Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Chapter Thirty- Five

ALEX

I sat there, trying to wrap my head around on what had just happen. I thought everything would go smoothly, that nothing in my past will bother me anymore.

My exhibit has gone well, actually all of my paintings were sold out, the boys visit wasn't expected but I'm happy to have them. The one I do not expect is my encounter with Caiden. He has change, physically. His boy looks matured into that a man. His tousled brown hair was cropped short. His blue eyes were the same but it shone darkly every time his gaze transferred to me.

His presence surprises me.

Though as the exhibit finally finishes and we were only the people in the room, I remain there, standing, looking at him. He was also looking at me, a million words threatening to spill out of him but he was so proud to say it to me. I stood there, heart on my throat as I let my feelings rule me, “I’ve missed you. Where have you been? I am so worried that I—“

“You’ve missed me?” His confusion and unbelief wins over his pride. He wanted to say more than that but he just stood there, still staring.

“So much. I can’t even say how much. Why did you suddenly leave, Caiden? Why did you just go without a goodbye? I’ve waited so long. I’ve loved you and nothing will change that.”

“Is it—does your feeling—do your really love me?” He looks so lost that all I can do is watch him be confused. He has to be the one to go to me. He has to at least be brave to claim me.

He was about to make his way towards me when suddenly, I felt Caine beside me. Caiden’s eyes turned into a darker shade as he glared at Caine’s arm currently draped on my shoulders, “Hey Bro.”

Caiden’s stature changed. He shifted and plastered a poker face. “What made you call me here?” Caiden spat as he adjusted his suit jacket.

“Well, just to say ‘hi’.” Caine smirked at Caiden before he suddenly lean in and kiss the side of my lips. Right before I could push Caine away from me, he was snatch away by Caiden.

He pushed Caine down on the floor and throw punch after punch on his face. Soon though, he lost some of the strength that Caine was the one who is now on top, punching Caiden. Caiden, not accepting the fact that he was losing tackled his twin and soon their position was again, reversed. I was screaming at them to stop, the boys come to my aid and Kobe manage to pull Caiden away from Caine. Caine stood and wipe the side of his lip, smirking, “I see. Nothing has changed with your feelings no matter how hard you try to deny it, Cade.”

Caiden made a move towards Caine but he was held off by Kobe and Nate. The other guys made a barrier between them both. Caiden is still struggling as Caine spoke once again. “Come on brother. No hard feelings. I am only showing you what you have lost when you walked out of the hospital three years ago. I gave you your chance now and still you refuse. But when I step in, you suddenly act like you care? Grow up, brother.”

Caiden remain like that; still glaring, blood flowing down his nose. His suit torn, missing some of his buttons, his hair matted to his forehead with sweat. He looked almost pathetic that I felt sympathy towards him. Finally, Kobe decided to treat him at the other room so I won’t see him.

I want to go to him but my anger towards Caine is almost unbearable. How could he do that to me after I had trusted him with my life for the last three years? I cannot believe him that he did such a thing. That he plotted this encounter just so he can beat up his own brother in front of me.

I yanked Caine by his tie and made him look at me, “ What are you trying to do Caine? Why did you invite him?”

He shook his head at me and said, “ I wanted to show you, alright? I wanted you to see that he still loves you. You both tried to deny it but I can see it through you Alex even when you wanted to forget it. I know you showed love to me but it was only a love from a sibling. You can never give me the same love you have for him because even from the start you know that it was him.” He let out a weak chuckle before he caress my cheek, “ Three years is enough. I’ve tried hard, I’ve done my best but I can’t change you. It was too late now.”

His words hit me like the punches he through towards Caide. Caine smiled at me and said, “I know, you are concern of him. Maybe you should go and check?” But I am already making my way toward him.

I stared at him. He was standing by the door, eyes cast down on his hand. He slowly made his way to me, and pulled out a piece of paper. He looks at me with his vulnerable soul, like he wanted to say something. I watch him as he put the piece of paper on my hand before he went off the door.

The guys remain there, watching the exchange. I'm very confused of what had happen that when I look down, I was surprise to see a ticket. I am so focused on Caiden’s face that I did not even realize he have given me a ticket.

I look at it and realise that it's a ticket to Paris which is due to take off in 40 minutes.

Just great!

What am I supposed to do? Was it his invitation for me to follow him or does this mean that Caiden wanted me to get lost?

He was only giving me forty minutes to catch up. Not enough time for me to pack but enough time for me to go back at the city and to the airport.

I straighten myself up and felt the adrenaline pumping in my veins. He loves me! After three years and that summer we spent, he actually cared for me. He just doesn't wanna be hurt, he keep it so he won't be hurt because he thought that I don't love him. Because he thought that I am into Caine. I guess now, he already found out that I was actually into him.

Well, I do love him and so here am I bolting out the doors and to my bicycle.

I arrived at our porch steps and snatch my keys off the cupboard. I grab my jacket and turned on the engine. My pretty red mini cooper waits in our garage as I got in it, turned the engine on and rushed off.

When I step out to the city, the cars are going way to slow making me tap my fingers on the steering wheel. I don't even know how much I bumped my head on it because of my frustration.

