru's dad was always like that to him. I actually pity him, back to our college days. His father is the reason he hates me so much," he said. I just nod at him and we take our turn in my room.

"Why did you leave her just because you're jealous?" Raven asked Haxilla as we entered the room. 

"Shut the fuck up, Raven," she said, irritated. She's using her phone and not looking at us. Raven assists me in sitting on my bed. 

"What made her jealous?" Britanny asked while eating popcorn. I got some popcorn first before answering her question. 

"We heard Haru and his father earlier, fighting with each other, then he suddenly said that he loved me so much," I said while smiling.

Raven sat beside Haxilla to tease her. He's tapping her phone just to annoy her girlfriend. 

"Raven, stop! It's not funny!" she yelled while taking away her phone. Her face really looks annoyed, but I know her heart is in the party now. 

I can still remember how she cried and her face turned to red when Raven proposed to her, again. I'm happy that I saw her happy now after many years living in trauma. 

"Raven, it's not funny anymore. You'll never enter our house if you don't stop," she threatened. Raven suddenly hugged her like a baby. So cute. 

"Okay, stop flirting in front of us, especially in front of me. Guys, you have to give it up for the single here!" Brittany made an unexpected exclamation that made us laugh.

Raven had to say his goodbyes to us because he needed to check on one of his patients. Britanny never stopped teasing Haxilla, so the day was peaceful and full of laughs.

"You've been released and will be attending my wedding for the next two days. I believe you should take a break first," While packing my clothes in my luggage, Kaley said.

"I'm perfectly fine now, Kaley. Your wedding is in two days, so I'll be back to normal on that day."

My phone rang, and Mr. Jaxon's name appeared on the screen. It's not surprising that he's calling me for the first time after what happened a few weeks ago. He's the one who paid my hospital bills, but I owe him money.

[I heard you were recently discharged.]

"Yes, we're going out to the hospital right now," I confirmed. Kaley motioned for me to accompany her outside.

[Ah, I see. You are free to return to work whenever you want, but you should do so within the next week.]

"Alright."

He hung up the phone, and I decided to pay Haru a visit before heading home.

"Selena..." Haru surprisedly called out my name. I happened to notice him and Kassandra kissing on his bed.

I want to move my body, but I'm frozen. Kassandra descended from Haru's peak to the ground. She even smirked at me, as if she was trying to annoy me, but I felt nothing but awkwardness.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to check on you before I left, and it appears you're fine now. I'll go ahead and do it," I said this and shut the door.

After a few seconds of staring at the floor, I noticed tears rolling down my cheeks. I can't predict his moves because he's so unpredictable.

I looked up to stop the tears from falling, but they don't stop and flow like a river.

"What the fuck are you crying about?!?" I questioned myself, wiped my tears, and walked out to the hospital, where Kaley and Britanny awaited me.

"Do you feel all right?" Britanny approached me with the question. I gave her a polite nod and quietly entered the car. They didn't say anything to me on our way home.

"Welcome back!" says the narrator. Haxilla and Raven greeted me, but I simply smiled and proceeded to my room.

"What happened to her?" Britanny was the one who asked Haxilla. I shut the door so I wouldn't be able to hear what they were saying.

While crying, I throw myself on my bed and cover my face with a pillow. I didn't feel anything at first, but now it's exploding.

My phone rang, and they repeatedly knocked on my door, but I ignored them and stared at the ceiling.

Maybe I'm just assuming that he means what he says, but it's funny how easily I fall for it.

Why did I notice that after I had already expressed my feelings for him? It's only getting more complicated as time passes; perhaps I don't know everything there is to know about him.

My phone rang again, and this time I answered it without checking who was calling.

"Hello?"

[Haru wants to invite you to our wedding three months from now.]

"Kassandra, how did you get my phone number?" I asked, as if what she said meant nothing to me.

[It doesn't matter. Selena, I'll wait for you at our wedding.]

