Chapter 6 Isn't it just the L-word?

NYTI Chapter 06: Isn't it just the L-word?

Lianne found herself engulfed in a wave of remorse the moment the cutting remarks slipped past her lips and landed on Cedric's ears. The dim glow of a passing car's headlights cast an unrelenting spotlight on the emotions etched across his face, leaving her to witness the aftermath of her verbal misstep.

The silence that followed hung heavy in the air, and Lianne, unable to bear the weight of her own words, directed her gaze towards the floor. The gravity of the potential damage she had inflicted gnawed at her insides, her regret coiling like a persistent serpent in the pit of her stomach. Cedric's stillness added an uncomfortable tension to the atmosphere, amplifying the regret that lingered between them.

After what felt like an eternity, Cedric cleared his throat, breaking the oppressive silence that had settled over them. "Tha-that, I'm sorry," Lianne stammered, the apology quivering on her lips, her eyes still fixated on the floor, afraid to meet his gaze.

Cedric, too, grappled with his own response. "I'm... I'm not... handsome to you," he confessed, his voice trembling with a mixture of vulnerability and dejection. Despite the weight of the situation, a wry amusement danced at the edges of Lianne's thoughts as she observed him—like a drenched chick, he seemed simultaneously pitiable and unintentionally comical.

In an attempt to mend the fragile state of the moment, Lianne hastily assured him, "Oh well, ugh, uhm... you're... um... quite handsome," punctuating her words with a series of constant nods, as if she needed to convince both Cedric and herself of the sincerity of her statement. Cedric's expression shifted from dejection to surprise, his eyes widening slightly at Lianne's unexpected compliment. However, the tension in the air remained palpable, as if her words had only momentarily distracted him from his troubles. Lianne silently hoped that her clumsy attempt at reassurance would at least bring a faint smile to Cedric's face, providing a brief respite from the weight of their conversation. 

His gaze met hers, his eyes seemingly sparkling with a fragile hope that caught her off guard, momentarily easing the tension. "Really?" Cedric questioned, his tone carrying a mix of surprise and relief, as if her words held the power to reshape his self-perception.

She nodded in response, a simple gesture that carried the weight of a truce, a momentary respite in the awkward exchange. Just as the atmosphere seemed to lighten, her phone rang, jolting her back to reality. A slight distance formed between her and Cedric as she retrieved her phone from her shoulder bag, glancing at the caller ID to find her brother, Justin, on the line.

"Hello?" she greeted, but her enthusiasm faded as Justin responded with a series of groans, devoid of any coherent words. Concern etched lines across her forehead, amplified by the sound of crashing noises emanating from the other end of the line.

"Justin?" she called out again, her voice tinged with worry. The urgency escalated as more groans and unsettling sounds reached her ears.

Panic crept into her tone as she questioned, "Justin? Hey! Are you okay?" Her raised voice remained subdued enough to avoid drawing the attention of passersby, creating a dissonance between the personal crisis unfolding on the phone and the oblivious world around her.

The silence on the other end only heightened her anxiety, as she imagined the worst-case scenarios playing out in her mind. With each passing second, her heart pounded louder in her chest, desperately yearning for a response from Justin. She felt a sense of helplessness, unable to physically be there for him.

Some coughs can be heard on the other end of the phone, so her anxiety and worry increased, and the call was ended. She felt dread as soon as she heard the beep sounds that can be heard after a call.

Lianne looks at Cedric briefly, then stares at her phone screen, then looks at him again.

"Look, I'm sorry, but I have to go now. I have important things to do," she said, then quickly turned, ready to leave. She starts to take long strides, walking away with an anxious facial expression painted on her face.

"Wha-what just happened?" Cedric asks himself. He feels so lost at what just happened a few months ago.

In the dimly lit room, Cedric Xu found himself engulfed in the rhythmic cadence of deep breaths, each exhalation a testament to the turbulent storm within. His constant inhalations were not unnoticed by Marick Alonto, his seasoned personal attendant, whose tolerance seemed to wear thin with each passing second.

