Love Through the Veil (KimMacau)

4 - Rejection

Macau

P' Kim and I stood in the center of the living room, our gazes locked in an intense, silent exchange. Words seemed to elude me as I grappled with the torrent of emotions swirling inside. For as long as I could remember, I had devoted my heart to P' Kim, secretly dreaming that one day he might feel the same way. But now, in a moment that felt like it was pulled straight from a dream, P' Kim had just revealed his love for me.

The elation within me was overwhelming, like a fireworks display bursting in my chest. I ached to close the distance between us, to hold him close and whisper how deeply I loved him—more than I had ever loved anything or anyone. Yet, despite the burning desire to confess my feelings and bask in this newfound joy, I found myself unable to act on them.

My thoughts were consumed by Chay and his struggles. With everything that had transpired, my resolve was unwavering: I was committed to ensuring Chay's happiness, no matter what sacrifices I had to make. My heart, though brimming with love for P' Kim, was also tethered to a promise I had made—to do whatever it took to bring light and joy into Chay's life.

"P' Kim, what are you talking about?" I managed to utter, my voice trembling as I struggled to process the gravity of his confession. "We're family."

"Oh, is that so?" P' Kim's voice was sharp, laden with hurt. "You didn't seem to care about our family ties last night." His tone and expression cut through me like a knife, revealing the depth of his pain. The sight of him suffering tore at my heart, and I struggled to hold back the overwhelming urge to rush to him, to envelop him in my arms and soothe his anguish with a tender kiss.

"Last night, we were both intoxicated and lost in the—" I began, but before I could finish, P' Kim's words cut through mine.

"STOP LYING, MACAU!" P' Kim's voice was a roar of anguish and desperation. "I relished every moment we shared, and I know you did too. Even if we were slightly intoxicated, we were both fully aware when we started kissing and making out. I wanted you, and I could feel that you wanted me just as much." His words were laced with anger, heartbreak, and a raw intensity that cut deep. Each utterance seemed to peel away another layer of his soul, exposing the profound pain he was enduring. The weight of his suffering crushed me, but I felt trapped, unable to change the course of what I had to do.

"Fine, you're right," I admitted, my voice barely concealing the turmoil within. "I did enjoy our time together, but that doesn't make it right. We need to forget it happened." I struggled to keep my tone steady, even as a storm of emotions raged inside me, desperately wanting to confess the truth but knowing I couldn't.

"I don't want to forget what happened between us last night, Macau," P' Kim declared, his voice brimming with raw emotion. "I love you. I want to be with you."

Each word he spoke was a bittersweet symphony of joy and sorrow for me. My heart swelled with the happiness of his confession, yet it ached with the painful truth that, despite our deep feelings, we couldn't be together.

"But I don't love you, P' Kim, and I never will," I declared, my voice breaking as I spoke the words that shattered my own heart. The pain I felt was nothing compared to the devastation etched on P' Kim's face. First, there was shock, then his expression morphed into one of profound hurt and utter heartbreak. The sight of his shattered emotions made me feel like a monster, consumed by a torment so intense that I wished for nothing more than to disappear from the world.

For a moment, P' Kim and I stood in a profound silence, our eyes locked in a painful gaze. I fought desperately to keep my tears at bay, the effort straining every fiber of my being. The sight of his sorrow was more crushing than anything I had ever experienced, and though I longed to let my own tears flow freely, I willed myself to stay composed.