Chapter 115

Seeing Aiden coming to this house again fills my heart with a lot of emotions.

I feel happy. Grateful. Nervous. Scared. Angry at my dad. All of these feelings are mixed up and create chaos in my mind, but I would never choose any other way.

I want to be with Aiden, and I'm glad that he's here again even though he has to face Dad's wrath.

I want to hug Aiden, kiss him, and tell him how much I love him, but I don't want to ruin another day. I have to take things slow.

Yesterday, I was overwhelmed with my emotions that I didn't think clearly. I was panicking. I was scared that Aiden would disappear from my life again just after we got back together, which still felt like a dream. I didn't want to think about how my parents would feel and how Dad would react. I was just...rebelling.

I've learned my lesson. Not again. No more panicking. I have to be patient.

Mom is willing to try to get to know Aiden, and hopefully, Dad will be too. I know that it seems impossible now, but sooner or later, if Dad can just open his heart and see that Aiden and I love each other, he'll realize that we belong together.

While I'm preparing the table for the barbeque party and talking with my family, I notice that Aiden is watching me. I know from his expression that he misses me too, so I give him a warm smile. The way he stares at me never fails to create butterflies in my tummy.

Mom asks me to share the food with the neighbors who live across the street -- an elderly woman and her little grandson. Mrs. Richards has always been kind to our family too, so I'm more than happy to visit her house to give them the food.

After taking the box from Mom, I approach Aiden. "I'll be back shortly. I'm just going to give this food to my neighbors. They live across the street."

Aiden smiles. "Okay."

I start walking toward the gate, and when I glance back at him, he's still watching me. I smile softly at him and return my attention to the gate, which is then opened by the guard.

The sight of Aiden I saw just now fills my heart with gratitude because he'd never looked that happy before. Even though he still has to face another challenge of winning my family, Aiden looks happy. It's glinting in his eyes.

Aiden Klein is no longer a broken man who's haunted by his past. The future we hold together will be filled with more happiness. I'll make sure that he'll never have to feel such pain again.

I'm in the middle of crossing the street when I suddenly stumble and drop the box in my hand. Shit.

When I look down, I notice that one of my flip-flop straps has been detached from the sole. No wonder. These flip-flops are old, yet I keep wearing them because they're my favorites.

I bend down on one knee, picking the box and trying to fix the strap of my flip-flop. There's an alarming noise coming from somewhere in the distance, but I don't really pay attention because I'm too focused on what I'm doing. I can't walk in these flip-flops with one of the straps broken. I may just opt to walk bare feet if I can't fix it now.

The next thing I know, it all happens so fast.

I hear someone scream. Mom. I never heard her scream like that, as though she's about to die. She's calling my name.

Pure terror consumes me. I'm suddenly on alert. But it's too late. The next thing I hear is the sound of tires screeching.

When I turn my head to see what's coming, it's already too close. I can't move. Not even an inch. It's like I'm in a nightmare, and I don't have control of my body.

I never thought that I would die like this. So suddenly. From something so stupid and ridiculous.

Is it okay if I die now?

What about my family? They will be heartbroken.

What about him?

Yet, ready or not, I have to face the pain. Of dying. Leaving. Losing everything.

The impact comes. I'm thrown away.

But then, I'm not alone.

I'm wrapped in a pair of arms. A body.

I hit the ground harshly. If it were not because of the body covering me, my bones would break. Together, we roll against the harsh asphalt until, somehow, we stop.

I'm lying with my back on the ground while the other person is on top of me, still wrapping me like a cocoon. I can't hear the sound around me anymore. My vision blurs. My head is spinning. My ears are ringing. My breath hitches. All the air in my lungs is being sucked.

I close my eyes, letting the darkness consume me. I feel like I can sleep forever, but before it happens, my eyes snap open and my breath comes back in a sharp intake.

Frantic movements are coming in my direction -- I can sense them. I hear the sounds again, from afar but approaching closer. Mom cries. Dad, also cries, shouting my name. Their voices are mixed with the others'. I can't make out what they're saying, but they sound like chaos.

The body lying on top of me is unmoving, rigid, with its weight completely pressed on me and trapping me.

