Together Forever

"Can... can we take our friendship to more than just friends?"

If he said this a few years ago, I couldn't believe it but that would have been because of happiness. And now years after, I can't believe it either but now it just seems meaningless. Time

Time is something so precious and something to be spent wisely. And this time does determine the deeds we need to do. If something is not done by the right time, then all its value vanishes and the thing that remains is mere repentance. Yes, it's good sometimes when we have done something wrong and we understand our fault, then we can repent and start everything from the beginning. But there's a thing called 'deadline' and it applies in every single thing of life and when you cross it, you repent just to increase the pain of knowing that you can't change anything anymore.

If you just told me this a few years back...

Maybe everything would have changed.

But it's too late.

I look at his face carefully and try to understand his expression. He seems nervous as he keeps staring at me expectantly. There's an awkward silence in the car but at the same time, a faint sound of the rain can be heard.

I press my lips together and chuckle nervously, "Liam, what are you saying? You...are you serious?" I ask, still hoping if all it was a nightmare.

He nods, "Of course. I'm serious."

Looking away, I let out a heavy breath. Things are just getting more complicated.

I look back at him as I speak with a straight face, "Liam, I am sorry but it's not possible."

I see his face falls and his expression turns confused. Maybe he thought I would accept his proposal.

"But why?" He asks, desperation in his voice, "Are you in a relationship?"

I shake my head, "That doesn't matter if I am or not. It's just that it's not possible."

"Just why? Show me a reason. I really like you. Don't you like me?" He says, causing me to look away.

"Yes, I do but that's just as a friend. You are my very good friend but I can't think of you anything more than that. I'm really sorry." I say the truth.

He remains silent for some time and then his eyes suddenly turn big and he huffs angrily, "You are rejecting me? I can't believe it. You are rejecting Liam?" He throws his hand as he roars again, "Don't you know every girl throws themselves at my feet, and here you are rejecting me?"

The last sentence was enough to let me lose my patience. How dare he talk to me like that? I'm not like every girl. I'm Evelyn.

I breathe a raging breath as I shoot my angry eyes at him, "Keep your voice low, Liam. You don't have any right to talk to me like that. And from where you got the audacity to compare me with your 'every' girl? I'm not like some kind of fling who will swoon over you. In the future, think twice before talking to me." I holler between gritted teeth.

He seems taken aback by my sudden outburst but he keeps his mouth silent.

This is the consequence of misbehaving with me.

"Now before I make up my mind to cancel this deal, get this damn car to my house." I bump my fist against the seat as I grit every word, "RIGHT NOW."

I don't have to wait too long since he immediately looks away and starts the car. The ride to home remains terribly soundless and soon enough, the iron gate of Ethan's house comes into view.

As soon as the car stops, I unbuckle my seatbelt but before I can get out, his voice stops me.

"Is it because of that Ethan? I saw how he kept you stuck with him at the night of the party like you are his." He says, anger evident in his voice.

I clench my face as I snarl, "It's Ethan Jones for you. Don't you dare to insult him in any way, either directly or at his back. I won't tolerate that."

I open the door of the car and before stepping out, I turn around and bite down the words at him.

"And you are damn right, Liam. I am HIS."

I don't know from where this courage came to claim me as his but I just knew, I had to say that and it didn't seem wrong at all to me. Maybe deep down inside, my heart believes what I said.

I come out in the heavy rain and close the door with much force. Without looking back, I walk forward and the guard immediately opens the gate but by the time, I get under the roof, I am fully drenched. My white dress is tightly sticking to my body.

The elevator opens and I step inside the apartment. Ethan usually comes home late at night. He shouldn't be here I guess but by any chance, if he is here, then I am dead.

The whole apartment is dark, no lights are on. Opening the purse, I take out my phone in trembling hands because of the impact of cold rain. I turn the flashlights on and head towards my room. I pass Ethan's room and let out a sigh of relief when I see the door is closed but soon my relief fades away as my eyes fall on the open door of my room.

