Fragments of Us

49: Ella

"Ella!"

Jema called out from a distance. My vision was already blurry because of the tears I couldn't even hold back.

"Ella, wait. It's not what you think."

We're both out of breath as I strode off for as fast as I possibly can.

"Baby."

I didn't even notice Jema had already caught up with me. She held me by my arms and pulled me into an embrace, but I didn't say a word.

"Hey, look at me."

She said this, lifting my face and wiping away my tears. Instead of running away again, which was exactly what I was meaning to do, I let myself fall into her arms again.

"I'm sorry, I just want a child."

Amy's voice echoed in my head again.

Jema noticed I was shaking.

"Shhh, it's okay."

I feel my heart thudding so hard that I'm almost hearing it. My lungs felt so constricted, and my chest felt so tight that breathing was so hard to do. I can only feel the fine sand on my feet and Jema's voice fading as I hold on to my chest.

"Baby, breathe. Fuck. Mafe! "

I heard Jema cussing and looking for Mafe before everything faded into darkness.

I woke up with Jema holding my hand. She immediately kissed my lips the moment I regained consciousness.

My eyes were heavy, and I still feel like my lungs are deflated.

"Can we talk? Alone?"

I softly said, as I was just looking at the ceiling.

"Are you sure? I mean, you should really stop fainting at me."

For some reason, it made us both laugh.

Jema stood up first when I called her, which made her stop and look back at me.

"I love you."

I said this, almost in a whisper.

Her eyes widened upon hearing me say it for the first time.

"What? I said, I love you, dummy."

This time, I said it louder, and I already got up to kiss her.

I clasped my arms around her neck, even tiptoeing because she's really taller than me.

Our moment was interrupted by Mafe bursting into the door.

"I didn't see anything, really."

Her eyes widened, and she turned around awkwardly.

Jema continued kissing me as soon as the door closed.

"Baby, stop."

Fuck, I felt her lips caressing my neck while her grip on my waist tightened.

I broke free of her hold and immediately rushed outside.

"That's not fair."

Jema rolled her eyes at me.

"You weren't."

I laughed at her, and we made our way to the shore.

It's almost eleven in the evening, and we chose to find a spot where not so many tourists pass by.

Only a faint sound from the parties is audible, and streaks of light with different colors can be seen from where we sit. The wind was cold, which was made even chilly by the serene waves on our horizon.

For a moment, none of us said a word. We were just enjoying the moment of our bodies touching while our hands were intertwined with each other.