Bittersweet

Chapter 10 - Bittersweet Kiss and Double Trouble

I heard loud sobs and the sound of shattering glass in the background, making my heart race with worry and nervousness. I even stopped walking, trying to hear what was happening with Eleven. I’m avoiding him, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about him. I’m just hurt, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s still my best friend.

“Eve,” his voice trembled, barely holding it together. “I need you. Please, I don’t know what to do.”

I didn’t end the call. I found myself running as fast as I could until I reached their house. When I got inside, I saw no one. I rushed to Eleven's room. When I opened the door, a messy room greeted me. I saw shattered glass on the floor and spilled wine.

“Eleven!” I shouted worriedly.

My worry nearly killed me when I saw him lying on the floor beside his bed, unconscious. I tried to wake him up, but he only responded with a groan. I lifted him up, trying to help him lay in bed before rushing to clean up the mess. Eleven is not the type of teenager who drinks alcohol.

Si Dice at Vixon lang ang alcoholic sa amin. Devyn hates it when people are addicted to alcohol, but she respects Dice and Vixon since they also know their limitations for drinking alcohol. I cleaned up the broken wine glass on the floor and put aside a half-empty bottle of wine that Eleven had.

After tidying up the mess, I grabbed a wet cloth to wipe Eleven’s body. I also changed his clothes, which smelled of alcohol. Even though my heart was hurting, I was still here taking care of him. It’s been a while since I last saw him, and even Devyn. I missed them a lot. Maybe soon everything will be alright.

It felt like a habit that my body had memorized. I sat beside Eleven and watched him sleep peacefully, though I could clearly see the tiredness in his face, making me feel even more hurt. I felt guilty for staying away and avoiding them for my own sake.

It’s not his or Devyn’s fault that I’m so in love with him. I kept caressing Eleven’s forehead and arm. I couldn’t stop worrying because I knew that when he woke up, I would leave him again and continue avoiding him. I promised to stay by his side no matter what, but if that’s the only way to save my heart, I should choose my own well-being to keep us both better.

“I’m sorry…” I could feel my voice crack.

My tears fell like a sudden stream down my cheeks. I couldn’t help but keep my cries silent as I watched the boy I loved more than anything. During the times I was avoiding him, he was trying to call me for help, but I ignored it. I chose to ignore it.

It pained me a lot, too. Maling mahalin siya dahil hindi naman talaga dapat, pareho kaming lalaki. Doon pa lang wala na akong laban, unang una pa lang talaga talo na ako kahit ano pang gawin ko mahalin niya lang ako. Hinding hindi mangyayari ‘yon kahit pa kumain ako ng lupa.

“I’m sorry for liking you, I’m sorry if I’m hurt right now, one of the reasons why I’m avoiding you…” I whispered painfully.

He suddenly groaned, making me stunned and shocked. I checked if he was awake, but it seemed he was dreaming. However, the next thing he did was even more shocking than I thought. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me to lie on top of him, with our faces just an inch apart. I hitched my breath, and my widened eyes were now looking at him intensely.

I propped one hand beside his head. I tried to pull my hand away, but he pulled me closer. I felt tension and an inexplicable flutter in my stomach, as well as my heartbeat racing from our closeness.

A slight movement, and our lips would touch. I gulped multiple times as my eyes settled on his reddish lips. My mind was going crazy, trying to fight the urge to kiss him and make him forget everything but my lips and hot kisses.