Chapter 5

Chapter 5

And then, I handed him the tissue.

"Aiden?!"

I thought he was Arden! He was also wearing a suit and tie! They had similar builds, so sometimes when they had their backs turned, I couldn't tell if it was Arden or Aiden.

"Psh!" He replied to me and took the tissue I handed to him.

"What happened to you? Did you eat something bad?" I asked him and then I handed him the water.

"Why do you care?!" He replied grumpily. He even glared at me! This guy I helped, and he has the audacity to be rude!

"Grumpy! Peasant!" And I stormed out of the kitchen. I went to the living room to eat this leche flan. Fortunately, I saw someone selling it on the way home. I've been craving leche flan since earlier at the hospital.

I was halfway through eating my leche flan when Aiden suddenly went to the living room. He still had a frown, but goodness, he looks cute when he's frowning! I want to pinch his nose and squeeze his cheeks.

Damn! If only he wasn't grumpy and if only he didn't have such a bad attitude, and if I didn't know that he flirts with girls, I would really be infatuated with him!

"Leche flan?" he asked me, and he sat beside me. I nodded. He moved closer to me, and you know that subtle way of trying to smell what I was eating, that's what he did. Until--

"Aiden!" I scolded him! This peasant! He actually snatched my spoon and opened one of my leche flans without even asking! Damn it!

"That's mine! Buy your own!" But the idiot seemed not to hear and just kept eating and eating until only half of it was left untouched.

"Urgh! You're so annoying!" And then I pinched both of his cheeks! He winced at what I did. Serves you right! At least I annoyed him, and I even got my revenge!

"O-ouch! Ouch, Amberine!" I immediately let go of him when he grabbed the hand that pinched his cheeks. It's burning! And you know that feeling when electricity suddenly sparks out of nowhere just because your skin touched? That's how I feel right now.

I moved away a bit to create some distance between us. It was getting uncomfortable! We suddenly fell silent. Until he broke the silence.

"Where did you go?" he asked me, but this time his tone was calmer and not as grumpy. I didn't answer because I didn't know how to tell him.

"Well, why are you here? Don't you have work? And why are you vomiting? Did you eat something bad?" Instead of answering his question that I didn't know how to respond to, I asked him instead. He shrugged.

"I don't know what's happening to me. I'm sleepy most mornings. I'm dizzy, and I always puke." And he scratched his neck. I feel the same way. That's what's happening to me too. I sighed. We're both experiencing the same thing. We're both having cravings.

"AIDEN!" We both startled when we heard Arden's loud shout. I immediately stood up and was about to approach him when I was pushed back by his furious face.

He charged at Aiden and punched him, making Aiden sit on the floor. What's happening? And before I could even ask Arden, Kuya Jacobo immediately entered.

"Arden!" Kuya called him and restrained Arden from punching Aiden again.

"Amber, please... please, baby, I love you! Don't do this to me." Aiden said to me, crying, as he suddenly got inside my bridal car.

"Aiden..." I replied with a broken voice. Tears started flowing on their own as his large hands cupped my face.

"Please... please don't marry him." And he started crying too. Even though I want so badly to follow his wishes, I can't, I really can't.

"I love you, Amber. Please, I love you." And he kissed me, and I responded immediately. We broke apart and locked eyes.

"Please don't marry him, I love you, baby. I love you so much." This time, it was my hands that cupped his cheeks, and I pressed our foreheads together.

"I love you too, baby..." I saw his face light up with hope from the sad expression earlier. I sighed, but before I could continue with what I was going to say, he beat me to it. He tightly held my hands, and--

"Baby, let's run away. We can go to the USA, to my grandparents' house. We can stay there until they can accept us! Let's go, baby." Aiden opened the door, but I shook my head, registering confusion on his face.

"Baby, I love you, I love you so much, but Arden needs me." Slowly, I withdrew my hands from his. It hurts! It hurts so much! I love Aiden deeply, but Arden needs me.

Arden has leukemia, Aiden's twin. Aiden is the man I love, my high school sweetheart. Arden is my best friend, the one who brought Aiden and me closer. Until we became a couple. We've been dating for ten years. Since I was fourteen, one week ago, we broke up. Not because we don't love each other, but because we're deeply in love, and our love for each other has never faded over the past ten years.

Because of our overwhelming love for each other, last month when we went on vacation to the USA, we secretly got married! Only Grandma and Grandpa knew, along with the judge who married us.

