Chapter 38

“You’re right about everything, Blaire. I do care for you and even if I keep telling myself that I don’t, the truth is I love you. I’ve loved you from the moment I laid my eyes on you, from the moment you almost chocked me to death when we first met,” Pete chuckled, reminiscing all the memories.

“I’m sorry I keep pushing you away from me, I’m sorry I can’t tell you that I love you. My heart aches as much as yours, I keep thinking about you and some days the longing becomes so painful that I park my car in front of your house, just so I could catch a glimpse of you but I know that I don’t deserve you, I don’t even deserve your love but I wish I had the courage to tell you my true feelings when you’d be sober tomorrow, but I know I won’t. I won’t-for your sake,” Pete knew Blaire was fast asleep, he knew that she wouldn’t remember anything once she wakes up but he had to let it all out or else he would’ve gone crazy.

“You’re so close to me, yet so far,” Pete kissed her forehead one last time before dozing off.

In the morning, the sunlight pierced through the glass window and lit up the room. It was still a bit chilly in the morning. Blaire slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the bright light in the room.

Her body ached from all the drinking last night. As soon as her eyes opened completely and her senses returned, she noticed that arms wrapped around her. Blaire froze, she didn’t remember anything from last night. She slowly moved and looked up, her eyes widened realizing it was Pete. She covered her mouth so she wouldn’t scream, what happened last night was all she was trying to remember.

Her eyes fell upon Pete, who was so close to her right now. Blaire was mesmerized by his beauty, he still looked handsome while sleeping.

“How can someone look so cute while sleeping,” Blaire whispered but she didn’t think that it would wake him up.

Pete opened his eyes and saw that Blaire was already awake. Their eyes locked and silence filled the room. Both of them pulled away at the same time.

“I…I’m sorry,” Blaire said in a low voice.

“It’s fine,” Pete rubbed his neck anxiously.

“Ah- my head hurts,” Blaire was still hungover from last night, she wasn’t a good drinker. She drinks occasionally because she knows her capacity, but she couldn’t bear the pain anymore. She wasn’t hurt because Pete rejected her but the fact that she knew Pete has feelings for her as well but he still keeps pushing her away.

“Where- What happened last night?” Blaire inquired, “ Wait? I didn’t do anything stupid, right?”

“Don’t worry, nothing happened last night. You were drunk and didn’t want to go home, so I brought you here,” Pete reassured her.

“But why did you go through all this trouble just for me,” Blaire’s words felt like a knife stabbed into Pete’s heart.

“Because-,” Pete paused, “Because you were drunk and your Mariah’s friend.”

“Oh- so you went through this just because I’m your cousin’s friend,” Blaire said losing all hope, she thought Pete was finally going to confess.

“Blaire!” Pete was about to say something but she cut her off, “Can you please drop me home, I would’ve just gone by myself but I don’t know where I am right now. I’m sorry I keep troubling you.”

Blaire made her way towards the bathroom, leaving Pete alone in the room. She had tears in her eyes, her heart wrenched.

“It’s okay, Blaire. You’re stronger than this, you’ll be fine. It’s fine…,” Blaire cried, the pain was unbearable. She didn’t know when did she fall so in love and quickly her love story became a tragic one.

Pete told Blaire that he was going to prepare breakfast and asked what would she like to have but she was already so heartbroken that she lost her appetite.

“I’m not hungry, I just want to go home.”

Pete didn’t insist, he was aware of her feelings. Blaire kept looking outside car’s window during their drive back to her home and Pete kept glancing at her.

“I’m sorry Pete, I think I’ve caused you enough trouble but I’ll make sure that it won’t happen again,” Blaire finally spoke after three hours of drive, when Pete stopped his car in front of her house.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me till now even if it was just because I’m Mariah’s friend, I really am grateful,” Blaire doesn’t even look into Pete’s eyes, her gaze was focused on her hands.

“I should get going now, goodbye!” Blaire got out of the car without even hearing Pete’s reply.

Pete’s eyes were fixed on Blaire as made her way towards her house, for a second Pete thought that Blaire would turn around but she didn’t. Blaire didn’t stop or turned around, and that was the moment Pete realized that this was the end, their story ended even before it started.

As soon as Blaire went inside, Pete noticed that his eyes were filled with tears. He was crying, because he lost his one true love.

………………………

“Adam, do you think Pete’s dating someone, ”Mason was curious about Pete taking leaves as he never left mansion even on his days off but now he frequently spent nights outside.

“I’ve been thinking about the same thing, he seems different these days. He isn’t happy, that’s for sure,” Adam was still focused on reading his files.

“I know, something doesn’t sit well. I’ve never seen him like this since he first came here.”

Adam stopped reading, he remembered something. The day his father found Pete and brought him home, he was still so young.

“Sometimes I forget that Pete had the hardest life among us all. He was so young back then, I hope he can find someone to love again,” Adam could never forget the day when he first met Pete, he has grown so much since then.

“It might take him some time to forget about his past but I think he’ll eventually realize that it wasn’t his fault. Some parents don’t deserve to have any children,” Mason replied with feeling both anger and sadness.