CHAPTER 31

MELISSA QUIZON

As soon as I opened the door of my room, a bunch of red roses appeared before me.

"Good morning, beautiful," Wright said and smiled at me. I looked back and forth between the roses he was holding and his face.

I faked a smile and accepted the roses. His eyes twinkled. "For me?"

He nodded. "The one and only."

I threw the rose onto the bedroom floor. Wright's wide smile melted. I trampled on them until the rose petals fell off.

"W-why did you do that?" He was shocked at what I did.

I looked at him and raised my eyebrow. "It was a gift, right? Since it's mine now, I'll do whatever I want."

"Mel—"

"Reid and I are late. I'll clean up the mess later," I said and closed the door behind me.

I walked quickly to the car. Wright silently hopped into the driver's seat. Sadness was obvious in his eyes. I didn't know how he felt about what I did. Only Bobbie and Reid created noise inside the car. When the kids left, silence reigned inside the car.

Wright stopped the car in front of the gates of the school I was teaching at. He held my hand, so I looked at him. "I can't pick you up later because I have to take care of something. Be careful. I still need to love you."

Suddenly, I felt like I couldn't breathe. I hated this feeling.

I took my hand away from him, and, without a word, I got out of the car. Ellyza still didn't want to talk to me. We seemed to be casual with each other.

I felt so alone.

Again.

I was about to go home when I received a text from Eugene that he wanted to meet me. I told him that we could meet, and we decided to eat at a well-known restaurant.

"You are so messy when eating." Eugene laughed while wiping the edge of my lip.

I smiled, sliced ​​the steak on my plate, and stabbed it with a fork, giving it to Eugene. He happily accepted the food and ate it immediately. "I thought you had no intention of actually showing up."

"I have a lot of patients right now. Did you miss me that much? How are you?" he asked.

"I'm having a hard time."

"Where?"

"Just…everything that's happening."

Eugene held my hand, which was on the table. I stared at him. "Nothing is easy in life. Life is all about sacrifices, Melissa."

Sacrifices? Yeah. Fuck those sacrifices.

"No matter what, once in your life, someone will hurt you. That someone will take all that you are and rip you into pieces, and they won't even watch where the pieces land. But after that, you'll learn that you're strong, and no matter how hard they try to destroy you, you can conquer anything and anyone. You're strong, Melissa. I know. I've witnessed it," Eugene said softly.

His words touched my heart. I got up and went to the back of his chair. My hands wrapped around his neck, and I buried my face in the hot corner of his neck. He laughed softly. I moved a little bit when he stood up. His arms wrapped around my waist, and that made me go up onto my tiptoes. "I don't know what I would do without you."

He kissed me on the forehead. "There are events in life that, even if you want to happen, aren't possible. Be steady, Melissa. I will not leave you."

Eugene drove me home after we noticed it was about midnight.

"Mel, don't always think that I will leave you, ha. I love you."

I nodded. He kissed me on the forehead and cheek before I got out of the car.

When I entered the gates, Eugene immediately drove the car away. I smiled as I inserted the key into the elegant door of the house.

The whole house was dark. If it weren't for the night light, I probably would have stumbled. I looked into the kitchen when I saw a flickering light there.

I saw Wright in a suit, sitting in front of the table while staring into space. There was a candle in the center of the table, and food was served there.

I held my breath when his eyes landed on me. His face was serious, but there was a gleam of sadness in its eyes.

"Why are you late? Reid fell asleep while waiting for you," he said calmly.

"Eugene and I ate outside." I pointed to the table. "What drama is this?"

He took a deep breath and stood up. "This? I came home early to cook for you. Reid even helped me. This drama, as you call it, is the reason why I didn't pick you up. Why were you with him?"

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Why? Is it bad? He is my friend. Why would I tell you?"

Wright pressed his lips tightly together. I was frightened when I saw his fist clench. The expression on his face was different. Anger and pain were what I saw now.

"Get dressed. Aren't you feeling sweaty in your clothes? Then, blow out the candle so that your house won't burn down." I boldly said.

He approached me. I stepped back when I felt the heat of his body. I winced when he touched my arm. His grip wasn't tight, but his hand was shaking as if he were restraining himself.

"Don't do this to me, Melissa. It hurts."

"Are you hurt? Then that's good," I said.

He inhaled. One of his hands went up to my cheek and caressed it. His fingers dropped to my chin and lifted it. Our eyes met. The corners of my eye warmed as I saw the suffering in his eyes.

"What else do I need to do, Melissa?" He smiled bitterly.

I couldn't speak. My tongue was tied. I heard him sigh. I didn't know what to tell him. I bit my lip to avoid shivering.

"Why was he with you again? Why are you still seeing each other? Am I not enough? What else did you two do? Tell me," he said bitterly.

"What do you care? You have so many questions. Who are you in my life, Wright?!" I boldly demanded.

"I am the father of your child. I am the man who loves you so much. Who is willing to sacrifice everything just to beg for a little attention and your time." I was surprised when Wright knelt. He took both my hands and kissed the surfaces of my palm. He looked up at me. "I'm on my knees again, Melissa. Maybe when you see me struggling again, you'll know that I'm already very sorry. I'll kneel before you, again and again, Mel. Forgive me."

The tears that I had been holding in rushed down through my face. I removed my hands from his grip. I pushed him and ran out of the kitchen.

I left him in the kitchen.

Kneeling.

Suffering.

When I opened my room, the roses that I had stepped on were no longer on the floor. I slowly went inside. I saw new roses in my vase now. I stopped in front of my bed, which was full of rose petals, and stared at the canopy hanging over my headboard.

There were words written across the wood. 'I'm sorry, babe. Please, let's make up. I love you.'

And next to that was a picture of Wright and me when we were in college.

Annoyed, I pulled the cover away from my bed. All the roses fell. There, I poured out my anger. I stepped on them. I didn't care if my room got messy. I pulled the canopy down, and it fell. I threw it to the side.

Damn you, Wright!