MAXIMO POV
I'm here in my office now, trying to focus on my work but the memories of the past few weeks with Mia kept flooding my mind. In such a short amount of time, I had fallen deeply for her. The mere thought of her presence brought a lightness to my being, and her smile could instantly brighten up my day. It had only been a few hours since we went our separate ways, and already, I was missing her terribly.
As I tried to push through my work, a wave of fear washed over me. What if history repeated itself? What if I couldn't handle the pain that came with love, especially when it involved Mia? These thoughts consumed me, making it difficult to concentrate.
Just then, my office door swung open, and I heard Rhian's voice demanding to speak to me. "What?! I want to talk to Maxi!" Rhian said to my secretary.
"I'm sorry Ma'am but it's really not possible" I heard Mark who is my secretary said and I saw Rhian come in so I looked at Mark and nodded to say it's okay.
"What are you doing here?" I asked her as I looked at her questioningly.
"I still love you, babe. Please, let's get back together," she pleaded, stepping closer to me. I stood up, taken aback by her sudden admission.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, slightly bewildered, as she moved to stand in front of me.
"I'm sorry for breaking up with you before, but I regret it. Alex forced me and made me believe I would be happier with him," she explained, attempting to reach out and hug me. I gently removed her hand, feeling conflicted and skeptical about her words.
"Alex?" I questioned, finding it hard to believe her about Alex.
"I thought he was the one I loved, but you... I truly love you," she confessed. However, her words were abruptly cut off as she unexpectedly kissed me. Quickly, I pushed her away, feeling a mix of shock and anger.
"What the hell?! I'm sorry, Rhian, but I don't love you anymore. I love Mia, and that won't change," I stated firmly. It was clear now – Mia was the one I truly loved, without a doubt.
Rhian shook her head, tears streaming down her face as she cried in front of me. "No, that's not true! You're just used to having her by your side, but it's me! I'm the one you love!" she insisted, she kissed me once again. I was about to push her away when suddenly, my office door opened, and I turned around.
"Mia," I called out her name softly, noticing a shift in her demeanor. She looked at me with a mixture of confusion and shock, pushing Rhian away in the process. Unaware of Rhian's mischievous smile was apparent, as if she was reveling in the tension that had suddenly arisen between us.
Feeling a glimmer of hope, I approached Mia, desperately trying to make her understand. But she seemed distant, emotionally numb, as if she couldn't allow herself to feel anything amidst the inner turmoil. Still, I stood in front of her and gently took hold of her hands, seeking some kind of connection.
As I poured my heart out, professing my love for her, hoping that she would see the truth, she abruptly cut me off. The words that escaped her lips shattered my world, she revealed that everything between us had been a dare, a cruel game. It felt like a sharp knife piercing through my heart, leaving it broken into countless pieces.
I couldn't wrap my mind around what she was saying. How could something that felt so real to me be is just a game to her? I attempted to defend myself, to explain the depth of my feelings for her, but she refused to listen. And then, Xander entered the room, adding to the chaos and further throwing me off balance.
Driven by desperation, I continued to plead with Mia, disregarding Xander's presence, enveloping her in my arms. But she accused me of loving Rhian more, which couldn't have been further from the truth. The pain intensified as she confessed to getting back together with Xander, crushing any hope that remained within me.
My thoughts became a jumbled mess, my heart aching with the harsh reality that I had lost her. I tried to make sense of the situation, to protest against this cruel twist of fate, but she simply wouldn't hear me out. Suddenly, she grabbed Xander's hand and pulled him close, then kissed him. I stood there, stunned into silence, struggling to comprehend what had just happened.
As Mia faced me once again, her words resonated in my ears, crushing my heart. She stated firmly that she no longer felt the need to provide any explanations, leaving me shattered. What we had meant everything to me, and now it was gone.
As Mia turned towards me, her words resonated in my ears, crushing my heart. She stated firmly that she no longer felt the need to provide any explanations, leaving me shattered. Our relationship held an immense significance in my life, and its sudden end left me devastated. The fear of experiencing heartbreak once more happened to me, but this time, it cut deeper than ever before.
CHIARA POV
I took a deep breath, mustering up the courage to apologize to Xander for my earlier actions. As we sat inside his car, which was still parked at Luis's company, I turned to face him. "I'm sorry for what I did earlier," I said, my voice filled with sincerity and remorse. His comforting gaze met mine, and he responded with a reassuring smile.
"It's okay, you know that I love you, right? So I'll do everything for you," he replied, his words causing my emotions to well up once again. Tears streamed down my face as he pulled me into a tight embrace, offering solace and understanding.
"Shh, don't cry," he whispered, his voice laced with tenderness. "It'll make you look ugly," he joked, attempting to lighten the mood. His playful jest brought a soft laughter to my lips, and I settled down beside him in the car.
"So that makes me ugly?" I playfully bantered back, knowing well that it was just a joke. Deep down, I held onto the knowledge that I was beautiful, both inside and out. However, the weight of my emotions proved too heavy, and my tears began to flow once again. Sensing my vulnerability, Xander reached out and gently wiped away my tears, his eyes filled with adoration.
