Chapter 14 — Stressing Out

Diana almost jumped when a hand landed on her left shoulder. With the unfamiliar touch, she knew it was not Ivan. After all, his touch was familiar and different. It was special.

She turned around to see that it was Rain. Without a second thought, Diana wrapped her arms around Rain, hugging her. In return, Rain patted her back in circles, trying to console her as she felt her shoulders getting wet.

Diana was crying.

Rain had no idea why. Still, she didn't say anything and let Diana hold onto her for as long as she wanted to.

After a few minutes, Diana pulled herself back. She sniffed, roughly wiping her tear-stricken cheeks with the back of her palms. She turned her eyes back to the view of the city. Rain felt guilty and wanted to help her out since Diana was always helping her.

"Did something happen, Diana?" Rain asked in a soft tone.

After a long silence, with her eyes fixated on the scenery, Diana said with a blank face, "I broke up with Aiden."

As soon as those words left her mouth, Rain gasped and placed her palm on her mouth.

Rain was utterly surprised. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She wished for it to be a prank. The only one helping her in her love life was having troubles on her own. She managed to ask in an astonished manner, "What?"

"Yes," she replied.

Rain didn't know what to say to console her. She looked down at her own feet and stroked Diana's back while asking, "Why?"

Diana sucked in a deep breath and started, "We are not perfect for each other. Aiden is an amazing person, but I don't feel anything for him. I tried, but I just couldn't. Our relationship couldn't just work like that anymore." Although Diana didn't want to lie to her, but confessing the truth wasn't an option either.

Rain racked her brain to come up with some comforting words. Forcing an assuring smile on her lips, she said to Diana, "It's okay. It's good that you broke up with him before it became a burden on you. You'll probably find a better person. No, you will definitely find a better life partner than that."

I wish Ivan could be that partner. Diana internally slapped herself before she could think any further. How could such a sinful thought even cross my mind?

With Rain standing right beside her, smiling at her, Diana felt extremely guilty. Rain loved Ivan. Ivan loved Rain. There was no place for Diana. She had no right to interfere in their perfect relationship, that's what she thought.

Rain continued, "I've never said it to you before, but you know, you really are an amazing person. I admire you, Diana." The more Rain praised her; the more guilty Diana felt. "I always wished to be more like you. Someone like you would suit Ivan better." Rain smiled sadly.

"Don't say that. You're the one whom Ivan loves." Not me. Tears threatened to fall from Diana's eyes. "You should be proud of that."

Rain's lips parted as she once again realized how fortunate she was. "Yes. I am." Diana bit her lips hard, hoping it could overcome the pain in her heart. Rain felt it wasn't right for her to talk about her perfect relationship, as Diana just broke up with Aiden. So, to divert the awkward topic, she pried, "I know I shouldn't be asking you this right now. But what do you plan to do now?"

Rain knew that Diana was planning to settle down in the United States with Aiden. Now that Aiden was out of her life, she had to think of something else.

So, Diana told her how she planned to run away from everyone else as if she never existed, to begin with.

"You'll keep in contact with us, right?" Rain asked reluctantly. An odd sense of insecurity was creeping into her, although she didn't want to admit it.

"I don't know," uncertainty was clear in her voice. Diana was conflicted about whether to keep in touch with Ivan or not, as it might be more painful.

A horrifying thought crossed Rain's mind. Somewhere deep in her heart, she knew there was something special between her boyfriend and Diana.

"Diana, can you promise me something?" Rain was fidgeting, playing with her perfectly manicured fingers.

"What?"

"Promise me that you won't tell Ivan about your breakup." Up until now, Rain was sure that Diana wouldn't betray her because she had a boyfriend, but now that she was back to being single, so she couldn't completely trust her to be with Ivan.

Diana immediately protested, "Why? I can't do that. Ivan is my best friend. I share everything with him. There's no way—"

"Please, Diana." With one look at Rain's eyes, Diana understood what her intentions were. And truly, she understood how Rain felt. If Ivan knew that Diana broke up, there would be a possibility of something unexpected and unwanted thing to happen. Rain knew that very well.

"Okay, I understand." It was hard for Diana to hide anything from Ivan, but she had to, for the sake of Ivan and Rain's healthy relationship.

The two of them talked for a little while before Diana went back to her bedroom. As soon as she entered, she saw Ivan staring at the emoticon pillows on the bed with a slight smile on his face.

"What happened, Diana?" he asked her as she started making her way to the closet room. Sensing that she was ignoring him, he grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him. "Where were you till now?" He had been very worried since she ran away after Rain hugged him outside.

"Balcony," she replied curtly, looking anywhere but into his intense green eyes.