"Uggh! Come on, come on" I punched the steering wheel resulting unto that loud beep. Other cars repeated what I've done which made us faster to move.

I reach the airport with only five minutes left. I was about to enter the place when someone announce that the plane is ready to take off, asking all the passengers to go in.

Two guards held my arms as I enter the lounge. They are asking for my ticket but I just bit them and scream for Cade. They tried to chase me but I'm fast, crawling down the chairs as the two of them jump over. They called for assistance of the other three who are watching but they are all big and slow, opposite to my petite figure.

I was about to enter the gate when the two of them finally catch me. "No! Cade, stop! Ow. That hurt" I scream at the other guard who only look at me with his eyes.

They pushed my head down but I bit them again. " CADE! AAArrggHHH!" I pushed my way out through their tangled arms but some of them held my foot and I can imagine myself wriggling like a caterpillar.

"No, No. Please, please…I-I need to talk to him," I pleaded with tears pouring down my cheeks.

I was so tired. Like really Tired!

I am tired of chasing my happiness, tired of wishing about dreams that cannot and wouldn't be true. Tired of hoping that one day, that maybe, just maybe, I can finally show love to someone that loves me.

I stared at them, they're holding me up like a criminal, like I did something- "Ma’am, we're sorry but it's our job, and we have a policy here at JFK. If we let you go, we will lose our job. I'm really sorry ma'am but you can only wait there outside."

I look at them with my pleading eyes but it won't do me any good. They are officers, and I understand them. I just shrug and pulled my arms off staring down at the floor as the tears continue to flow. I walk out of the gate and back at the departure lounge, pulling my knees unto my chest as I sat down, leaning on the wall as I bow my head down.

“Okay, I think, this is the end now. I won't have that happily ever after anymore. I won't have the chance to grow old with the one I love, nor would I have the chance to have kids with him and spend summers at the beach, and, and…”

"Miss, are you talking to yourself?" That humor-filled one, the one I'm very familiar at. Whenever I'm sleep or half-dead, even if I'm buried six-feet deep, I know I will recognize him.

No, nu-uh...wake up Alex! I tried to mentally slap myself but stop when I hear him laugh. Oh! I'm really dreaming. “This is not true, this is not true, this is not-“

"It's true. I'm here" I tried to look up but stop myself before I appeared like a psycho again in front of those guys who are still watching me. Hmmph! But my curiousity got the best of me. I took a peek and almost fainted.

He's really there, is he?

No, noooo! I'm just hallucinating. All of this! It's just my hallucination. I'm just hungry and tired, that's why I'm seeing things. Maybe I just need to grab a snack or catch a nap. I'm sleepy, yes, I am.

"Mmhmm, you really are sleepy sweet cheeks,"

"Sweet cheeks?" I raised my head and bam. Okay, now he's really there, staring at me with those piercing blue eyes. He has a slight smile, his nose has stop bleding and he was wearing a new pair of suit.

"Y-you, you" I think, I've fainted but my eyes fluttered open just to gaze back at those blue orbs. "You're here." The tears flow freely as I gaze at him.

"Yeah, I am." he crouched down at me and smiled. "I thought you aren't going to go back here. I thought you choose to rip the ticket off and go on. I thought you are--"

He keeps on talking, so I kissed him. I pulled away to gaze at his flabbergasted form but he recovered. He pulled me back for another kiss which made me smile.

"Alex,"

"Hmm," I look at his closed eyes and notice the dark circles around them.

"I never thought we're going to be this close. Never in a hundred or million years." He gave me a smile and pulled me closer. "I can imagine those times we fought over simple things. The way we cannot stand at each other’s presence. We can't even stay together in the same room." I watch him as he chuckle, his voice rumbling at his chest.

He pulled away to stand and look at me. "And now, here we are. After three years, we still felt the same to each other. You know, like a love-hate romance." His shoulders shook as he chuckled. "I didn't know what you're answer would be but if I ever ask you a favor, are you going to accept it?"

I look at him as he put his other hand in his pocket nervously. "Yes, I will! Even if it requires me to eat 200 tubs of ice cream, or run around the New York city, naked. Even if you demand me to kneel and follow you around like a do; Even if you throw all those rotten tomatoes at me and make me live at the jungle for a decade. Even if you made another contract just to make me yours, I would accept it and do everything as long as I'm with you."

Before I even take a second to breath, he pulled me into his arms and kiss me, again. "Okay then. Let me do another proposal which reminds me," He pulled something out of his pocket and got into his knees "Will you, Alexandra Anderson, be willing to be my bride and marry me?"

Marry me?

Me?

Him, marry, me?!

"Yes! yesyesyesyesyesyesssss, YESSSS!" I drag it on and on as he spin me around. I can hear the crowd cheering around us as he pulled me into another kiss.

I was about to stop when he pulled away instantly. My knees felt like Jell-o but he dragged me off unto the parking lot and strapped me in the passenger seat.

I looked at him confused but he just smiled at me and pulled something out of the back seat. He covered my mouth with the masking tape and smirked.

"Don't ask," he drove down the road leaving me confused

Hmmmp!

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© A.G_2018