Criminal Love

47. Sorry

Yue has been sleeping soundly for about 5 hours. Dylan has been mostly at her side – her rhythmic breathing is akin to a symphony that penetrates every fiber of his soul and mesmerizes his senses. He could stay there forever, simply watching her, memorizing her.

Since Yue has not eaten anything since the infamous chocolate cake in the middle of the night, Dylan has prepared a comforting soup for her. He has been expecting her to wake up at any time because she started grunting and growling like a puppy about half an hour ago; however, nothing so far.

Dylan sits by her side on the bed and his eyes become misty. He never wanted to make Yue suffer, he never in a million years imagined her reaction would be so unrelated to how she normally is. This a layer of his beloved sweet onion that he wishes he had not peeled. He not once thought that what he had been doing all his life –keeping some things to himself– could do this amount of damage to the person he loves the most. How foolish was he?

"I'm so sorry, cookie." A desolate tear escapes his eye. Dylan is the sorriest he has ever been in his entire existence.

He caresses Yue's hair and face with the touch of an angel, and Yue shifts around and smiles. She loves to be touched by him, even when she's not fully conscious.

"Sweetie, wake up. I made soup for you, broccoli and cheddar, your favorite," Dylan lovingly whispers, stroking the back of his hand on her warm and rosy cheek.

Yue hears his voice and her smile grows. It's her love, her Didi... But then she opens her eyes to glance at him and her heart aches, not because she is still angry, but because she finally sees things clearly after some essential rest.

With a gasp, Yue springs up at Dylan and hugs him as tight as she can. Oh, it feels so good to have her in his arms. He was terrified to discover he had mangled the best thing that ever happened to him.

"I'm sorry too," Yue mutters, her face sunk in the curve of Dylan's neck, tears already pouring like a broken faucet that constantly leaks.

Dylan wraps his arms around her and sighs. In this instant, tears and regret are the common denominator.

"Please, forgive me for keeping things from you. I promise I will never do that again," he begs as he caresses her hair and back, relishing how her body simply melts against his.

Yue clings firmly to Dylan, glued, asphyxiating him. She wants to be closer and closer. Letting go of him, being apart, is not an option, especially after what Caesar said, because he knows Dylan better than anyone else; he became his friend when Dylan was still a criminal, and yet he always says Dylan is the most decent guy he has ever met. So, this must truly be a huge misunderstanding.

"Forgive my childish behavior," she sobs.

"It was all my fault. Sweetie, there's so much I need to explain, and you probably have a lot of questions, but you need to drink and eat first."

Dylan is ever worried about his beloved señorita. He cannot help it anymore. All he thinks about, dreams about and lives for is Yue. How close was he to losing her? He doesn't even want to guess what he'd do without her.

"Let's go."

Yue nods, her stomach is indeed barking. She washes up in the bathroom and when she goes to the kitchen, her husband is there, wearing the white t-shirt that makes his whole face shine and smiling at her from ear to ear, happy to see her smiling back.

"Thanks. I'm starving." Yue sits on the table and sees Dylan pour 2 bowls of soup. She tilts her head quizzically. "Didn't you eat already?"

Dylan shakes his head, places both steaming bowls on the table and leans over to kiss Yue on the forehead. She shivers.