"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he declared, his voice filled with genuine admiration. His words touched my heart, momentarily easing the ache within me.
"Tsk! Flattering," I playfully responded, the corners of my mouth curling into a small smile as I glanced over at him.
As Xander started the car and began to drive, he turned his gaze towards me, momentarily diverting his attention from the road ahead. "So...where are we headed now?" he inquired, glancing at me before returning his gaze to the road.
"Italy," I answered with a questioning tone.
"Huh?!" he exclaimed dramatically, clearly exaggerating his reaction.
"I already miss my mom so I thought it would be nice to go to Italy. Plus, I might still see Luis here," I explained, sharing my thoughts openly.
"I'll come with you," he stated. The notion of Xander accompanying me to Italy caught me off guard, and I raised an eyebrow skeptically, silently questioning his intentions.
I looked at him, searching for any signs of jest or doubt, but his expression remained steadfast. "And why is that?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow inquisitively.
"I'll just go with you, end of discussion." he asserted, leaving no room for further debate so I simply nodded.
In that moment, I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me, humbled by his unwavering support and willingness to stand by my side. As the weariness from my emotional outpouring had begun to weigh heavily on my eyelids. I considered closing them for a moment, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.
---
I stirred from my slumber as a voice called out my name, accompanied by a gentle shaking of my shoulder. Slowly, I pried open my heavy eyelids to find Xander standing before me. A mix of confusion and disbelief washed over me. Could this be real, or was it merely a figment of my imagination? I scanned the room, taking in my surroundings, and it became glaringly apparent that I was in fact in Xander's room. Surprised, I quickly sat up, inadvertently knocking my forehead into his.
"Ouch!" I winced, rubbing my forehead while Xander mirrored my pained expression.
"How did I end up here?" I demanded, my voice tinged with frustration.
"You were sleeping so peacefully that I decided to bring you here," Xander explained, his words triggering a sudden recollection of the events leading up to my current predicament.
"Oh, right. I remember now," I muttered in realization.
Xander's interruption had roused me from my slumber for a purpose - to shower before dinner. With a sense of urgency, he handed me a bag containing personal care items he had purchased while I slept. As I peered inside, I discovered they were specifically tailored for women.
"Hurry, dinner is already prepared, and we need to eat before we leave," he urged, rising to his feet.
"Wait, where exactly are we going?" I inquired, joining him on my feet, hoping to level the height difference between us, even if it seemed like an impossible feat.
"To Italy," he responded, somewhat echoing my previous question.
"Now?" I gasped, taken aback by his apparent haste. Why was this man in such a rush?
"Yes, now. Don't complain, I've already booked our flights. And can you please lower your voice?" he requested, sounding slightly exasperated. I simply nodded, my mind struggling to process the flurry of information he had just divulged. He exited the room, leaving me bewildered, and I hurriedly made my way to the bathroom, preparing for a shower while attempting to make sense of the unexpected turn of events.
---
As I sit in the bustling waiting area of the airport, my heart fills with a mix of nerves and confusion. Beside me is my ex-boyfriend slash friend, Xander, lugging around a cumbersome suitcase. I can't help but wonder why he decided to accompany me on this trip to Italy.
Xander breaks the silence by questioning my decision. "Are you sure about this?" he asks, causing me to turn and meet his gaze. Frustration creeps into my voice as I respond, "What other choice do I have? It's not like you've been enthusiastic about going to Italy either."
His tone takes on a bitter edge as he retorts, "You used to be so kind to me. Now, you act so snobbish." Unable to come up with a suitable reply, I simply state, "People change, you know." I'm at a loss for what to do in this situation.
Suddenly, Xander mentions Maximo, causing me to raise an eyebrow in confusion. I had momentarily forgotten about him. Before I have a chance to gather my thoughts, Xander swiftly wipes away my unnoticed tears. "Don't let your emotions show here. They might think I'm the reason behind your tears," he whispers, concern etched in his voice.
"How can I move on from Maximo when you keep reminding me of him?" I jokingly remark, playfully punching Xander in the shoulder. A mixture of laughter and pain fills the air between us.
As the announcement for our flight to Italy echoes through the waiting area, Xander exclaims, "Oh, it's our flight!" He promptly stands up, rearranges his belongings, and even takes hold of my handbag. Anxiety floods my mind as questions swirl within. Is this really happening? Can I go through with this journey without the person I used to be so entangled with?
"Shhh, you're crying again," Xander whispers, brushing away my tears with his fingers. "Look at all the people staring at us. They might think I'm the cause of your tears. Are you ready to leave?" I glance around and notice the curious gazes of onlookers. With a nod, I rise from my seat, my heart heavy but determined.
"Of course," I reply with a forced smile. Xander smiled back to reassure me.
Leaving hurts, yet staying behind and facing the possibility of running into Maximo hurts even more.
Farewell, Maximo Luis Gonzalez.