Chapter 40: Gruyère

"You got me the honeydew one right?" Hailey asked over the phone.

"Uh huh I got myself a lychee. I also got you a mango in case you change your mind", I answered trying to balance the carrying trays with the bubble tea cups on one hand. It was supposed to be an easy task but the carrying tray was very weak.

"Aww you are the best!", Hailey mused. "Bring me some caffeine bitch", I heard George's voice coming from the other end of the phone.

"Yup! I am about to go to starbucks to pick up George's drink. See you guys in ten minutes", with that I hung up.

I had this unsettling feeling in my chest so I decided to get out of house. My mind was going frenzy with all the questions in my head. After the basket encounter I couldn't decide what to believe anymore.

"Leo, where did you get this basket from?"

"Oh that... my stepmom gave it to me as a get-well-soon gift after she got to know that I got injured".

"But- I saw...".

"I know babe. Apparently Jules send me a similar basket through Amber. Don't worry its not hers. This one was sent by my mother".

"Oh", I still wasn't convinced by his answer. How did he even know about my encounter with Amber? I didn't even bother mentioning it to him.

I didn't even get an opportunity to ask him about that because right then his phone rang.

"Hello... yes, I will be there....", he hung up on whoever he was talking to. He took his jacket which was lying on the couch and kissed me, "I am sorry princess I gotta go. There's an emergency".

"What happened?" I asked.

"Something at the garage. Will tell you about it later", with that he left. But today his garage was closed.

I took a escalator down to second floor. Starbucks was a level down to the Green's bubble tea shop from where I got our bubble tea from. George wasn't a big fan of bubble tea so I was going to get him a cappuccino.

I paid for the drink and took the drink from the friendly girl at the counter. I really shouldn't have decided to carry all these drinks at the same time. Thankfully the girl at starbucks offered me a bigger carrying tray to carry all four of the drinks which was a relief and unlike the previous one it was a lot more steady.

Last time I visited the mall I saw this beautiful dress at a shop which I caught my eye. Unfortunately it was quite expensive but this time around that shop was having a sale so the dress was down to half of its price. I thought of buying that dress for Leo's mom. On my meetings with her she would often talk about how she used to wear the best dresses when she lived with her husband and Leo in Italy back then. She was tired of wearing the same boring hospital gown and she thinks her husband will one day come with a lot of dresses for her to wear.

I was glad to see the price was much affordable for me now. So I told the saleswoman to pack the dress for me. I casually asked her what her dress size is a few days back and that was a huge help although she was a little weirded out by my random question.

Leo and I will be meeting his mother tomorrow for dinner. So I will give it to her then. I got out of the store with the shopping bag in hand. I was happy to get this for Eleanora, she would be elated to get this. The thought of Nora being happy after seeing this dress actually got me distracted that after getting out of the mall I realized I left the drinks at the store where I bought the dress from.

I ran into the mall to get my drinks, fortunately it was still on the counter. I thanked the salesgirl and got out of the store. I need to rush to Hailey's place as the cappuccino was getting cold and George wouldn't be happy about it.

I decided to take the lift since that would be saving time so I head south to the nearest lift. I was about to cross this burger place but what I was saw made me froze to my place. I saw Jules a few miles in front of me talking to someone who awfully looked like Leo but I couldn't see his face properly as he was facing sideways. He looked distressed as he was frustratingly running his hands through his hair. That's something Leo does a lot when he's upset. He turned around and that's when I was sure that it was definitely Leo. I didn't know what to say.

This whole time he's been lying and I have been giving myself excuses to convince myself it wasn't. There was a strange feeling spreading through my chest and it awfully felt like someone stabbed me. He hugged her and that's when I lost it. As dramatic as it sounds I could feel my heart shatter into pieces. I couldn't breathe and tears were threatening to spill.

He walked away that's when Jules saw me, she covered her mouth with her hands, she had the pitiful look on her face. "Oh Emma...", she said. At least what I thought she said from what I can make out from far.

She approached me, I stopped her, "Please don't", then I turned around and walked away before could I break down in front of her.

.........

"Would you like some gravy with that?" Eleanora asked but I was in my own thoughts to notice what she was asking. A normal person in my situation would have confronted Leo and maybe get angry at him. But I didn't do anything. Yes I was angry but I kept it to myself. I didn't talk to him and he didn't notice it either as he was busy with his own work. Probably he was planning another perfect date with Jules without telling me and that really irked me. I spent the whole night crying but I decided to confront him about it later as my priority was to spend some time with Eleanora.

