"No... stop!" I said as he was only a few steps away. He stopped in his tracks and turned towards me with a small frown, yet his eyes hopeful. I stepped towards him, I only stopped when I stood in front of him.
"Don't go!" I whispered lightly. Then I turned towards my brothers, who were watching me with wary eyes.
"Come here, Alara!" Caleb ordered me, but I shook my head.
"No!" I told him as I took a step back, my back touching his front. His tense body eased as I was close to him.
"I never wanted to choose between either of you. You two are the most important people in my life and will always be. But Hunter is someone special for me too, I can't live without him. I was always scared of what would I do if it ever came to this moment. I always thought that I would choose my brothers." I said, my voice filled with pain.
"But I also hoped that my brothers would understand me, they would respect my decision. They will respect my partner. I always have believed you will not let me choose, but ... you did!" I sniffled.
"I am sorry!" I said as I looked down for a moment, then I looked up.
"If you really want me to choose then..." I paused as I looked at both of them.
"I choose Hunter!" I said, and my heart broke into pieces. I saw hurt on both of their faces. They were disappointed in ne that I could see on their faces.
"You will never see us again if you choose him," Noah said, and I felt my knees weaken. I would never be able to see them again, but I can't leave Hunter. He has no one in his life apart from me. I want my brothers to be happy, too, and I know as long as I am in their lives, they will never move on in their lives. They will always have this sense of responsibility for me, which will make them choose me over their partners.
"Let's go, Hunter!" I said and held his hand as I turned towards him.
"Muffin, please think again!" It was Caleb.
"I can say the same," I said, still not looking towards them.
"It shouldn't have happened like that, it shouldn't!" I said almost to myself, but silence around us made it possible to be heard by them.
"Take your things and then leave," it was Noah's voice, and his voice held so much anger. I looked back to see him going out towards his car, and then he was gone. I looked at Caleb, who also looked away and walked inside, leaving the door open.
"I... have to get a few of my things!" I rolled Hunter and didn't wait for his answer as I walked inside. I changed from my night clothes and wore my shoes. I grab my small bag and put essential things in it. I picked up my phone. I didn't take any other thing from here, only the photo frame of us three placed on my dresser.
When I walked out, I didn't see Caleb, I wanted to see them for the last time, but I know they don't want to see my face. I wish they would stop me, I wish Caleb would understand and support me as he always had.
Hunter was still in the same place where I left him. He was looking at my face, but I looked down, not able to meet his eyes. I don't want him to see whatever is in them.
"Let's go!" I said, and we started walking. We remained silent throughout out the way. He hailed a cab and after 30 minutes we were in front of the airport. He went to fetch tickets as I sat in the waiting room. My mind was blank as I stared on the floor. I felt him sit beside me. He was saying something, but I couldn't hear anything. He touched my hand, and I looked up at him.
"Our flight will be in an hour, do you want something?" He asked, and I shook my head and looked down on the same spot again. He stood up and went somewhere, but I didn't look at him. After 5 minutes, he came back with the bottle of water.
"Have some water," he said, and I shook my head again.
"Please," he said with softness, and I took a sip and gave the bottle back to him, resuming my previous position. We sat there like that for an hour, but it seemed like days.
Everything after that went in blur, I vaguely remember sitting in the plane, then in the cab, and then we were standing in front of the lift. I pressed the button to my floor.
"You are ..." He paused as he looked at me.
"I want to spend the night in my apartment," I told him. He looked unsure, but I didn't give him the chance to say anything as I walked out after the elevator stopped. I opened the lock and walked inside, I shut the door behind me.
Then I walked into my room, placing the bag on the bed. I sat down on the floor by the bed as my legs gave out under me. Everything that happened a few hours ago hit me like a storm, and I couldn't stop myself as I sobbed loudly.
"I left them... I left my brothers... I won't be able to see them again. They hate me... I hurt them.... I... how could I do that? " I panicked as I realized I am going to live without them. I won't be able to talk to them from now on. I won't be able to see them.
I hid my face in my knees as I cried for my brothers, for my fate, for me, for everything else!
I didn't know when I fell asleep on the hard floor, I exhausted myself from crying. It was early morning when I finally fell asleep, a restless sleep!