Chapter 19 1

Trepidation, that was circulating me in the present minute, was something I was never prepared for. It was like in one second, my shells have started to crumble down with such a force, that I was afraid that all my secrets would be out in no time; making Serena hate me. Despise me or worst she might even wish for my death just like Carolina.

But instantly, I dismissed that thought away. Serena can never even think of hurting me, let alone the thought of killing me. I was gutted. I was emotionally wrecked. I wanted to scream and yell; fight and literally kill the demons that turned me into something which I never wanted to be.

Realization of Serena hearing my confession dawned upon me like a wave hits the shore. I straightened my shaking body, not knowing how to face her; to even confront her hateful and disgusted eyes.

But slowly and steadily, gathering my all last of determination, I turned my head towards my right hoping that I will not be required to face, her fearful eyes.

But what I saw, made me froze on my spot. The thirty-three vertebrae of my spinal cord started to hammer against each other forcing me to turn around entirely towards Serena, who sat there stoic, calm, and composed. A genuine smile of pride lingering on the sides of her lips whilst she was staring ahead at John with a mischievous look in her eyes.

Thinking it to be my hallucination, I forced my neck to look in John's direction to get another shock in that spur second.

There he sat on his chair, in an absolutely relaxed manner. His one arm on his hand rested, bent upside down, giving him access to rest his chin on his folded fingers. His smile not leaving his lips whilst his one brow was raised at Serena as if he knew the deal of her mind.

What the hell was happening??

My subconscious mind screamed at me totally losing the last shred of patience.

"What do you say now, Doctor? Didn't the first two part of the plan worked in just few hours?" Serena asked with a proud smirk on her face now. I kept on staring at her as if anticipating her attention towards me which will only clear my mind and answer my queries.

"It worked absolutely, Serena. And now I have no doubt, that your fourteen-version plan will be successful in bringing back the lost Daniel Price. But let's not keep our buddy waiting. He needs answers as well I think and then I should do his check up because I can feel his brain muscles throbbing in pain". I heard John replying to her with a little hint of humor in his tone, but I was still not able to comprehend anything, because as John concluded, my brain was really hurting as someone hit me with a rock.

"Sit down, Price." I simply followed John's instructions, absent-mindedly. My eyes were glued to Serena, but she wasn't looking at me. She was staring ahead, smiling at nothing in particular. And it was making me angry because she wasn't giving me any attention.

"Will you both tell me, what the hell is happening?" I yelled wiping off the sweat beads from my forehead.

"John told me everything beforehand only." Serena replied taking mercy on me Finally. I suddenly felt as if I became deaf, but then I did hear her voice. Can I be dreaming?

No, I can never dream. I am only accustomed to nightmares with a little twist of open eyes.

Screw your head, Price!

Ignoring my over-acidic subconscious, I gave Serena a stern look to proceed further, but instead of her, John continued in his over melodramatic tone, "Too bad Price Man! What did you thought that I will put this beautiful girl in danger without giving her insight about you?"

Before I can shut him up, Serena took my one hand in hers, totally making me forget all about John. I stared into her eyes to see only love shining in them which was scaring me.

"The day 1 process started yesterday since the moment I revealed you about this plan. Like we thought, you have been thinking about it 24*7. And today finally your thoughts turned into maddening frustration at me and John. And in that agitated state, you fulfilled the first step of this healing process and that is to Confront your own fears loudly". She explained cupping my one cheek now. I wasn't able to believe my ears. Did I really confront my biggest fear?

"I know Daniel, you have lots of fears but the biggest one is that you are afraid to lose Serena. You are afraid that if you let her around yourself in the time of your treatment, you will end up hurting her. You are afraid to see hate in her eyes, and that is the reason of your decision about leaving you." John completed in a serious tone this time, which forced me to look in his direction.

My eyes lowered in shame, and guilt but Serena didn't leave my hand, instead, she clasped it more tightly as if assuring me that she was with me.

