THE CROSSROAD TO LOVE

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Edward paid the bill and followed Bella outside. He saw her leaning on his car, her head bent down. Edward was still a little far from her but he knows that she is struggling through her pain, and he knows that she is crying uncontrollably. He stopped midway and just stared at her for awhile. He honestly doesn’t know what he will do to help her heal. One part of his subconscious is telling him to “Just love her, Edward. Just love her.” But another part of him tells him to “Give her time, Edward and let her be.”

Edward took a deep breath and started to stride towards her. “What will you do to her, Edward? What will you do?” He whispered to himself as he closed the distance between them.

He gently lifted Bella’s head for her to look at him. “I’ll bring you home, Bella.” He gently whispered  as he looked into her eyes. He gasped silently at himself as soon as he saw her red rimmed eyes, full of pain and confusion. He can’t help himself but hug her and enveloped her in his warmth. He slowly pulled her in his arms and hugged her, his arms enveloped around her waist, giving her strength.

“I don’t know how to love you, Bella. I don’t know how to lift your pains. What I know is I want to love you and protect you the way I know how. Just let me, just let me.” He meaningfully whispered to her as he tightened his gripped around her waist.

Bella untangled herself from his gripped and looked at him. Her eyes full of questions and confusion. “Even I want to give you the chance, Edward. I don’t think it is fair for you. I am too scorned, Edward. Too scorned for you to love.” She whispered to him. She then turned her back, opened the door of his car and climbed it. Edward stayed paralyzed outside the car, just looking at her, staring at her every moved. She looked at him with pain, regret, and other load of emotions she can’t name and gently closed the car door.

After a few moments Edward finally entered the driver’s seat. He inserted the key at the ignition and started the engine. He then drove off out of the Garden Café’s parking and into the main road.

“Whatever your decision is Bella, I will give you time to think. For the meantime lets go on with the pretend thing until you tell me what is it you wanted.” He finally told her after a long while of silence between them.

Bella looked at him and nodded her head. “I’ll try to figure out myself soon, Edward. I’ll try my best.” She whispered.

“Whatever happens, pretend or real, a yes or a no, an I love you or an I don't.  I will still stay as your friend, Bella. I guarantee you that.” He added as he continued to drive towards the direction of her townhouse.

Edward stopped his car in front of Bella’s town house; he was about to climbed out of the car to open the door for her when Bella suddenly stopped him. “I can manage on my own, Edward. I’ll just see you at work.” She told him and climbed out of the car. He watched her open her gate when a guy approached her from the back. Edward was about to open his car door and checked if she knew the guy when Bella suddenly and enthusiastically hugged him. Edward’s heart skipped a bit at the sight of it.

“Who is this guy, Bella? Who is he?” He asked himself confused as ever. He then opened his car door and approached them.

“I’ll see you at 8 am tomorrow at my office, Bella.” He told her as soon as he got near her and the guy. Bella looked at him, surprised as she thought he already left. Bella nodded at him and looked at the man beside her.

“Edward, please meet Jake.” She told Edward as she introduced Jake to him. Jake looked at her meaningfully with a spark of intrigue in his eyes.

“Nice meeting you finally, Edward.” Jake greeted Edward as he offered his hand towards him. Edward grabbed it and shook Jake’s hand.

“Nice meeting you, Jake.” He coldly told Jake as he looked at her with questions and a spark of jealousy in his eyes. Bella shrugged the spark of jealousy she saw in Edward’s eyes and ignored the feeling that rushed inside her.

“8 am then, Edward and thank you for the day.” She told him as he pulled Jake inside her gate. “What is that all about, Bella?” Jake asked her as soon as she closed the gate of her town house. Bella shook her head and ignored her friend’s question. She then hurriedly strode towards her doorsteps and opened the door of her home. She then pulled a confused and bewildered Jakey, inside.

“No more, questions Jakey, not tonight.” She wearily told her friend and closed the door behind them. Jakey sigh and sat himself at the sofa.

“His handsomer that I envisioned him to be, though.” Jake suddenly said to her. Bella rolled her eyes at him and shrugged her shoulders as she kept her mouth shut at Jake’s retort.

“Water, juice or coke?” She asked Jake as she tried to be evasive of his curiousness about Edward. Jake laughed lightly and looked at her with a bit of malice in his eyes.

“Ayaw mo, then akin na lang.” He teased. Bella looked at him evilly and noisily dragged her feet towards the kitchen to get Jake a drink.

“Ang arte mo kasi Te, anong mapapala mo sa pagiging bitter. Wala!” Jake garishly told her as he swayed his hips towards her.

“But seriously Bella, if I am not your friend, I rather stole him from you.” He said to her. Bella looked at him and raised her hands. “For your information, Jakey. He is not mine.” She sarcastically told her gay friend.

“But he wants to be yours. You can’t deny the look in his eyes, Bella.” Jakey cryptically told her. Bella laughed at her friend’s decisiveness and pulled out two cans of coke from her ref.

“You are just seeing things, again, Jakey. Quit it.” She said to him as she passed him a can of soft drinks.

“Ang arte mo te, intayin mo pa ata maagaw siya ng iba.” He supplied as he grabbed the can from her hand and walked back towards the living room. Leaving her, questioning herself.

“Live life again, Bella and I think you deserve the guy, unlike your ex and his cousin.” Jakey continued as he flirtatiously crossed his legs as he sat back at the sofa and femininely sipped his drink.

“Akin na lang si Derek buti pa, nang makamoveon ka na, te.” He added and laughed at her.

-End of Chapter-

A/N: Hehehehe Bella, be cautious of your best friend… Jakey might steal Edward from you sige ka!  Hahaha