Confession

Emilia's P.O.V

"Were you the one that rang the bell?".

I swallowed. "Oh please ,get out of the way. Look at how you're questioning her". Mrs Smith scolded, squeezing my hand lightly..

He moved out of the way, and let us through, but his gaze remained glued on me. I shifted my eyes as I watched him walk out the door, probably to usher Sarah in.

"Feel at home. I'll quickly make omelettes". She said and headed to the kitchen.

My hands felt cold and deserted as she let go, but I rubbed it against my sides before moving to the couch. Sarah and Steph walked in.

"Let's go to my room". He only spared me a glance while saying this, so I'd know he was talking to me.

"Does she have to come with us?". I heard her say, as she clutched onto his aem in a possessive manner..

"Yes. She is my best friend". He replied, and although it warmed my heart a bit. I was feeling greedy. I wanted to be more than that in his life..

"I'm your girlfriend". She insisted. In order to end the banter, I quickly said, "It's fine. I'll join auntie in the kitchen".

"No". Stephen said firmly, then pulled his hands away from hers, much to her dissatisfaction. He walked briskly to me and pulled me along. "You're becoming stubborn these days". He commented and I rolled my eyes.

We got to his room. It was wide, with pictures of random celebrities hanging on the wall. Mine and Ria's picture also hung on the wall, and I smiled at the fact that he hadn't taken it down. He looked at me, then followed my gaze. "I'll soon take it down. You look so small there". He pointed out. Indeed, I took that picture when I was fourteen..

"Baby". Sarah purred. "You have my picture huh? Why don't you hang my picture too?".

Stephen didn't respond to her. Instead, he took off his shirt and walked into the bathroom.

"Hey". I said flatly, just to break the awkward silence. "I'm uh.. Emilia and you?". I asked. I just wanted a formal introduction, after all, Stephen didn't introduce her to me..

"what's your deal?" She asked, glaring daggers at me. I pretended not to know what she was talking about. It didn't make sense to me. She was his girlfriend, and I was just his best friend who would never get the privilege of being this close as to being his girlfriend, so shouldn't I be asking her this question?

Instead, I said "I don't understand. I'm only introducing myself".

She was violent. In split seconds, a pillow flew towards me, and it hit me before I could dodge.

Blood came out of my nose immediately. It hurts, and now Stephen was in the bathroom, so I couldn't even go in and wash it off. "what is wrong with you?". I shriked in pain.

She scoffed, and she seemed to be pleased about my nosebleed. "Are you asking me that question you bitch?". She lunged at me. I tried to move away, but she grabbed my legs, and slid, making me fall on my face, and my mouth hit the floor — hard. I bit my tongue, and I was sure I also injured on my mouth. My eyes became red, and just when she was probably going to do the worse, the bathroom door opened.

"What are you doing?". Stephen shouted. "What happened?".

He rushed forward, bent down and helped me up, but once I was back on my feet, I shrugged him off angrily.

"What happened?". He asked again, looking from me to her. I wasn't going to speak, and he could tell I wouldn't, so he focused on Sarah, demanding for an answer.

"She.. I..". She bit her lips, probably trying to put up on act, but on seeing that Stephen eashy ready for the nonsense, her shoulders fell as she confessed "You were giving her too much attention, and I questioned her about it. When she didn't answer, I.. I got angry and lunged at her".

"Get lost". He said in a low voice, and she raised her brows. "Its over, now get the fuck out of here". He half-yelled. She flinched, looking at him with puppy eyes, hoping he'd reverse his words, but he wasn't even looking at her anymore. The slam of the door made me realise that I have been holding my breath all this time.

He rushed to the drawer and pulled the first aid kit out, then hurried back to where I sat, with my arms folded across my chest.

"This is going to hurt". He said, as he applied balm on my lips. I shrieked, and he held my arm, while blowing on it softly. "Its just a graze. It'll be gone by tomorrow". I tried my hardest not to look at him, but when I couldn't resist the temptation and did, he was staring intently at me.

"Why are you staring at me like that?". It came out as a soft whisper..

He shook his head, but didn't reply. He brought a tissue and wiped my nose. Although I originally wanted to take it from him and do it myself, his grip was firm on it, so I just let him..

When he finished, I waited for him to stand up as he was crouching in front of me. "Why did you break up with her?". I asked, breaking the silence .

"Cause she did this to you". He replied, and I realised he was still holding unto my arm.

"So? Who breaks up with their girlfriend because of this?". I asked..

"I do". He replied. Now his hand moved up and down my arm in a soothing manner.

"Why would you do that because of me?".

"Because I can't bear to see you hurt".

"Why?".

He sighed, and got up. He carefully placed the first aid kit back, then walked past me. "Let's go downstairs. My mum must have prepared the omelettes by now".

I don't know what triggered 'em, but I began to cry. Tears fell from my eyes. As Stephen realised it, he was right in front of me.

"Why are you crying?".

"Nothing". I wiped the tears away, but they didn't seem to want to stop.

"Tell me!". His voice was firm.

"I said—".

"Em!". His eyes bored into mine, but I broke eye contact. "Tell me".

I sniffed, then got up and moved to the door. I gathered as much confidence as I could, then began "I hate it when you act as if you care about me, and you deeply understand me, when you don't. You're really quite smart, and I thought you'd figure out that —". I paused as the words refused to come out of my mouth.

"That, what Em?". He pressed me for more..

"That I like you". A soft whisper. I looked at him, and his expression was one I couldn't understand. What was going through his mind?