Chapter 55: Chapter 55

My hands trembled so badly that I felt like a convulsion. I looked at both of them. My eyes were looking for Ethan, who had just lowered his vision to the ground, looking mortified. I puffed a disappointing sigh, then shook my head violently. This can't be happening. Is he for real? Is this for real?

"I'm sorry, Natasha," he muttered, then stepped away. I was too stunned to say anything. He halted beside Criselda, who encircled her arms around his waist, then rested her head on his bare chest. Both of them were naked in front of me. My tears poured damagingly. His eyes looked apologetic, at the same time, as if he was anticipating doing this.

I was waiting for him to say anything, that everything was just a trick, a grotesque prank, but to my dismay, he just turned his back on me. No! He needs to explain to me! I sprint to get them. I extended my hand, reaching out for him, when my body unexpectedly ceased moving. My mouth left hanging open, trying to yell at them to get far from my sight. Ethan didn't even bother looking at me. He secured his arms on Criselda's waist, just as he used to do it to me before.

"Ethan! Come back!" I screamed at the top of my lungs while tears were coursing down like a drastic stream. I glanced down at my feet. My eyes dilated in dread and fright when I saw the floor consume half of my body. As if a black hole had opened, and it was gradually eating me. I attempted to escape, yelled for help, and fought, but no one heard me. I was left alone in the room, vulnerable.

I looked up at the ceiling and then reached my hand on it. There's no escape here. My heart started to pound when I realized I would perish here. I closed my eyes and accepted my faith. I let my body get consumed by the hole, getting eaten alive. A smile was all I ever did before getting soaked.

"Natasha!"

I felt a strong pair of arms forcefully shake my whole body. I slowly opened my eyes. My body was getting numb and impotent. Someone was calling my name, but it was out of focus. I couldn't depict who it was. I tried to move my muscle, but it was formidable to move. What is happening? Where am I?

"Oh god, you're finally awake."

I felt someone encircling their hands on my upper body and a face buried in the nook of my neck. I gasped for air, trying to glance down who it was. I saw familiar strands of hair. His manly and addictive scent was drifting in my nostrils. I was having doubt what was happening when I remembered something.

I pushed him and then crawled away from him. I squeeze myself while looking around the area. I'm here inside the living room. Ethan is here, looking agitated while watching me. His eyebrows furrowed, motioning me to come closer to him, but I didn't listen. I glimpsed at him as if he had grown five heads.

"Natasha, why are you looking like that? What's happening? I got your tampons." he waved the tampons in his hand. I don't know how to react. I was speechless while recollecting what had happened in my dreams.

It felt all so natural, as if I was there. I don't know if I should feel glad that everything was just a dream or scared because what if it will happen. I closed my eyes, letting out the strain. My head ached, having a hard time thinking through any of this. I placed my hand on my forehead, massaging my temples.

"You were having a nightmare." I heard him tell me, and then I felt his presence scoop closer to my spot.

"Y-yeah." my voice broke, and I swallowed, nodding in agreement. He placed his hand on my back and then caressed it. His other hand was caressing my cheeks. I took a glimpse to see him looking at my side. He's worried. He wanted to know why but I didn't know how to start it.

"You know you can tell me everything, love." he soothingly mumbled, then hugged me from my side. He kissed my temple, removing the hands that were covering my face. I slowly smiled, then looked at him.

"What took you so long to get herE?" I asked, and he scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed.

"Well, I accidentally strolled the whole city looking for your favorite food and Bobby's toy."

I almost forgot about Bobby, our dog. I roamed my eyes around the apartment when my sights set on the television. Underneath it was a pile of books and a square compartment. I saw a tail there that was waggling.

"Oh, if you didn't know, Bobby was hiding there the whole time. He minds his business. He will get out of there if you call him. Bobby!"

When Ethan called his name, he suddenly barked, sprinted across the whole living room, and stopped in front of us. Ethan carried him in his arms and then put him on his lap. Bobby was smiling and happily wiggling his tail, happy to see the both of us. After moving here, these past few days made me forget about Bobby's presence. I was so bored earlier waiting for Ethan to come back when I had someone here to play with.

"I'm sorry, Bobby," I gently hugged him and then kissed his nose, "My anxiety got me. I almost forgot you were here."

I looked at Ethan, who just smiled while caressing Bobby's head.

"I'm sorry. I was waiting the whole time, and I didn't realize I had fallen asleep. You were gone for hours, and I thought something had happened to you. I-"

"It's okay," he chimed in before I could even finish what I was saying. He let go of Bobby and scooped something from his jacket. He waved the toy he bought, making Bobby happy because he barked, but we hushed him. No one knows we brought a dog here. Bobby understood the assignment. He sticks out his tongue, waiting for Ethan to give him his new toy.

"Go on." Ethan watched Bobby merrily parading through the apartment with his new toy.

I couldn't help but watch him beside me. My mind was flying somewhere. He completely changed. He's not the same old Ethan I knew who would make everything destructible. I guess he needed to move from a different area somehow to forget the traumatic experience in his former city.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, love. I know I said I would be back quickly, but the traffic earlier was insane. Also, many women wanted to take pictures of me, but I declined, even though I wanted to slap them-"

"Ethan." I threateningly looked at him, making him shut up, then sighed in defeat.

"I swear I behave," he murmured before standing up. He went to the kitchen. After a couple of minutes, he held a plastic bag.

"I found out that most girls who had periods eat different food. A middle-aged lady from the store told me it's called cravings, though I find it weird. However, maybe that's how the period works, so I bought different snacks."

He tears off the plastic bags, revealing all kinds of fare to me. I know I can't see myself, but my eyes are blazing in rapture while looking one by one at the scattered snacks. I gulped, wanting to take one, and took a bite, but I restrained myself. Suddenly, I felt so skittish when I watched Ethan beside me, looking satisfied to benefit me.

He did all these just because he found out that I can bleed for almost five decades, which is normal. I did tell him it wasn't that awful and I could go through this alone, but look at him right now, persistent in helping me with my period. For no apparent reason, this made my heart go somersault. It was out of control, and I didn't realize I was wailing.

"You're crying," Ethan stated while caressing my shoulder. I sniffed, then wiped off my tear. I know my emotional state right now. It's part of my hormones reacting, and even if I want to stop myself, I can't.

"I-i'm just thankful to have you in my life. I mean..." I gestured to all of the things he bought for me. I grump, controlling my tears because it's not helping. Oh god, why am I so emotional? I need to learn how to handle it.

"All of these are enough for me, really. Before, I couldn't even imagine that someone would buy me something I love, especially you. All my life, I was neglected and pushed away. My childhood trauma taught me that no one will ever set an eye on me. My experiences have envisioned me becoming strenuous on myself. That even I was struggling to know how even to value myself. It was so hard, as if you were getting dragged down into the hollow of the abyss. However, you came."

"And words can not explain how happy I am. How thankful I am, how fortunate I am, and it's all because of you." I closed my eyes when my tears blurred my vision. I let them fall off my cheeks. My emotional state was consuming me.

I feel so bad for thinking Ethan would do something that would shatter me. It's not even in his vocabulary to put some effort, but seeing all of these before me, it's unnatural. It's hard to take in and process.

"You're wrong."

I stopped when he enveloped his strong pair of arms around my waist, and he playfully kissed me on my cheeks. When our eyes locked, his eyes reflected my face.

"I'm the one who is prosperous to have you."