The Billionaire's Playmate

I saw him sitting on the corner of his bed, facing away from me.

"Manang, I said I don't want to eat. How many times do I have to tell you--"

I noticed a brief surprise in his eyes when he saw me, quickly replaced by anger.

"What are you doing here?"

I couldn't move from where I stood, holding the food I cooked for him. I saw him grab his cane for support and stand to approach me.

"Which part of what I said last night didn't you understand, huh? Miss. Dela Vezca?"

"R-Rozzean... Manang told me that y-you haven't eaten since this morning. I c-cooked food for you--"

As he approached me, I hesitated in speaking when he overturned the tray, and I gasped as the food spilled onto my hands. I felt the intense heat of the dishes, but I bore it. "You don't care if I haven't eaten, who do you think you are?"

This is so difficult...

This is so painful.

I didn't know it could hurt even more than last night.

The stinging sensation in my hands seemed insignificant compared to the pain in my chest as he stared at me with his furious eyes.

"I-I made a mistake... but I regret it, Rozzean..."

"I introduced m-myself as someone else, but everything I showed you in your house was real. Even my feelings for you, I love you. I love you very much--"

"Shut up! Just shut up! You made me look like a fool! You played with me, and now you're telling me that you love me? That you fckng love me very much?! Damn that love!"

I stepped back because of his anger.

"Were you happy?"

When he stepped towards me, I retreated again. Tears continued to flow from both of my eyes as he stared at me.

It seems like....

H-His anger might not go away.

"Were you happy while playing with me in my own house, huh? And what love are you talking about?"

I shook my head repeatedly in response to his questions. My stay in his house is something I won't forget for the rest of my life. It was never my intention to play with him.

"N-No... not like that, R-Rozzean. I-I made a mistake, I regret it, b-but please don't question my love for y-you."

"I love you--"

"Don't fckng say those words to me, Miss. Dela Vezca. If you love me, why did you continue to deceive me?"

"If you love me, why did you make a fool out of me?"

"R-Rozzean..."

"Leave."

"L-Listen to me... p-please... I made a mistake, I regret it, I shouldn't have done that. I-I'm so sorry... I know it's wrong, I just had a hard time coming back and explaining everything because I couldn't leave you." When he turned away from me, I let out a sob.

"Manang!"

After a few seconds, Manang entered the room upon his call.

"S-Sir..."

"Get her out."

Manang looked at me, her gaze shifting to my reddened hands and arms due to the burns.

"A-Are you okay, dear?" she asked.

I nodded at Manang and faced Rozzean again.

"I-I'll leave now, but I won't stop until you fully forgive me. I hope... I hope you've eaten, Rozzean. P-Please, take care of yourself."

He glanced at me once more.

"Throw her cooked dishes in the trash, Manang."

I was stunned in my place after what I heard.

"S-Sir?"

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"I don't want anything in this house related to her."

Is it over?

I-Is it really over?

"Thaliana."

I quickly turned my head upon hearing Luther's voice. I was surprised to see him.

"L-Luther..."

He went to me and check my arms.

"Let's go and I will take you home. You'll ride in my car."

"I-I'm fine, Luther. I can manage," I insisted, but he shook his head.

"No, Thaliana. You cannot drive with those burns. We'll take a cab or my car, but I won't let you drive in that condition."

I nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and exhaustion.

Luther turned to his brother, his expression stern.

"Rozzean Cyron, I don't know what happened, but I expect you to treat Thaliana with respect. I won't let her get hurt again. If I find out you've harmed her intentionally, you'll regret it. And I am warning you." Rozzean's glare met Luther's, and for a moment, the room felt charged with tension.

"I... I'll get my things," I whispered to Luther, moving towards the door. I didn't want to be the cause of further conflict between the two brothers.

Luther nodded, still maintaining a stern gaze at Rozzean.

As I packed my belongings, the realization of the situation sunk in. I had hurt Rozzean, and now, the aftermath was proving to be more painful than I could have imagined.

I nodded. When I faced Rozzean, I saw that he avoided eye contact with us until he turned away completely.

"W-We're leaving, R-Rozzean. I hope you've eaten... please take care of yourself."

That's what I said before I left the room ahead of Luther. I couldn't stop my tears from falling because of the pain. I kept replaying Rozzean's looks from earlier in my mind. His intense anger.

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I've only tried to seek his forgiveness twice, but I quickly lose hope. Even though I repeatedly tell myself that I can handle his words and endure, it's different when I'm actually facing him.

It hurts, my chest tightens with pain. Each word he said earlier felt like a knife stabbing into my chest.

"Thaliana, do you really need to go this far? Do you have to get hurt just to earn Cyron's forgiveness?"

I ignored what Luther said until we were outside the house. We were in front of the garden when I looked at him.

I wiped away my tears. I sighed before answering him..

"I-I really don't know, Luther, b-but it's my fault why Rozzean is doing this. W-We can't blame him because I fooled him."

It's getting hard for me to speak because of crying. I can't help it; crying lets out the pain in my chest.

"You fooled him, yes, but he loves you. I don't believe that--"

"Luther... do you think he really loves me?"

I saw Luther pause at my question.

"D-Do you think R-Rozzean really loves me?"

I am doubting his love now. Could everything have happened so quickly for him, and he realized it?

"Thaliana..."

"B-Because I don't know if he still loves me... I don't know if after everything I've done, he'll come back to me. B-But I don't want to s-stop, Luther..."

"I-I love Rozzean so much..."

"Even though it hurts so much, I'll endure it because I love him so much."

Luther didn't say a word. He pulled me closer and embraced me. I couldn't help but cry on his chest.

"I never k-knew I could feel this kind of p-pain in my life because of one mistake. I m-miss him and it hurts so much. I regret what I did to him, Luther..." The pain is too much.

It's unbearable.