I can’t just leave you like this
Letta then took the warm towel again after Abian finished the soup in his bowl, with Letta having to urge him to finish it.
“Lie down again, your body temperature hasn’t dropped yet,” Letta said, causing Abian to stop Letta’s hand movements by gripping her palm.
“Enough, it won’t lower my body temperature. I’m not like Freya, who will immediately get better just by using that compress,” Abian said, making Letta click her tongue in irritation.
“Well, at least I’m doing something for you, right?” Letta said, making Abian finally reach out his hand.
“I think I need something else,” Abian said, making Letta just stare at him questioningly, until Letta didn’t know what Abian was thinking when he suddenly moved closer. Letta felt foolish again. Letta didn’t know what was going on in her mind, not knowing how to respond when Abian suddenly pressed his lips against hers, making Letta only realize it after a few seconds.
“What are you doing?” Letta asked, touching her lips which felt warm, especially Abian’s temperature, which was currently really high, making Letta just stare at Abian in astonishment.
“One way to lower the fever in my body,” Abian said with his usual impassive expression, making Letta finally get up from her seat, but Abian immediately grabbed her arm.
“J don’t know what’s on my mind right now. I just want to make sure of something,” Abian said, making Letta look at him.
“What, exactly, do you want to make sure of? Don’t you already know that I don’t want our relationship to be ruined just because you keep insisting and are curious about my feelings?” Letta said, making Abian pull Letta to sit next to him.
“Forgive me, I am foolish, but I truly feel that I can’t lose you. Although I initially urged you to take Marco back, but after seeing your togetherness, it seems I am truly hurt,” Abian said, making Letta remain silent. Apparently, Letta didn’t know how to respond to a heartfelt confession like Abian’s, especially since Abian had always been there for her.
“You’re not wrong here. I seem to be too dependent on you and it burdens your feelings even more,” Letta said, making Abian shake his head. Abian then reached out again, gently stroking Letta’s cheek, making Letta feel the warmth of Abian”s thumb playing around her cheek, which for some reason now felt very warm.
“Enough, can you accept me? I really feel hurt, much more so when I’m experiencing this high fever,” Abian said, pulling Letta closer.
“Abian, we can’t do this. I don’t want our friendship to be ruined just because of something we force. I also don’t want to hurt you,” Letta said, making Abian shake his head, their foreheads touching. Letta could feel the impact of Abian’s hot breath on her face.
“I beg you, don’t leave me. I will truly be hurt, Letta,” Abian said, making Letta confused. Was Abian aware of what he was saying right now, or was he influenced by the fever he was currently experiencing, or the medicine he had previously taken? Usually, Abian never complained like this. Usually, Abian always hid his feelings, no matter how painful, but this time, Letta could see how Abian’s eyes were teary, how much pain he had endured for himself.
Abian was about to press his lips against Letta’s again when something felt like it pulled Letta away from Abian, and suddenly someone hit Abian, causing Abian to fall back asleep on the bed, making Letta shocked. Then, turning to look at Marco with a hardened jaw.
“What did you do to my wife?” Marco said, already moving closer to reach for Abian, who looked helpless, getting one hit, probably because of his very poor condition, making Abian look very pitiful, and that made Letta unable to let Marco hurt him again. Letta immediately pulled Marco’s arm before he could hit Abian again.
“What are you doing? Why are you hitting someone who’s sick?” Letta said, making Marco only smile disdainfully.
“What, a sick person? He’s just a man pretending to be sick in front of you, so he can get your attention. Can’t you see? Can’t you differentiate between someone who is sick and someone who is two-faced?” Marco retorted, leaving Letta utterly perplexed by his thoughts.
“You can check his body temperature, you can check his current condition. He’s truly sick. He needs my help, and I’m very worried about him, and you suddenly come and give him a punch,” Letta said, making Marco about to respond to Letta’s words when she ignored him. Letta walked straight towards Abian, seeing the corner of Abian’s lips looking split and oozing a bit of blood from Marco’s blow.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
“You’ll be fine. Look, the cabinet. I’ll treat you,” Letta said, making Marco click his tongue in frustration. Marco then pulled Letta away from Abian, but Letta pushed him back harshly.
