Chapter 43

                                    

                                          
"After this round, I'm out for a bit."
                          
"What?!  We killin' em.  Stay a few more."
                          
I rolled my eyes.  "I will not waste away for your gaming addiction, Solomon."
                          
He sucked his teeth.  "Gimme your address, it's called delivery."
                          
"Fuck no."
                          
"Lean, come on.  I won't pop up, but you can't just quit now."  He whined 
                          
"Done. Can. And will.  Just don't die too much, we'll see if I log back in."
                          
He sighed.  "Fine... Fortnite next though."
                          
I shook my head.  "Yeah... yeah... Later."
                          
"Later."
                          
I stretched and heard knocking when I made it to the kitchen.  I frowned, no one even knew where I was let alone visited.  My heart stopped when I pulled open the door.  "Hello, Cerulean."
                          
***
                          
She was shell shocked, wide brown eyes pinned on me as she started to back away.  "Cerulean?"
                          
The door slammed in my face, thank goodness I didn't step forward because my nose would have been broken.  I licked my lips and knocked again, holding my breath.  I thought she'd just been ignoring me for the last hour, but it looked like she didn't even know I was here.
                          
I closed my eyes, seeing her up close after so long did things to me I hadn't prepared for especially when all she had on was a big t-shirt that only hit her mid thigh.  I knocked again and glanced around, fully aware someone would be watching and probably calling Mr. Ryizah.  Slowly, the door opened again and Cerulean stood there frowning, seems she found some leggings while she was inside.
                          
She was watching me suspiciously, waiting for me to say something.  "I can explain."
                          
She shook her head.  "3 months... you can't explain that Daniel."
                          
I grimaced, the pain in her voice made me cringe.  "I can, please let me co-"
                          
"No.  Anything you have to say, you can, right where your standing."
                          
I swallowed the lump in my throat, she looked good, if she was hurting in the beginning she clearly moved past it or masked it well.  She was an expert liar, so I couldn't tell which.  "I finalized the divorce and got my parents in line.  I didn't me-"
                          
She licked her lips, damn I missed them.  "And you cut off all contact, no calls, no texts, nothing."
                          
I heaved a breath.  "I couldn't... that wasn't my choice."
                          
She tilted her head.  "Why?"
                          
I'd prepared for that question.  "If I did I wouldn't ha-"
                          
"Liar."
                          
Fuck, how did she pin that so quick.  "I ju-"
                          
"One more lie the door closes and you will be leaving by choice or by force.  I don't care which."
                          
I couldn't breathe, I was so close, but she had all her defenses up.  She was unreadable other than the clear anger that was etched in her eyes and formed the frown on her lips.  "Mr. Ryizah... he to-"
                          
Her bottom lip began to tremble.  Oh shit...  "Lolo... fucking figures."  The door closed and I was at a loss, I just signed my own death certificate.  I knew this as I heard furious Tagalog from the door, picking up on a few words, but she was talking too fast for me to fully grasp what she was saying.
                          
I took a chance and tested the door, it was unlocked and I slipped in.  If I was going to die, it may as well be her to kill me.  She was pacing in the living area and I loomed in the doorway, watching as tears streamed down her face and she ranted.  She must of caught a glimpse of me because her head snapped in my direction and she fell silent.
                          
She was panting in rage, eyes red.  "We'll discuss this further when I get there..."  She hung up and slowly let her hand fall to her side, never moving her gaze from me.  "You explained.  You can go."
                          
I shook my head, terrified of what she would do or say.  "I can't do that."
                          
She wiped her face angrily.  "Get the fuck out, Daniel.  You're free of everything, just go."
                          
I closed the distance between us and she slapped my arms away as I tried to hug her.  "Cerulean, please."
                          
She clenched her jaw.  "Please what?  Forgive you?  Forget that you literally left here and nothing.  Bullshit, Daniel, get the fuck out."
                          
I closed my eyes my own tears beginning to fall.  "I had to get my shit together or he said he'd take you away forever.  You have to understand..."
                          
She scoffed.  "I don't have to understand shit, other than you left.  You left, without a word or explanation."
                          
The heart I thought couldn't break any more than it already was, was being ground to dust.  "I didn't... I did what I had to.  You think anyone would have cared that I was working my ass off to get here?"
                          
She threw her phone down and stalked past me.  "Me.  I would have cared, I would have fought all of it with you.  You chose to do it alone, now you walk out alone."
                          
I caught the door as she opened it and closed it again.  "I'm not leaving until we actually talk about this."
                          
My head snapped to the side as she slapped the hell out of me.  "I'm done talking!  We haven't in months, this shouldn't be so fucking hard!"
                          
I was blinking away stars when she punched my gut, damn was she always this strong?  I caught her wrists as she swung again, spun her and hugged her from behind.  "I hurt you... for that I'm sorry, but I didn't fight this hard just to walk out, Cerulean."
                          
She struggled, so I held firm until she stilled.  "Let me go."
                          
"Are you going to knock the shit out of me?"
                          
"Release me and find out."
                          
I sighed.  "I deserve it, I'm sorry..."  I slowly let her go, hoping she wouldn't strike.  It was in vain as she hit my chest this time, nearly knocking the breath out of me again.  I caught her hands again and pulled her to me, smashing my lips against hers.  I missed her, she had every right to be angry, but I would never raise a hand to her.
                          
She tried to pull away, but I placed my hand behind her neck, keeping her in place.  Her tears mixed her taste, sweet cinnamon tinged with salt.  My heart swelled when her mouth moved against mine and she wrapped her arms around my neck.  I brushed my tongue along her lips and she opened to me so I could taste her mouth.  I missed her and nothing would make me leave her again.