Chapter 67: Chapter 67

Silence hovered between us for a couple of seconds. Nothing could be heard but the silent whisper of the night breeze and the crickets.

"Doing what?" Garren asked, breaking the stillness at last.

I raised the bracelet he gave. "This. Why are you doing this-"

"Didn't I tell you the reasons? It was a token of appreciation. I didn't know you could be this-"

"I'm not merely talking about this bracelet, sir."

For the first time, I found the courage to cut him off, knowing how much he loathes that.

"You're confusing me."

I don't know if what I'm doing is right or if I'm digging my own grave. But I can no longer bottle these up.

"Everything about you confuses me."

His eyes widened a fraction. I know he's as anxious as I am.

"Do you seriously think that I didn't notice you'd changed after that day that you brought us to the amusement park? Well, I do. And until now, I still don't know the reason why."

I looked at him straight in the eyes.

"I didn't confront you because I didn't want to worsen the situation. But then here go all your inexplicable antics. After cutting me dead, you meddled with my life, acted concerned, and told me to avoid Enzo without giving me a valid reason why."

His jaw tightened. He seems mad, but I turned a blind eye. I'm done with his bullshit.

He needs to give me a fucking peace of mind.

"You were acting like some madman just because I've been going out with your cousin. And until now, I haven't forgotten everything you told me that night. Those words keep on replaying in my mind."

I shook my head and let out a hollow laugh.

"You left me with questions, and now you're acting like nothing happened."

He looked away, which convinced me that he's guilty of what I said.

"Now I want to know why, all of a sudden, you went back to talking to me. Why are you being kind again? Why are you being so caring as if you didn't ignore me?"

I felt like I had run a mile after shouting all those questions. That seems like the longest words I've ever spoken.

All the things that Garren had done that sowed questions in my mind came back like waves, punching every wall of my brain.

That handkerchief with strange words stitched on it. The coffee that he never failed to make me every morning. The picnic day. His smile. Everything.

I want to demand an explanation from him about all those things, but I'm already exhausted from speaking.

"Do you really want to know why I tried to push you away?"

He finally broke the deafening silence hovering between us.

My heart thumped. Fear crept into my system. I'm afraid of what I will hear from him... but I need answers, so I stood my ground.

"I was also as confused as you."

My eyebrows snapped together. What is he saying?

"Why did I feel a strange feeling when I saw your smile? I've seen different people smile at me, but no one has ever made me feel like my heart is about to burst out. And why the fuck did I want you to look at me the same way you admire the stars?"

Silence. It was dead silence. All the sounds from my surroundings have faded into thin air, and I can no longer hear anything but our breath synchronizing with each other and my heart beginning to race erratically.

His words echoed in my mind, taking every bit of my rationality.

He laughed emptily. "Those kept me at night. And in my existence, that was the first time that I couldn't find the answer to my questions."

A lump appeared on my throat. I tried to open my lips, but nothing came out. I was rendered speechless.

"I hated that. I hate how you can mess with my mind. I've always been calculative and very certain about things, but when I met you, there's this irritating feeling that I couldn't fathom, that feeling that I have no control over my emotions whenever I'm with you."

He slowly closed the distance between us. And as if spellbound, I didn't dare to move a muscle. I stood there, motionless, not knowing what to do.

"You made me feel things that I thought I would never feel again. That burning sensation, the odd sense of happiness and comfort you always give me, and the urge to own and possess every inch of you. I felt those things again, Cleo."

This feels like a fever dream. The way Garren uttered my name in the gentlest and most sincere way possible brings an intense heat to my heart... like a scorching fire.

I pinched my skin tightly, wishing that it would wake me up. But it didn't work. I'm still stuck here with Garren standing in front of me and ruining my peace.

Shivers ran down my spine when his quivering hands touched my arms. I clutched my chest when its erratic beating intensified.

I want to push him away and make him stop. I want to run away, despite telling myself that I'm prepared for whatever is going to happen. But I can't even open my lips nor move a finger.

I'm a defenseless wall against him.

"I tried suppressing my feelings for a long time. I ignored the jealousy that I felt every time you talked to Lorenzo. I brushed off all the signs, but I don't think I can do that anymore, Cleo."

He held my chin and lifted my gaze. Our eyes interlocked, and I just found myself getting lost on those pairs of orbs that seem to hold an ocean. The surroundings

I want to convince myself that I'm merely imagining things, but I saw a glint of adoration in his eyes. He's looking at me as if I'm a fragile glass that he doesn't want to break... and it's not good for my heart that's already thumping like crazy.

"This isn't how I envisioned things would turn out, but still, please listen to every word that I'm going to say. I'm not used to this, but I'm afraid that I will lose the chance if I don't say this now."

Garren stared at me straight in the eyes, his hands shaking a bit. And under the gleaming stars, the implausible moon, and with the hushed darkness watching us, he said the words that rattled my entire world.

"I like... Fuck that. I don't think that will be enough to describe what I feel."

He put his forehead over mine. And under the midnight sky, with the implausible moon and the celestial stars watching us, with the soft breeze whispering silence, he said the words that I've never imagined I would hear form him... not even in my wildest dreams.

"I love you, Cleo. I've been through countless stages of denial, but I still end up loving you. You tamed this monster and made him fall for you."

And at that very moment, I feel like everything fades at my plain sight. Everything became blurry, and all I can see is Garren. My ears turned deaf, and all I can hear is the loud beating of my heart... and the constant echo of his words. I feel like at any moment, my knees will fall down.

I shook my head furiously. "No..." I whispered underneath my breath, and with every strength I could muster, I pushed Garren away and turned my back.

He held my left arm, but I fended off his hands, and wasting no time, I ran.

"Cleo!"

I heard him call my name. His voice sounds like he's begging me to stay, and I want to castigate myself for having a second thought to stop on my tracks and face him.

Fortunately, the rational part of my brain subjugated my insanity. I opened the door and stormed inside the house.

I hastily headed to my room and closed the door with a loud bang. I clutched my chest and leaned on the door. My knees finally gave up on me and I ended up on the floor. I squinted my eyes shut. I can still feel the turbulent beating of my heart.

"Damn it," I cursed breathlessly. "What the actual fuck did he say?!" I exclaimed in gritted teeth.

Once again, Garren's words echoed in my ears. The way he confessed his feelings is prickling my skin in a strange way.

I shook my head furiously when the image of him earlier flash through my mind. Suddenly, I remember all the teasing that Lauren had done to me. I turned a deaf ear because I thought that their assumptions are far-fetched and ridiculous.

I mean, it's pretty sensible for me to deny that. Garren doesn't look like someone who will settle for a woman like me. I'm certain there are lots of other women eyeing him who are top notch better than me.

We are poles apart. We're like parallel lines that will never meet no matter what. So this whole thing is too hard for me to absorb.

I puffed a heavy breath. Zyair's eyes and words speak sincerity. I saw it. But there's this strange feeling inside me that I don't want to believe him. I just can't fathom how we went on this stage.