Me Before You

PART 26: Fearful

🅆🄰🅁 🄿🄾🅅

As my eyelids fluttered open, I met the sight of P'Yin, his gaze fixed upon me. It was evident that sleep had evaded him throughout the night, his eyes swollen as if he just cried all night. His fingers traced tenderly over the bruises on my skin.

I shifted slightly on P'Yin's arm, feeling the dull ache in my stomach. "Is it hurt, baby? Should we go to the hospital?" He asked worriedly.

Concern etched across his face, prompting a gentle smile to grace my lips. With a tender touch, I caressed his cheek. "I'm okay, phi," I reassured him. "But have you not slept since last night?" I inquired softly, my fingers continuing their soothing caress against his cheek and under his eyes.

"How can I sleep after everything happens?" He muttered in a low tone.

I considered myself truly fortunate to have someone in my life who held such profound care for my well-being, someone whose devotion seemed limitless. However, I wanted P'Yin to prioritize himself too. For if anything were to happen to him, the sadness that would consume me would be immeasurable.

"P'Yinnn," I murmured, caressing his hand. "You need to take care of yourself too. You have been awake for far too long. Your well being matters to me deeply. If anything were to happen to you, my heart would hurt too, phi."

Silence.

"Or should we cancel our plan to move to New Zealand, hm?" I purposely said, making him instantly hold my hands.

"No, baby, no. Don't cancel it," he said, panicking, making me chuckle.

"But, baby...do you really mean it?" He inquired.

Following my words last night, where I told him that I agree for us to start a new life in New Zealand, our discussions on the matter came to a halt. P'Yin concerned for my condition, insisted that I take the time to rest and recover, not wanting to burden me with further concerns. However, beneath his composed exterior, his eyes betrayed a curiosity, a desire to know if my words held true significance or were merely fleeting thoughts.

Deciding to leave our homeland and everything we had known was not a decision to be taken lightly. His questioning gaze conveyed his concerns, wondering if I really already thought about it. But in this moment, all I wanted was to be by his side. If leaving this country meant forging a path towards a better future for us, then I was willing to take that leap of faith. No matter the challenges that lay ahead, as long as P'Yin was with me, I knew I would find the strength to endure.

A smile adorned my face as I leaned in, planting a gentle kiss on his lips. "I know that you have already bought a house for us there and I like it," I revealed, causing his eyes to widen in surprise.

"Baby...how...did you..."

"Aww, don't forget that I know all your passwords, Anannn," I said while grinning. "I happened to stumble upon an email while using your laptop and well, curiosity got the better of me," I confessed, shrugging nonchalantly. "I couldn't resist reading it," I added, a triumphant grin spreading across my face.

"Babyyy, I'm so sorry," he murmured, his lips pursed in contrition. "It was not my intention to keep it a secret from you. I just didn't know how to broach the topic yet."

Smiling, I cupped his face. "There's no need to apologize, phi," I reassured him. "I'm far happier when...you choose me. It may sound selfish but just as you fear losing me, I carry the same fear, phi. I can just be happy if you're with me."

His eyes brimmed with tears and he clutched both of my hands tightly. "I love you. I love you so much, baby," he uttered, his voice quivering. "No matter what may come our way, please promise me that you will never leave me," he pleaded.