Broken

TWENTY

He laughed slightly then, which made me look at him, confused. Was what I'd said funny?

"Don't misinterpret, Leila. I just thought of something that happened a few weeks ago."

I didn't ask what it was, but I guessed he saw that he had to tell me.

"I came across our bride in a store. She was angry at me for some reason, and I tried to talk to her like a normal human being but the conversation was just not flowing right. I asked her what her problem with me was, but she just gave me the death glare. So, being the inquisitive being that I am, I kept on following her and pestered her. She suddenly snapped and ended up saying things that she probably shouldn't have, judging from the look on her face after."

Tori was looking at us with a shocked scared look, which made me worry.

"What did she say?"

"Well..... She told me the real reason why you left."

That made my feet stop moving, which made us stop dancing. I looked up at him, shocked to see that the sly smile was back in full force.

"That is......"

He put his hands in his pocket and said it out loud.

"You love me. And you left because you thought Jane and I are together."

My heart dropped, making the room quiet for a second before all the sound and events came back in full force. He knew now, how I felt about him. There honestly was no way I could deny it.

"So what if I did? It doesn't matter anyways."

I was about to walk away when he held my hand and pulled me to him. With wide eyes, I looked into his.

"We need to talk. Come with me."

Suddenly, I was being pulled through the crowd and then led to a balcony. When we got there, he let go of my hand and closed the doors, giving him all the privacy he needed. I, however, felt like a trapped animal that was about to be eaten by its prey.

"What do you want to talk about?"

He raised his finger silencing me, and he began to speak.

"About us, about how this all happened. I don't remember exactly when I fell, but I think it was on that day we went to the carnival. It finally dawned on me when you were gone that I really did love you."

He took a breath and ruffled his hair.

"Before you came into my life, it was very normal for me. I just breathed and that was okay for me. But, when you came, I realized, slowly but surely, that my life really wasn't living. That I was lonely, sad, deprived of happiness, that I felt like I didn't deserve God's grace because of Katherine's death. You helped me change my perspective on forgiveness and faith."

He took a step closer and took my hands, and all I could do was look at me, overwhelmed by the emotions of all that he was saying.

"My life got more color, a little more fun and a lot more smiles for both me and Emilia. You helped me become better, and I'd be the biggest fool in the world if I ever let you slip out of my hands. I love you too, Leila. I love you so much...."

He laughed a little.

"..... it's ridiculous."

He took me into his arms and hugged me then, and I was still as a statue in his arms until I relaxed and hugged him back. After a short while, he let me go and looked me in the eyes. He smiled then and held my hands.

"Say it."

I smiled too, and raised my brow.

"Say what?"

"Don't play cocky with me."

I rolled my eyes, still smiling.

"I love you. Are you happy?"

Then, out of nowhere, he pecked my lips.

"Yes. Yes, I am."

He pulled me to him and deepened the kiss that time and after our passionate kiss, we looked at each other and he began to laugh.

"What's so funny now?"

"Oh, you know....."

He intertwined our fingers.

"How we could've avoided this whole month of pain if you had told me how you felt earlier."

Shocked, I hit his shoulder lightly.

"Why does it have to be me?"

"Why not you?"

He opened the door and led us back to the room that had become a houseparty in our absense. Tori looked at us with fear in her eyes, but when she saw our smiles, she smiled too and turned her attention back to her husband. Adam was looking at the couple too.

"That is going to be us soon."

I looked at him then, eyes wide.

"What?"

"What? Did I say something? Let's go dance."

I was stuck with him for the rest of the night. Where he went, there I was also. However, I had no regrets. I was with the one I loved; the one God had given me and I couldn't ask for a better man than him. With all his broken pieces, he was all mine.

But, then again, aren't we all a little Broken?

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THE END

I will write an author's note later. I need some shut eye😴