Angela's POV
"Then what were Erish doing, when I opened my eyes?" My voice almost shattered, as I don't know how to react to their statement. I remember it clearly. The one I saw, as soon as I opened my eyes, was Erish. Then how could what they were saying could be correct?
Erish could sense my confusion and immediate responses to me by shocking another statement.
"Angela, actually, after saving you, Eric also got a high fever and needed to send another tent for rest and he told me to watch you as he can't be there with you." Erish words gave me my answer and I fell into chaos.
"Angela, that was not the first time Eric did something for you…he was always there for you but you never noticed him…"
Eric's words made me curious to know more and I inquired," What do you mean by that?"
"Angela, whenever you come to ask something from me or need help. All of that is done by Eric but he does not talk to you so much. So, when he asked me to hide the fact that he is the one solving issues for you. I didn't think too much and agreed. Even in college time, he is the one who always punished the bullies who tried to approach you. He almost got to the hospital one time but he hid that all fact and I foolishly thought it was all because he is a shy person and treats you as his family member. It never crossed my mind, that he likes you, Angela. He always protects you from the darkness! Without getting himself in front of you… "
I felt jolted all over my body, my steps moving backward as my mouth pressed tightly to not reveal my thoughts to them. But if his words were true, I felt I was always going in the wrong direction. The things for which I liked the person all the time, are done by not him but by someone else? How could I accept this big fact suddenly? I know Eric loved me but hiding the love for this long is not a simple thing for any person.
He was always there, but I was the one who failed to notice him. Even if I noticed him, I don't think I could have realized his true feelings for me.
Because he always stayed far from me. Yes, he helped me but never let me get closer to him. From childhood to adulthood, our fights turned into silent treatment. Even though I tried to talk, he always stayed far away or talked to me rearly.
"Angela…" Erish voice made me come back to reality and looked at him. I can see the concern in his eyes for me.
"Angela, he always loved you…but he sacrificed his love for me and you. Moreover, he knew, his love is always one-sided.
"Do not let us suffer for him. He left the city, his home, his parents, his old life, everything and went to a foreign country without any words, just for us Angela! Just for his brother and his love. So, we can be happy at least, if he can't…"
"E-Erish…" My voice filled with ache. As I felt my body couldn't stand anymore by itself.
After hearing all this, my eyes closed by themselves, and my anger, my frustration, my hate everything turned into tears and streamed down my cheeks later. Only to make my heart feel Eric's love at this moment.
"Yes, Angela everything is done by Eric. Whatever you liked about me. So, please don't let your anger push you to avoid his pure love for you."
"He sacrificed his love in the past and even now he has done the same, marrying you in the name of me…"
"I can't imagine how it feels to have your love in front of you but you need to pretend to be someone else for her love. It should have felt devastating for him whenever you called him Erish. But still hiding his pain and suffering my brother all did love you…"
My hands clenched into a fist and I remembered all the memories whenever I called him 'Erish' but not to his own name.
"Angela, I can understand how it would feel to see your lover so close to you but you can't touch it, and it is still so far from your reach."
Erish broke down in front of me. While my mind filled with Eric's smiling, warm, and tender face imagination.
My eyes turned bloodshot red as I felt my heart changing its perspective for Eric.
"Angela, don't you already fall in love with my brother?" His words made me hesitate to watch him directly but soon I saw his face, who was looking at me with determined eyes.
My face turned anxious as I didn't want to answer this question for anyone. Uncle and Aunt who stood silently also looked at me with shocked gazes to hear their son's words.
"Angela, is it true?" Aunt comes beside me and touches my shoulder with hopeful stares.
But I didn't answer it anyway. Which made their hope shattered. But Erish gave me a small smile the next moment like he already knew my answer and didn't need to hear it.
"If you truly fall in love with my brother then don't let your mind stop you. Give Eric and yourself one chance and I know you both never left each other's side."
My eyelashes flickered to hear his words but my silence didn't break.
But this silence can't stay long as suddenly, our silence was cut by one of the ward boys.
"Excuse me. It's time to go back home, only one person could stay for the night with the patient."
I didn't think for a second and said to the ward boy, "I'll stay."
The ward boy nodded and left. As I turned, Uncle Aunt watched me with a generous smile. While Erish didn't speak at all but his expression showed his calmness to hear my response.
"Uncle-Aunt! You both should go now, it's already late and Erish also needs rest as he is still recovering…" I simply explained to them the reason for staying. As no one except me can be here in this emergency situation.