Chapter 40 — Facing The Misunderstanding

Zinnia.

Talk.

Finally, Clave and I were going to have the talk we should've had two years ago.

"I am listening, Clave," I said, paying full attention to him.

"Before I say anything," Clave stood up and went to keep the first-aid box in one of the drawers of the nightstand, as he spoke, "I need to know what actually happened that day."

I sighed. "Where do I start?"

"Start from how you learned that I knew the muggers that crashed Kavita's wedding," he instructed.

I nodded and started, "Well, Francis always tried poisoning my mind about you ever since he joined Mom's shop."

"I knew that guy hated me," he muttered under his breath.

"When we started dating, everything was going smoothly, and from the beginning, I chose to trust you instead of him. But just before the day I confronted you, that night, he showed me proof of how you were acquainted with the muggers."

"How did Francis even know that those muggers crashed a wedding?" Clave questioned, arching an eyebrow. He came back to sit next to me.

"Francis didn't know. He just told me you knew some shady people. He showed me their pictures, and I realized those were the same muggers," I informed him. "He must have noticed my expression, so he asked me what was wrong. I ended up telling him how we met. From that, he deduced that you must have sent those muggers to crash a wedding just for fun."

"And you believed that?" Clave's voice sounded like he was hurt.

"What else was I supposed to do? You never told me anything. He showed me solid proof of how you were laughing with those muggers and hugging a few as well," I pointed out, and Clave grew silent. I looked at him. "Clave, won't you still tell me how you know the muggers?"

His eyes gazed into mine. He could read the desperation in my eyes of wanting to know the truth and begging him to give me a chance to believe him.

Sucking in a deep breath, he placed his hand on mine and said, "Zinnia, I will tell you everything. Trust me. I won't make the same mistake again. But for now, I need to hear your side of the story first, okay?"

I hummed in response and continued, "The next morning I confronted you about those muggers. I asked you how you knew them, but you stayed quiet and chose to leave." Clave closed his eyes for a brief moment and tightened his grip on my hand as if he regretted what he did that day. I couldn’t stop myself from placing my other hand over his grip and softly saying, "Hey, it's okay now."

He opened his eyes and gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Then you went to the park with Draven, right?" When I nodded once again, he asked, "What happened after your devices got stolen?"

"At the park, I realized I should give you one more chance, and when I returned home and saw that all the electronics went missing, I broke down once more." I tried to smile for Clave's sake, but it wasn't working as that day was flashing in front of my eyes once again. "Luckily, there was an old landline in Mom's room so I thought of calling you from there. However, I never noted down your number. Your number was saved only in my phone.”

"Is that why you wrote a letter to me instead?"

I was momentarily astonished at how Clave knew about the letter until I realized I told Ryker about that.

"Francis came to my house at that time and—"

Clave interrupted me, "Where was he when the thieves broke in?"

I answered, "I told him to leave as well after you stormed off."

"Didn't Francis have my number?" he inquired.

I shook my head. "You two never saved each other's number. You two weren't even connected on social media." I started again, "Francis said when he was searching for evidence against you, he found the address of the place you were living, as in Ryker's place. I was about to go to your house, but then the landline rang and I got to know Mom had an accident. It was already evening, Clave."

I could feel my hands getting cold. Clave started rubbing my palms lightly.

"Francis bought online tickets as soon as possible so that I could go to Mom. Her condition was critical and everything was falling apart around me. I looked at my son and stayed strong. There was no one beside me. I needed you at that moment the most, Clave." Tears started flowing from my eyes. "Why weren't you there? Why did you leave me? Why didn't you stand your ground and defend yourself? Did I mean that little to you?"

He wiped my tears with his thumb and kissed my right cheek. He cupped my cheeks and made me look straight into his eyes. "I am sorry, Zinnia. I am so sorry you had to go through all of this alone. You are really strong."

I averted my gaze and pushed his hands away lightly. "Francis suggested writing you a letter to inform you that I was at the airport waiting for you and he would pass that letter to you since he knew your address. I wrote the letter and gave it to him. I waited for you until the flight was about to leave. So I boarded the plane with Draven since you chose to abandon us forever."

