Comrades in Action Book 1: Lacon DeLevigne

Chapter thirty six

"You are in love with him. That was the only reason you agreed.."

Dreena sighed. She did not intend to let him know what she felt for Elijah but the way she defended him last night was what gave her away.

It was true. She loved Elijah. She didn't find it hard loving him. He was her bestfriend. The only man she let near him aside from the men in her family. He was her rock. Her confidant. He stayed beside her when she couldn't live the life every girl her age and station lived. He insisted to be homeschooled when he learned that she won't be attending school like the other kids did. He never left her when both of her parents died. He would rush to her side whenever she screams and then he would guard her until she falls sleep.

He chased all her nightmares away. He made the sorrow of losing her parents more bearable. And she admired him because of that.

It was not long before that admiration turned into a full blown love. She wasn't the least bit surprised when she came to realize the feelings she has been harboring for Elijah. For her, it was something inevitable. Something bound to happen.

That first summer when he went to Yorkshire for a vacation, she took it to herself to use the time they have apart to gain courage. So when he comes back, she would be able to finally confess what she truly felt for him. And just when she was about to, he started telling her about Emily.

"Oh, Dreena.. I found her! She was so perfect! So feminine! Oh.. there was not a dull and boring day with her! You will truly like her."

That was the first time she heard him talk about a woman with such ardore.

"Her..?"

"Oh, didn't I mention? I already found her! The girl I will be spending the rest of my life with. The girl I love!"

His words were like a knife twisting on her very soul. It pained her endlessly. To see the man she love talk about another woman with so much love and adoration showing in his eyes. The kind of love that is too different from the love he has for her. The kind of love she badly wished she could possess..

It pained her dearly. But she didn't show it. She immediately composed herself and wore her fake smile.

"That was... wonderful." Was all I was able to say. She just wished Elijah wouldn't notice the lie.

She wanted to be happy for him. Although her heart aches with the very mention of Emily, she suppressed it. She didn't let it show. And thank the gods Elijah was too much in love to notice anything.

Sumunod ang mga araw na naging bihira na ang pagpunta ni Elijah sa kanila. He would spend her summers in Yorkshire with Emily. And when they would see each other again, all their conversation would revolve around Emily.. of how they spent the summer together.. what their plans for the future.. everything was all about her.. she didn't complain though. She didn't say anything. What right does she have to say anything? It wasn't his fault he fell in love with another woman.

It was hers. She fell for him first and so she was the one who would have to take the painful fall.

Little by little, she saw herself fading away from Elijah's life. Her role was suddenly replaced by Emily. It wasn't about her anymore. He already has another girl in his life. Someone who he loves with all his heart.

The ache in her heart intensified that she decided to stay away from Elijah for a while. She needed to be by herself. She needed to heal.. to pick up the broken pieces of her heart..

Tumira siya sa lolo niya ng halos isang taon. Gumawa siya ng katanggap tanggap na rason upang hindi magtaka si Elijah. Eventually he came to accept her decision to be away. It wasn't that difficult for his part to understand. He was too preoccupied with the presence of his love that a year without her by his side won't make any difference.