❝ It only hurts when you start pretending it doesn't. ❞

-

Her health was deteriorating.

He didn't want to believe it but he had to. Her latest medical reports claimed she had hardly two to three months left to survive. That definitely made his world crumble into pieces.

His vision blurred as hot tears started blinding his eyes and realisation hit him. She was going to die. His mind repeated the same thing again and again. He felt stupid to cry. Aira had warned him about her condition, he accepted that their love wasn't going to last forever. But still his heart wanted to believe she would stay with him for a lifetime.

"It's okay to cry. You'll feel better." Aira said as she rubbed his back gently, assuring him.

He turned towards her, sniffling softly and hugging her by her waist, "It's not okay. It's not fair that you're going to leave me." He mumbled softly.

"I told you not to fall into this mess. Why were you so adamant into loving me when you knew you would be left heartbroken?"

"Because you are worth the hurt." He smiled through his tears as he caressed her cheeks.

She tore her gaze away from his, fearing she might start crying again due to all the love she's been receiving. "You're crazy."

He giggled at her childishness and engulfed her into another hug, kissing her forehead. His thoughts drifted to the last time he cried bitterly. It was when Aira got her heart broken and he couldn't do anything to make her feel better which in result made him cry. And this time, she was hurting again and he couldn't do anything to ease her pain.

It's amusing how the love that makes you happy has the potential to make you cry.

♡

A knock on his door made him tear his gaze away from the television screen. It was almost eleven at night and the weather was stormy outside. Wondering who could it be he got up and received the door, surprised with Aira's shivering figure as she was drenched with water from head to toe.

What surprised him more than her being at his doorsteps at this ungodly hour was the fact that she was standing in front of him after giving him the cold shoulder for almost a month now.

He wanted to ask questions but as he analyzed she was crying, he stepped aside and indicated her to come inside. Giving her a towel and one of his sweatshirts, he headed downstairs to bring a cup of hot chocolate for her. He knew it'll calm her down. It always worked.

As he came back with her hot drink, he saw her sitting comfortably, hugging her knees and silently crying.

"You were right. He was a douche, he just wanted to get in my pants." She let out another cry while hugging him as tightly as possible. Ethan rubbed her back while comforting the broken mess she was currently. "I was so stupid for not listening to you. I should've been thankful to you for caring about me but all I did was fight with you over that fuckboy. I am so sorry."

"It's okay at least you learned from your mistake. Now buy me lunch tomorrow." He made a joke in a desperate need to stop her from crying more in which succeeded as she chuckled lightly.

♡

That night was when for the first time he cried for someone. He cried because he realised how her heart was broken. He cried because he blamed himself for being the reason of her heartbreak. He thought that if he would have been more alert, she wouldn't be crying over a random guy.

The irony of the situation is that last time he could've controlled it, but this time it wasn't in his hands. He had to let her go.

-

One more chapter left (excluding the epilogue). Initially I planned for more, but thought it was better to end it without dragging it.