30 Days With You (RitKen Fanfiction)

38

GRANT was unusually quiet when they went home after Cristina surrendered to the police. Kasama sila nito noon. She could see the fear in Cristina's eyes. But Grant told her not to worry about it. He will surely get the best lawyers for his best friend.

Tulog na si Xavi pagkauwi nila. She suddenly felt exhausted from everything that they did today. Kaya minabuti na niyang magbabad sa tub kahit saglit para guminhawa ang pakiramdam niya. She will just let Grant do his own thing. Alam niyang nag-aalala ito para sa kaibigan. She also felt sorry for what Cristina had to go through. Napakatapang din nito.

She sighed when she settled down on the tub. The lukewarm water calmed her. She felt at ease and closed her eyes.

She didn't know how long she's been in the water when she felt someone behind her. She opened her eyes to look back and Grant looking so serious.

"What time is it?" Tanong niya sa namumungay na pang mga mata. Hindi na niya namalayan na nakatulog na pala siya.

"It's past ten already. Why are you sleeping in the tub?" He pulled her closer to his body. His warm body made her comfortable even more.

"I got exhausted. I just wanted a dip. Nakatulog na pala ako."

"Hmm..." Grant smelled her nape that sent shivers to her body.

She closed her eyes. "Are you okay?" She asked almost in whisper.

Grant didnt answer. Nagmulat siya ng mga mata at humarap dito. She saw the pain in his eyes. She smiled at him, assuring him that it will be okay even if she's not really sure.

"I won't force you to tell me everything on your mind right now. Hindi ko rin naman alam kung ano ang dapat kong sabihin. I am lost for words too. Imagine, I also throw hatred on her not knowing that she was just protecting us. Dapat nga siya pa talaga ang magalit sa akin. She lost her baby while protecting us." Tumulo ang mga luha niya. "Cristina was a strong woman. I couldn't imagine myself in her position. Sobrang... bigat."

She saw how Grant's tears fell on the sides of his face. She smiled at him warmly and moved closely to him, starting to wipe his tears away. She knew it hurt him so much. To know that his best friend did all of those things for him. Cristina became their shield just so they could live like this today. Naghihintay lang pala ito nang tamang panahon para sa kanilang dalawa.

"It's okay to cry and be weak, Grant. I know it hurts you for not being able to protect her too. That you blamed yourself for it. You failed to be her best friend." Malumanay na saad niya. "It's okay. I'll be the stronger one for us now. I'm here to look after you. I'll always be here for you."

Grant held her hand and kissed its back while looking at her. He cried his heart out, in front of her. Showing her his weak side. That this is the Grant she never met before. That he's also human too. Behind his strong facade and authoritative aura, this Grant also exist. The Grant that only she knew.

"It's so hard to accept..." he said in between his sob. "I was there, Dani. I could have prevented everything that happened during that night. But I failed Cristina big time. I didn't knew she was going through all of that alone. If I had known..."

She cried too. To see him this brokenhearted and to hear his words, it made her heart tear into tiny pieces.

"It wasn't your fault, baby," she whispered and cupped his face. She closed the distance between them and kissed his eyes to stop him from crying. This is all that she can do for him.

"You're a great person and Cristina knows that. That's the same reason why she protect you... Us. Because she knew, you would have done everything if you're conscious that night. You would do everything to protect her. She knows that. So, please don't blame yourself for it. Alam kong mahirap... Because it was also hard for me too." She cried.