"I can't see, and I can't walk. I feel so lonely, Mom. I don't want to live."Felix stared emptily at the ceiling. His hand reached out to grab something, but there was nothing. He put it down dejectedly and left the comment.He wore a calm expression when he said that. There was no emotion in his lightless eyes. It sounded mundane like he was saying he wanted a burger for lunch. Yet he was using his life to force everyone to play by his rules.Perhaps he did know that we were all there.Aunt Mel wailed. She grabbed Felix's right arm and cried loudly, "No, Felix. You shouldn't have those thoughts. Dad and Mom are here. We'll stay by your side forever. You won't be lonely, Felix. Trust me. Trust your mom.""But what do I do after you're dead?" continued Felix emotionlessly. Like a fragile, porcelain doll, he elicited empathy. But the words he uttered cut deep.My heart was icy all over. Coldness crept through my body, starting from my toes. In an instant, I felt like an icicle han
"I have two sons. Whichever one of them leads a happy life, I'll be happy too. So Lulu, don't ever feel that you must do something. As for Felix, your Uncle Austin and I will handle him."Aunt Mel's words warmed me and moved me to tears. Spring had arrived after this harsh winter. Mom looked at Aunt Mel in disbelief and quickly grabbed her hands.For the first time in a few months, the two who had grown up together hugged each other again.Thanks to Aunt Mel's encouragement, Colin and I saw hope in the predicament once more."Thank you so much, Melinda." Mom and Melinda cried together.It seemed like tears were the only thing capable of conveying our emotions here.Colin kissed the back of my hand and said gratefully, "Thank you, Mom. And sorry."Just then, the loud noise startled everyone.Uncle Austin was pushing the chairbound Felix, and they were by the entrance.The source of the noise was a big, red apple. It rolled on the floor.Felix seemed to have used up every ounce
Mom grabbed Aunt Mel's hands over the long, rectangular desk. She kept apologizing and thanking her while crying.Colin and I held each other's hand. I snuggled in his arms. As always, he was warm, but I felt cold. I fell more and more in love with him as each day went by.But the image of Felix lying in a pool of blood and his soulless body on the bed would never get out of my head.While Aunt Mel's words managed to bring me some solace, what would Felix do? He trapped me with his life. He saved my life. Would he give up?If one day, his condition was declared incurable and he chose death, how was I going to face that?If I had to make the choice… My heart was telling me to pick Colin. Yet my mind told me that I should pick Felix because he got hurt while saving me. I wanted to repay my debt to him. I couldn't leave him high and dry heartlessly.What a dilemma.And if I followed my heart and picked Colin, would we be happy living with that decision?…"I won't be happy, Lulu.
Colin told me that time would bury everything.The temperature in Jinovy reached a record high in mid-April.Over the past few months, the 23-year-old me became more mature and composed. Whether I felt happy, sad, or angry, it all stayed hidden under my always-smiling mask.Helen told me that I had become more aloof. She said that one day, I would become a nun who forsook mortal desires.I laughed, saying she was exaggerating. But with a serious expression, she told me that if love hurt, it was time to let go.I knew that, of course.But I couldn't and wouldn't let go. There was nothing wrong with my relationship with Colin. The problem was Felix.I caressed my wet eye corners and asked, "Are you able to let go of Matthew, then?"Helen fell silent. Then, she began sobbing until she fell asleep.I didn't tell her that I would never give Colin up. Love never hurt me. What I was feeling was my guilt toward Felix.I had been dreaming about the Felix from before he turned 18, that
Mom said that if I truly loved Colin, I should fight with him. His future was my future too. We shared a future, so we should fight for it together.I agreed with Mom, but how was I supposed to tell that to Colin when we hardly met each other? Lately, we weren't able to call each other as frequently as before. And if we did call each other, we'd just relay how much we missed each other and wish each other well before hanging up.There was no time to talk about this kind of thing during a conversation that took place once in a blue moon.Work-wise, Colin's extended absence had affected two of the projects he was in charge of, so much so that the school had intervened. He had to look for solutions during work, and after work, he had to look after Felix. He was overwhelmed.Aunt Mel and Uncle Austin had gone back to Southsville, so Colin was Felix's sole caretaker. He had a lot on his plate."I'm good. I miss you a lot, babe. You have no idea. I can't sleep or eat. I just want to hug
I wanted to help Felix, so I tailed him.He lived in an old but well-maintained apartment building. I went in after Colin ran inside the establishment. However, he was nowhere to be seen when I arrived at the corridor.There were a lot of units in the building. Not knowing where he was and not wanting to call, I could only try my luck on every floor.As I reached the sixth floor, I heard a muffled cry and smelled the scent of blood.I tried to locate the sound. The door of the innermost unit on the left was left ajar. The sound was coming from that direction.Trodding lightly, I approached it. Indeed, Colin forgot to close the door. Perhaps he was in a hurry or he had seen something scary. I peeked inside from the door slit. Just one look and my eyes turned glossy.A wheelchair had flopped to the side. Felix sat motionlessly on the floor with his back against the couch. His body was lifeless, and his eyes were empty. There was a huge cut on his forehead, where crimson blood cam
