for you

Part 50

I tried getting up to answer it but it only got me back on my knees. It didn't help that the knocks were getting louder and as I was about to curse the person behind that door I heard that familiar and comforting voice.

"Ruby?? Are you there? I heard you ended practise early today so I came to visit you. You okay there?"

As if my energy was magically restored, I got up and opened the door. A smile appeared on his face but when he saw the condition I was in his expression turned to a worried one. 

"Ruby.. are you okay? Wait no that's a stupid question of course you're not." He enters the apartment and places what looked to be a bag of food on the table. He held my shoulders. 

"You look so pale and sick, what happened?"

"N-Nothing Ethan. I was only doing w-what I was told to." I was terribly out of breath as I spoke. He realised that and took me to the sofa. 

"Let me get you some water." I nod and he returns with a glass of water. I managed to down half of it and was about to put it on the coffee table but he stopped me. "Drink all of it. You're so dehydrated." 

I sighed and finished the glass. 

"Ruby, did you overwork yourself?" 

I snorted. "I didn't. I just- I was doing what I usually do on every busy month. It's just that this month is a shitty one so I can't do anything about it."

"Have you been eating well?" 

"Hm."

"Answer me please"

"Fine, I didn't eat a lot. Not as much as I have been. What can I do? I'm not allowed to pig out."

He sighs. "That doesn't mean you should stop eating. You've lost so much weight that when I last saw you. And I heard from people in your class that you got scolded a lot by your teachers because you weren't focusing. Lucas told me you got a scolding by your manager and your dance teacher because of your lacking recently."

"Lucas?? How did you get in contact with him?"

"That's besides the point. What's important now is you're mental and physical health. You're overworking yourself, Ruby. Please don't restrict yourself too much and let loose, it hurts me to see you in this condition."

I looked away from his eyes that held so much care for me. To know that he's broken seeing me like this breaks me even more. I fisted my knuckles and bit my lip to hold back the wave of emotions inside of me. 

But that border broke down when he pulled me to him and hugged me. I couldn't hold it back anymore so I cried. I cried into his shoulders and he hugged me even tighter. 

"I can't do this anymore" I hiccuped. "I feel so demotivated and all the pressure everyone is putting onto me to make a good impression is killing me. Why do I have to care about what others think, Ethan. I'm just so fucking tired." 

He caresses my back and whispers soothing words that definitely calmed me down. After several minutes we pull away and he wipes away the tears escaping my eyes. 

"Let it all out okay? I'm here for you" he softly smiles. 

Those words felt like remedy. Maybe this was what I needed these past two weeks. Maybe all I needed was Ethan's calm words and his warm embrace. 

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author's note

aaaaaah it looks like Ruby is starting to fall for Ethan :]] what do you guys think? I hope this excites you guys even more hehee enjoy my loves <33 love love :^3 ♡♡