Chapter Forty-three

Rose

''What do you mean?'' I turn to look at Elis.

His eyes remain focus on mine; confusing me of his words but I wait for his answer, wanting him to at least explain further so that I'll be able to understand.

I watch him take a few steps closer towards me as I squint my eyes due to the sun and letting the wind blow onto our skin; the warmness dehydrating us but for some reason, I don't mind at all. For now.

''I can see it in your eyes. The way you look at him and I can see the way he looks at you too—it's clear that you still love him, you can't keep on denying that.'' He says, making me furrow my eyebrows, not quite accepting because I'm sure and I've made up my mind on choosing him instead of Elia.

''What are you talking about?'' I shake my head.

''You love him,'' He says.

''You love him so admit it. I want you to admit it. Don't sympathy me, Rose. Just choose the one you love because like he said, it's your choice. It's your life. If you choose him, I'll try to live with it—I don't want you to try and love me when you actually love him,'' He adds, only making me listen and trying to clear out my feelings even more.

''But I love you,'' I mutter under my breath.

''You're back here because you're so scared of hurting me and yes, I am hurting but I'll live.'' He cups onto my face, staring into my eyes, ''I love you. I want you to know that I'll always love you, no matter what, so if your happiness is him, don't risk losing it.'' He says.

I close my eyes, ''What if my happiness is you? You said you love me but why are you pushing me away? Why are you trying to make it harder for me?'' I ask. My head hurts for thinking too much; causing me so much pain—when will this end? Why won't it end?

''Ask yourself, who do you truly love?'' He breathes.

''Is it the man who first brought adventures into your life, showed you how love would be, cared for you that he'd do anything including losing you or would you be with the man who was there for you through thick and thin when he wasn't there, started to fall in love with you after seeing your best and worst, accept you and would stay with you?'' He asks.

''I love you. I choose you,'' I say, sincerely.

Yes, Elia was the one who first brought adventures into my life and he showed me how love would be. He cared for me that he'd do anything including losing me because he wanted me to be safe—he thought I wouldn't be safe with him. He has caused me to feel a whole different level of emotions; just due to his presence. He sacrificed a lot of things and his love.

When I was with Elis, he kept on reminding me of Elia—every time I look into his eyes, I see Elia.

But now, I see Elis.

Love? The first man that I've ever come to love. Truly, deeply and fully love is Elia. He completed me. With our flaws and broken pieces, we actually feel new. No matter how much pain we went through in the past, we made ourselves feel special and wanted.

Along the way, Elis came and made me realise that love does not always have a happy ending. It was a beautiful start with risks of losing one another but it wouldn't determine a better end. Elis assured me that I was better than anyone else and that I didn't need a man in my life to live. He appreciated me.

Within seconds, he starts to pull me by the waist; meeting my lips for a passionate kiss, making my knees go weak at the softness of his lips—loving how they manage to soothe me down and set my problems free. If I stay focus onto him, it'll happen.

He cups onto my face, making it easier to access my lips before deepening the kiss as he enters my mouth. My heart continues to beat fast as I wrap my arms around his waist—pulling him closer.

We break the kiss for him to stare at my face.

''I love you more,'' He mutters under his breath.

My lips curve up into a smile, caressing the side of his face with my hand; loving how I'm feeling his five o'clock shadow, which makes him much more attractive. Then again, he has always been attractive. From the very beginning, he would manage to make any women swoon over him just by his looks.

But that's not the reason why I fell for him.

All of a sudden, he starts to turn us around which leaves me in confusion but before I can ask, he starts to breathe heavily; blood on his shirt. My eyes widen as he slowly falls onto the sand with me holding onto his waist—but he's too heavy.

I look around and I see a man putting away his gun as he makes his way out of my sight which makes me look down at Elis, my hands shaking in shock. My eyes are tearing up at the sight, seeing that he continues to look at me even though he's in pain.

Without further ado, I quickly take off his suit; seeing that the blood is coming from his chest which makes me cry even more. My whole body starts to shake because I can't lose him. We can't lose each other.

''I'm going to get help,'' I say in a hurry.

He starts to cough after nodding. After a quick kiss on the forehead, I immediately make my way out of the beach; ignoring blood on my wedding dress, ignoring the fact that I look like a total mess because his life is all that matters right now—he matters.

My eyes widen when I see Elia.