The caller left a few reminders before ending the conversation. Felix, on the other hand, looked even more disheartened.Colin didn't know it'd be a congratulatory call from his colleague. Otherwise, he wouldn't have answered it.Felix was once Mr. Popular of the school. He was smart and handsome. He had the look of a business elite. He even received offer letters from various mega corporations in his final year of university.When he worked, he was as professional and confident as Colin. If it weren't for that accident, he would have had a bright future ahead of him.But that accident took everything from him. He couldn't stand nor see the sun. The successes he was due to achieve would no longer be his. How could he not feel hopeless?He had resigned to survive instead of living his days. But that phone call that brought good news managed to shatter his will to survive.I stood by the door, concerned. I made sure they wouldn't notice me.I knew looking after Felix would be chal
"Felix, I'm telling you this one last time. I can give you my eyes, my legs, or anything you want except for Lulu. She's my treasure and my bottom line. I won't allow you to take her from me."I cried even harder, so much so that I struggled to contain myself. The hands over my lips were trembling, but I felt something fuzzy inside me. How lucky was I to have found such a loyal man?I took out my mental note and gave him 20 flowers.That said, I couldn't just wait passively for him to bring me comfort and solace. I wanted to reduce some of his burdens too."But what about me, Colin? I have nothing left. What should I do?" Felix groaned in despair."Get up, Felix. We can talk about this later." Colin leaned down to pick up Felix.Then, Felix went berserk. He shoved Colin away as his hands flailed around aimlessly. He dragged his numb legs and crawled on the floor.Colin was caught by surprise. He fell backward due to the force, and his back hit the handle of the wheelchair, produ
Luna furiously scolded me, asserting that I didn't deserve Queenie's love and that Queenie had been blind to my true colors all those years. Driven mad by desperation, I chased after Queenie, determined to tell her I was wrong and plead for another chance to prove myself. However, the young man intervened, delivering a swift and punishing combination of punches and kicks that knocked me to the ground. Humiliated, I struggled to get up and fight back, unwilling to lose to another man.Despite his youthful appearance, the look in his eyes as he glanced at Queenie was undeniable. It was a blend of love, desire, and possessiveness only a man could understand.I was consumed by the thought that he wasn't worthy of my precious Queenie's love.Nevertheless, my body felt heavy and powerless. It was as if the strength had been drained from me. The blows rained down on me, bringing with them a strange sense of relief amidst the pain. Part of me yearned for him to kick me harder, inflict
I wanted nothing more than to run to Queenie, to hold her tightly and tell her how much I missed her during those endless days apart. I wanted to kiss her deeply and feel the warmth of her embrace. I called out, "Queenie, I'm here."Seeing me seemed to jolt Queenie from her joyous state, replacing it with a vacant expression. Mere moments before, she had been smiling brightly, her eyes aglow with happiness. Now, she appeared lost, her initial elation dissipating into a blank, unresponsive gaze.I couldn't understand why she had turned so distant upon seeing me. The love and joy that once shone in her eyes were nowhere to be found. As I observed her, I wondered if our time apart had caused her to forget. Or perhaps the events of the past had wounded her so profoundly that she had stopped waiting for me.The thoughts terrified me, and I dared not ask for fear of confirming my suspicions. All I wanted was to hold her, kiss her, and tell her how much I missed her. Yet, it seemed tha
I had no interest in Daniela's pregnancy, so I kicked her out of the house. My friends came to console me, each expressing their sympathies with a drink because they didn't know how else to comfort me.The money I had sent to Queenie's account was quickly returned as the account had been closed. Her phone number became unreachable, and when I sought her at her parents' home, I found the elderly couple waiting anxiously for their daughter's return. I lost not only Queenie but any connection to her. I grew disinterested in everything, neglecting my company and spending my days in a drunken haze.Then, my uncle came. We drank through the night as he shared tales of his hardships, the painful memories of his mother, and the years he spent alone, suffering.He said, "Everyone has their fate, Flynn. And choosing one thing often means losing another. Just as you've chosen to fight for the family business, you've sacrificed a part of yourself. But you must rise and fight me with all you'v