“Leave me alone. You’re an outsider. You shouldn’t meddle in what I’m doing,” Letta said, making Marco fall silent.
“I’m worried about you. What if he does something he shouldn’t do to another man’s wife?” Marco said, making Letta now smile disdainfully at him.
“Who are you calling another man’s wife, me? I have no ties to you. Iam just a single woman with one child. I don’t have a husband, or any ties to anyone else. So, Abian has the right to do whatever he wants to me, as long as I don’t mind,” Letta said, making Marco unable to contain his emotions any longer. Marco rubbed his face roughly and immediately glared sharply at Letta.
“So, you’re now defending that man?” Marco said, making Letta stare back at him sharply.
“Yes, I prioritize Abian’s current condition. I’m more concerned about him than having to deal with someone who can’t control his emotions, someone who is temperamental and only thinks about his selfishness and arrogance. I’m even more unsure about introducing Freya to the man who will be her father. I’m afraid she’ll be disappointed to see you like this. Do you know, what she loves is the Uncle she adores. She’ll surely be disappointed when she sees the injuries inflicted on Abian,” Letta said, making Marco fall silent. Marco could now grasp what Letta was saying, that Abian’s presence was more important to Letta and Freya than his own.
“It’s better if you leave now and never Ucome to this place again. Aren’t you already healed?” Letta said, trying to clean the corner of Abian’s lips, who could only remain silent. Abian truly felt his head pounding, especially after the sudden attack from Marco.
“I can’t just leave you like this. Even if I have to force it or keep coming for you, I don’t care,” Marco said, seemingly no longer able to think clearly or act cautiously. His anger upon seeing another man touch Letta seemed to have overwhelmed him.
“Do you want me to go back and start my new life with Freya elsewhere? Then you find me, and we have to move again, that’s what we have to do. Haven’t you thought about that?” Letta asked, making Marco rub his face roughly.
“That’s why you had to run away from me, why you had to avoid me? Couldn’t you just accept me back?” Marco said, making Letta finally straighten her body.
“Abian, I hope you rest. I’ll call the doctor and ask Rose to check on your condition. I’ll go home and see if Freya has woken up or not,” Letta said, ignoring Marco’s words. However, when Letta was about to turn around, Abian grabbed her hand again.
“I still need you. I hope you can check on me again,” Abian said, closing his eyes with a whisper-like tone. It seemed the influence of the medication for his rest had started to work.
“I’ll see you later,” Letta said, then released Abian’s hand and just walked past Marco. But Marco couldn’t stay silent. Marco immediately stepped forward as he reached another room in Abian’s house.
“I don’t want to argue with you. It’s better if we stop our argument this time,” Letta said, feeling tired. Apparently, Marco hadn’t changed at all. He was still as arrogant, selfish, and temperamental as before.
“I’m sorry, I won’t force anything. We just need to talk it out. I beg you, I just want to talk to you,” Marco said with a pleading face, which made Letta push his hand away roughly.
“I don’t need any explanations, and I don’t want to talk about anything with you. For me, our relationship is over. And for the next few days, consider that I’m giving you the chance to see your little daughter. After that, I won’t be able to let Freya meet you or get to know who you are,” Letta said, making Marco pull Letta even tighter into his embrace. Marco held Letta’s waist as she tried to push him away.
“Don’t push me away again, please. I could turn into someone you don’t even recognize anymore. I could become someone more terrible than this. If you really can’t accept me, then please, give me a chance while I want to fix everything. I want to change myself, my life, and also build our relationship from the beginning,” Marco said, with dark eyes, gazing at Letta, as if Letta was drawn to his dark past they had once lived through together, and that she couldn’t let go of the man before her.