Deceived Me

Chapter 7:

" Sorry, I can't... " Stella said without a moment of hesitation and continued.

" I tried. I've been trying for years but the mere sight of you has made me go crazy. Tell me why? Just tell me why you are doing this to me?"

" I can't. You won't understand."

" Then I'll live like this forever. Is that okay with you?" Stella said stubbornly. Alice's eyes flashed with pain and she frustratedly answered.

" Because you'll leave me! You will stop loving me and then, and then you'll really abandon me. What will I do then?"

Alice cried as she collapsed on the ground. She was still holding on to Stella. Stella sat down with her and all her words surprised her. She was stunned.

" I'll... I'll leave you? Stop loving you? No... I said, I said don't cry. Let's go to your place and sit down. You need to calm down first."

" No. I-I just want to... "

" Alice I am not asking you." Saying that, Stella bent down and picked her up in the bridal style and took her to her own apartment instead.

Alice wanted to protest but Stella didn't give her any chance. She put Allice on her bed and wrapped her in the quilt.

" Wait here. I'll bring water for you." Then before she could say anything, Stella left. She came back with a glass of cold water to refresh her.

" Here. Drink this."

Alice finished the water and Stella put it on the bedside table. Then she sat down beside her on the bed and held her hand. She talked softly in a coaxing voice like she's talking to a child.

" Alice, never in my dreams can I ever stop loving you. Never in my life can I choose to leave you. If I ever do that, then it would be over my death. Even in my death I can't stop loving you so how can you even think that? Do you think that little of me... " Stella felt extremely distressed. How can Alice leave her like that over a baseless speculation. Its so unfair.

" Is that why you left me? Tell me what did I do to make you think that and if I really did, then you won't have to avoid me. I'll stop seeing you myself. I'll punish myself for letting you live in this pain."

Alice looked at her in pain. Her time has stopped when they parted and left her in a miserable state.

" Please. Please Alice talk to me. This is killing me."

Alice looked up when she heard the word killing. Her heart screamed in pain.

" Stella, I am tired. I want to sleep."

Stella was stunned. Then a look of helplessness flashed in her eyes but her love yet love yet again won over then.

" Okay. You rest here. Don't think about anything. I'll leave you alone."

Stella said as she helped her last down and covered her with the quilt.

Stella left the room. Alice turned on the other side and tears instantly fell in the pillow. She clenched her teeth so hard but it was no use, they were stopping.

While crying, she fell asleep. Her eyes were all red of puffy. A while after she fell asleep, the door slowly opened.

Stella quietly stepped inside and approached her. She saw that Alice has truly fallen asleep and sat on the other side of the bed. Then she also laid down. There was a little distance between them but she didn't try to get closer. She just gazed at her Alice lovingly without blinking.

Alice woke up after three hours. When Stella felt her stirring up, she quickly got up and left.

Alice slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes. Then she wore her sleepers and walked out of the room. She was still sleepy and not fully awake. Hearing the voice coming from the kitchen, she walked there. She was stunned to see the person of her dreams.

Stella was looking for what to make for them as it was past dinner time already. She closed the fridge and turned around. She was a little startled as Alice just stood there frozen without a word.

" Why are you standing there like that? Come here." Stella approached her. Alice rubbed her eyes to see if she's dreaming.

Stella held her face gently and asked.

" What's wrong? Why are you in a daze?"

Feeling her touch, she recalls everything that believed and a complicated look flashed in her eyes. A fight within herself as she looked at her.