With difficulty, I try to move my head, and the sight I'm seeing plays before my eyes in slow motion. My family is running to me, and all of them have fear and panic skating all over their faces.

Then there's Luna. She wails, looking hysterical, as if her world is crumbling. It's painful to watch. A scream tears from her chest, and the agony echoing through it is heart-shattering.

She's calling a name. A name I wish I would never hear someone scream like that, because it can only mean one thing.

I can finally move my finger against the asphalt, and it's shaking helplessly.

This embrace feels too familiar. I know this warmth.

How could I not? It's the warmth of the man I love that has always made me feel secure, cherished, and protected countless times.

No.

No.

A silent scream echoes in my heart.

Aiden?

The denial striking me can't even lessen the sudden pain attacking me. My heart feels like it has just been stabbed, so cruelly and mercilessly. This can't be happening.

He couldn't have run to save me.

He couldn't have shielded me in his arms and jumped with me.

He couldn't have taken the hit.

He couldn't.

He should have let me die instead.

I don't want to breathe in a world where God has taken Aiden's life in replace of mine. How would I live with this kind of pain? Everything hurts to the core.

Before I can say his name, calling him back to me, I hear a groan next to my ear. The body on top of me starts to move.

Still towering over me, the person moves his head. And then I see his face. I stare into a pair of amber eyes, and nothing could make me feel more grateful than the fact that I still can see them again -- the eyes of the man I love.

My vision begins to blur with tears, and I don't know how to make them stop.

No. Please stop these tears. I still want to see his face. I need to make sure that he's still alive, here with me.

He's not leaving me. I'm not leaving him. We made it, didn't we? We're still together. Forever.

My cheeks are damp. I've been crying even before I realize it. But then, unlike me having tears that won't stop flowing from my eyes, there's only one thing crossing Aiden's expression. Fear. His eyes are wide, filled with terror.

"Nevaeh." Aiden pants. His chest heaves up and down rapidly. "Are you okay?"

I'm still watching his face, trying to engrave everything about him into memory. I'll never forget this moment. Someday in the future -- and it won't be just once -- I will look back at this and remember how grateful I am.

There's a gash on Aiden's forehead. Blood is dripping from it.

"You're bleeding," is all I can say. My voice almost breaks.

"Goddammit. Fucking answer me, Nevaeh." Panic is still written on Aiden's face.

All I can think about is that he doesn't sound like he's in pain. He's got to be okay. He's okay, right?

Aiden's eyes abruptly fall all over my body, checking for injuries. He's shaking above me and blindly searching for any blood.

Someone's sob catches my attention, and when I turn my head, I still see Luna crying with her eyes fixed on Aiden.

His condition is way worse than mine. With the way he covered me earlier, I even doubt that I have a scratch while his head is literally bleeding.

Luna is about to take a step forward, but Max stops her. His eyes are set on something, and when I follow his gaze, I see my dad.

Dad is frozen on the spot -- so is everybody else.

They're all watching me and Aiden -- especially Aiden, bloody and restless and panicking over my safety after almost facing death himself.

If one should ask the conclusion of this incident that no one would ever deny, the answer is that Aiden Klein would sacrifice his life for me. He would die for me.

I stare at Dad's stunned expression, then I do something nobody would expect me to do. I turn my head toward the sky and laugh softly. I close my eyes, and I can't help the big smile on my face.

Another chuckle leaves my lips. All my worries are gone.

That's right, Dad. He's the man I love.

And he loves me too, so very much.

Can't you see that now?

"Nevaeh, what the hell?" Aiden's voice makes me open my eyes again. His jaw is clenched, and he's still panting hard due to his worry. "Please tell me that you're okay. Does it hurt anywhere? Answer me, dammit."

I never heard him speak to me like that, but I don't care. He's going crazy. He'll definitely go insane if I delay my answer a second longer.

"I'm okay," I finally whisper. "I'm okay, Aiden."

He stares at me for long seconds, digesting my answer, as though he's trying to convince himself that I'm indeed okay. Then his jaw tightens again. He pulls me up into his chest, hugging me so tightly, as if he never wants to let me go.

I melt into his body, allowing him to embrace me fiercely like this, like I'm the last air he needs to breathe. I close my eyes again and sigh.