"Emma... Honey are you okay?" That's when I got out of my trance and looked at Eleanora looking at me with a concerned expression on her face.

I give her a small smile, "Yeah I am.  Just a little stressed out from school".

"Heard your exams are going on. Leo is going to take a gap year, which I don't approve of, just to take care of me", she said looking at Leo who was too busy eating his food. I couldn't look at him properly, every time I looked at him it reminded me of what I saw at the mall. I know it was just a hug but he lied to me the whole time. George was right all along. He has been visiting Jules instead of his dad. I still can't believe he would do that to me.

"You know I won't leave you until you get well besides..", he smiled at me,"I think I will apply with Emma next year,right now I need to be with two of my favourite girls".

"I am so glad you guys are dating or else I would have had to play matchmaker"

"You sort of did actually, if it wasn't for you I would have never gone to Emma's house to live there".

"But I bet she still doesn't like the fact you live with her- you are one messy boy. Isn't it Emma?"

I was too dazed to listen to what she was saying," Emma? Emma?" She called.

"Huh?" I looked up to see Leo and Eleanora staring at me.

"Are you okay, honey?" Eleanora asked looking concerned.

"Uh huh- By the way I got something for you",  I took out a box and placed it in front of Eleanora.

"You didn't have to buy any gifts for me-", she opened the box to reveal the dress I got her. "Oh my god this is beautiful. Oh Emma I love this!" She kissed me on my cheeks. She was beaming and I was glad to get her that dress.

"Well you talked about how you used to wear dresses all the time and you are tired of hospital gowns".

"Thank you, love! You remembered. By the way its been a long time since you visited me".

"I've been a bit busy these days! I promise to visit you often".

"Wait, Emma you visit my mother at the hospital?"

"She does drop by often and I love it!"

Leo didn't say anything. He got back to eating his food, but he didn't look quite pleased with the fact that I meet his mother.

I was glad that we reached home safely, Leo drove really harshly. At one point I had to scold him to slow down.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I cried out upon entering our house.

"What?"

"You don't drive like that! We could have crashed. I am sure you will receive a ticket!"

"You don't get to say anything. Its all because of you! You visited my mother when you know how dangerous it is. She's mentally unstable.... what if she did something to you?"

"I will do whatever the fuck I want. And Eleanora is harmless. Maybe you should be spending more time with your mother rather than somewhere else!"

"What do you mean?"

I sighed," Where were you in the morning?"

"Doing a shift at Carlo's. Emma... I am tired of you dou-".

"Fuck you Leo! You are lying to me again!" I screamed.

"I am asking you one last time. Where were you?"

"I think you heard me properly the last time! I don't think I need to repeat myself".

I was fuming with rage. He still had the audacity to lie to me. I picked up the nearest thing and threw it on the floor which was a vase. It shattered into pieces just like my heart.

"WHAT THE HELL EMMA? ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY!"

"YES I AM. YOU ARE LYING TO ME AGAIN. I AM GETTING TIRED OF YOUR LIES. I SAW YOU WITH JULES AT THE MALL TODAY!"

He looked quite taken aback, he looked down not facing me probably even,"Emma I-".

"NO YOU WILL ANSWER ME NOW. WHAT WERE DOING WITH JULES?"

"I-I can't tell you", he said quietly just enough for me to hear.

I sighed, tears were streaming down my face. "GET OUT", I said trying to muffle my cries.

"Princess-".

"DON'T FUCKING CALL ME THAT", I threw a cushion at him. "GET OUT!"

"Try to-".

"That basket was from her, wasn't it?"

"Yes", he answered looking down.

"GET OUT! AND DON'T EVER COME BACK!" I dropped on the floor, tears streaming down my face.

I got to bed early. I couldn't handle crying anymore as I had a bad headache now. He just walked away without even giving me a proper explanation. I know I told him to get out but he could have fight for us. He could have- but he didn't.

I closed my eyes trying to forget what happened today. But nothing worked... I loved him. How could he do something like this? Right then I heard the sound of my bedroom door opening I immediately got out of bed.

"Leo is that you?" I asked, my heart beating inside my chest loudly. 

"Sssshhh Rose. I am just here to say goodnight".

..........

I know I am updating this after a month. I am sorry. It's just that I was going through a bad time. Always remember to not let other people drag you down.  Pick up your sword and start fighting again. Your value doesn't decrease based on someone's inability to see your worth.