Queenie would then jump off the cliff, leaving me to jolt awake in a cold sweat. I endured each twilight in my hopeless vigil, counting down the days.On the 75th day, the door finally unlocked. I stepped outside and realized that this was the neighborhood where Queenie and I lived. All this time, we had been mere yards apart.My mom truly knew how to break a person's spirit. All I had to do was lift my head to see the pomegranate tree planted in our yard.I stumbled toward our home, my wounds screaming as I desperately called for Queenie. But the immaculate house stood eerily silent, echoing my footsteps like thunder.Except for Queenie, every possession remained meticulously in place—the exquisite clothes, expensive jewelry, and designer cosmetics.Queenie was gone, and the thought of losing her drove me into a frenzy.I collapsed in the middle of the room, sobbing uncontrollably. Regret consumed me. I should have never let my family's threats manipulate me and left Queenie to
I clenched my fists, barely resisting the urge to rush over to Queenie's side. All I wanted was to embrace her and whisper assurances that I would protect her, always. But I knew I had no right to do so.My dad's threat hung heavy in my mind, and the stares of Daniela and her mother bore into Queenie like daggers. One wrong move or word and those blades would descend upon Queenie, cutting her to shreds.The pain was unbearable. I felt sorry for Queenie. I was powerless and couldn't help her. With all my heart, I wished for her to stay strong and survive. She deserved better than me. Daniela's mother slapped Queenie, calling her a whore and a homewrecker, accusing her of seducing other people's boyfriends.Queenie stood rigidly, her gaze filled with humiliation. Her lips trembled, and the light in her eyes gradually faded.I winced in agony but held myself together, picking up Daniela and walking away.Countless times afterward, I berated myself for choosing to take Daniela away
We both knew the truth—neither of us could cross the chasm that had formed between our hearts.After that, I went home almost every day. We managed to maintain a semblance of normalcy in our day-to-day lives. We prepared sumptuous dinners and tended to our garden. I even considered adopting a pet to keep Queenie company while I was away.However, no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't rekindle the warmth we had once shared. Queenie hardly smiled anymore. No matter what I did to cheer her up, she would only give a half-hearted smile, her eyes remaining cold and distant.I knew something had transpired during our separation, but she refused to discuss it. My attempts to uncover the truth through private investigators were in vain. Any evidence had been meticulously erased.Eventually, I realized Queenie was simply biding her time, waiting for the moment when she would be forced to relinquish all hope and leave.A month later, my mother joyfully told me that Daniela was pregnant an
I grabbed a brush from the bathroom and scrubbed myself furiously, desperate to wash away the overwhelming sense of filth. Even as the rough bristles tore into my skin, drawing blood and causing searing pain, I felt no closer to feeling clean.My mind was consumed with thoughts of Queenie and the nearly five years we had spent together—the happy moments, the arguments, every single memory.At that moment, I realized I was terrified. Never before had I experienced such abject fear. Knowing Queenie's uncompromising stance on love and fidelity, I knew she would never forgive me once she discovered my transgression.She would undoubtedly turn and leave, heedless of any pleas I might make. I probably wouldn't even have the courage to ask for her forgiveness in the face of her justified anger.I regretted everything. If I had listened to my friends and taken Queenie away from all this, none of this would have happened. But I had hesitated. Even now, I couldn't be certain if my hesitati
Yesterday afternoon, my dad called and demanded that I make a decision within two days, or they would take action.I felt cornered because I genuinely didn't know how to talk to Queenie about this. The mere idea of her packing her belongings and leaving, accompanied by the unspeakable anguish it would inflict upon me, was a burden too heavy to bear.I wasn't sure if I could ever have a semblance of normality in my life again after that.So, I gathered some friends to drink with me. I drank heavily because I had made a decision—a disgraceful, heartless decision. The thought of what I would have to face the next day made life seem hopeless, so I drank even more.Before losing consciousness, I handed my car keys to my assistant, using my last bit of clarity to tell him to take me home no matter what state I was in.Even if it meant returning to the Hayes family's residence, he should not leave me out on the streets. Despite the imminent breakup, I wanted to part ways with Queenie in
My mom proved to be even more ruthless than my dad. She found me, dropped to her knees without a word, and begged me. She reminded me of the years they had spent raising me, pleading that I ensure they wouldn't be left without a sense of security in their old age.In essence, they were pressuring me to abandon everything. I was to pursue money and power for their sake, secure the Hayes family's head position, and ensure our grip on wealth and influence. Their priority was maintaining their luxurious, elevated lifestyle. My happiness, my desires—whether I even wanted those things—meant nothing to them. Sometimes, it felt like I was nothing more than a tool for achieving their ambitions.My dad told me bluntly that he would go after Queenie if I didn't comply. He said, "You're right. I'm incapable of outmaneuvering your uncle. But no matter how incompetent I am, I can easily make Queenie's life in Harveyton unbearable."To be honest, that day was the coldest my heart had ever felt