"Ahhh!" I smashed my phone against the wall and sobbed on my knees. My heart rate is racing and I feel like I'm running out of breath.

"Selena? Selena? Please open the door!" Haxilla is pounding on the door, but I ignore them. On my knees, I sobbed uncontrollably.

Why should it be this way?! Why am I in so much pain? We don't even have a relationship. Why am I this way?!

"Selena, please open the door!"

"Please allow us to enter. Let's have a discussion about it."

"Selena? This is Haru; could we please talk about it?"

When I heard his voice, my tears stopped from falling. They were all waiting for me to come out when I stood up and opened the door.

"What exactly are you doing here?" When I asked him, he looked me in the eyes for a moment before responding.

He yanked me out of the house and said, "Let's talk, but not here."

No one dares to speak first as we walk down the road. I was collecting my thoughts and leaned my head against the car window. He came to a halt in a park where there were only a few people walking; he went out first, and I trailed behind.

"Did Kassandra already tell you?" he inquired as we sat on the lakeside bench, the breeze playing with my hair and helping me to relax.

I just said, "Yes."

"I'm really sorry, Selena."

"Can you tell me why you're sorry?" says the narrator.

"I promised you I'd come after I'd fixed everything, and I believe that's why you're in pain right now."

"There's another reason for my current pain," I sighed.

"What exactly is it?"

I took a deep breath, leaned back on the bench with my arms crossed, and gazed out at the lake.

"I heard what you said to your father a day before I left the hospital," I began.

"What? How?"

"Raven told us you were beaten by a group of guys the same day you saved me, and he also saw Kassandra in the parking lot that day."

He's just sitting there quietly listening to me.

"I heard you tell your father that you love me so much that you're willing to risk your life to save me," I chuckled slightly, but it hurts now.

"Then I was going to see you earlier, but I saw you and Kassandra kissing, and she even called to tell me that I'm invited to your wedding." 

I can't stop the tears from falling; I've tried biting my lip to stop myself from crying, but it doesn't work. It hurts a lot, especially because I can't do anything because he's not officially mine.

"I tried to talk to my family about stopping this arranged marriage with Kassandra because I don't see myself under the same roof with her," he began explaining his position. I'm not sure if I still have to listen to him, but I'd like to hear his story.

"The day you heard my conversation with my father, he told me that I should stop having feelings for you because it would be a huge problem for us if we ended the marriage."

He holds my hand without looking at me and rubs it with his thumb.

"I truly mean what I said to my father when I said I love you since the day you helped me."

"The day you wrecked your car?" While my brow furrowed, I inquired. I was even more perplexed when he shook his head.

"When, then?"

"The day I was first beaten by Brian's dogs on St. Klareson Road, between Haedy's Restaurant and Cut and Style."

"You're the one who gets beaten that day?"

He smiles and nods. I'm still in shock, realizing that we had already met without realizing it.

"Wait, how did you know I was the one who saved you that day?"

"CCTV footage of the restaurant. It showed your face, so I asked a hacker friend to track you down and learn your name."

Is it because my mind is still processing that I thought I saw him when we met for the first time on the road?

"Anyway, I'm not forcing you to go to the wedding; in fact, I shouldn't let you go there at all, but if you want to go, then thank you," he abruptly stated. He took his gaze away from me; why do I feel he was a big loss for me?

"I'm still going there. You know what I mean? Moral support," I joked despite the fact that I'm hurt from the words that I said.

"Stop pretending you're not hurt," he said as he hugged me tightly, and there they were again, flowing like a river.

He combed my hair, kissed the top of my head, wiped my tears, and smiled at me.

"Perhaps I'm not the right guy for you. Keep your love for what is right for you. Thank you for spending time with me and making me happy for a brief moment," he said, kissing me on the lips

I closed my eyes and felt his last kiss to me as tears streamed down my face.

I'll miss his kisses, touch, and care, as well as everything else about him. But maybe he's right; we're not meant to be, and I'm confident he'll learn to love Kassandra as much as he loves me.