CHAPTER 17. KINDRED SOUL

I woke up to the beeping sound of the monitor, cannula attached to my veins, and a vague figure was sitting beside me. The man lowered himself and leaned over in my direction. My distorted vision began to get clearer, but the person that accompanied me wasn't the one I desired. He brought his firm hand closer to my face and stroked my left cheek. While he tried to approach me with the feign gentleness, I drifted my gaze away from him. To be precise, his atrocious behaviour and callousness weren't unpredictable anymore. In order to avoid conversing with him, I enquired about the reason for his presence.

He didn't respond but kept staring at my face. The injuries that were inflicted upon me were not that severe, so I requested him to drop me at my place. The decision was arduous to make, but I didn't actually wish to inform my parents about my carelessness. Though he seemed busy as his phone wouldn't stop buzzing, he agreed to it. Then, he took me to the car through the wheelchair.

Thereafter, he picked me up in his arms, his face kept getting closer and I could feel his heavy breaths upon my face. It made me remember the very first time when we got closer. The only difference was that I despised the feeling that I was experiencing at the moment. Though a considerable amount of time had passed, some leftover feelings were still prevalent in my heart. Those feelings weren't pleasant, but just bitter regrets. It was nerve-wracking to even realize that. Soon, he started the engine and began to drive. I lowered the glass of the window and felt the caress of the fresh air.

Darieth city actually served as the source of love and gaiety after witnessing the hard times. It felt invariably inappropriate to address it as a city. The place had too much to offer, but the thing that stood among everything was the heavy greenery that the place offered. Meanwhile, I took a glance at Seth and got to witness him smiling. If I would have told somebody about it, they would have never believed me. It was apparent that he had cultivated several mannerisms which were foreign to him earlier, the source of the inspiration must have been dear Rose. It was obvious that her gentleness could even turn a beast into a man. Moreover, Seth was no exception.

Thereupon, he began to whistle in order to overcome the awkwardness, but that didn't seem to work. The inability to start the conversation still inhabited and prevailed to cause inconvenience.

I tried to build some comprehensible sentences in order to ease the tense atmosphere, but I couldn't come up with anything. Then, I abruptly uttered, "How's Rose?"

It was laughable for me to slightly even perceive the possibility that I was capable of easing the tension that existed between us. 'Yes, inquire about the woman that broke you two up. That will surely ease up the tension', I chided myself.

He had a smile on his face and then he replied, "She is doing great. In fact, we are planning on having a baby".

That aloof jerk, he did that purposely. He said that only to hurt me further as he knew that a few months earlier I had an abortion. Thereafter, we got engaged in an elongated skirmish.

STELLA

"I would like to congratulate the 'soon to be father, then."

SETH

"Yes, It's a huge responsibility. I am most proud of my Rose as all women aren't brave enough to undergo the pain that is accompanied by the joys of motherhood."

STELLA

"Yes, They don't need to, especially when their husbands are engaged in actively chasing the other woman."

SETH

"What if the other woman is all he ever wanted?"

That was the end of the conversation. If it would have continued any further, it was apparent that I might have ended up throwing him out of the car. Yes, it wouldn't have mattered that it belonged to him.

The silence persisted on the rest of the way. Then, he got a call. I stole a little glimpse of the name of the person who called him. It was from Rose. He deliberately decided to put the phone on the speaker. I wondered if there would be an end to this day.

The sweet voice that greeted my ears asked him about his return. He said that he was in Darieth city for something urgent. It was an aghast experience to witness that he was capable of actually being kind and jovial. It was apparent from his predicament that he did love her. I gaped outside the window and observed the ever-flowing stream. It didn't matter how many stones are thrown at it, it never loses its pace and stands as the only thing that escapes time. It fascinated me to decipher that as humans we don't have an eternity. That is the reason why it must be spent to bring delight to us and the ones that are close to us.

Soon enough, we reached the entrance to the apartment. I peeped from the window to discover a bothered and distressed Adrain eying me. I tried to return the smile for the unpleasant frown that greeted me. He approached the car in huge strides, opened the door and grabbed my hand.

Seth eyed him like a hawk and had anger lurking upon his face. Adrian grabbed me by the hand and then held me in his arms. Seth tried to block his way, but he didn't succeed. It was as if Adrain was in a marathon, he walked in huge strides. He took me inside his apartment and made me lie on his bed. Soon, several distinct knocks greeted his door.

Adrian opened the door and Seth insinuated inside the apartment. He grabbed Adrian's collar and his eyes went darker. Since Adrian didn't understand his reasons for doing so, he stayed calm. Then, Seth yelled at him in a hoarse voice," She is my wife".

Adrian gawked at him in utter astonishment. Seth had a filthy smirk on his face and tried to approach me. I called out to Adrian and told him to drive Seth away from 'our home'. But, he kept staring my way with distressed eyes. I observed that he began to walk out of the room. With his head bent, he made his way out of the bedroom.

Seth grabbed my hand and began to drag me towards the exit. Adrian stood still and didn't budge even after hearing my painful cries. He stood while fixating his gaze upon the ground and didn't even try to stop Seth from taking me away.

His eyes held tears and were sore. It was apparent that it was unbearable for him to watch me leave, but he couldn't approach me because of the lie that was presented before him. When I turned to see his face one last time, I noticed his tears finally dripping upon his cheeks. The advent of that moment broke my heart. It was unbearable to even imagine a life without him. After observing that I wasn't willing to leave, Seth pulled me further.

I bit his hand and ran towards him. He approached me with heavy steps and then embraced me. My tiny body enwrapped in his caress, felt his warmth. I stood on the tip of my toes, pulled him towards me, and initiated the kiss. His hairs were rigorously ravaged by my hands. I kept stroking his hairs and biting and sucking his lips. Then, I wiped his tears and kissed his cheeks too.

Seth approached us with vengeful eyes and tried to grab my hand. Adrian pushed me behind him, and then I called the security. Seth pounced upon him, and then kicked him atrociously.

Then, the guards arrived and separated the two. They took him away, and I ran towards Adrian. I tended to his wounds and kept him company.

He looked at me in all seriousness, and then inquired, "So, What am I gonna be? The mistress? "

Then, he chuckled. I placed my arms around him and disclosed everything that I had been through, and the reason why I ended up in Darieth City.

The Navario city and the life with Seth were over, It was time for the fresh beginnings, and I knew it wouldn't be without Adrian.

He had been kind and amiable from the day I met him, and a life with him could only be the envy of many. We both held each other and lied without a sound. The wind chimes clanked and I stared deep in his hazel eyes. It was apparent that he was my Adonis. Ever time I looked into his eyes, I just realised how much I wanted him to be part of my insignificant life.