She Loved, He Fought (The Daughters' Series #1)

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Cherry

"There's so much space between us," puna niya.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Anong gusto niya mangyari? Magdikit kaming mag-uusap?! It's not beyond my understanding that when people talk it's only mouth, and the brain is working! Hindi naman namin kailangan maging malapit sa isa't-isa para magkaintindihan.

Tumikhim ako. "You talk or I will leave."

He chuckled before he rested his back on the sofa. To be honest, he's invading a lot of space. I never felt so little next to a man.

"Ouch. You used to be clingy and now you don't want me near."

Pumikit siya bago hinilot ang kaniyang sentido, nakasandal na rin ang kaniyang ulo sa backrest ng sofa. He looked tired maybe like me, he just got off his work. He should have come home but instead, he came to me.

I have to set this straight so he could give himself a rest.

"Who's Brianna?" I asked bluntly.

"She's my ex. My sister's mentor."

Oh, he has a sister.

"Why did you break up with her?"

"Because I realized I didn't love her."

"You hurt her."

"Yeah, but if I would prolong our relationship she would just get hurt more."

Silence sank, circling us for a moment.

"What made you realize that you didn't love her?" I inquired, even though I wasn't sure if I was ready to hear his answer.

Bahala na.

"You. I don't know... when I saw you with blood that day, when I saw you unconscious and still, pain was apparent on your face..." he paused, it's obvious in his voice how hard for him to tell me these things.

For some reason, it hurt me.

"I realized that I wanted to protect you at all cost like how I always saved you before," he continued.

"Weren't you just... guilty?" I croaked despite my seemingly collapsed heart.

I looked down- glancing at my playing fingers on my lap.

"I was."

Napapikit ako sa biglang sakit na sumaksak sa aking puso. I don't know what game he's up to! I am so done with him! I don't want him to be guilty... I deserve so much better than guilt and pity from him!

I sighed. "Then, you are just guilty... perhaps, until now. Stop do─"

"No, because why would I feel this way towards you? Bakit ko gugustuhin makipaglaro sa apoy kung 'yon lang ang nararamdaman ko para sa 'yo? Bakit ako lalapit sa 'yo kung may milyong rason para lumayo ako?" his voice sounded like his breath was rasped in his throat. "Why? Tell me, baby..."

A tear fell on my cheek as I glanced back at him. I could almost feel the metal cold of his stares... how it pieced through me.

"It's not guilt anymore. I just know it's more than that," Elias added.

Pinunasan ko ang luhang nakatakas at nanatiling tikom ang aking bibig. I can't seem to find the right words. And a part of me just wants to listen to him, hear him, because the way he speaks─ it feels like he knows me beyond I know myself.

"Why does it feel so complicated to love?"

For the first time, I heard his voice wavered. Every word he uttered, his voice broke.