Define: BITTERSWEET (Define #1) ✓

Bittersweet: Eight

There was a long pause on the other end before Theo finally said, "I see."

"He's still very mysterious," I remarked mindlessly. "Just like the very first time I met him. I feel like I know him but at the same time I don't."

"That's understandable," he said. "Iris, may I ask another favor?"

"Sure," I answered. "What is it?"

Theo heaved another sigh before speaking, "Can you not get attached to him too much?"

My heart felt like it stopped beating when I heard that. What did he mean? At that moment, I felt my own heart break into a few more pieces, though I knew what he meant. Of course, when Charles would leave again, I would be left alone again. The connection would probably be there because it's already mended, but this kind of bond with him and I together? I knew that after his hideout phase in here, that would be impossible for it to happen again.

And it would be almost impossible for me to forget about it for a long while.

"Sure," I answered, forcefully taking my eyes off of the bedroom door. "I wasn't planning to get too attached anyway."

"I just," he began. "I just don't want you to get hurt too much when he goes back to his reality, you know?"

"I know," I chuckled. What's happening between the two of us was just a fantasy. I was just a part of his fantasies. A heroine who dressed up as the Grim Reaper who picked him up that night to be with his as he hid away from reality. I helped him get away from everything that currently distresses him.

Again. I was the one who helped him again. The first time for letting him go to let him find his own peace of mind without me. The second for letting him in again to allow him reclaim his peace of mind with me.

"Thank you for doing all this, Iris," Theo spoke gently. "Don't worry. This will all end when Charles finishes his one month stay there. Then you can return to your life back when he's not around."

~*~

I watched as Charles walked passed by me. He looked extremely distressed with his messy hair and with his eyes red. He had just woken up but he already looked like he was about to lose it. Within his grip was his phone continuously ringing like a broken record.

"Charles," I called him. He looked at me, his phone still ringing. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he muttered in a low voice, forcing a smile on his face. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

"Your expression says otherwise," I pointed out, wanting to know what's going on by now. His phone stopped and began ringing its horrendous tone. Charles scowled and groaned. He almost looked like he wanted to throw his phone to somewhere far away.

"I'm sorry, Iris," he sighed as he looked at his phone in annoyance. "I'm just really pissed right now."

"You wouldn't want to answer that?" I asked cautiously, not wanting to sound like I was prying.

"No," he answered strictly. "I should just turn off my phone at this point."

After saying that, I watched him switch off his phone. The silence immediately filled the air with the absence of the ringing. Tension was still present as Charles scowl did not go away despite switching off his phone.

He settled himself beside me on the sofa. His head leaned back with his right arm covering his eyes. It was almost as if he was stopping himself from crying. The awkward and tensed silence was heavy between the two of us. I remained silently watching him from my seat.