Chapter 5 SURRENDER

"He is in a relationship with the actress, Lulu."

Said the man with a face hard as stone, but gradually declining inside, like a bird who injured a wing, slowly plummeting from the sky awaiting death. He lost an arm, an extension of who he was, the person who made him feel alive, who urged him to keep going when days were hard for him, is presently the same reason as to why he wants to jump off the bridge and just be in his mother's arms. He wanted to scream at the man sitting beside him but, what's the point? He can never take back what the lies and deception took from him.

He bled him dry and now, he's all alone again, doesn't want anyone, no family to run to, and just him all over again.

While Christian tries not to break down in front of the old man questioning them, Darren gazed at him trying to look deep into the hurt that he has caused the man because of his betrayal. He felt his heart stop at his lover's unexpected declaration, griping his pants while screaming for Christian to look at him in his mind but knew that he had become senseless. He tried to play along and second motioned his lover's words, hoping that he will react but, not even a finger was moved, nor those weary eyes to look at him and maintained a straight face wrapped in an empty expression.

The truth was, Christian was on the verge of crying. He tried to explain to the old man one more time, wanting to escape as soon as possible the torture he was in.

"Uncle, I would like to apologize for what happened. I will do my best to find out who did it and to clear your son's name. Also, from now on, I will stay away from him and promise not to have any more contact with him, for his sake."

Darren and his father both furrowed at his statement and looked at the man confusedly. The old man glanced at his son's surprised face and returned to question Christian about his sudden decision.

"Chris dear, if it is is just a hoax like you two said it is, why take it too far and stay away from my son? You are his best friend after all and that I am fully aware of."

"Uncle, with all due respect, I believe you already know the answer to that question. It will not be good for Darren's image to be associated with me right now, people are targeting me and it's better for both of us to not see each other."

The old man sighed and nodded at him, expressing his acknowledgment at the notion and Darren couldn't do anything except also say his thought on the matter.

"If that's the case then, I will call for a press conference father and will properly announce my relationship with Lulu to avoid any more conflicts to both parties."

Christian side-eyed Darren upon hearing the words that came out from his lips. He had no energy left to conceal what he was feeling inside and just let out a fake smile to both father and son. The old man was satisfied with both of them and permitted his son to perform immediately the things that needed to be done to avert any further problem.

"Very well, I will leave the two of you to talk over this issue."

The old man stood up from his seat and so did the two, reached for his cane, and quietly walked past the men as both said goodbye with a slight bow. Darren waited for his father to pass the door while Christian remained to look down, arguing with his mind that says it's time to leave but his body won't let him as if glued to the floor. After the old man finally made his way out, Darren rushed to the door to lock it then rushed back to his lover to confront him, not even to give the lonely man an embrace but to confront him about the said relationship that was blurted to his father. He pulled Christian's arm with so much force, the man flinched in discomfort but didn't dare to look him in the face which irritated him even more. Yanking the man's arm wasn't enough for him and so pulled the distant one's shoulder instead, gripping it harshly to make the man face him but again, Christian didn't budge.

"Why did you do that, Chris? Why did you have to make that decision by yourself?"

Christian tilted his head at the sudden question and looked confusedly at Darren as if he was the one at fault, bestowing him with a sneer as his eyes started to water.

"Am I wrong though? From the start, you did most of the decision-making, didn't you? And left me with no other choice but this."

He couldn't hold back his tears anymore, releasing all the hurt he had been hiding all along, and Darren, whose face turned from an angry to remorseful one when he saw his lover cry a river, released his clutch from the weeping man and took a step back. Christian looked away again but his tears were far too great to be stopped, they continued to flow freely from his already sunken eyes.

"When you decided to keep us a secret, did you hear anything from me? No. When you decided to cheat on me, did I push myself back from still being a good partner to you? No. When you deny me every time you have to choose between your name or this relationship, have you ever seen me react negatively? No. When you don't go home to me at night, do you hear me ask where you have been in the morning? No. Do you know why? Because I love you. Because I thought if I heed to your wants, you will never leave me. I had to work twice harder than the rest of them Darren, so that I can live up to your expectations and because I am a man.."

"..only a man, who can never give you the future you dream of and my insecurities eat me up alive every time. I blame myself for everything, Darren. I'm sorry because we have to go through with this, you have to go through with it. "

"..I tried. I did but, it wasn't enough for you. That, I know now."

Darren froze in his spot. Words didn't come to him and he just stood there while he gazes at the person hurting the most, that loving, caring, overall perfect human being standing in front of him. He was his king, his everything and he was supposed to be his queen, his goddess but instead, treated him like a slave. Strings attached to Chris's feelings, he took his emotions for granted and thought he will never get tired of him but, seeing him now with a torn soul, reality hits him hard.

Christian's chest was burning, blood was boiling and his tears couldn't stop flooding. His eyes were still far away from the person he loved the most and realizing that nothing will transform even he wails all day, he chose to walk away. Wiping his tears out from his face with his trembling hands, he pulled himself together and started to plod towards the door.

He sees no emotions in the face of the cheating man, only guilt noticeable in his body language.

All that was happening seemed to be going in slow motion for Darren. His lover's presence was slowly becoming invisible and his rose scent perfume gradually faded away sizing that it might be the last time he will breathe it in, he snatched the distraught man's palm, pressed it, and tried to speak only to utter a few from his lips.

"Chris, I'm sorry."

Christian finally docked him a dead stare and smiled in deep sorrow.

"No, you're not, Darren. By tomorrow, your name will be clear from all of this and me, I will be gone from your life forever and you will eventually forget that I ever existed."

He removed his hand from the tight hold of his ex-lover and continued on his way towards the door but the man he left, only remained silent and didn't move a muscle. Speechless and his back turned away from the departing man, a tiny tear escaped his eye as he bid farewell to the person who gave him everything but he traded with nothing, only distant memories of broken promises and pain.

The other finally made his way out, closing the door gently behind and finally ending this chapter of his life with who he thought would be his Prince Charming forever. Darren's knees weakened as soon as the door closes and gave in when he realized that starting tomorrow, there will no Christian to call him and ask how his day was, no Christian to embrace him when he got home, no Christian to make love to and no more Christian to remind him how much he is loved.

Christian, on the other side of the door, stared at nothing for a while, like an idiot, he whispered under his breath still holding the door handle; "Goodbye.." until someone called his name softly and he instantly recognized who, his tears rolled down again even before he could look at the sweet voice, not from afar.

"Chris, darling."

"Ma."

He rushed to the woman standing at the middle of the wide aisle spreading her branches for the lonesome man, ready to comfort his grieving heart. The weeping man gladly submitted to the embrace hid his face on the woman's chest, and sobbed in an inaudible tone, moistening the satin fabric of her dress with his lament.

"I'm sorry, darling."

Says the solacing lady while stroking the broken-hearted man's hair softly.

Lady Margaretta, Darren's mother and former wife of the CEO, is one of Christian's most trusted people. She Divorced Darren's father when the boy was only three years old after finding out about his husband's infidelity and so, returned to his home, China, where she built her empire, making a name for herself all while facing backlash because of the separation. So, Like the man in her arms, she is the only person in the man's life who understands his situation the most, especially at this time.

TO BE CONTINUED..