"Sir, can you please stop with all this deep breath? You are kind of annoying me, and you are driving me crazy," Marick exclaimed, his voice carrying the weariness of someone well-acquainted with Cedric's idiosyncrasies in the world of business.

Cedric, lost in his thoughts, barely registered Marick's words. His mind was consumed by the weight of impending decisions and the pressure to maintain his successful reputation. Marick sighed inwardly, realizing that Cedric's intense focus was both a blessing and a curse in their line of work. 

Marick had been a silent witness to every venture and triumph, but this peculiar behavior was uncharted territory. It perplexed him, and annoyance crept into the depths of his normally composed demeanor.

"Stop it!" Marick says once again in an irritated tone, and this time Cedric actually listens to what he is saying.

"It's just that she... you were there, right?" Cedric's words escaped hesitantly, his gaze fixed on the floor like an embarrassed high school student confessing a secret crush. Marick, in response, emitted a deep sigh, a chuckle surfacing before he addressed Cedric's elusive reference.

"When was that time? What are you referring to, sir?" Marick feigned ignorance, a masterful act designed to elicit more clarity.

"Ah, that time, yes, of course, I'm present when she rejected you perfectly, sir," Cedric retorted, his glare sharp enough to cut through the tense air. How could Marick forget that moment? The lady's outright rejection of Cedric had nearly prompted uncontrollable laughter. Yet, amidst the humor, Marick couldn't help but admire the lady's audacity in spurning his son so unequivocally.

"Sir, if I were her, I would have done the same. I mean, who is crazy enough to chase after the woman they love like the way you pursue her, except for you?" Marick chuckled, the laughter escalating into a guffaw until he sensed a shift in Cedric's aura.

"Love, you say? I don't think it is something like that," Cedric asserted, his question carrying the weight of an order. Marick, feeling the urgency, promptly responded.

"Sir, don't you? I am pretty sure you love important treasure. Did I read your feelings wrong? If so, please forgive me, sir." Marick hurriedly apologized, sensing an undercurrent of genuine anger in Cedric.

"I look at her like that. I totally think of her as a plaything. I don't know what my feelings are for her," Cedric confessed, suddenly serious. He rose from his chair, facing the window, as if seeking solace in the scenery beyond. His demeanor morphed into that of a father mourning the loss of his daughter, evoking sympathy from any observer.

Marick, discerning the gravity of the moment, approached. He retrieved a bottle of wine, placing it on the table before Cedric, the glass reflecting the poignant landscape Cedric gazed upon.

"Ced, do you want to talk about it with me?" Marick gestured for Cedric to take a seat, a silent invitation to share the burden.

"I'd love to. I don't really know what I am feeling right now," Cedric admitted, taking a sip from the offered wine glass. His confusion about matters of the heart was evident, a poignant reminder of the scars left by his parents' divorce during his tender years.

Marick, taking a deep breath, initiated the delicate conversation. "First, did you chase after her because you thought of making her your plaything?"

Cedric nodded, laying bare his initial intentions. "I didn't think of anything but to make her my plaything after she harshly turned down that campus prince in their college university. I took an interest in her, to be frank. I just wanted to prove that I am better than that so-called campus prince."

"Is that what you really thought about her at that time? For me as the spectator, you didn't just want to prove that you are better, but you didn't believe that there is a woman who can resist a handsome man. And she didn't just turn him down; she hurt the man and your ego, don't you think so?" Marick responded with sincerity, taking a sip of wine as he delved into the complexities of Cedric's emotions.

Cedric, pondering Marick's words, underwent a subtle transformation. "Now that I think of it, I might have thought like that, but it's just that my ego wouldn't let me accept it," he confessed, casually sipping the wine he had toyed with earlier.

Marick, satisfied with the breakthrough, smiled and stood up. "Then, this love chat stopped here, and I believe you can find out your feelings now." With a farewell, he left Cedric alone with his newfound realizations.

As Cedric grappled with the unexpected unraveling of emotions, a tinge of regret crept in. "What am I thinking talking about love like that? I'm not a high school student now. That was so not like me. How could I talk about love?" he pondered, grappling with the vulnerability he had exposed.

Marick looked at him with a smirk, thinking, Isn't it just the L-word?