I closed it when I left in the morning.

Then?

My heart starts jumping in my chest when I see the light on.

I gulp in fear and slowly get into the room but no one's there. Just when I turn around, I see the door of the corridor is opened. But for the darkness, I can't make out anyone there. I take slow steps towards it and with every step, anxiety builds up inside me more and more.

Sprinkles of raindrops come inside the room and as soon as I stand in the doorway, my eyes shoot up at the sky seeing Ethan standing in rain, his back is facing me and his hands are on the railing. What will happen now?

I feel like he acknowledges my presence but still, he doesn't move from his place.

I step under the rain and the cold air blows against me, causing me to shiver. I place my hands around me as a shield from the coldness as I walk towards him slowly. The raindrops wet me thoroughly from head to toe. When I am feet away from him, I stop and eye him carefully.

The short-sleeved t-shirt he is wearing lets his muscles open to see that it seems like bulging out of the cloth as I notice how strong he is gripping the railing. As if he is trying to uproot it.

The enormous sky above is dark black and from time to time, thunder strikes the ground creating frightening sound and under the enormity, he seems like another thunder. Waiting to consume me.

I gulp and call out his name, "Ethan?"

He doesn't budge but even though the rain causes a great noise, I feel like I still can hear his raging breaths.

I know he's angry but this silence is hurting me more.

Finally, he speaks, "You had a great time, didn't you?" And then he turns around, "When the company is someone you like, then it's not even catchable how time passes, right?" He knows everything.

Suddenly the thunder strikes again with a crashing sound and flashing light letting me take a glance at his face but I wish I didn't.

He is totally drenched, his t-shirt is clinging to his body causing every muscle in the right places to show its presence. His shiny black hair is damp, raindrops pouring from the tip of his hair, slowly towards his face and lips and his lips are pressed in a thin line. And what I feared most is his bloodshot red eyes. It seems like he is soaking wet in the rain for a long time. He looks so calm but I know he is raging inside. When someone is angry, if they don't show it and keep it inside, that anger will burst with more power. And I am afraid of his angry self. If he yelled at me right now, it would be alright but he isn't and this calm attitude scares me more.

He takes a small step towards me, his face neutral.

"Do you know how worried I was thinking that you were sick? I went to pick you up but you were enjoying the time with someone else. Is it fair, princess?" He asks in an excessively calm voice, making me shiver.

He went to pick me up? I shouldn't have gone with Liam.

He takes another step as he speaks, "Don't you think you should pay for it?"

Dangerous

He seems dangerous.

Like a chaser waiting for his prey.

I step back, "I... I am sorry." I manage to speak somehow but he shakes his head.

I'm scared. I really am. No one scares me but him. And I have never been this terrified in my life before and never seek an escape like I am now.

Why am I acting so weak? I'm not weak.

"But he always makes you weak, can you deny?" Someone says inside me. My inner self.

"I don't want your sorry. I want something else." He says suddenly in a hissing voice and comes closer.

The distance between us is closing slowly.

"What do you want?" I ask, my voice is weak.

He smirks at my question.

Mischievously.

Now he's right in front of me. Blocking my every escape. Blocking my mind. Blocking my every apprehension to feel. To sense. To see. For the first time in my life, I feel helpless. So helpless. I realize my lips trembling continuously. For the fear? Or for the cold? I don't know.

His chest slowly touches mine and I gain my consciousness back. I look up at him. He looks down. Fear in my eyes. Something else in his. He tilts his head slowly and moves his face towards me. And I feel like I am losing myself slowly. Losing my sense. I can't feel the rain anymore. It seems like I am lost in another world. All I know is I have to go away from him. And that's what I do.

I turn around and just as I am about to take a step, his strong hands grasp mine as he pulls me back and I collide with his chest with a thud with my hands on him.

He snakes his arms around my waist so strongly and the next moment, before I can process anything, he presses his lips against mine.☐☐☐☐☐