The Man of My Dreams (Fitzmael 2) - SOON TO BE PUBLISHED

06: Sobs and whispers

I WOKE UP with Marcus holding me tightly. I gazed at him for a long time, admiring every detail of his face. His nose was so perfectly straight. I leaned down to kiss his forehead and said softly, "Good morning, mahal..." I knew he was still asleep, so I let him rest. It was Sunday, after all, so it was perfectly fine for us to sleep in. No classes.

"Hmm," he groaned while hugging me tightly. A few minutes later, I felt him move. "Good morning. You look beautiful," he greeted me with a small smile.

I felt a rush of warmth spread across my cheeks at his words. There was something utterly enchanting about Marcus' compliments that drove me wild. I couldn't help but break into a wide smile.

"Okay ka na? May masakit pa ba sa 'yo?" he asked.

I nodded. "May period pa rin ako pero hindi na sumasakit ang puson ko. Hindi na rin ako nilalagnat."

He gently cupped my face and playfully pinched my cheeks. "That's good to hear. I'm going to head home for a bit, alright? I'll be back later."

I nodded. "Just know that I'll be waiting for you..." I forced a smile, but a wave of fear washed over me. I was terrified he wouldn't come back. I wasn't ready for him to leave. I had allowed myself to get lost in him, and now the thought of him being gone felt unbearable. I didn't want to pressure him to stay. I just hoped he would return.

He'll come back...

IT WAS LUNCHTIME when I finished cooking our meal, but I was worried because Marcus still wasn't home. I tried calling him, but it went straight to voicemail. I let out a sigh of relief when I finally heard the doorbell ring. My brows furrowed, wondering why he had to ring the bell when he already knew the passcode. I shrugged it off and ran to open the door, only to find Franco standing there with a bouquet of flowers and a cake.

"I'm sorry for what happened the other night. I'm not used to it, but I will do my best," he said.

"Where's Marcus? He said he would be back."

"He's not coming back. Please, give me another chance. Please..." he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation. He even kneeled in front of me, begging.

"What are you doing? Why are you kneeling like that? Yes, I've forgiven you, but I really don't want to date you again. Please, just stand up..."

He didn't budge. Instead, he hugged my legs tightly. "Please. I'm begging you..."

"Tumayo ka na at umuwi. Let me go!" I said, struggling to break free from his grip. "Do you want me to call security, or will you stand up?" I threatened. That was all it took. He quickly got to his feet, leaving the flowers and cake behind.

I WAS TAKEN aback when I saw Marcus walking toward me. He sat down beside me, and I didn't speak. I just let him be. I missed his presence. I missed Marcus. It had been a few days since we last saw each other. I was with Amaris, so I introduced him to her. My eyes widened as I watched Marcus flirt with her—he even kissed her hand! A wave of jealousy washed over me. In that moment, he broke my heart, grinning at Amaris while I felt a sharp sting. I couldn't help but ask, "Is that how you introduce yourself? Why weren't you like that with me before?"

"You were drunk that time," was his only response.

I rolled my eyes. "Do you know Lev? He's Amaris' boyfriend."

He took a deep breath. "Unfortunately, yes... He's my friend."

"Bakit parang lugi ka pa na kaibigan mo si Lev? Is that how much you like Amaris?" I asked, intrigued.

He immediately stood up and fixed his shirt. "My brother's here. I gotta go."

Elisha and Erazius stood there like statues, watching us. They seemed confused by what was happening, so they quickly said their goodbyes and headed to the classroom. I nodded and waved at them before turning to Franco. "What are you doing here?"

"Nililigawan ka..." he replied. I let out a loud sigh. "No matter how many times you push me away... I won't stop."

How I wished he was just bluffing. No matter how many times I tried to push him away, he remained persistent. Weeks passed, and he showed no signs of backing down. I could see the effort he was making...

But my heart belongs to Marcus.

MIDTERMS ARRIVED. IT was supposed to be my hell week, but it turned into a source of comfort. Knowing that Franco was preoccupied with studying gave me a sense of freedom. I hurried to the Med Tech department, hoping to catch a glimpse of Marcus. My heart raced when I spotted him laughing with his friends. I flashed a sweet smile and made my way to their table. "Can we talk?"

He didn't say a word. He couldn't even look at me! His smile gradually faded, and I could see the annoyance in his eyes.

"Please?" There, he finally looked at me, but all I saw was an emotionless expression. My heart sank when I noticed the bruises and wounds on his face. I knelt down to check on him, gently caressing his cheek. I wanted to treat his injuries. "Mahal, did you get into a fight? What happened to your face? You'll look terrible if you keep letting yourself get beaten up." I didn't care if the other students were watching us.

He forcefully pushed my hand away, and I winced in pain as my hand hit the corner of the table. "Bro!" his friend exclaimed. "Why are you being so rude?" His expression turned serious as he looked at Marcus, then softened when he turned to me. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, forcing myself to stay composed, even as my heart ached. The emotional turmoil Marcus had put me through felt far worse than the sharp sting of my hand against the table. I wanted to reach out and comfort him, but the coldness in his eyes made it feel impossible.

"Just go. You won't get anything from me..." he said seriously, arms crossed tightly over his chest.

"Marcus, what's the prob—"

"I said leave!" he shouted, his voice echoing with frustration.

I flinched in shock. The people watching us began to whisper among themselves. His friends tried to intervene, but he wasn't listening. Tears filled my eyes. I stood up, hunched over, and walked out of the cafeteria. I didn't know where my feet were leading me. I cried until I bumped into someone.

"ZAIAH?" THE VOICE was familiar, pulling me back from my swirling emotions.

"Zius!" I hugged him tightly, letting out a sob.

"Why are you crying? Who hurt you?" he asked with concern, gently stroking my back.

I didn't answer because I didn't want to talk about it. He just let me cry until there were no more tears left in my eyes.

"Are you okay now?" he asked softly.

I nodded. He put his arm around me as we walked to our classroom. "Zius, didn't you have something to do? Why are we going to the classroom?"

"I was about to go outside, but I can do it later. I'll stay with you—to comfort you. I know you're sad, and I don't want you to feel alone. We love you, Jarzaiah..."

I nodded, tears welling up again. "Thank you, Zius. I truly appreciate your support during this difficult time," I said, managing to force a smile.

"Do you want to grab a drink later when we get home?" he asked.

I smiled. "Sure!"

"Let's just go to our house. I'll tell Eli later."

They never ceased to amaze me. After class, we shared a meal before heading out for drinks. I could feel their pain for me. It was evident how much they cared for me.

I hoped their love lives wouldn't turn out like mine—complicated and full of doubt. All I wanted was for them to be happy... even if it meant sacrificing my own desires. They were such good people, and I believed they deserved a life filled with joy and certainty, far removed from the chaos I was experiencing.