Plump, Hated, And Bullied

59

Chapter 59
Ren POV
I tossed on the bed for the umpteenth time, unable to sleep. As much as I didn't want to think about the rejection, I just couldn't help it. Yeah, I want to tell myself that, hey, man, it's ok. That's how fate wants it, but still, I can't help but think about it, because it hurts so much. My heart can't take the pain and I just feel like putting my head deep inside the water for some time. Who knows, maybe I will feel relieved if I do that.
The sound of my ringing phone pulled me back to reality, and I lazily reached out for it. Rena must've called to ask about how the proposal went as she was the one on the phone. I took a deep breath and sat up on the bed before I swiped the answer button.
"Hey, Ren. What's up?" Hearing her voice made me a bit nervous.
"Yeah, I'm fine. How about you? How is life over there?" I asked her and heard her sigh.
"It's pretty frustrating, especially with mom here. When are you coming back, Ren? Mom has been on my neck asking of you every now and then. She won't stop asking if I know where you went or if you called me. Why the hell have you been ignoring her calls though? Don't you know you are putting me in trouble by doing that?" She grew from being calm to yelling, and I sighed, rubbing my forehead frustratingly.
"I'm sorry. I've been tired lately, so I couldn't answer her calls. I'm sorry," I apologized to her but heard her scoff instead.
"You should call and say that to her, not me. Anyway, how did the proposal go?" She asked, her voice was laced with curiosity.
"That? Well, it went well," I shrugged, rubbing my forehead. It was hard to lie to her, but telling her the truth was the last thing I wanted to do. I didn't have enough strength to talk about it because it hurts talking about it.
"Wow! Really? She is your girlfriend now? You are going to marry Lilian now?" She gasped sharply, excitement resounding in her voice.
"Hmm," I only hummed, and I heard her giggle excitedly. I had no idea why she was so into Lilian, and why she wanted me to be with her.
"So, what about her Dad's health? Is he fine now?" She asked me, and I nodded my head as if she was here to see me.
"Yeah, the doctor said he is responding to treatment, although he is still unconscious," I replied to her, and heard her sigh.
"Alright. When are you coming back? You aren't planning to stay in Paris for long, are you?" She asked me, and I sighed deeply, laying on the bed and staring up at the ceiling.
"I don't know yet. She is going to stay here longer, so I need to stay by her side. You know, she is alone here and doesn't even have a family," I lied to her.
"Are you kidding me? You are planning to stay there with her? What about your company? What about Mom that is on my neck? Do you know think I can hold out that long?" She sounded frustrated, and I understood her. Mom was one hell of a frustrating woman.
"Ugh! I'm tired, Rena. Can we talk later?" I groaned frustratingly, and she scoffed.
"Anyway... Put me on Facetime with Lilian one of these days. I've missed her so much and want to see her," She uttered, and I nodded my head. We talked about random things before she finally ended the call, and I tossed my phone on the bed frustratingly. I felt guilty for lying to her that Lilian agreed to date me, but I couldn't tell her the truth.
I felt bad for being the reason I was rejected. If only I had treated her nicely, maybe all this would've been avoided. Thinking about everything that happened in the past drove me nuts, but there was only one thing I was sure of, and that is the fact that I was never going to give up on her. I will fight for my love for her until the end, and leave the rest to fate. Who knows, maybe, just maybe things would eventually turn out in my favor later.
Hours passed, and I was just sitting in my room, unable to do anything. Going out for a walk wasn't going to be a bad idea, but I felt weak and wasn't sure that I would be able to go out for a walk.
Pushing all the thoughts to the back of my mind, I pulled out the cabinet drawer, revealing the cheque laying inside. It was the cheque she gave me a few days ago, and seeing it kind of makes me so angry and pained. To me, she wasn't someone I bought anymore, she was the woman I love now. How could she have done that? And paying back for the money I spent on her dad? That was extreme and annoying.
"Ugh! So annoying," I scoffed, rubbing my forehead. Now that I think of it, I've been wondering where she got all the money from, and yet I couldn't make out anything. She wouldn't have still been able to raise such an amount of money even if she has been working for the past few months she has been here. No job could earn her that much in just a space of three to six months.
"That's not necessary. You need to return this to her," I mumbled, putting the cheque back in the drawer.
It was finally evening, and since I already made up my mind to return the cheque to her, I got dressed and headed out of the house in my car. I dropped by the mall on my way to the hospital and got her favorite snacks, driving to the hospital afterward. Although I was stuck in the evening traffic jam for minutes, but it was quickly resolved and the drive to the hospital afterward wasn't so frustrating as I arrived just in time.
Standing in front of the ward a few minutes later, I took a deep breath, holding on firmly to the shopping bag I was holding. My heart beat rapidly against my chest. I felt so nervous that my hands were becoming sweaty. It was my first time seeing her after the date at the restaurant that night, and I was so scared of seeing her now.
"Go for it, Ren. Be confident," I said to myself and took another deep breath, and just when I was about to knock on the door, it pulled open leaving my hand hanging in the air. She raised her eyebrows and shock laced up her face as soon as she saw me. My heart skipped.
"Ren?" She called, probably to be sure I was really the one, and when I replied to her, she sighed briefly.
Sitting side by side on a bench on the rooftop later, I felt uncomfortable with the awkward silence that took over the atmosphere. I could tell with one glance that she was not comfortable around me, it was written all over her that she didn't want me around here, and it was really frustrating although I didn't blame her for being like that.
"What are you doing here? We already settled things the other day. I gave you the money you used to purchase me, and I also paid back the money you spent on my dad. Is it remaining? I can give you more money if you want," She sounded nervous even though she tried to cover it up. It was still obvious. Her words rather hurt me and I bit my bottom lip, swallowing the lump in my throat.
"I came to return this to you," I said after I brought out the cheque from my coat, and she looked at me with her eyebrows knotted.
"Huh?" She blinked her eyes rapidly, and I sighed, rising to my feet.
"I really love you, Lilian... To me, you have stopped being the woman used for collateral..., but now the woman after my heart. Even without the money, I don't see you as my slave... I never did. It's fine if you don't want to, but please stop treating me like this," I rushed my words, and she sighed, rising to her feet.
"Ren..."
"You can push me away for as long as you want, and for as much as you want to, but I want you to know that I'm never giving up on you. When I love someone, I always fight until the very end, and you are not an exception. That is what I came to tell you," She stared at me, shocked.
"What if I tell you that I don't want to see you around me?" Her voice was low, but I still heard her.
"I will do everything you say, but I won't ever stay away from you. I will keep chasing you until the very end," I replied to her sincerely, and she scoffed.
"Are you out of your mind?" She shrieked.
"So, you should never forget that I won't stop chasing you," I said to her before I left the rooftop...