Can I help you?

Chapter 40

-Oh wow, you managed to get through already 40 chapters after this one. I want to thank you for staying with me this long. Try and leave comments to respond to things that happen in my story, how you like it, what emotions you are feeling. Who you relate the most to from the main female leads. I would appreciate it. Please read my other stories too. And promote them to your friends! :) Thank you. I will keep writing if I get encouragement from you, my readers.-

She is standing still and turns around to go off again. "Sarah?" Jhope's voice sounds through the night. The waves are crashing on the shore. "Can't sleep too?" Jhope looks at the ocean. Sarah looks too. Both are looking out in that direction. "To think it was so scary today, and yet here is is, peacefully going on and on." Sarah bites her lip. Jhope continues to be the only one to speak. "Today you saved me. If it wasn't for you, I would have died. I owe my life to you." Sarah looks at him since she sensed an emotion in his voice. "So I couldn't sleep. I keep repeating the experience when I close my eyes." Sarah nods. I know. Oh, how I know... "So I decided to go for a walk. To clear my mind. How about you?" Jin confessed his love to me after making sweet sweet love to me. Just like you want to. But I can't tell you that now, can I? "Same. And that experience is probably going to haunt you for a long time. It is my second time." Jhope looks at Sarah and his eyes grow big. She's been through something like this, twice?! Sarah smiles a sad smile. "And it gets worse every time. Although this time I was on the saving side. First time I was in your position." "What happened?" He asks. "It's a long story. It happened when I was 23. I was out in the ocean, windsurfing. I haven't touched a board until today to be honest. I came too close to the wavebreakers in the sea. They were under water. My board has hit them. It slipped from under me. I fell and hit my ankle. Hard. It broke at 3 places. I was being dragged by the understream, It pulled me under, and kept pulling me under. And kept..." Sarah is going through it again and her voice cracked. Jhope notices and nears her. He then notices that she has only a jacket and her nightgown on. He can see her nipples showing through the thin fabric. "How did you survive?" "My father. He ruined his knee because of it. He could never get on a board again. He had many surgeries. But he could not surf again. He still can't bend his knee. I can't bend my ankle. This is the reason I have so many scars. I had about 8 surgeries." "I'm sorry..." Jhope takes her in his arms for a hug. Partially for comfort, and also for warmth.

"How do you deal with it? If it doesn't get better?" He asks. "I don't. It sometimes I have nightmares." But I never had someone next me to do CPR on me or almost stayed in it... Why now? Maybe because of today? Jhope nods. He knows now too. He lifts Sarah's chin. "I don't know what to do about you." Sarah looks at him, her eyes still humid from the story and he is ghosting her face. "Your kiss literally brought me life. I want your love. Sarah, I am sure about this." Sarah can feel it coming, she isn't going to make the same mistake again. "Don't say it. Please. I know what you want to say." "Is it Jin?" Jhope's eyes are giving off sad and desperate vibes. "If it is, what are you going to do?" Sarah asks. She can see Jhope clenching his jaw and the tendon at his sleep pops. "If your heart is his, I will respect your choice. I don't want to keep holding onto you. But if your heart is even 1% not his, I will go ahead and take you." He grabs her waist and pulls her towards him. "I know your heart isn't his. Not completely. Not yet. So don't bother lying to me." He presses Sarah against his chest. He uses his other hand to cup her face and kisses her. The water is hitting small waves against their feet. Sarah answers his kiss, not able to hold it back, since she does feel something for him too. Jhope's heart flutters when he feels Sarah kissing him back.

Sarah, who was holding onto his arms, softly pushes him away, breaking the kiss. "Why do you keep pushing me away, Sarah?" He strokes hair behind her ears. "Why can't you just run to me?" Sarah lowers her eyes, looking at his chest. "It's not that easy for me. Nor for you. I don't want to share my boyfriend with ten thousands of others. Nor do I want you to quit being a star. I love Jhope so much." She comb her fingers through the hairs next to his sleeps and let's her eyes dart over his face. He is so beautiful too. And he seems to really want to make me happy. And I don't doubt he would. Oh, I want to know how it's like... She bites her lip, trying to keep her feelings stable. Jhope can see she is struggling about something. "What is it? Why can't you just come to me? It can't just be the fact I am a star, and you don't strike me as a jealous person." She touches his jawline and face. I want to say it too, to you... Oh God, if this goes on any longer, I might actually tell him. "Let's end it. Whatever we are having. Friends with benefits or whatever." Jhope doesn't get it. She definitely has love in her eyes. He tilts his head, and his face is one of disbelief. "Sarah..." She has tears in her eyes and turns her head. "I should go to sleep." She softly pushes Jhope's arms down and walks away. Jhope is just standing there, looking at how she starts to become a silhouette in the darkness of the night.