Chapter,35

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'Jake?! It's you? Oh shoot I'm sorry.' I said and instantly freed him from my capture. He checked his jaw and crawled back to lean his back against the wall. I kneed beside him with an apologetic look on my face.

'Why the fuck are you so strong?' He exclaimed and brushed off the dust off his shirt.

'I'm really sorry. Didn't know it was you.' I apologised again. 'What were you doing out there?'

He instantly looked up as if not sure what I just asked. His eyes were swollen and didn't seem to belong to him at all. The innocence and impeachment in his eyes evanesced and the only remains were the blankness and coldness hung somewhere in the middle. His face was sunken and bags  circled his eyes. Some fresh cuts and bruises decorated his face.

'I—' he hesitated and threw his gaze at ground. 'I—today's your birthday right?'

I simply nodded eager to know the reason.

'Well I wanted to wish you.' He said so quickly and hesitantly that it took me a while to comprehend the meaning.

'Jake seriously? You could've come in.' I said. 'Why didn't you? And why on Earth were you running away from me?'

'Because you told me to 'go' remember? You told me to go away from you.'he said and paused.

'You chose him over me Els.' Even though he explained the previous affairs but his Jarred tone hurt me. 'I thought I meant something to you but no! I was wrong! I was fucking wrong!' His voice broke and it hurt me more see him breaking like this.

Just as I offered my hand for assurance , he stood up immediately. 'Jake I had to do it.' I tried to reason with him. 'You didn't see his rage, did you? He would've killed you.'

'Then why the hell didn't you asked him to go away? Why me Els?' He tone grew harsh and broken. 'I was more hurt Elsa. I wanted your help but rather you asked me to go away.'

Guilt paralysed me hindering me to respond. I couldn't respond. What would I say? I didn't even think at that moment why I didn't ask Leo to go away? Why I didn't even help him? Perhaps because I needed Leo more than Jake. Perhaps my feelings pulled me to him.

'Answer me.' Jake interrupted me in my thoughts, bringing me back to reality.

'I don't have any.' I murmured.

He snorted. 'Yeah. How could you have? How can you accept that you're falling for him? Right?' Jake said and his ruthless tone brought unshed tears to my eyes. I knew it. I knew there was a attraction between both of us but having my feelings poured into words seemed way too odd. 'Is he even worthy your feelings?'

I looked up to his blurry face due to my tears but I pushed them back. Crying was my least favourite weakness. 'What do you mean?' My voice came as a hoard.

He jerked his head to a side clenching his jaw. 'What do I mean? Els he was a fucking player. A asshole who slept with each and every girl when they sent him for your protection. He bullied you to hell. Hurt you in each and every way. Made fun of you.'

'It was his mission.' I told him but he shook his head.

'Marie gave him two options. Either to protect you while being your lover or being your bully and guess what he chose? Bully. Cause he had that bad boy aura. He protected you less rather used other girls. Do you even know Leo was supposed to bring you here but he fucking put you in danger by letting you go. He never loved or liked you Els. You're just wasting your fucking time and feelings.' A tear slipped down my cheek and my insides broke into pieces.

'It's not true.' I tried to defend Leo but why was I so short of words? It seemed as if someone locked my tongue and sucked up my words.

'Not true?' He stepped forwards. 'So you trust him? Tell me why do you? What has he done to you that you should trust him? He never told you about his past, never told you about his whereabouts or why he was hanging around with Chloe?'

I bit my bottom lip to stop my lips from trembling. Another tear slipped down and I sniffed and crossed my arms over my chest. 'He said it was because of some work.'

He snorted again. 'Work? Did you ask him what work he had to do with her?' Jake's words stabbed me. My heart burnt inside me drowning me in pain. Helplessness and mistrust slipped in me.

'Jake stop it now.' I tried to sound stern but my voice only came out as a whisper.

'Why don't you want to hear more?' Jake emphasised the word and I gulped down the lump that weighed down my body in further sadness.

