:Exposed

Anton's Pov:

We are now in a restaurant away from the precinct and my house. Maybe when someone sees Aixela and me, they think differently.

"What's your order, sir?", The waiter asked.

Aixela nodded at me as if she's saying that I should just choose whatever I want.

Everything looks delicious, so I just chose the cheapest. I looked at Aixela when she shook her head and bit her lip. She showed the waiter her order and then smiled at me.

"Is that everything you want, Ma'am and Sir?" The waiter asked.

"Uh- yes," I just said. "Oh, before I forget. Don't put any mushrooms on our food. She's allergic to it".

"Okay, sir," the waiter left.

"Why did you order too much, yet we are the only two to eat?" I asked her.

[It's only once, so makes the most of it.] She showed me her note.

While waiting for our order, I noticed she was taking pictures of me.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

[I'm just taking some pictures. They want me to send them some proof.] She showed me her phone with her message.

"Let me see. I might look ugly there," I said. She showed me the photos, and they look nice.

A few moments later, our order arrived. She even took pictures with the food. "Eat first," I told her.

We only had half the meal, but I was already full.

She told me she'll just use the comfort room first, so I was left alone. I still want to eat, but I feel like throwing up.

I was just continuing to slowly taste other foods when my eye caught a familiar face. He was walking with a woman I had also seen before. I was right in my suspicion. It looks like they're going to eat here. Aixela and I had to leave. Fortunately, she left the comfort room.

"Come, let's go now," I said as I grabbed her hand.

She raised her eyebrows and looked at the food that is not yet finished.

"I'm already full. Let's just go home. I need to use a comfort room", I said as an excuse. She pointed at the restroom in the restaurant.

"No, I can't use that. Let's just go", I repeated.

She signaled me to wait and picked up her bag, but it was too late because the man I wanted to avoid was already inside the restaurant and in front of Aixela.

She even blinked thrice to confirm if it was him.

"Baby, do you know her?" the woman asked.

Aixela was just looking at him. The man did not speak.

"Baby, let's go. I'm hungry", the woman said.

He averted his eyes, but Aixela held his hand. Gradually tears filled her eyes.

"Hey, miss. Let go of him. He's mine!" The woman said and removed Aixela's hand.

Aixela's tears couldn't stop dripping from her eyes. The two walked to their table while Aixela was left speechless. I took her bag and grabbed her hand to take her away, but I was shocked when she suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness.

"Aixela", I called her and tried to wake her up.

Other people have also approached us. "Xela!" Louis said and touched her.

"Get your hands off her," I told him and lifted Aixela.

"Baby, you know her? Who is she?" The woman confronted him.

"Aixela, do you hear me?" I ask her as I carried her through the car. We were on our way to the hospital when she woke up.

"Are you alright? I'm taking you to the hospital", I said.

"No, let's just go home," she uttered.

"You should see a doctor."

"Then just drop me here. I'll walk home."

"Ok," I turned the car.

She kept silent until we got home. I grabbed her hand when we entered the house.

"Are you really okay? You're pale. Let's go to the hospital".

She removed my hands.

"Hey, do you hear me?" I pulled her, but she just pushed me.

"Aixela--"

"You knew it? You knew it was him?" She looked at me. "Is that why you asked me about him? So, are you his accomplice in his cheating?".

"Aixela, you're not feeling well. Let's go to the hospital first".

"Hospital can do nothing! Just answer me!" she burst out in tears.

"Ok, you're right. I knew it. I met them when the woman has been held up. He said she's his girlfriend, and they need help to recover her things." I explained.

"But why didn't you..." she yelped. "..why didn't you tell me?".

"Before I tell you, I wanted to be sure because I know how much you love him, and I know how much you are being hurt now--" I was trying to hold her, but she immediately stepped back.

"No! No, you don't! You don't know how it hurts! You don't know how much it hurts when you saw the man you are ready to be with for the rest of your life.... when you.... when you saw the man you loved the most..... when you saw him.... smiling.... holding other woman's hand... You don't know... You don't know how much it hurts when you could do nothing but look at his eyes... You cannot speak. You cannot shout. You cannot ask him why... All you can do is stare at his eyes... And to... to find... to know if he still loves you... but... you... you can't find an answer... And instead, he just walked away... He just...."

I hugged her as she barely breathed because of sobbing. I hugged her tightly as she continues to cry and push me away.

"I wanted to ask him... I wanted to know why... I wanted to know where did I go wrong... If I wasn't enough? Or if I become too much? Or is he bored? Am I boring? I wanted to ask him for me to change....", she fell down and continued to cry.

"No, Xela. You didn't do anything wrong. It was him who cheated. It was his fault", I said while also sitting on the floor with her.

"I don't know.. I just want to be alone... I don't want anyone to talk with me right now... Please just, just leave me alone. Please...".

I stood up and stared at her for a while. She was sitting on the floor and hugging her knees while crying. I had no choice but to go inside my room, where I still can hear her crying. It was already 4 am when I could no longer hear her cry.

I carefully opened the door and saw her lying down on the floor with and puffy face. I lifted her to my bed and covered her with the blanket.

"Louis, come back," She whispered as her tears fall down.

I wiped her tears out and caressed her cheek. This might be really too painful for you. I'm sorry for not telling the truth.

"I'm sorry, Xela," I just whispered and left her in my room.