CHAPTER 5

The sun was setting in the blue sea as the two walked on the white sand after eating at the Reef Cafe. Elisha was silently staring at the sunset. Meanwhile, Brent's eyes only focused on her. For a moment, he studied the girl's side-view face. She has a high-bridged nose, smooth rosy cheeks, red but thin lips, and curly eyelashes. All were framed by her thick straight brown hair, not too short, not too long. Brent smiled out of nowhere like an idiot as he watched the girl silently. It makes him feel good and feels like it touches his heart every time he does that. But he was caught. The girl's instincts were strong in what he did not expect.

"Stop staring at me," Elisha said formally, staring directly at him. "You might fall in love with me." She chuckled softly and backed her gaze into the sunset.

Brent blushed, and brushed his head shyly. He put both of his hands in his short pockets. "Even if I didn't see you, I still fell in love with you."

Elisha stopped walking as Brent had said. Brent confessed to her many times but she is still in shock every time the young man does that. She slowly looked at Brent. Brent glanced at her smoothly and smiled before she looked away.

"You're going to reject me again, am I right?" Brent asked her, calmly forcing himself to endure the pain he felt. "Then just don't speak. When I confess my feelings, I just don't speak." He smiled widely, but still, there was a sadness in his eyes that Elisha could not see. "In that way, you're not hurting my feelings," Brent added.

Elisha looked away and did not speak anymore. She felt sorry at this moment because she could feel the pain that Brent felt, but her feelings would never change. The fact that her heart only belongs to her ex-professor.

"Brent." She gently called Brent.

Brent suddenly felt nervous as Elisha called his name.

He smiled at the young woman, trying to make his face look calm.

"Hmm?" He response.

Elisha crossed her arms while she was still looking at the sunset. She takes a deep breath before speaking.

"With each passing day, I try to smile without getting hurt." She started out and released a noisy breath again. Brent wondered at what Elisha had said but he remained silent.

"And every time I try, I just get hurt more and more." A sad smile came out of Elisha's lips, still looking at the sunset that set little by little. Still, Brent was left confused and doesn't have any idea of what she was talking about.

"I don't know where I can see him, where I can find him." She continued. "I don't know if he really likes me or if I was just his toy." Elisha scoffed irritatedly. "I want to punch him for leaving me after what happened between us. But I have no right to do that. Because I'm the one who brings the temptation to him, and we don't have any label." She laughed a little. "Well... It was just a dare after all. I was his..." Elisha paused, realizing that she couldn't say it. She gasped.

Brent started to have questions in his mind.

Who is she referring to?

It's her ex?

He was jealous.

"Yes, I admit it. I'm hurt by my own foolishness and desperately hoping for my own beliefs. Someday, the time will come we will be going to meet each other again. " Elisha bowed her head, and tears fell down from her eyes. She wiped her tears quickly and turned her sight to Brent.

"Are you okay?" Brent was worried about asking her.

"I need to be okay even if I'm not."

"Elisha."

"I'm sorry, Brent, for not loving you in return. I can't love you because I know that I'm not done loving him. And I won't stop loving him."

"Elisha... "

The night had finally come. The wind blew cold, the sea was calmly waving its waves and only the moon and stars in the sky gave light all around.

"Making me silent can hurt you more, Brent. So, you had better hear the truth yourself. In that way, it will lessen the pain you feel."

Brent sighed heavily and was left speechless. Although he wanted to speak out, he did not know how to respond to Elisha's words. But there's one thing he realized. Elisha was right. He had better listen to the truth for him to be aware and limit his feelings so that he would not be hurt so much. He also can't blame Elisha for not loving him back. But despite everything she said, Brent's feelings for her wouldn't change.

Brent breathed deeply and held Elisha's hand. He rubbed the upper part of Elisha's palm with his thumb. He looked at her directly and smiled gently. "Thank you," he said. "I used to be a coward to not listen to your side for the reason that I didn't want to get hurt. And also, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I don't even know the man you're referring to. But... Just please let me love you."

"Brent..."

"I know. I know, it is not easy to love a new one, if you are not done loving that old one. But Ish, that wasn't a big deal for me. You can't stop this.. for beating for you." He put Elisha's hand on his chest where his heart was located. "I am not forcing you to love me back. Don't be alarmed. I am not expecting anything. I just want you to know that there's someone loving you without asking for reciprocation and that's me. I'm not trying to antagonize you. I will accompany you while you're waiting for him. That's what love means, right? To stay next to the person you love even if it hurts."

"Brent..."

"Ssshhh." Brent put his index finger on Elisha's lips. He smiled at her with a sad sigh. "No need to worry. Okay? I'll stay at your side until he returns." He removed his finger on Elisha's lips and cupped the girl's face. They were both looking at each other. Elisha wants to talk but Brent doesn't give her a chance. "You need to promise me one thing, Ish."

"What is it?"

"If everything goes wrong, don't forget that you have me. I'll make things perfect for you."

"Thank you." Elisha gave Brent a sweet smile. In those moments, the sadness of the girl's feelings disappeared. Her heart is now relieved, knowing that there's someone who will be able to stay by her side even if she hurts it. She, even more, felt guilty about her previous treatment of Brent. She should not have done that.

And now, she has told Brent her secret about Galacio, it has a little bit reduced the pain she feels.

Brent moved out his grip on Elisha's cheek. The wind was getting cold so Brent told Elisha to go back to the hotel.

They went back to the hotel and went upstairs to go into their respective rooms.

"Good night," Elisha said to Brent while smiling before she went inside her room.

Brent smiled, "good night." Whispered, and went inside his room.

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