Chapter 95
[Asking Her Out]
Jake and Ellie released from the hug and stared into each other’s eyes. She saw how his eyes were red rimmed. He must have been crying before he came.
“What got a guy like you crying?” She asked.
He stared up at the sky. “I can't believe I am an orphan despite the fact that my parents are still alive.” He spoke up. She narrowed her eyes on him, not getting what he said.
He looked at her and smiled grimly, knowing she does not understand what he said.
“You know the first time we bumped into each other at the corridor the first time we met. I had this feeling that I had met you somewhere but I could not remember. But now I remember, you were the girl I had hit on particular day while I was driving fast on the road. Despite, people telling you to get me arrested, you insisted that I go scot free. You said it was not a major hit and that you were fine.” He narrated to her and she recalled the incident also. She did not clearly see his face that day.
He cleared his throat.
“I was nine years old when my dad and my mom got divorced. I grew up with her. Then suddenly, she was no longer around to take care of me. She was always going on business trips. She hired a caretaker for me but the lady try maltreating me which made my mom fire her. But on a fateful day, I was feeling suffocated so I decided to go out. I asked my driver since I was just thirteen years old at that time. I told him to take me to the playground, so that I could get some ice cream. We got there and just as I was about to leave the place, I saw my mother's familiar smiling face.” He took a pause as he allowed that to sink in.
“I saw her with a child of not older than three years old. They were all playing and laughing. They seemed like a happy family. I wanted to go meet her that day but then I resisted it. Maybe she had just come here with her business partner child. I had thought. Then after few days, I would go to the playground and see my mom there again. Then it dawned on me that my mom already gotten herself another family. To confirm my thoughts, there was this kid that I had not noticed was there that called her mom. I did not know how to confront her so I stayed silent. At least, I was still her kid. She definitely won't leave me alone. But I was wrong.” He said with new tears brimming his eyes.
“Not until I met my dad and my supposed stepsister….” His face twitched in anger as he remembered the event that took place some times ago today.
“I thought everything was going to be good but I was wrong. It just got worse. Everything in my life just got worse.” Ellie placed a hand on his shoulders as she stared at him in worry.
“My stepsister only got close to me because she wanted to see what my mother looked like and ridicule her behind me.” He burst into tears. Ellie's face saddened as she heard everything he said.
Aria betrayed him. His dad abandoned him. His mother left him to fend for himself and cared less about him.
What worse could have happened to him?
She never knew something as bad as that could happen to him.
Like he was always smiling and cheerful. Not knowing he was hurting inside.
“I don't know what to do again, Ellie. I am sick and tired of everything.” He cried out. She hugged him and patted his back soothingly while he cried on her shoulders. They were both hurting souls.
“It's okay. I am always here for you. At least yours is better then mine.” She said with a sad smile. He released from the hug and stared at her for her to explain.
She beamed a grim smile and started walking while he followed her.
“I grew up with my parents who actually turned out not to be our real parents. They loved us. At least, they do to Elsa. I always felt neglected and unwanted which was true. They never really cared about me. They always wanted me to live my life the way she did and I did not oppose them.” She started out.
“I never talked about it till they both died. We moved into our granny's place and the treatment continued. I endured it all and would sometimes burst out. But one thing I made sure of was that I don’t say too much.” She said and looked at his face.
“You know I am the shy type when it comes to love. The guy I once had a little of crush on actually asked my sister out, I did not know whether I should be happy or not. I just let it be.” She said and Jake grimaced at the thought.
“That shit hurts as hell.” Jake said. Ellie chuckled slightly and licked her lips.
“You sure don’t know how it feels. I watched them laugh, smile, grin, kiss and even made out. I watched it all with a..” she looked at him and formed a smiley face. He looked at her worriedly. She was telling him the things that she had bottled up inside of her and has never told anyone. Then he came to the realization that they were both the same. Always smiling but dying inside.
“That crush was Christian.” She let out.
He furrowed his eyebrows. “Christian? You mean the one that…”
“Yes, he is exactly the person.” She cut him off.
“Woah!” He exclaimed. He was definitely not expecting it tho.
“What’s love when the person you claim to love is hurting because of you? What's love when the person you claim to love does not find happiness in you? What's love when the person you love can be happy without you?” She said with tears brimming her eyes.
“I let him go. I did.” She sobbed.
“Then I moved my heart and crush to Jayson…” Jake swerved his face to her the instance he heard what she said. She shun him with her hands raised up when he wanted to talk.
“But then this night… he asked my sister out although I was the one that went.” She explained and the tears started falling freely.
“He shattered everything that was left in me…” she said and he pulled her into a hug.
She was really hurting. So bad.