Page 61 of Care: Part 1

"I do not know."

"I was hoping for a legitimate reason to make it easier to forgive you, but there isn't, is there?" She asked.

"No, other than the fact that I had nothing to do with it.”

"In my eyes, keeping all this information away from me makes you just as guilty. You knew everything and didn't bother to tell me a word. How could I ever trust you again?”

"I do not know, Avelina.”

Her shoulders fell in defeat. "Yeah, I don't, either.”

"Take me to my home," Avelina said softly.

She knew that if she looked at him, she would break down again. All of the hurt she felt would come kicking and bruising her. Without waiting for his response, she got back into the car. It didn’t take him long to get in as well.

"Take her home," Adrik told the man.

The driver did a complete U-turn and began to drive them to Avelina's house. She could feel Adrik's eyes burning drills into the side of her head.

The entire ride was silent, aside from the roar of the engine. No one dared to talk. However, Avelina could feel Adrik's eyes burning drills into the side of her head.

When they finally pulled up in front of Avelina's house, she immediately got out. The sound of Adrik calling out to her didn’t go unnoticed by her. She ignored him and continued her walk up the steps to her building. Even when she could hear him running after her, Avelina didn't bother to turn his way.

"I do not like this. The countless amount of research I did for 'reasons someone you love would leave you' did not indicate this would cause it,” Adrik started from the moment he caught up to her.

Avelina looked at him in disbelief.

She pushed open her door and attempted to slam it shut before Adrik could get in, but she was too late.

"Please just get out," Avelina let out exhaustedly.

Adrik wrapped his arms around her as she began to break down. Her sobs were echoing throughout the room as he held her. She tried to push him away, but he only held her tighter.

"Adrik, please.”

Avelina wished she never even heard the truth. It was crazy how quickly her entire world flipped upside down. She was simply happy, but within the next couple of hours, that happiness shifted into misery.

Her eyes searched his, trying to find some way to see him the way she saw him only hours ago.

It took her by surprise when he leaned down and pressed his lips to her own. She knew that she should push him away and scream about how much he was torturing her, but she just couldn't do it. Her body didn't want to let him go.

As much as she hated him for keeping something so serious away from her, she knew she would always love him for the way he made her feel.

The same electrifying feeling that had bonded them was still there. It felt more powerful. The kiss served as Avelina’s reminder that no matter what he did, she cared for him. She felt weak. She was stupid and weak, and she hated herself for it.

Then, he gently pulled away.

His eyes were shut as if he were savoring the feel of her lips against his. He must've known it just like she knew it; the kiss could never happen again.

"I am truly sorry for all the pain that I have caused you," he said.

She could only stare at him in shock as he pressed one more kiss to the corner of her lips. Just like that, Adrik walked right out of the door and out of her life.

She did not know how long she stood there after he left. Her finger had risen to her lips, where she traced the feel of him. Avelina sat down on the ground and pressed her back up against the door.

Her shoulders rocked with each sob that left her. Avelina’s head was throbbing, and her body felt numb. She wished her emotions would have the same void that her body held. Instead, she was feeling every thought and every emotion, and it was breaking her.