I felt John coming around the table, and then he checked my blood pressure and other vitals which according to him were worrisome because obviously, my temper issues were one of the reasons for my deteriorating mental state.

I didn't have the guts to even look into their eyes, as John had a conversation regarding my diet and medicines with Serena while I sat there confused. My past replaying in my mind like a movie, but every time the last destructive scene would be left incomplete.

It was like if I complete that phase, I will end up losing it all.

Totally tired, my head was pounding in pain, and thus, I dashed out of John's cabin at full speed towards my car. I knew Serena would be out in no time, and I had enough time to compose myself till then.

I was resting my head on the steering wheel when I felt the passenger door opening. I raised my head looking straight as Serena sat beside me. Her eyes were stuck on me, as I could feel the intense Iris roaming over my face which was now devoid of any emotion as I drove on the streets without a care.

Halting the car in front of The Price Inns, I scurried inside my restaurant, completely avoiding her. I needed space. It was all just too much to take in. I sensed the customers as well as staff staring at me with big curious gazes, but hell I was least bothered about them.

Entering my cabin, I straight away stood in front of the window staring out at nothing in particular. My devastated eyes closed on their own as a tear slipped down from both. But before I can give in to my emotional breakdown, I felt two strong arms wrapping around my waist and I didn't have to turn around to look at the person because her touch was incarnated on my Soul.

Serena rested her head on my back. My nervous muscles began relaxing on their own but still, the turmoil seized to leave me.

"Why are you doing all this in spite of knowing that I am not the right one for you?" I finally questioned her the thing which was troubling me for so long. I knew she loved me enough, but it was about her safety. And for me, that was more important than my treatment.

For few seconds, she didn't reply, and I took her silence as her denial to reply to me but then she turned me around slowly to face her. My eyes which opened with her action got fixated on her pale face which was filled with concern for me.

She stepped closer to me. Our fronts touched intimately. Anticipation of her next move started to rise in my belly. Tiptoeing, she moved her face closer to mine. I shut my eyes once again letting her take over the situation for once.

Then like water caresses the flowers, I felt her soft lips brushing against mine. My dry lips started to respond to her kiss slowly and passionately pushing away all the logic and fears outside the window. For a minute, we just kissed each other; pouring our love for the other in that kiss.

I didn't realize when my arms have gripped her waist tightly on either side, while her arms were wrapped around my neck. All that I realized was that I was kissing my love after so many days. It felt so good. It was like an ethereal moment that I had been waiting for so long.

After a minute when I wasn't ready to move away, she pulled back staring right into my eyes. I was sure the passion that I have for her was of the same intensity as I could witness it in her eyes.

"I am doing this because I need you just as much as you need me.”

I am doing this because love is like a partnership, which is not done only in profits but losses as well."

"I am doing this because your every kiss wasn't just on my lips, but my soul as well, which marked me as yours.”

"I am doing this because in spite of all my efforts to push you out of my system for being a selfless yet selfish asshole, I am not able to hate you infact now I am hundred thousand million times more in love with you.”

"Does this all summons your doubt? If not then hear in simple words: I am doing this because I love you, Daniel. So much so that I want to hurt that girl's every breath for tormenting you for years". She completed and I just stood there like an idiot taking in the reality of her words.

Words refused to come out of my throat, but yet my tears did the unexplainable. I don't know which stupid of the world said that: Men Don't Cry.

Because if someone saw me these days, then they might think that I am a girl trapped in a man's body. But hell, how shouldn't I become teary-eyed when she is putting her heart in front of me like this.

And I knew what I had to do at this moment and I exactly did that, by crushing her fragile body in my protective embrace. I didn't need words to express my love to her, my hug was enough to send out that message that I belonged to her. I needed her like a man needs his drug after being brutally defeated in the battle of life. She drives me insane, yet she is the only one who knocks sense into me.

As I cherished this hug of ours, I was once again taken down to a beautiful memory of ours, where she exactly staked her claim on me.