He stood up and quickly walked towards me. His eyes were accusing as he towered over me. He was tall, about two inches taller than me and I can feel the heat between us surged as our bodies got closer.
"Really?! So what do you want me to do, Claire? To just suck it all up and let everyone know what a big idiot I am to believe that someone like you, the rich and popular Ms. Claire Adams, had fallen madly in love to an ugly, poor, nerdy boy like me. No, my poor ego cannot take that. You had hurt me, Claire. Never forget that," he said. His voice was mixed with pain and anger and I just wanted to hug him so we could just forget everything that happened that night.
"Jake... I know what I did to you was wrong and I have regretted it. Five years is long enough, don't you think? I have suffered enough already."
"What kind suffering can a princess like you ever have? This is not even half of the things I have gone through with you. Not even close."
"Yes, perhaps. But who are you to judge me when we haven't seen each other for five years? I have been penniless and worked my way to feed myself. Whatever I am now is because I have worked hard for it. So for you to say that I never suffered, I already did. I paid for what I did to you every single day for five years... because I lost everything. Material things can be replaced but not the one I cared about the most.. you."
That's it, I said it. He finally knew how I felt but it was no use. I have turned him into a tyrant and I knew he will never forgive me. So I turned my back on him, hoping to somehow leave the scene before I totally embarass myself. There has never been anyone else after him, even if there have been many who showed interest.
I love him. I have loved him since I decided to make him mine. It was selfish to think that he had somehow become my possesion. I turned him from a nerdy guy to a hunk in one day, and I couldn't have been happier from the results. Since that day, I told myself he was more handsome than Brad ever was in college, with brown hair, blue eyes and soft, irresistable lips. How I missed kissing those lips!
"Shit!" he cursed as he grabbed my arm and pulled me close. He caught my lips, hungrily delved on them, savoring its taste as I moaned. My arms wrapped around his neck automatically as his fingers pinched my waist, groaning underneath my lips. We kissed passionately, the way we used to years ago. He never changed. He still remembered everything I taught him and he got better. I felt my knees buckled as he let go of my lips. I suddenly felt lightheaded as I hang onto him to keep my balance. Both of us were breathless as we stared into each other's eyes.
"You haunted my dreams for five years, dammit!" he huffed, letting out a simple laugh. "My heart never stopped loving you, Claire. You just don't know how much I wanted to do that the moment you walked into the office. But my pride won't let me so I have to make you suffer for a while."
"You know how much I have been watching you from afar... just like in college? You still mesmerized me," he added as he pushed a strand of hair from my face and softly brushed his lips on mine.
"I love you, Claire. I always have," he whispered. "Please stay."
I gazed at his eyes. I could feel the sincerity of his words as I smiled.
"I love you, too, Jake," I mumbled, "I always did."
I saw his smile. It was genuine and I knew those past five years that happened between us was finally over, and now, we could start over.
I leaned my head on his heart as it beats faster.
For me... Just for me...
This moment, that I longed for five years since, has already happened. I am where I belong. I am back in his arms again.
Our love existed and will continue to exist. I thought it was a one-way lane. I thought I'm the only one who loved him after all these years. I thought he hated me forever. But then, we both realized that we have an existential love. A love that co-exists with our lives only to make us both stronger. Wiser. Better individuals in order to exist in each other's lives once again... to correct our mistakes and to prove that love is worth the risk.
Now how would we explain this to Mr. Crawford? We'll think about that later. He'll probably understand anyway, as it has been five years since we last did this... and this time we won't let go.#