His Love

~~~CAT'S POV~~~

I woke up feeling a little bit better. I don't know how many times I passed out from pain and tiredness but every time I open my eyes, Nate is there either sitting or lying beside me.

I don't know how long he has been here and I am not sure if he has left ever since he came here. But I could see that he had changed clothes twice now. I have a feeling that he hasn't left since every time I wake up he is there.

I never got to ask him whenever I woke up because I don't have the energy to even speak.

And how did I even get to lay in his chest? I must be feeling better now if I don't feel uncomfortable in this position.

My heart flutters when I raise my head and look up to see him watching me. His other arm is under his head while the other one is wrapped around me.

"How are you feeling, love?" He asked softly with worriedness in his eyes.

My heart skipped a beat when I heard him call me 'love'. I have been hearing his endearment ever since he came but never had the energy to confront him about it. Not even until now.

"Better," I said, not moving or looking away from here. I know I shouldn't be in this position but I don't want to move away from this warmth. "How long has it been?" I asked as my eyes roamed around my room until I found the wall clock. The hand strikes six not sure if it is six in the morning or at night. I can't even see outside the window because the curtains are drawn.

"Four days," He said, making me look back at him with a wide eye. I can't believe I've been in and out for four days. I know I have woken up a couple of times and during those times Nate never left my side. He feeds me and helps me change clothes. But other than that, I never counted how many times I fell asleep or even asked what time of day it was.

"You never left?" I asked, feeling my heart starting to swell at the thought of him not leaving my side during those times.

He shook his head. "I'm not going to leave you, love," He said with firmness as if making a promise.

I suddenly blushed. "Don't call me that," I said avoiding his gaze, then my eyes landed on his laptop on the bedside table indicating that he really hasn't left my side and even brought his work here.

"Don't call you what, love?" He asked with a frown. His arm started to move up and down my arm.

Damn! He is playing ignorant. "That!" I snapped still avoiding his gaze as my face turned redder.

"Love?" He asked indifferently.

I just rolled my eyes. "Yes,"

"Why?"

"It's not right," I said, starting to feel irritated and uncomfortable.

"How can you say that calling you the way exactly I feel about you is not right? If anything, it was just perfect," He said, boring his eyes on me.

My eyes widened and I felt dumbfounded. What does he mean? What the hell does that mean? Yes, he wanted to date me but does that mean that?

He sighed then he shifted from his position so that he is now lying on his side, facing me. But he never releases me, instead, both of his arms are now wrapped around my body and I am still lying on his arm.

I gulped the knot that formed in my throat when I felt his breath on my face. My heart beats louder and I am sure that he could feel it considering that my chest is pressed against his.

"I love you, Catherine," He confessed and I felt like I was having another flare-up. But he is not done yet. "The moment I saw your beautiful face during that video call, I already felt that pull towards you. It was something I cannot explain. I always think of you, dreaming of you to the point that I wanted to fly here immediately just to see you."

"Video call?" What video call is he talking about? As far as I remember, we haven't had a video call before.

"Yes, that was over a year ago. I video-called my Dad but instead of seeing him, I saw your face. You were at home with my parents and you were talking to my Mom about something that I failed to remember because I am occupied by you. At that moment, everything was forgotten. I can't even recall what my Dad and I talked about that day because I only had your face and your smile in my memory of that day."

Nate probably noticed the confusion on my face because I really do not remember that something like that happened. I went to his parent's house a couple of times before because sometimes, the old Mr. Vann preferred to take his work home. So I cannot tell when that happens.

"You might not know about it, love. So don't stress yourself trying to remember something that you don't have a memory of. But the memory of your face that day is inked in my heart. You are the reason why I accepted my Dad's offer to take over the company sooner than I planned. I wanted to see you." He said then he leaned down to kiss me on my forehead.

I frowned, which he ignored. He is starting to have that habit of kissing me on my forehead without my permission. And he is now even hugging me on my bed!

But what frustrates me the most is that I don't do anything about it.