When more tears started to flow from my eyes, I wiped them with the back of my hand and was about to get up from the seat until Clave held my wrist.

"No, Zinnia, I didn't choose to abandon you." I turned to face him. He made me sit once again and leaned closer to me. "I never chose to leave you. Never, let alone forever."

"Then why didn't you come even after receiving the letter?" My voice cracked.

"You think I wouldn't have come if I had received the letter?"

"What do you mean, Clave?"

"I never got your letter. In fact, I went to the shop that evening. I thought of wanting to stay mad at you for not trusting me, but I couldn't. You meant too much to me. That's why I swallowed my pride and came to the shop to ask you to give me a chance to explain myself, but you weren't there. The shop was closed. I waited outside for hours until Francis came. He told me that you never wanted to see the face of a liar like me and that it was the biggest mistake of your life to trust me. You didn't want any explanation. He also said…"

It was hard to get those horrifying words out of his mouth, and this time, his eyes got teary.

"He also said that you regretted us. You wished you had never met me."

"You know, I would never—"

"At that moment, it was hard to know that. It felt like my entire universe had shattered around me. I was so broken. I felt like I would go crazy if I stayed in your city a minute longer. So I got into Ryker's car and left the city that very night."

I didn't know what to say anymore. Clave never got the letter. No wonder why he didn't come to the airport that day. On top of that, Francis said all that crap to him, instead of giving my letter. He broke Clave’s heart with those lies.

"Sorry to break your moment," Ryker's voice broke us apart all of a sudden. He was standing at the doorframe. "Can I come in, brother?"

Clave rolled his eyes as I took a tissue and wiped my tears for the last time. "Since you interrupted a perfect moment, why not just step in, asshole?"

"I would love to do a drama about that name-calling just now, but I have more important news." Ryker stepped in.

"What is it?" Clave asked.

"Those drunkards were sent here by someone named Francis."

A gasp escaped my lips. "What?"

"I knew it. That son of a bitch!" Clave muttered. "Do you know why he did that?"

"As per those drunkards, that Francis guy paid those dudes to insult Zinnia, and he wanted to come to her rescue by being her knight in shining armor." Ryker looked at me. "This dude has a crush on you, doesn't he? He wanted to impress you."

Ryker's words actually made sense. How come I never realized that Francis always tried to hit on me even after I started dating Clave?

"That explains why he never handed me the letter when he had the time to lie to my face, Zinnia." Clave turned to me and said, "Are you sure a few thieves stole your phone?"

"No, they were real, Clave. The cops arrested them as well after a few months," I told him. "But Francis played a double game here. He took advantage of the situation. Why would he do that? I thought of him as a friend."

"Everything is fair in love and war—the most famous quote," said Ryker. "He created misunderstandings between you two so that he had a chance with Zinnia. It's pretty obvious."

"But the misunderstanding started because Clave hid things from me," I spat out. "He still didn't tell me how he knew those muggers."

"Point to be noted," Ryker uttered and smacked Clave's head slightly. "Why are you keeping her in the dark?"

After sparing a glare at Ryker, Clave said to me, "I will explain, Zinnia. Give me some more time, please. Just know, what you are thinking is wrong. I know the muggers, but I didn't do anything for fun. There is a reason which you will know soon. Please trust me."

I didn't want to trust him, but this time, he seemed genuine. It felt like he would be broken if I didn't give him another chance to explain himself.

"Fine, Clave. This is the last time, I swear," I said sternly.

A genuine smile formed on his lips. "Thank you."

I returned his smile—our gazes fixed on each other.

"So..." Ryker chimed in once again. "Are you two a couple once again?"

His question caught me off guard. Were we a couple?

No. I wouldn't start a relationship with him until he clears everything out. I wouldn't make the same mistake again.

"We will stay in touch," I told them confidently. "I have to return home tomorrow. I have work to do."

Clave's face fell. He probably wanted me to stay longer, but he wouldn't have me as long as he told me the truth.

"So shall I book your tickets then?" Ryker asked me.

As I was about to reply, an authoritative manly voice spoke up, "No."

The three of us immediately looked at the person who was standing at the doorframe.

My eyes widened seeing that person.