''Elia,'' I call out for his name which causes him to look up at me immediately, his eyes piercing into mine. He looks down at my bloody wedding dress which causes him to make his way towards me.

''Come with me,'' I say before pulling his hand and we start running back towards the beach. Once we've entered the beach, Elis's body starts to appear on both of our sights—making us run faster.

I fall down onto my knees once we're close enough, wanting to make sure that he's still breathing. My heart weakens when I see him struggling; fighting with the pain and wanting to make it alive.

I lean in closer towards his ear, ''You're okay.''

His lips curve up into a small smile as he wraps his arm around my waist, looking directly into my eyes. When I turn to look at Elia, I see him speaking on the phone; in a hurry as he runs his fingers through his hair. Then, he crouches to check on Elis.

Elis won't take his eyes off of me.

I look up at Elia, seeing him clenching his jaw; somehow preventing himself from saying something. I call out his name and he looks at me, ''Are they coming?'' I ask, my eyes focusing onto him as I wait for his answer—wanting to know that Elis will be fine.

''Elia, answer me.'' I say when he keeps quiet.

''It'll take them two hours,'' He mutters under his breath which is loud enough for me to hear. My eyes widen at his answer before continuing to soothingly rub onto Elis's cheek, seeing that he's getting paler.

''Do something!'' I breathe out frustratedly, ''Why can't you do something? He's your brother, for fuck's sake. We can't just watch him like this,'' I mutter.

''Stay here,'' He says, running out of the beach.

To my surprise, I find Elis touching the side of my face, making me look down at him; seeing that he has a small smile—calming me down slightly. He coughs and I quickly hold onto his hand, ''Remember that I love you,'' He says, loud enough for me to hear.

''And I love you,'' I assure.

My eyes continue to cry the endless amount of tears and within seconds, I find tears streaming down his cheeks too; leaving us in a state filled with sadness. It's not just that my body is shaking with shock but it's shaking with fear. Fear of losing him—forever.

''Don't leave me,'' I whisper.

''I'm not going anywhere. I'm here, aren't I?'' He open his eyes again, staring directly into mine. The way his eyes are lightening due to the sun shining brightly above our heads; he's such a beauty. A beauty that I've come to fall for along the way of my own pain.

I lay my head on his stomach before hugging him in which he responds back by placing his hand on my back; making me close my eyes at the comfort. When I continuously look up at him, I see him blinking.

''Remember when we first met?'' He asks.

His voice sounds more like a whisper; a fainting whisper but I keep on looking up at him, seeing him looking back at me—waiting for my answer. My lips curve up into a smile, ''How can I forget?'' I breathe.

''You were so beautiful. You took my breath away. I swear you did,'' He starts to cry even more. I furrow my eyebrows, wiping away his tears. To be honest, I'm not liking the fact that we're talking about this right now; it feels like I'm actually losing him.

''When I saw you in that black dress, god, you were stunning. Up till now, you never fail to impress me. It makes me wonder how lucky I am to live my life with you; knowing that you're my last,'' He breathes.

''Hey, don't say it like that.'' I hold back the tears.

He starts to have trouble breathing which I quickly cup onto his face; making him look at me. I rest my forehead against his, crying out the amount of pain and the amount of sadness—all in one. My heart continues to weaken when I feel him caressing the side of my face before slowly dropping his hand.

''I love you, Rose.'' He whispers.

I open my eyes, looking into his eyes but they are closed. I lean back; checking his pulse but when I start to feel nothing—I cry out even more, ''No. No, Elis. Hey, wake up. Wake up, please. Open your eyes,'' I breathe out, holding back the tears but I fail once they escape; falling onto his cheek.

''Don't leave me!'' I shout, louder.

''Come back. Come back to me! Why aren't you responding? Elis, please, don't do this to me.''

Without me realising, Elia has already started to pull me slowly by the shoulder before wrapping his arms around my waist; making me run my fingers through my hair frustratedly—pulling it and even kicking out the sand before wanting to touch him again.

''Shh, you're going to be fine.'' Elia whispers.

I turn to look at Elis, seeing him laying still without a slight movement and it hurts me; knowing that he's gone. Marc and his doctor are checking for his pulse but when they start to shake their heads, my whole body trembles as I let myself fall.

My eyes meet Elia's brown ones.

Seeing Elis in his eyes.