'No.' I said. 'No. I don't want to. Whatever I feel for Leo , it isn't your matter. I—I can handle it by myself.' My voice squeaked shattering me inside.

'You don't have to Elsa. You don't need to feel so miserable. I can help you.' He stepped forward and outstretched his hand. 'Just take my hand and I promise everything will be alright. Come with me, I promise Elsa.' His tone changed into a warm and soothing one.

It was true, Leo never told me anything. He didn't even tell me about his outgoings, why he was hanging out with Chloe so much. He didn't even tell me about the photograph. He never told me why he bullied me in school. He never considered me worthy enough to be shared his feelings with. I guess it was all just one-sided.

'I promise Els.' Jake's words roamed in my mind and my hand itched to take his. Maybe if I go away from this company, then I'll have something else. 'I'll keep you happy. Just leave this fucking company, that prick , your mother and come with me.'

My mother's mention snapped me out of the situation. 'Half knowledge is no less than ignorance.' I murmured.

'What?'

I looked up at him feeling all of my confident floating back to me. 'I know that I don't know about him. I know he didn't tell me anything but Jake I just can't trust your side of the story. I can't judge any one of you with only one side of the story.'

He clenched his jaw but took a deep breath to calm himself. I knew the words hit him hard but he calmed himself down. 'Listen, that's just shit. Come with me , you don't know , you and me , we can rule the world. We can take over all of them.' He insisted.

I threw my hand in air and backed off. 'Jake I guess you came here to wish me for which I thank you and now, you can leave.' I told him and he seemed a bit taken aback.

'You don't know what you're doing? He is taking over your mind. But don't worry, he'll be out of the game soon.' He warned and walked away. Each of his step away from me pained me how easily I lost my old friend for someone who I didn't even know if think or feel the same as I do. The nausea settled in my mind for myself thinking how I lost a friend.

I watched him until I lost him from my life and my sight. I turned around to walk to the place which identified me now. Taking each step as slow and as small as my legs could bear I reached there.

I rotated the knob which scanned my fingerprint letting me in.

My heart sank in my chest as soon as my eyes landed on a green eyed boy holding hands with Chloe and laughing his heart out. I bit the inside of my cheek to refrain myself to jeer. I made up my mind to walk past them slowly but Leo hurled my plan.

'Hey.' He smiled at me. 'Where were you?'

'What did Chloe tell you?' I asked the question to Chloe more than Leo.

'I told him that you ran after a puppy cause it reminded you of your past and cause you're a bitch.' Chloe cut Leo off and described the explanation he gave to him.

'I never in my whole life had a puppy.' I stated dryly. 'But I heard you had one or two.' I looked towards Leo then and already felt my heart fluttering in me. 'I was gone for a walk. Now excuse me.' I said and turned around before they ask any other questions. From the corner of my eye I saw Leo furrowing perhaps expecting me to come to him and and hug and talk to him but he didn't know how big of a battle I fought against the one I trusted.

LEO'S POV

I thanked the recipient and climbed on my bike already making up her expression. If anything that can make me happy is her smile. I didn't even know how the heck she owned such beautiful smile.

I started the engine and raced to my home. The garage door slid upwards just as it scanned my fingerprint letting me in. I quickly took my helmet, my jacket and my gloves off , put them at their places. I picked up the shopping bag and ran to my room totally ignoring Chloe as I was afraid she'll come out any time soon.

When I knew it was where no one can find it, I slowly closed the door behind me and walked downstairs.

'She isn't home.' Chloe answered my unasked question.

'Who?'

'Oh shut up already. I can see you know.' Chloe commented and switched the channel of the tv.

'Didn't knew it. Thought bitches don't have eyes.' I stated and settled  myself on the couch beside Chloe's.

She rolled her eyes. 'Jake came here.' And that's when I regretted my decision thousandths time for not killing that douche the other day. I didn't respond cause I knew I didn't need to. So she continued. 'She went after him. Yes, I tried to tell her not to go. I actually begged her but she just ignored me and went after him.'

