Broken Strings
Chapter 31

MELISSA QUIZON

As soon as I opened the door of my room, a bunch of red roses opened up to me.

“Good morning, Beautiful,” Wright said and smiled at me. I looked back and forth at the rose he was holding and at his face.

I faked a smile and accepted the rose. His eyes twinkled. “For me?”

He nodded. “One and only.”

I threw the rose on the floor of my bedroom. Wright’s wide smile melted. I trampled on it until the rose petals fell off.

“W-Why did you do that?” He was shocked at what I did.

I looked at him and raised my eyebrow. “It was a gift, right? Since it’s mine, I’ll do whatever I want. ”

“Mel—”

“Reid and I are late. I’ll clean up the mess later. ” I said and closed the door behind me.

I walked quickly to the car. He silently hops in the driver’s seat. Sadness was obvious in his eyes. I don’t know how he felt about what I did. Only Bobbie and Reid create noise inside the car. When the kids left silence reigned inside the car.

He stopped the car in front of the gate of the school I was teaching at. He held my hand so I looked at him. “I can’t pick you up later because I have to take care of something. Be careful, I still need to love you. ”

Suddenly, I felt like I can’t breathe. I hate this feeling.

I took my hand to him and without a word, I got out of the car. Ellyza still doesn’t talk to me. We seem to be casual with each other.

I felt so alone.

Again.

I was about to go home when I received a text from Eugene that he wanted to meet me. I told him that we can meet, and we decided to eat at a well -known restaurant.

“You are so messy when eating.” He was laughing while wiping the edge of my l*p.

I smiled. I sliced the steak on my plate and stabbed it with a fork and gave it to Eugene, he happily accepts the food and ate it immediately. “I thought you had no intention of showing up to me.”

“I have a lot of patients right now. Did you miss me that fast? How are you?” He asked.

“I’m having a hard time.”

“Where?”

“On everything that’s happening.”

Eugene held my hand that was on the table. I stared at him. “Nothing is easy in life. Life is all about sacrifices, Melissa. ”

Sacrifices? Yeah. F**k those sacrifices.

“No matter what, once in your life, someone will hurt you, that someone will take all that you are, and rip it into pieces and they won’t even watch where the pieces land. But through breakdown, you’ll learn that you’re strong, and no matter how hard they destroy you, you can conquer anyone. You’re strong, Melissa. I know, I’ve witnessed it. ” Eugene said softly.

His words touched my heart. I got up and went to the back of his chair. My hands wrapped around his neck and I buried my face in the hot corner of his neck. He laughed softly. I moved a little bit when he stood up. His arms wrapped around my waist, and that made me tiptoed.

“I don’t know what I would do without you.”

He kissed me on the forehead. “There are events in life that even if you want to happen, it is not possible. Be steady, Melissa. I will not leave you.”

Eugene drove me home when we noticed it was about midnight.

“Mel, don’t always think that I will leave you, ha. I love you.”

I nodded. He kissed me on the forehead and cheek before I got out of the car.

When I entered the gate, he immediately drove the car. I smiled as I inserted the key in the elegant door of the house.

The whole house was dark. If it weren’t for the night light, I probably would have stumbled. I looked into the kitchen when I saw a flickering light there.

I saw Wright, in a suit and sitting in front of the table while staring into space. There was a candle near the exhaust on the table and food served there.

I held my breath when his eyes landed on me. His face was serious but there was a gleam of sadness in its eyes.

“Why are you late? Reid fell asleep while waiting for you. ” He said calmly.

“Eugene and I ate outside.” I pointed to the table. “What drama is this?”

He took a deep breath and stood up. “This? I came home early to cook for you. Reid even helped me. This drama you say is the reason why I didn’t pick you up. Why are you with him? ”

I crossed my hands over my chest. “Why? Is it bad? He is my friend. Why would I tell you? “

He pressed the l*p tightly together. I was frightened when his fist clenched. The expression on his face was different. Anger and pain are what I see now.

“Get dressed. Aren’t you feeling sweaty in your clothes? Then blow out the candle so that your house won’t be burn. ” I boldly said.

He approached me. I step back when I felt the steam of his body. I winced when he touched my arm. It wasn’t tight but his hand was shaking as if restraining himself.

“Don’t do this to me, Melissa. It hurts. ”

“Are you hurt? Then it’s good. ” I said.

He inhaled. One of his hands went up to my cheek and caressed it. His fingers dropped to my chin and lifted it. Our eyes met. The corner of my eye warmed as I saw the suffering in his eyes.

“What else do I need to do, Melissa?” He smiled bitterly.

I couldn’t speak, my tongue was tied. I heard him sigh. I didn’t know what to tell him. I bit my l*p to avoid the shiver of it.

“Why is he with you again? Why you are still seeing each other? Am I not enough? What else did you two do? Tell me. ” He says bitterly.

“What do you care? You have so many questions. Who are you in my life, Wright?! ” I boldly say.

“I am the father of your child. Who loves you so much. Who is willing to sacrifice everything just to beg for a little attention and your time. ” I was surprised when he knelt. He took both my hands and kissed the surface of my palm. He looked up at me. “I’m on my knees again, Melissa. Maybe when you see me struggling again, you’ll know that I’m already very sorry. I’ll kneel before you, again and again, Mel. Forgive me.”

The tears that I have been holding on rushed down through my face. I removed my hands from his grip. I pushed him and ran out of the kitchen.

I left him in the kitchen.

Kneeling.

Suffering.

When I opened my room, the rose that I had stepped on was no longer on the floor. I slowly went inside. I saw the new roses in the vase now. I stopped in front of my bed full of rose petals and stared at the tarpaulin hanging over my headboard.

The words that are written there,

‘I’m sorry, Babe. Please, let’s make up. I love you. ’

And next to that is the picture of Wright and me when we were in college.

I annoyingly pulled the cover away from my bed. All the roses fell. There I poured out my anger. I stepped on them. I don’t care if my room gets messy. I pulled the tarpaulins, they fell. I threw it to the side.

Damn you, Wright!