Chapter 33 What if?
>>Eli
Mael snapped at some point and fell unconscious. I caught him before he fell to the ground. Reaching him in time, I slid towards him and took him into my arms as I sat on the floor.
He looked like he was sick, his skin was pale and it hurt me to see him like that.
“Mael…” I called his name quietly, “I really didn’t know any other way…” I picked him up in my arms and adjusted him, “And over time it got out of hand and I still don’t know how to fix it.”
I took him to the bedroom to lay him down on his bed and then took off the glasses that I know he doesn’t even need. I was being careful since he looked like he was in pain but I noticed something when I put him on the bed. Even though he was unconscious he still winced when I put some pressure on his back so after laying him down I pulled up his shirt and then my eyes went wide.
Bandages?
Did he get hurt? How? When? Wasn't he home? Did he go somewhere else?
…
I glanced at him, he was sound asleep, and then I looked back at the bandages.
I sat down on the bed beside him and gently started opening the dressing. I needed to confirm some things because it had started to bother me. I made sure to be extra careful since I didn’t want Mael to wake up but when I opened the covering, my heart dropped.
There were fresh bruises and cuts there on his back.
“Such pale skin with such bad marks.” My fingers softly brush against his skin, “How?” I looked at his face.
I highly doubt anyone could have done this to him and escaped. If he was in a fight that could cause this sort of injury, everyone would have found out because this is the kind that can’t be inflicted in a mere normal fight.
I gritted my teeth.
Just looking at the wound made me angry, so I began dressing it again.
This type of bruises and cuts can only be there by repeated beating…
Come to think of it.
That one time he came back with a bruise on his face, he went back home then too… Although he lied and said he fought with someone, no other party ever came and validated that.
I finished the dressing and moved closer to his face. It still looked like he was in pain. Was it because of the wound? Or was it because of his emotions? Perhaps it was both. But whatever the reason, the fact that he was hurt put my emotions in a bad state too.
I sighed, placed my hand on his forehead, and then began to release my pheromones.
I know I’m the one who threw away his pills, that’s probably why he ended up kissing my neck too and now he’s all confused but it was important.
Mael’s expression got better a little while after I placed my hand on his head, after that his body relaxed too and I smiled.
I’m glad I can at least do this for him.
I looked at his back now that was all covered up once again and gave it some thought.
He was home… And I saw him hurt twice. In the past too, I don’t I’ve ever heard that he got hurt out of the house.
…
Could it be Mrs. Alma?
I nodded to myself.
It’s possible that she doesn’t like Mael. He’s not her child after all. I never considered this possibility though. Whenever I met his family, they seemed normal. Originally I just thought they adopted Mael. Till the point I saw that woman in the forest, it didn’t cross my mind that he was really Mike Alma’s son. Having an adopted child and pretending he was theirs is a completely different story than taking in a child that you had with your mistress or some random woman.
It makes sense if Rachel Alma hates Mael. Has she been abusive towards him all his life? And if Rachel really is abusing him, things are going to get personal.
I moved my hand and began to run it in his hair, softly, very gently, so as not to wake him up. As I continued, a soft smile appeared on his face and I felt warm.
If only it wasn’t like this. If only we met in normal circumstances. Things would be entirely different then. I wonder, we might even be married, if not that, I know we would have been engaged at least.
…
Maybe it will be a bad idea to continue this relationship like we have for years. It was never my intention to only be a bully to him but Mael never made any opening for any person to come close to him.
Well, except for that defective omega friend he made in high school…
I let out a soft sigh.
Would it be better to come clean? Will it help? Will things get better between us? Will he trust me? I threw away the pills a while back, considering he kissed my neck first, I’m sure he’s starting to feel it, so will he come to me now?
A knock on the door made me snap back to reality.
“Hey!” It was Calix, “Are you two okay?” He seemed concerned, “We all heard the yelling…”
>>Mael
I woke up from a nap feeling a lot better. I don’t think I should be feeling this good but I felt refreshed. I blinked slowly as I sat up but soon after I noticed Eli sitting on the edge of my bed and I paused.
My mood turned sour as soon as I saw him, then some thoughts came to me.
Wait, I lost it in the lounge, so he must have carried me to bed. I clicked my tongue softly, then looked at him again. He was sitting quietly on the edge, looking towards his bed absentmindedly.
At first, I thought he hadn’t noticed that I had woken up but when he called my name in the same position and it startled me.
“Are you feeling better?” He didn’t look at me.
“....” I licked my lips and swallowed some saliva. Do I answer him normally? I yelled a lot at him before passing out… And I had a lot to say. Not only that, all the feelings I poured out on him are still there inside of me. And I doubt they’re leaving, it's our history.
“Yea…” I looked away meekly.
I didn’t want to fight but what am I supposed to do now?
“Mael?” He blinked slowly as he turned to look at me, “Can’t you put some trust in me?” His question seemed atrocious.
I scoffed, “What?” I looked at him confused, “Trust you?” I took a deep breath, “Can there be trust between the two of us?”
“What if I do better?” He asked as he looked into my eyes and I felt weird.
“Do better?” He was looking at me desperately, “How?”
“I’ll help you with all your problems, if you ever need me I’ll always be there!” He took a deep breath, “We can be friends?”
I looked away, “You can’t do that.” I sighed, “You, of all people, will never be able to help me.” Because no one can be of help to me. I can’t share these secrets of mine with anyone, even though somewhere inside of me, I feel like I can trust you but I want to be rational this time, I won’t give into whatever’s making me like you.
“Why not?” He asked.
I balled my fists.
“How can someone who had bullied me the entire time we’ve known each other suddenly help me with my problems?” I looked at him with a frown. My head started to hurt again, “There’s nothing you can ever do for me.” I felt a little suffocated, “And friends?” I scoffed, “Impossible.”
He looked hurt by my words but honestly, I felt hurt too. Just what is wrong with me? Why is my chest tightening?
“What if,” He spoke softly, “What if I say I’ve already been helping you?”
“Hm?” I looked at him with a glare.
“What if I say I know your secrets yet I’ve kept my mouth shut?” He knitted his eyebrows together as he scowled with hurt, “What if I’ve always been helping you?”
…
“What?” What is that even supposed to mean? Whatever it was, I wasn’t expecting him to actually know my secrets but his words left me speechless.
“I’ve known,” He looked into my eyes and I knew he wasn’t lying. And that truth made my heart race, “That you’re an omega.” Then my heart dropped at his words.
“W-w-what?” One word and I stuttered like a clown but what he said next made me anxious.
“I’ve also known that you’re not a man.”