Run to you

His heart

Gale followed her to the roof top of the hospital. It's already dawn and there are no other patients in the area. He sat at the opposite end of the bench beside her. She was crying and staring blankly afar. He could not bring himself to talk. "Why does everyone think they are right? Why does everyone think they could protect me? But why is it that when I need them they are nowhere to be found?" She uttered but Gale did not say anything. He feels that listening is the only thing that he must do right now. "I've been running away from what I didn't know, and now I'm giving up from what I know. I hate it but what can I do? I could only hope for death right now." She said then she broke down. She crouched, her hands covering her face. Gale moved closer next to her and embraced her. It was the least that he could do. The sun is already up when Fine calmed down. She gently pulled away from Gale's arms. She may have calmed down but she is still lost. "Won't you go home now? I'll ask the doctor for discharge." She said. "Would you like to run away with me?" He asked out of the blue and caught Fine speechless. "I've been wanting to ask you but it seems that-" "If I do, your mother will put pressure on my family again. She might not know me but she has ways. Surely she'll have." She said. "I won't insist then. I won't be selfish then." He said then he looked down. He was the same. Fine felt his heart. He is also lost.She slowly and gently reached for his hand. Then he looked at her upon the touch of her hands. "I don't want to run away anymore. I don't want to fight anymore. I can't win this. I'm too ignorant, and so I'm done." She said then Gale only nodded. He felt that this must be really their goodbye.

Fine managed to convince the doctor to discharge her before noon. She went to the cram school with Gale and managed to successfully finish her first day of teaching. She rode with Gale back to his house to pack her things. She looked around the room she stayed for a short while. As she thinks about the things that happened in the house, the time she spent with Gale, her heart starts to beat fast. She thought she might only be feeling lonely. She brought her bag out and found Gale serving dinner at the table. He looked at her then he smiled. "Have dinner first then I drive you to your sister's house." He said. Fine smiled at him and sat down. Everything was smooth like nothing happened. They chatted about the time they worked together in the laboratory until how sad blue looked like when Gale first saw him and so his name. The atmosphere was serene. After they had their dinner, Gale washed the dishes. He was thinking of the days he spent with her. He thought of the day he told his friend he will not let her go but he is doing the opposite now. His chest stiffened at the thought. He knew he had no choice even at the beginning.

She stares at his broad back. Thinking about how good the man's heart is. She went back on when she planned on destroying his father. Her ignorance poisoned her but he cured her of it. She wants to recover from the poison and he was the first pill. Her heart thumps loudly and her chest constricts at the thought of wronging the man. It was however not the only reason on how she feels towards him but she does not notice it just like how she walked behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Gale was surprised. It was unexpected from her. Even Fine was surprised at what she did but instead of pulling away, her grasp tightened. "C-Can we stay like this for a while?" She said. Gale smiled and his heart warmed. "Do you want me to face you so I could embrace you as well?" He asked. "No. I'm embarrassed right now. But really, thank you Gale. Thank you for telling me the truth. And for the warmth." She said. Gale clasped his hands with Fine's. "You're not the only one. You have no idea how you helped me." He said. Fine was curious but she did not say anything. She wanted to be filled with the moment just like Gale.

They drove for hours to Fine's sister's house. Her sister was waiting for them at the front porch. As soon as Fine went out of the car, she ran towards her and embraced her. "I'm sorry for hiding it from you Fine." She said then Fine smiled at her. "It will get better sis." She said. Then Beth turned to Gale and bowed to him. "Thank you for taking care of my sister, and I'm sorry for the trouble." She said. Gale shook his head. "No, it's my responsibility. My family has caused you too much trouble and this is nothing compared to that." He said. "Would you like to stay for the night?" Beth asked but Gale shook his head. "No, I'm going already. I have work tomorrow." "Then have a coffee first." She insisted. Gale carried Fine's bag despite her reluctance. Upon entering the house, Beth's husband, Martin, is already preparing brewed coffee. "Fine! Long time no see!" He greeted and hugged her. "Yes, and you're still as gullible I guess." She said then he laughed. "Sit down you two. I'm preparing coffee. When you called your sister earlier that you're coming, I went out to buy for the best coffee bean right away." He said. "Then don't disappoint me with that coffee alright? I'll look forward to it." She said. "Of course!" He said then he went back to the kitchen and poured them cups of coffee while the three sit at the living room. "I'm sorry I told her before telling you." Gale said. Beth shook her head, "I was wrong about holding the truth from her. Adam called me and told me what happened. I'm sorry Fine." She said. Fine's eyes widened not with her sister's apology but at what Adam did. "He called you? Really, I don't believe that guy. I told him not to. I don't want you to worry." She said. "But he only has your welfare in his mind so don't hate on him. It is also right that I he told me. I'm your sister." Her sister said. "I know but-"She stared at the coffee table.

