"The sky looks so clear and beautiful from here... just look how bright the stars are"
Still at the rooftop, the couple basked in the affection for one another. They were all by themselves, not minding about other people. After dessert, Rhea stood by the edge of the room and watched the sky. The shatters of the fireworks blend so beautifully with the sky and illuminated the starry night.
"Do you want to watch it from here everyday? I can make it happen" Eris said looking at her seriously. Rhea laughed, she thought he was merely making a joke.
"No, nevermind" she replied. Eris raised a brow but did not object her.
"How did you find this place, it looks so big and I'm certain it is expensive. It is probably the biggest restaurant in the city" Rhea voiced.
"Really, I did not know that. I need the building and I got it. The benefit of being the owner" He responded coolly.
Wait.
"What!" Rhea gasped. She looked at him in disbelief. 'Did he just say he owned this huge place so nonchalantly. Who exactly are you Eris' she thought. There is a lot to learn about the man she has fallen for.
"You don't believe me?" Eris arched a questioning brow as he noticed the flashes of disbelief written all over her face.
"No. No. No, I just.... I mean— You really mean it? You own this place?" She asked again for the sake of certainty.
"Mm. Although for some reasons, my ownership of this place is not known by many people. But you are my woman, you have every right to know" he said and to a step closer to her. He placed his forehead on hers.
"You are my woman" he repeated with a voice evident of pride. It was as if he wanted to hear the word 'my woman' out loud. He never knew it was this comforting to have someone to call yours. If only he had known, he would have search for her sooner.
Rhea blushed scarlet at his words. It created a tingling feeling in her heart. To belong to someone, that was not something she was used to but it felt so heart warming when she heard Eris say it to her. She placed her palm on his cheek.
"My man" She whispered and rubbed circles on his cheek. Since he claimed she was it, she wanted to be even with him and call him hers.
They stared deep into each other's eyes. Lost in the moment, their minds wandered off. They could not help but wonder why they have only met just now. Even if they had only spent a few times together, it was as if they had known each for so long.
For an unknown reason, it felt as if their was soul had been made for one another right from the beginning. They was overwhelmed. A strong feeling of affection gushed through Rhea.
A feeling such that she had never felt before. It played the strings of her heart creating a sweet savoring melody with so much energy. Such affections she never thought would happen and now she did not want let go.
It made her wonder, if love was this unimaginably comforting, why on earth did her father leave her mother and hurt her so bad? Why did he disappear without trace? Why did he abandon his family? Why? She questioned herself.
The reminisce of the past came back to memory with a hurting sensation. The old pain cut deep and hit her heart like an asteroid hitting the earth. Her entire body shook with emotions. She did not know when a tear dropped, then another and another.
"Hey, why are you crying?" Eris who suddenly noticed the change in her emotions asked worriedly.
'I am crying?'.
She snapped out of her derail as she heard a soothing voice say to her. The kind of voice she would love to hear anytime till forever.
She raised her head and dewy eyes met with his that was filled with passion and concern for her. His hand dropped on her shoulders and tugged at her gently.
'Will he always be here?'
The thought of him leaving and disappearing like her father did scared her. Who knew love was this hard. Her tears came once again pouring in torrents. She suddenly pulled him and crashed her body into his.
Not knowing why she cried and what to do, Eris patted her back gently. Her tears made him feel a sudden knot in his chest, his heart constricted causing an unknown pain to surge forward coursing through his entire being. It was then he knew it in his heart that he could not bear to see the woman in his hand in pain. It hurts him even more.
After a while, her tears ceased and turned into gentle sob and sniffs. She let go of him. Her eyes fell on the ugly wet patch she had left on his shirt.
"Sorry" She said in a small voice and dropped her eyes in embarrassment.
Eris stared at her humble posture for a split second. Using his fingers, he raised her head to meet her eyes.
"Tell me, is something wrong? are you hurt somewhere? Where does it hurt?" He asked worriedly causing Rhea to blink. She never expected him to worry for her so much. The look on his face gave off his pain and concern.
"It is nothing. Sorry I made you worry" She responded. She shift her head to retract her gaze away from him but his hand holding her chin in place would not let her.
"Tell me" he demanded. He was certain that something was wrong somewhere and couldn't help but get worried. They were in a relationship after all, it is okay to share problems.
"I... it is just— it is my father" knowing that he would only get more worried if she kept mute, she answered and heaved a sigh.
Apart from Claire, she never had the courage to voice out her family's past to another person. The thought of being judged ached her heart causing her to look away.
"Look at me and tell me, did he hurt you?" Eris asked.
"He—" She started but at that moment, a stray tear slip down her cheek and the warm liquid dropped on Eris finger.
"He did what?" Eris demanded ignoring the tingling feeling made by her tears on his finger.
"He left. He left us, he left my mother, he disappeared. He said he loved, he showered us with so much adoration but he still left us. He hurt my mother. He..." She sniffed holding back the tears that threatened to fall. Her heart felt so heavy. It was as if she suddenly regretted the choice to love.
"And now, you think someday I will leave too?" Eris said and her eyes snapped back to him.
He stared deep into her eyes and she did the same. She did not even dare to blink, it was as if if she did, he might vanish from her sight.
She became lost in his eyes that spoke nothing but true love and sincerity for her. She wanted to look away, she wanted to deny herself of this comfort but before the thoughts were even established in her heart, his warm fingertips grazed her cheek and wiped of her tears.
He pulled her to himself and sealed her lips with his. He kissed her gently with so much love and care. He poured out his heart and unspoken words through the kiss. His kissed held a lot of promises of affection. His kiss knocked her senseless and all she could think of at the moment was him. He only let go when they were both breathless.
He placed his forehead on hers and used his thumb to stroke her cheek. They both gasp to get their breathing even.
"If I can let go and leave you so easily, then I shouldn't be here in the first place. Promises are meant to be broken but I can swear on you, I will love and hold you till my last breath. Believe me, I am not letting go after I finally found you"
Eris said. His voice held nothing but truth and compassion. Rhea nodded, she wanted to give her all in trusting and holding on to him in faith. It was her first step in the path called 'love' and she was ready to walk it along with the man in front of her.
Eris intertwined their hands and dropped a light but lingering kiss at the back of her hand.
"You are mine"
He said without shifting his gaze away from her. All he wanted to do at the moment was have her and hold her but he would, for her sake take things slow. As for letting her go, he did not think he would do that. She was his comfort pills. From the first time he set his eyes on her, his heart attached to her. All that was left now was to reel in the moment as nature takes its course after all, no one knows what the future holds.