Later on, when Cole came back home, he went to check on Claire to make sure she was fine and still sure about her decision of breaking up with her current boyfriend.
He found her writing in her diary. He caressed sweetly her head and then smiled. "What are you up to?"
"I'm writing my thoughts. I usually upload this diary every week. I always loved writing. I had a few before the accident, my doctors said reading them might help my memory but I cannot find them. It's like they disappeared. I cannot find them."
"That is weird, have you looked everywhere?"
"Yes. I may have hidden it somewhere but due to my lack of memory I cannot remember where."
"I am so sorry. I am sure you will find them soon."
Something about that entire situation suspected Cole, the fact that Brendon got easily jealous about them, and now the sudden disappearance of her secret diary.
She didn't even seem to have a close friend or someone who could help her. How was it possible that the only one she had was Brendon?
The more he thought of that situation, the more something seemed off to him.
"It's fine." Claire smiled.
"So you are still sure to break up with him?" He asked.
"Mhh mhh," she nodded, "I am. It's the best thing for both. This relationship won't bring us joy and I will only end up hurting him and myself if we continue like this."
Cole let out a deep breath, relieved to hear what he wanted to hear.
"Good." Cole placed a sweet kiss on Claire's forehead.
With his usual perfect timing, Brendon made his entrance inside.
"If you need anything I am here for you. Always." Cole whispered to her, staring deeply into her eyes as if he meant that. As if they had known for years.
"Thank you." Claire stood up to walk to Brendon.
As soon as he saw her, he spread his arms to hug her.
"He hugged her but right before his lips met hers, she departed and said: "We have to talk."
"Oh, this doesn't sound good." Brendon attempted to a joke but Claire didn't laugh.
Claire sat on the sofa and took a deep breath.
Silence soon fell in and Brendon's face turned grim.
"What's going on?" He asked with a deeply concerned voice.
"I hope you will understand my decision and finally accept it…" Claire started. She rested her hand on her chest to encourage herself. Her heart ached and dropped in her chest.
She felt so bad for breaking his heart but it was inevitable.
They couldn't keep going like that, it would be disrespectful for both of them.
"I don't love you. If I hadn't fallen in love with you in those years I doubt I will ever do." She continued to speak slowly just to make sure she weighted each word meticulously and she said the right things not to hurt him more than she had already done in those years.
It must be painful to live with someone you will never have your love returned. And she gave him already enough sufferance. It was time to give the both of them peace, to start a new life where they could finally meet someone right for each other.
It was time for Claire to love someone so deeply that could give her heart away easily, and it was time for Brendon to find someone who loved him as much as he loved her.
"No… Claire." He whispered in a gasp but Claire ignored him.
Not again.
She wouldn't accept his denial, not this time.
"Couples shall date only if their love is reciprocal. But that's not the care. Love had always been one-sided from the very first moment we met.
I don't want to … I don't want to deprive myself to feel how loving taste just not to hurt you or to make you a favor."
"Claire-"
She shook her head, "we had tried enough. It doesn't work. I am not asking you this time, hence I do not accept resistance or opposition from you. I want to break up with you, Brendon."
"Claire, don't. I am sorry for last night, if my drunk behavior concerned you, I apo-"
"It's not that. I just want to find myself again." Claire said, she didn't let him complain, she stood up and immediately walked back to Cole.
"I did it." She said, her breath feeling heavy. The grip in her chest was still there. But her heart felt somehow happy.
"That's good." Cole smiled, he wrapped his face in her hands.
"So now that you break up, tell me, would you like to get to know me more?" He asked. His eyes filled with a happy light, proud cheer, and accomplishment.
"I do. But before, I want to visit the lake in the painting. Will you bring me there now?"
"Now?" Cole asked.
"Yes. Now. I had waited for enough."
THE BOOK WILL BE TRASFERED FOR EDITING MATTERS IN A NEW BOOK, SEARCH FOR: "My Boyfriend's Brother"