34 Chapter 34: I Know

I did not know if it was the rain or the wind or my sobbing or the mixture of everything –– I was numb and weak. My vision was a blur from the fog, or was it the tears?

I did not care.

I hugged myself, feeling all alone and abandoned in the rain, unsure of what to do. I walked a few steps, and it was when I noticed a hazy light coming my way –– fast.

Bbeeeepppp!!

I froze, and the cold hard metal plate of the car was a hair length from taking my life if not that I was yanked back and hit something hard while my waist felt tight.

"What the hell are you doing?! Do you wanna' die?!"

I did not know if it was from the shock of my almost life and death accident or because Lance was now hugging me from behind.

"Em, are you alright? You're trembling."

I did not pay much attention to what was going on. All I took in was the worry in his voice. And when he turned me to face him, the concern on his face shocked me in a trance.

"Em? Em? Are you okay?" Lance asked as he shook my shoulders slightly.

Instead of answering, my tears fell all over again.

"I-I . . . d-did not . . . I-I . . . s-swear . . . I d-did not . . . ," I said despite the shivering of my mouth.

"Shhh . . . I'm so sorry . . . I shouldn't have lashed out to you like that. I was in the wrong . . . I'm sorry . . ."

Lance beseeched, which baffled me. Just hearing him apologized with an expression so soft, all the pain and grievances vanished like smoke.

"Come . . . Let's get out of the rain first."

I blinked when he went on one knee, his back facing me while his hands extended on his side like he wanted me to piggyback ride him. I hopped on his back straightaway before he changed his mind.

"Alright, hold on tight and hold the umbrella while you're at it."

It was only then that I noticed he brought an umbrella with him. My arms circled his neck while holding the parasol. He, on the other hand, made sure to keep my legs on both sides of his waist.

Like that, he walked back to his unit with me on his back.

". . ."

". . ."

"Em, I'm sorry . . . ," he said after a long silence, breaking the stillness.

I shook my head and pressed my cheek against the warmth of his back.

"I-I . . . t-thought that . . . y-you are angry at me . . . ," I confessed as I choked back the tears.

"I was angry . . . ," he said, "but not at you. I'm angry at myself for being an idiot."

He paused, then continued in a tone turning low. "Actually, I knew something was off these past few days about her, but I keep holding on. She was so much like my sister."

He shook his head and added with a mocking aggrieved tone. "I never thought she would cheat on me . . . and I kind of . . . blow it . . . and it so happens that you were there and I vented my anger on you . . ."

"I'm so sorry . . . I wasn't thinking straight," he said with a voice so sincere my heart felt so big in my chest.

". . ."

". . ."

I did not say anything as he walked in silence. He was seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

In the end, it was me who couldn't stand the heavy silence. "T-then . . . you chase me because you wanted to say you are sorry?"

Lance hesitated for a moment. He then sighed before answering, "Actually, the big part of why I chased after you was because . . . Well, my conscience couldn't leave you like this all alone with nothing on but a shirt, pajama, and a robe. Not to mention that you're . . . that you . . . you had nothing . . ."

He trailed off before he heaved a sigh. "Well . . . you get it." His ears reddened, and I giggled as I hugged him tight, pressing my cheek against his warm back.

"I love you . . . ," I whispered.

"Mmm . . ."

"I love you . . ."

"I know . . ."