I balled my hands into fists so hard that my knuckles began to whiten. Running my hand through my hair , I threw my head on the back he couch silent,y praying to calm my shit down.

I wasn't angry on Chloe either. This time, I wanted to see who'll she choose. If she won't come back, then I'll lose another of my self and if she will, then I'll know she have something for me just as I do.

'Do you wanna eat something?' Chloe asked me. 'I'm cooking.' I closed my eyes.

'No. And order something. I'm in no mood to extinguish a fire.'

'Hey! It's rude!' She snarled. 'It's not a way of talking to someone who helped you so much with that shit.'

'I'm still not paying.' I stated.

Minutes stretched into hours but my eyes haunted for her image on the door. I stuffed another slice of pizza in my mouth. Chloe got up and threw the box in the dustbin. She sat on the bar stool opposite to mine. 'Let's thumb fight.' She outstretched her hand with her fingers folded in.

I rolled my eyes. 'Chloe fuck it. I'm not kid anymore.'

'Come on!' She urged. 'You're still a kid. Do you think I didn't hear your playful laughs in the morning? Well let's say that I did cause my fucking room is just below to hers.'

The memories flashed and a smile automatically grew on my face. It was true, I had the best morning yet. Opening your eyes and looking her smile the very first is no less than a blessing. Her smile had always turned the darker me into a brighter one.

'Stop that sheepish smile and let's play.' Chloe's words brought me back to reality and I gave up.

'Fine, don't cry if you'll lose.' I mocked and she rolled her eyes. And just like that, the little game only played with my fingers as my mind was already counting each and every minute since she had gone.

I beater her once again and I swear, she'll cry the next time I'll beat her. But she did this time and I couldn't help but laugh as how she used the tactics I thought her years ago.

My ears alerted when a click sound and the door knob rotated announcing Elsa's presence. My heart fluttered as I realised that she chose me and my stomach started somersaulting. A smile danced on my lips as her face came into view but it faded as soon as her eyes travelled down on my and Chloe's connected hands and the hurt on her face broke something inside me.

She looked away as if she regretted her decision. I tried to talk to her but all she did was to ignore my questions and ran upstairs closing the door.

I tried to go after her but Chloe pushed me back holding my hand. 'Leo believe me , she need some time.'

'But didn't you look how broken she was? Didn't you see the hurt? Does she regret her decision? Does she think that she chose the wrong one?' I rushed as panic plastered in my mind. I can't se her broken anymore not at least on her birthday.

'I saw it. But Leo she just lost the one she trusted. She needs time.' Chloe assured. 'And no, she is not regretting her decision. She will never, she likes you Ok? I see how she looks at you.'

'What if she will cry in there? I can't stand her crying.' My statement created a small smile on Chloe's face.

'Let her actually. She need herself more than you.' Chloe said. 'She broken , she needs space.'

I looked up and gazed at her door. 'I wish I could fix it.' I murmured and walked upstairs as I knew what I had to do next.

oOo

I closed the door behind me and took a long breath enough to push my tears back and to loosen my throat. Splashing water on my face over and over again helped me reducing the swollen of my eyes.

Crestfallen, I walked out of the bathroom.  I was sick of them. Sick of my shitty life, shitty problems. I was way better before.

Actually no.

My mind roamed around the unanswered questions complexing the things within.

I gazed at the clock only to find that it was already half past four and I was still sitting here with my jeans and my top. Part of me wished to call mom cause I desperately needed someone right now. I can't go to ball with my swollen face and broken heart. I wanted someone badly right now and that moment, I thought I was still alone.

I sat on my window sill observing the world's affairs. Someone knocked at the door pulling my attention to it. I walked up to the door. There laid a royal blue box with a little card over it. I kneed down and opened the card. There ,beautifully scribbled were the words:

oOo

Hey guys! Here's the chapter.

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Love, Huzaila

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