Chryce Beginnings

Chapter 23 - Of Broken Hearts and Realisation

Things between us started to happen. All of them, of course, off set. But he always managed to get to his senses, stop whatever was happening, break the tension, change the atmosphere to one of fun and laughter.

But all the while, I just hoped that Chris could keep up with that. Because I feared that something would happen between us the day he couldn't. And that would be irreparable.

But it happened.

--

It was just 2 weeks before shooting wrapped up. I was relaxing in my room after shooting. Well, not exactly relaxing. 

I had called Seth over 10 times, in the morning and evening, and yet it was switched off. Why? I have no idea. I messaged him:

Honey, you haven't picked up 10 of my calls. Is everything okay?

As luck (or bad luck) would have it, he didn't reply. I started to get worried, wondering if everything was okay. I decided to call Dad, thinking he would know what was wrong.

"Hey Dad!" But his voice was not sounding so good.

"Hey sweetheart, everything good?"

Deciding to talk a while before raising the question, I said, "Yeah, the shooting's going on very well here. Hey.. is everything okay?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, everything's fine.."

His voice showed signs of the total opposite.

"Dad?" I asked softly, "what's wrong?"

"It's.. I caught Seth cheating on you with someone."

I went blank. Totally blank. I didn't know what to say. 

"Bryce?" 

I wasn't paying attention to anything. But I managed to compose myself, and say, "Okay Dad. I'll talk to him."

I hung up the phone as soon as I could, went to the bathroom, and sat on the sink silently for a while. Then I broke down helplessly. I cried and cried, unable to come to terms with the fact that my husband had cheated on me. 

I decided to just go out for a while, at that same spot where I was that night where I and Chris were (Chapter 22). In the mirror, my eyes were puffy, and my face was red. I washed myself up, looked up again, saw that I looked okay enough, and went out.

That's when I heard crying and heavy breathing. I was surprised. I thought it must be just me processing the sound of my crying earlier in the bathroom, when I reached the place and came upon a shaking sight.

It was Chris. He was the source of the sounds. I was shocked. I had never seen Chris cry like that, off-screen, ever. I thought I would walk up to him, and ask him what was wrong, but part of me wanted to let him be with his privacy. As I thought of going back, I heard, 

"Hey, you can join in. The air is quite nice here."

How in the world had he known I was there? For whatever reason, I walked up slowly, my surprise fading to secondary importance, seeing my friend cry like never before.

"Chris?" I was shattered. "What... what happened?"

He seemed reluctant. Then I did something I thought I'll never do. I put my hand on his left cheek, brought him to face me, and told him, "Chris.. you can always tell me what happened, you know that, right?"

It brought us closer to each other. The distance between us had never been so less before.

He sighed, looked at my eyes, and turned away. "Anna. She cheated on me."

What in the world was happening?

"What?" I asked in utter disbelief.

"Yeah," he said, his eyes widening. "And to think she made up some stupid drama that she loves me."

I didn't know what to do. Whether to tell him, or just listen. I made my decision.

Just as he was about to speak, I said, "Seth cheated on me."

He was left dumbstruck. "What?" He asked, his sense of disbelief not different from mine a while ago.

"He didn't receive 10 of my calls.. didn't respond to my messages," I said in a choked voice, wiping my tears off, "I called Dad, and he told me.."

I broke down. I couldn't go further.

Then I felt him. I felt him pull me to his chest and put his arms around me. I couldn't reply, but only kept crying.

"I.. I'm sorry Bryce.." he comforted me, and I don't think I need to tell you that I was starting to feel okay. 

"I'm sorry for you too," I said, as I pulled back. "Well," he said, "you never know what happens, do you now?"

He smirked a little, turned around, but that's when I couldn't hold back myself any longer. I held his arm, and pulled him to me as our lips touched. 

He was initially surprised, but soon we started to lose ourselves. I was pinned to the wall, as our kiss got deeper and more intense.

That's exactly when I realised my feelings about him. Since ever we first met, we had this strange sort of stuff happening between us. This was the opening that let all feelings burst out.

We pulled back after what felt like an eternity, as our noses touched. It seemed like it was that same scene when we had hid behind a rock, as we were in an embrace, his character comforting mine. His strong arms were there; so were his blue eyes.

But this wasn't character. This was reality. And reality said that we two had finally given in to whatever spark was going on.

He let a sad smile, and then went away, as I stared out into the night sky, realising what change had really struck my life.