My lips parted.
The tears that I've been holding back since earlier fell. I wiped them away and pushed Rozzean away forcefully. I even glared at him.
"I hate you."
"I will forget you. Everything about you. Thes is right, I can find another man who will see my worth. Not like you who's more—hmmp!"
He crossed the distance between us and forcefully kissed my lips. I tried to push him away, but he held me tightly, one hand gripping my waist and the other at the back of my neck.
His eyes were angry as he looked at me. When his lips finally moved away, he spoke.
"You can't forget me. You love me. You love me so much, and you won't forget me," he said firmly.
His breath was on my face. Our faces were so close.
"No! I can! I can forget you!" I shouted at him. I glared at him. I was right; he was doing all of this because of my Dad.
"You are mine, only mine. You won't belong to another man."
"I'm not yours! I-I won't be yours anymore! I h-hate you! I hate you s-so much!" I was crying while saying that to him.
The lips that used to speak of how much I loved Rozzean were now shouting something different.
"I-I hate you!" I shouted. He hugged me tightly. I heard his faint curses.
"L-Let me go!"
"I hate you so much, Rozzean! Let go of me! I hate you--"
"I love you."
I stopped when I heard what he said. I felt his face on my neck. He was giving me small kisses.
"I love you," he repeated, and this time, he pressed his lips to my ear.
"I love you so much, Thaliana..."
When I pulled away from his embrace, my room door opened.
Rozzean and I both looked there. I saw Luther. My gaze dropped to the key he was holding. I had given him a spare key to my room. When I saw who was with him, I distanced myself from Rozzean.
"Thaliana..."
Is he playing with me?
"Rozz..."
I flinched when I heard Klari's voice.
He loves me? But why is he always with Klari? Why is this woman always here?
"Out."
"Thaliana, she's here because her family was invited--"
"You're not leaving?"
He looked like he had no intention of leaving.
"I will not leave until we talk about everything... I don't care about what your Dad will say. Let's talk... please..."
I looked at Luther, grabbed my things from my room, and walked towards him. When I turned to Rozzean, I saw the pain in his eyes.
"If you're not leaving, then I am. Stay here alone!"
I left my room. I called Luther, who immediately followed. Luther's room was also on the third floor. We headed to his room, and once inside, I put down my things. Tired, I sat on the sofa.
"What happened? I was going to your room, and I bumped into Klari looking for Cyron. When we heard the commotion outside your door, I got alarmed, so I opened it immediately. Are you two fighting? And what is Cyron doing inside your room?"
I covered my face with my hands. Slowly, I looked at Luther.
"He went to my room. I let him in because he suddenly arrived, and Thes would see him. I hid him in my bathroom until my friend left. He mentioned what happened last night, and I told him I was too drunk, so I retaliated. He also wants me to break off our engagement."
"When I asked him if he's doing all of this because of Dad, he avoided eye contact with me, Luther."
"I am torn between whether he wanted to save his relationship with my Dad for the sake of his company or because he loves me."
Luther shook his head, "Cyron is not that kind of person, Thaliana. I am not saying this because I am on his side. I also thought that maybe he just wanted to save his good relationship with Uncle George, but then I remembered how he backed out of your engagement. How he told your dad that he's not afraid to lose everything except losing you."
I nodded, wiping tears from my eyes.
"T-Then why is he like this?"
"I don't know either, Thaliana. I'm frustrated too because I can't understand his actions, but it seems like he's ready to explain everything to you. It's up to you now if you want to talk and listen to him."
"But he's with Klari again... they are always together. Don't you find that strange, Luther? The last time I went to his house, he let Klari take care of him. They were alone. I-I was so jealous, and right now, I am still jealous. W-Why..."
"W-Why do I need to feel this kind of pain, Luther? It hurts so much, and it's so difficult to love Rozzean. It turns out that even in the process of forgetting, I am still going to be deeply hurt."
Luther approached me and gave me a hug.
"Stop crying, the party will start soon. Your eyes will get swollen."
Luther gathered all my things from my first room because I didn't want to go back there. Since I was already in his room, he went downstairs to get another room next to mine. He moved there.
When it was seven o'clock in the evening, Luther and I went down together to go to the venue. I tried calling Thes, but she wasn't answering; it seemed like she was still sleeping.
"Good evening, Mr. Faustino!" Luther went to greet the visitors.
I was left alone on the side. There were a lot of people, and Uncle Royce and Aunt Cynthia were still not there.
"Tangi!"
When I heard Mommy's voice, I turned around. I approached her with a smile. I kissed Mommy and Daddy on the cheeks.
"The place was so great! You did a great job, sweetheart. The flowers are beautiful, and everything is well-organized."
I smiled at my mom, "Thank you, Mommy..."
When I looked at Daddy, he seemed to be looking for something--or someone.