Two weeks ago, we returned from the USA because Tita – Aiden and Arden's mom – said she had something important to tell us. "Mom, what is it?" Aiden asked while we were having dinner.

Arden is also here, but it's strange how he has lost so much weight. He looks sick. I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet because we arrived late. We immediately started dinner once we got here.

Tita took a deep breath, and I saw Tito's hand descend to hold hers. 'Why does it seem like something's wrong?' I asked myself. Tita's gaze shifted between the three of us, me, Aiden, and Arden.

Then she took another deep breath and spoke. "Arden has leukemia." My entire body trembled upon hearing that. I didn't know what to say or how to react.

Tita's tears started to flow, and I saw the deep sadness in Tito's eyes too. When I shifted my gaze to Aiden, he immediately held my hand, his expression serious.

When I looked at Arden, our eyes met, but his eyes lacked any emotion. Blank. So different from the cheerful Arden who always made me laugh.

"Arden..." I called him, tears welling up. He's my best friend, and I care about him, but I was shocked when I heard what he said next.

"I only have five months to live, and I want to live my life to the fullest." Tears streamed down my face upon learning that. I am hurting. Really hurting. I can't bear to lose Arden. I love him too. "Amber..."

"Arden..." I heard his mother sobbing before she continued speaking.

"Amber, I want to marry you. I want to be your husband. Please," Tears welled up in his eyes. "Please, break up with Aiden and be with me. I love you, I've been in love with you since the first time I saw you. I love you, Amber."

I hadn't even had a chance to react when I heard a series of crashes. It was Aiden. He didn't spare any plate or glass on the dining table, whether there was food on it or not. He smashed them all and kept cursing repeatedly.

"I will never take my chemotherapy until you're with me and we're married." Then he left the dining area. His mom stood up and approached me, and to my surprise, she knelt down in front of me, with Tito behind her.

"Please, Amber, I love my son so much. I love both Aiden and Arden deeply, and I can't bear losing either of them. Please, you're the only key to prolong Arden's life. Please, I am begging you."

That night was supposed to be mine and Aiden's night. We were supposed to share the joyful news with his parents and Arden that we were already married, but everything was interrupted by Tita's revelation.

Arden is sick. Time is running out, and he needs to get better. The key to his treatment is me. I had no choice. Aiden and I fought over it to the point where he even asked me to choose between him and Arden.

"Aiden, listen. I love you. I love you so much, but Arden needs me." I said, tears streaming down my face.

"So, you're just going to go along with what he wants? With what Mommy wants?! What about me? I'm your husband, Amberine! We can't get married!"

"I know, but I can't bear losing him, losing Arden. He's also important to me, he's like a brother. Before I knew you, he was the one I got to know, and thanks to him, we got to know each other and ended up together. He needs me, and this is the least I can do to help him."

"The least you can do?! Really?!" Aiden couldn't believe what I said. And because he had cornered me, I closed my eyes and punched the wall. I saw his fist covered in blood. I was about to touch it when he pulled away.

"Aiden, please understand. Arden needs me. Maybe we can tell your parents that we're already married and just fake everything... Arden and I's marriage." He shook his head at my suggestion. It was evident that he didn't like the idea.

"You're mine! Mine alone! I never wanted to share you with anyone! Being husband and wife means you own each other, not just emotionally but also physically! God! Amberine, even if you say your marriage with Arden is fake, in his eyes, it's all legit! He's my twin, he's a guy! And we both know that men have needs! F*ck! Amberine, I might kill him if I see him holding your hand, what more if I catch you two in bed?!"

I didn't know what to say to Aiden. I was happy and hurting at the same time. I was happy because I could feel and hear Aiden's endless love for me, but I was hurting because I needed to be with Arden.

"I'm sorry, Aiden. You can't change my mind. Arden... Arden needs me more than you do."

"Y-you're pregnant?" Aiden asked, unable to believe it, after Arden yelled and broke things in the living room.

Even though Kuya Jacobo tried to stop him, he didn't back down until he eventually gave up from exhaustion. Both Aiden and Arden were sitting on the floor, their faces bruised from their fight.

I nodded slowly and cried again. Kuya helped me stand up. "I'll bring my sister home. She'll stay there until you two figure this out, Aiden, Arden. After all, we all know who Amber should be with."

How many months have passed? Seven months? Eight months? I've lost track.