Teach Me Breathless

Chapter 23

A/N: As promised, the next chapter is here. Enjoy, lovely bookies.

P.S. This chapter is dedicated to @monica_justine. Thanks for reading and commenting and following. Merry Christmas to you!

Chapter Song: I won't give up on us by Jason Mraz(One of the most emotional songs ever!)

Chapter 23: Overwhelming emotions

Kyle

It's a miracle I didn't get into an accident while driving home. I was out of it the whole time I was going at 60 mph. Thank God, the roads were empty. I've been dreaming about doing things to Mara for weeks now but today those dreams almost became reality. Everything was perfect until Mara told me to stop. I didn't blame her though because I was sort of coming on too fast and she wasn't ready. I am willing to wait however long until she is ready to open her heart and love again.

"Hey, kiddo! How was school?" Au$nt Cathy yelled from the kitchen as soon as I shut the door. She was making dinner probably. I make my way to the kitchen and sure enough there she was cooking away. Aunt Cathy was a beautiful woman in her mid-forties. She was about a head shorther than me and she was slim. She had longish straight blonde hair much like her son's. And she had the warmest brown eyes but they have lost their certain shine because of the loss of her husband ten years ago and the loss of her son a few months ago. I admire her though, for her strength and will to get back up every single day just to take good care of me.

"We're having spaghetti and meatballs. I hope you're hungry. So how was school?" she casually chatted with me as we usually did everyday when I get back from school. She knows that I've been tutoring Mara and she's cool with it. She also knows that Mara isn't quite ready yet to see her and she understands. Simply put; my aunt was an amazing woman.

"School was school." I shrugged weakly and sat down on a stool at the kitchen island. She stopped cooking and gave me a discerning look. Oh, she knows. My aunt knew me more than anyone even my own father. When I was little and used to come over for summer, she took care of me like her own and even now that Randy's gone, although I can never replace him she still treats me like her son. She walked over to me and sat beside me.

"School was school? What's wrong, Kyle?" she asked worriedly. She was bound to notice that I was a bit out of it because usually when I come home after school we talk about what we did at school and what I did with Mara but today I just gave her a plain answer which is so unlike me.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Cathy. I'm so sorry." I pleaded and she started to get a confused look in her eyes. I can't help but feel guilty for moving in on her son's girl after he died.

"What are you apologising for? It's about Mara isn't it?" she softly spoke but it still surprised me. When I looked up she was looking at me sympathetically.

"You know?" I exlaimed in shock. She gave me a small smile and nodded.

"Darling, I've known since the day you told me about tutoring her. You get that gleam in your eyes when you talk about her. Just like Randy used to." she told me and I could tell that she was missing Randy. I knew that like everyone else, I reminded her of her husband and son. I don't know if these eyes were a gift or a curse. I couldn't help but feel ashamed that I had fallen in love with her son's girlfriend.

"I didn't mean to fall for her, Auntie. I held off as much as I could but I just couldn't help it anymore." I explained vehemently to her.

"I know you tried, kiddo. Did you really think that I would be angry at you for loving Mara? I have no say on who you love and who Mara loves. It's been months since and Mara has to move on sooner or later." she answered dignifiedly. That's one of her charms. Aunt Cathy had an aura of undeniable logic and emphatizes easily with people. You cant help but agree with her when she speaks.

"But I feel so guilty, Auntie. I feel like I've betrayed Randy by falling in love with his girlfriend the second he was buried. I've betrayed you for dishonouring your son's memory." I exasperatedly cried. Aunt Cathy had tears swimming in her eyes to. It couldn't have been easy for her to talk about her son.

"Oh, darling. Don't be guilty. Randy isn't...wasn't the kind of person who would want Mara to hope and wait for him when he isn't coming back. Don't be ashamed that you love Mara because she is so easy to love. She's beautiful, smart, kind and caring." my aunt reprimanded me. She was right but what am I supposed to do?

"But Mara doesn't even know exactly what she feels for me. How am I supposes to compete with Randy when even now he's still the one who has her heart?" I exclaimed frustratedly.

"Don't compete then. Don't think of Mara as a prize you'll win in a competition. She's broken, Kyle. And you have to fix her. It's just up to you how far you're willing to go for her. Do you love her?" she ended with a question. I stared at her in disbelief. isn't that what I've been doing this entire time? Professing my love for her?

"Of course I do. With all my heart." I claimed confidently. Right when I said those words I felt a huge weight lift from my chest and I looked at my aunt in wonder. She was smiling knowingly at me.

"Then there's your answer." she simply said. I sighed in relief and hugged her close.

"Thank you, Auntie. You are amazing." I told her and she laughed heartily.

"I know I am. Now let's eat. You'll need your strength to win Mara over. That girl is wonderful but she can be overly stubborn. But I'm sure you'll get through to her." she encouraged me and I thought I had the coolest aunt in the world.

She was, as always, right. I will need to use all that I've got to make Mara mine and I hope I do prevail.

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There. That makes up all the updates for today. I'll update again after Christmas because for sure it's going to be a busy week. Please comment, vote and follow (CVF) because that would make ths perfect Christmas present. I love you all and Merry Christmas!