ET2: Through The Storm

Chapter 38

Aron Ryle's POV

A

s I brought myself closer to my girl, I felt like I was walking on air. I felt ecstatic seeing Dwight after a long time of being away from her side. I miss her a lot, more than anything else.

When I was an inch away from her, I stopped and smiled. "Happy birthday, love."

I was expecting her to smile and hug me but her eyes began to water as she looked down. Her shoulders were in up and down motion enough for me to know that she was truly crying.

I lifted my hand and held her cheek, wiping her tears away. "Why are you crying? It's your day." Worries began to stir up inside me, bothered by her cries.

"Love, I missed you," I revealed when she met my eyes. "Every single day," I emphasized.

I handed her the bouquet of red roses in my hand. She let out a smile as she got them.

I've been away to pursue my studies. The pressure is high and my schedule is tight and the fact that I am on the other side of the word, I had a hard time getting in touch with Dwight. I was awake but she was asleep. Time was not on our side that time.

We both promised to hold on to our love while we are both prioritizing our careers but that wasn't that easy. I longed for her. I missed her. I could only stare at her photographs under the moons and stars. Wishing that they could hear me and pass my message to Dwight.

"I badly wanted to talk to you but I wasn't given a chance," I began. I've been wanting to apologize to her for I know that it hurts her every time I couldn't return her calls and couldn't compose a single reply to her messages. "I am sorry that-"

"No," she snapped. "No apologies. You were there to study," she said between her sobs.

"Alam kong may kasalanan ako, Dwight," I shot back, contradicting her. I know it hurt her because if not, she wouldn't cry this much. I barely see her cry. She may have hidden it from me when I was away but now that I am in front of her, I could tell that through her eyes. They never lie.

"Don't say that it was fine because I know that it causes you pain every time that I couldn't return your calls and messages."

She didn't let out a word, instead, she continued on sobbing.

"I always wanted to come back as a better person, love. " I held her face and let her face me. "A better person for you. You know, before, I worked hard to make my parents proud. I want them to tell the world that I made it, that I become a physician. But when you came into my life, I invariably wanted to push my limits and be a person that you could be proud of, love." I shifted my hand back to her palms. "I know that it hurts both of us in the process. Sa bawat araw na nami-miss kita mas lalo kong pinagbutihan ang ginagawa ko dahil alam kong may girlfriend akong naghihintay sa akin. And I am doing it because of her."

I saw a tear run down to her flushed cheeks. I gently move my hand over her cheeks, casting the tears away. "Don't cry, love, hmm? I don't want to see these tears," I uttered with my gaze on her.

Looking at her this close, I could tell how pretty she became. She owns such subtle beauty. I could spend a day just staring at her. The way her eyes pinned on me, I could feel something euphoric inside my chest. I felt joyous every time our eyes met. It was like, I could watch "my universe" this close.

"It's your fault, Ryle. You made me miss you so much."

Her words made me tugged in a smile. "I am not sorry for that." Some strands of her hair were blown on her face. I lifted a finger and brought them beneath her ear. "I love hearing you saying how badly you missed me."