I shook my head. "You wanted to see me yet you were unreasonably angry the first time we met. You always see fault in everything I do and even forced me to wear those damn heels!" I know I sounded like a child whining but I cannot just forget those first days that we met.

"I know, love," He tightened his arms around me and my eyes widened in alarm. Too close! Damn too close! "I'm sorry but I was just pissed that I didn't see you the first two days that I came, which I was expecting. And I was pissed more when I saw those flowers on your desk."

"And about those heels, it was just one of those random tempers. I just wanted to piss you off because you look cute. But believe me, I instantly regretted it the moment I saw you with Alvin buying those heels and the look on my male employees on you especially when you walk with those heels on. Damn! You look stunning, love."

"There were a lot of things that I was pissed about. The flowers, your doctor, Eric, my male employees, and even Mr. Gonzales who was blatantly trying to smuggle you from me. But it was never on you, you might think that I was angry at you and I am sorry about that, but I will never be angry or pissed at you, love. I am angry at myself because I know that I have this affection towards you but I cannot seem to do anything about it thinking it might not be possible,"

I squeezed my eyes and started to feel dizzy but the moment I did that, I felt Nate's finger on my temple. Normally, no massage can relieve my pain, but surprisingly, Nate's touch soothes me.

I sighed, "Nate, your words are stressing me." I said not knowing what to say or how he wanted me to respond to his confessions.

"I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to. I just wanted you to know how I feel. Because I don't want you to give me another 'no' for an answer without even knowing how I feel towards you."

Damn! I wanted to say that I feel the same way. That I wanted to be with him. But wouldn't, it will only make me look selfish if I tie him to a relationship that will only burden him?

"Nate..." Seeing the distress in my face and voice, Nate cut me off.

"Please, love. I know you feel something for me. Maybe not as much as I do but I feel it. It is there. I am affecting you the way no one, not even Alvin could. Can you just give us a chance before you make a decision? I really want to be with you. And if you would allow me, I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He was pleading, I could see it in his eyes and I already have a thin line of resolve. It is dangerously close to snapping and before I know it, I am being selfish.

"Nate, before you stop me, can you please hear me out?" I ask before he cuts me off and I see him nod.

"You are right, I do feel something for you. It was something I never felt for anyone else before, not even to Alvin and it scares me. It scares me because I might become selfish in the end. I care about you and Aenid and Faye, a lot. I want to take care of you. But how can I when all of my time is not enough to even care for myself? Nate, I am not healthy enough to take care of you and your daughters. I am sick. I am always in pain, always tired. Simple stress could cause flare-ups that could make me bedridden for days. I don't think that's what you would want for yourself or your daughters. I will only be a burden to you."

I reach out to caress his face, a knot is already forming in my throat and I know I am about to cry. "Nate, that's not what I want for you. I want you and the girls to be happy. I don't want to see the pain and worry in your eyes whenever I am in pain. I cannot take that," I croaked at my last word.

Instead of pain or anger, I see Nate's face soften. "Is that what you are worried about?" He asked, making me frown.

He cupped my cheeks with one of his hands. "Love, I didn't even think about your illness. All I am thinking about is how we can make each other happy. How your love can make my daughters happy. Love, you will not become a burden to us, in fact, you will make me and my daughters complete."

"You thought that you could not take care of me and my daughters but didn't you realize that all this time, you have been taking care of us? But you are getting this pain because no one is taking care of you and I want to take care of you,"

"I don't need a healthy wife or a healthy mother for my daughters. All I need is you. If it is not you then, never mind. I don't need anyone. I love you damn so much that it hurts. Please, let me."

And that's how my resolve shatters. I burst out crying because I felt that my heart was about to explode if I didn't and I snuggled closer to his body. I even boldly wrap my arm around his waist and I am glad that he did the same because I really need to feel him make me believe that it is not a dream.

I know I have to say something but I cannot. The words are stuck in my throat. So I was hoping that my action was enough to send him the message. And it seems like it did. I felt him kiss the top of my head as I continued crying. He never let me go, he pulled me impossibly closer to him.

Damn, how could he be so perfect?