This did not go unnoticed by Gale, and Gale's gaze also did not go unnoticed by Beth. "By the way sis, I'm planning on getting my own flat near the place I'm currently working at. This place is really far from there and from school so I won't be staying for so long." She said. Beth was observing her but she did not seem anything like what Adam described her earlier. She knew however that her little sister is only concealing what she really feels and she does not want to tap on to that if her sister will not open up herself. "You're working? Where?" She asked. "Gale recommended me to a cram school. I need to earn, I cannot depend on you or on the scholarship to support me forever right?" She said. "But-" "You're getting overprotective again sis. I can handle myself. Don't worry." She said. Even so, Beth could not help but worry. "If that's what you want then. I'll help you find a place. I'll ask my subordinates in that area and see if they know a place." She said. Martin arrived with the cups of coffee and sat beside his wife. "Here Fine. I was lucky to have the coffee bean. It's the best seller after all." He said then he handed her the cup. "Thanks! You're the best!" She said then she sipped a little. "Ahh, it's delicious. Thank you. Try it." She said then she handed Gale a cup. "About the firm sis. I heard about it." Fine said and the atmosphere turned serious. "Oh about that! Don't worry about it. I'm alright. I'll be able to go back soon." She said, assuring her sister. "But you're not alright. There's no way you'll be. You love law." She said. "Of course I love law but it already happened and I could only find a way to get back up. Thankfully, Martin's clinic was not affected so we're doing fine." She said. It seemed to Fine that her sister is alright but she still cannot accept what happened to her sister.

Everyone tried to lift the conversation when someone knocked on the door. Martin opened it and it was Adam. He let him in and led him to the living room. "Adam, what brought you here?" Beth asked. "Good evening Beth." He said then he looked at Gale and smiled then he turned to Fine. "I would like to talk to Fine." He said. Martin grinned and teased the two then Beth secretly elbowed her husband while looking at Gale. "What?" Fine asked. Adam looked at them and then to Fine. "Can it be just the two of us?" He said then Martin teased the two again, making it more awkward for Gale. Beth noticed her sister glancing at Gale and from that, she felt that there must be something going on between the two. "I'll take my leave then. It's already late." Gale said then he stood up. Fine turned to him, as if she wanted to say something. "I'll walk you out." Beth said. "Goodbye then." Gale said to Fine. Fine felt lonely as she watches Gale's back disappear behind the door.

Beth knew there was something. Before Gale went inside the car, she confronted him. "Gale, you know, my family has suffered too much and I kept it from my sister. I even sought your help to help keep it from her especially at the university so she won't hurt so much and turned out to be not the right thing to do." She said. "I'm also sorry I told her without your permission. I just can't-" "Are you harbouring affection for my sister? Like love?" She asked. Gale's eyes widened and turned his eyes away from her. "It seems like you do." She said. Gale looked at her, looking down. "I'm sorry. I know I must not feel that way for her along the way since I knew her, I slowly developed this feelings without knowing. I will keep my distance. This might even be the last time that I associate with her. I have to at least do that to protect your family from my mother so don't worry." He said then Beth laughed which confused Gale. "What's with the speech? Sure your mother fucked up my family but I won't prevent you from loving my sister. That's what she needs the most right now. My only concern is that if you are going to pursue your feelings, just know that it won't be easy especially if your mother knew. You have to protect her. If you can protect her then I won't stop you from loving her and pursuing her but if you can't then forget about her. Don't worry about what your mother will do to my family again. I've got my hands on it and I won't stop until I get your mother. What will you do now?" She asked. Gale was surprised at Beth's demeanor then he blurted out a sigh of relief then he chuckled. "You really are sisters. I can't see through you. Thank you Elizabeth and I'm really sorry. I'm so sorry that I really love your sister and I want to be selfish." He said. Beth's eyes brightened up and then she smiled at him, "then be selfish" She said.

Gale smiled at her and bid her goodbye before getting inside the car. Both trusted each other's words and Beth knew that she could entrust her sister with him no matter how large and strong the waves and the wind may be. Gale drove off with his head in the clouds at Beth's approval.