Chapter 36: Love yourself

Milie's POV

"No, I'm not letting you live like this, Mils," Alan said, pulling me away and guiding me toward the mirror.

I stood there, eyes swollen, breath uneven, while he stayed behind me—close, steady, and grounding.

"Look at yourself," he said quietly. "And repeat after me."

I didn't move. His gaze met mine through the mirror, unwavering.

I was not sure what he was up to. The last time we were in the same position, I went numb.

"Say it. I'm beautiful." He said.

My throat tightened. I stared at him instead of my reflection.

"Come on, Mils," he said softly. "For me."

"I…" My voice barely came out. "I'm… beautiful."

"Again."

"I'm beautiful."

"I'm exactly the way I'm supposed to be."

"I'm exactly the way I'm supposed to be."

"To hell with what people think."

A tear slipped down my cheek.

"To hell with what people think."

"This is me. Beautiful, fun, one of a kind. No one compares."

My heart started racing, overwhelmed by the weight of his words that I couldn't finish.

"Say it," he whispered, more firmly this time. "Not for them. For you."

I stared at him before breaking completely. I turned and wrapped my arms around him, tightly.

Like if I let go, everything would fall apart again.

His arms came around me instantly. He pressed a soft kiss into my hair, his hand moving slowly over my back.

Tears slipped out—but this time, they didn't hurt the same way. They felt lighter.

"Your hugs aren't changing my decision," he murmured with a faint laugh.

I pulled back, pouting weakly. "I can't."

"You can," he said in a firm tone.

He picked up my swimsuit and placed it in my hand.

"You will."

"This is not fair."

"Go change, Mils."

"I'm not going."

He walked to the bathroom door, opened it, and gently, but firmly, nudged me inside.

"If not, then you're staying in here until you do."

My eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

"Very." He leaned against the doorframe. "Honestly, I don't mind. We can spend the whole night here."

"Oh my God," I groaned. "I haven't even said yes to you yet."

"Maybe, now you will by morning."

"Alan!"

He didn't respond.

"Alan, open the door!"

Again, met with silence.

I stared at the door, then at the swimsuit in my hand. He wasn't bluffing.

After a few long, frustrating minutes, I gave in, and I changed.

When I knocked again, he opened the door instantly.

I peeked out and immediately shut it again. He was standing right there, watching me.

"You're impossible!" I snapped.

"No backing out now," he said from outside. "Come on."

"Atleast, turn around!"

No response, then finally. "Fine."

When I stepped out, wrapped tightly in a towel, I barely had time to react. He just grabbed the edge of the towel, tossed it aside, and lifted me into his arms.

"Alan!" I shrieked, hitting his chest. "Put me down!"

He didn't even when I struggled, even when I slapped his shoulder. Even when he almost lost balance, he didn't let go.

By the time we reached the open area, my anger had dissolved into something else.

Fear. My body went cold. My breath turned shallow.

The echoes came back—Laughter. Cruel voices. Those comments—

"Who even wears something like that?"

"Does she even have a body?"

"She's literally flat…"

"Someone donate her some curves."

"Even that wouldn't fix anything."

Laughter followed every word. Loud and unapologetic.

It hit me all at once, like it had back then—each comment sinking deeper than the last, until I couldn't tell what hurt

more.

Their voices or the way I had started believing them?

I squeezed my eyes shut, covering my ears.

"Please… Alan… please…" My voice broke. "Take me back…"

"Mils." His firm voice cut through everything.

"Look at me," he said. "Just me. Nowhere else."

I opened my eyes. My vision blurred with tears, but I nodded.

"Do you trust me?"

Another nod.

"I won't let anyone hurt you. Not today. Not again."

I held his gaze. And slowly everything else faded.

"Look deeper," he whispered. "Do you see it?"

I blinked. And there it was. Not pity. Not sympathy. Just love. So much of it.

A small, trembling smile found its way to my lips.

"You see it now?" he asked, smiling back.

I nodded. His smile widened.

"I'm going to love you like this every single time," he said. "More than the last. I love everything about you—the way you argue, the way you laugh, the way you pout like a kid…"

I let out a shaky breath, completely lost in his eyes and words.

"…and your hair," he added softly. "Do you know what it smells like?"

I shook my head.

"Like something I never want to stop holding."

I didn't even realize when we reached the pool until the water touched me.

I gasped. My eyes flew open. Girls were looking at me in surprise.

"No," he said immediately. "Don't look at them. Look at me."

I did. And that was enough. I leaned into him again, holding on.

"You're the most beautiful person I know," he whispered. "And I love you more than I planned to."

Then came the noise—Cheers. Whistles. Laughter. Sammy, obviously.

Alan chuckled near my ear. "Now you can look."

I turned. Sammy was grinning like an idiot. The girls were clapping, stunned.

Daxton wasn't smiling. But his eyes—They were happy and teary.

I turned back to Alan, my heart full in a way I didn't understand yet.

"How do you do this?" I whispered.

He just winked. "Now I see it," he said. "The same love… right there."

I shoved him lightly, flustered. He laughed and let me go.

Sammy pulled me into a hug, splashing water everywhere. I laughed—really laughed—for the first time in what felt like forever.

Then I swam to Dax.

"I'm back," I said, my voice excited. He nodded, kissing my forehead. His eyes were glassy.

"I missed this." Dax said with a warm smile.

"Race?" I grinned.

"Ofcourse."

Alan was already at the edge, waiting.

He looked at me, gave a small wink, and raised his thumb.

My cheeks warmed.

"Three… two… one—"

Dax and I both dove forward.

And just like that—I felt free again, and Alan was the reason.