"Why?" He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Diana was acting strange, and it was unusual.

"I felt like it."

"You're finally seeing me in person after two weeks. Don't you feel like giving me a tight bear hug?"

"No," she replied. He felt something was off, it was rare for Diana to act coldly towards him. Hurt flashed on his face when she retracted her arm from him. She went to take out a new pair of clothes from the closet room.

"Where are you going now?" Ivan inquired with concern.

"Out," with that, she disappeared from his sight.

What's wrong with her? Did I do something wrong? Ivan couldn't help but worry.

***

Diana pressed the calling bell of the familiar two-storied house. She looked down at the doormat and smiled to herself; she really missed her home.

Just then the door swung open, and the overjoyed face of her mother greeted her warmly. "Welcome home, sweetie! I missed you." Merida gave her daughter a warm hug, welcoming her inside.

Merida led the silent Diana to the living room and made her sit on the sofa. Their living was a well-lighted and spacey one which gave a warm homely feeling. Before Merida could ask anything, Diana placed her handbag on the coffee table and threw her arms around her mother.

"You missed me that much?" Merida laughed shortly, but her heart squeezed in agony when the sound of a sob reached her ears. "What happened, dear?"

Merida was shocked. Her strong daughter, who rarely shows her weak side, was crying loudly. Merida gently stroked her head and asked, "Did Ivan do something?" Diana shook her head in denial. "Is it the queen?" Diana again denied it. "You don't have to be afraid. You can tell me. I don't care if she is the Queen of England. If anyone hurts my daughter, I'll run my car over them mercilessly." Diana chuckled at her mom's passive words.

"It's nothing like that, Mom."

Diana had already made up her mind to share everything with her mom. Therefore, she told Merida about her conflicted feelings and cleared the misunderstandings of her and Ivan's relationship. However, she didn't say anything about Aiden. She thought it was better not to as it held no point anymore.

"I'm so sorry, dear. It's entirely my fault. I agreed to the queen's proposal without ever asking your opinion. I'm such a horrible parent," said Merida. She was filled with regret after learning the entire truth. If only she never agreed, then her daughter wouldn't be weeping on her chest right now.

"It wasn't your fault. I should've said it to you sooner. Now it doesn't matter. Just tell me that you'll come with me," Diana let out. She told her mother about the runaway plan on the wedding day, and she wanted Merida to accompany her. Diana was feeling restless. What if her mom didn't want to go away? Then, she would be all alone.

"Idiot." Merida playfully poked her forehead. "There's no way I would leave my only family alone. Obviously, I'll come with you. We'll face it together. Also, remember, don't mess up with Ivan and Rain's relationship."

A wide smile formed on Diana's lips. "Thank you, Mom! I will remember it."

The mother-daughter duo talked over many things, losing track of time completely. Soon, night fell over.

***

The sky was dark. The clock was about to hit midnight, yet Ivan was still pacing back and forth in his bedroom like a pendulum.

Somehow, Rain was able to get Jasper off her back and came to meet Ivan. Seeing him tensed, she felt the urge to shower him with kisses. Unfortunately, Ivan never had let her too close to his comfort zone, let alone kiss. But that didn't stop her from trying.

Rain felt that someday he would come to accept her completely, so she wouldn't give up. After all, she loved him.

Rain snuck up behind him and hugged him. Ivan was caught off guard and felt extremely irritated.

"Rain, not now," Ivan warned calmly, trying his best to control his raging temper. Rain paid no heed to his words and rested her head on his back, hugging him tighter than before.

She snuggled closer. "Please, babe."

Ivan lost his cool. She said the forbidden word; the word he resented the most.

"Are you deaf?"

Rain was shocked. "What?"

Ivan pried her hands off him and scooted away from her. "Did you not hear when I said not now? Do you not get such simple words?" His voice rose with every word he spat out. Tears welled in Rain's beautiful eyes.

"But Ivan—"

"Just shut up! Leave me alone. I don't want you around me right now!" he shouted. Ivan was worried sick. It was almost midnight, yet Diana wasn't back, and he didn’t know where she was. He felt like kicking Rain out of the room when she continued clinging onto him.

"Why are you being so rude?" Her voice wavered as she tried to control her tears. Rain would be lying if she said that she wasn't afraid of Ivan. He had become a completely different person than the always calm and collected person she knew.

"Because you're being clingy and annoying. So please stop. Spare me!"

She couldn't take it anymore. Rain burst out crying and ran out of the room.

Ivan ran a hand through his hair before he began pacing back and forth again. He just wounded Rain, but he couldn't care about her now. The only thing—the only person—in his mind and heart was Diana Stevens, and she hasn't returned home yet.