Chapter 9 PART 8

Part 8 - Different in Words, Different in Heart.

As Anyelir was about to enter the green house, she felt someone grab her shoulder, causing her to turn around abruptly. Her scream was muffled as a strong hand covered her mouth. To her surprise, it was Byan standing right in front of her.

"I'll let go, as long as you don't make any noise," Byan whispered in her ear.

With a racing heart, Anyelir could only nod helplessly. Byan released his grip on her mouth, allowing her to breathe freely. Now, they were face to face, waiting to see what would unfold next. Anyelir couldn't believe that Byan had followed her. When she left the ice cream parlor, Byan was still sitting there as if he didn't care about her. Or perhaps, concerned about her, he followed her?

Not far from where they were hiding, two men and a woman were having a serious conversation.

"No, Mil, you can't do this to Anyelir," said Adinda. Anyelir furrowed her brow upon hearing her name. So Adinda was here with Emil. Did Emil find his best friend?

Then why were they in the green house? Shouldn't Emil have taken Adinda back to Grandma's house? What business did they have so far from her grandma's house?

At the moment, Anyelir's gaze was so close to Byan's; their faces were just a few inches apart. Both were sharpening their hearing.

"Don't make a sound," Byan whispered. Even the warm breath of the man could be felt on Anyelir's face.

"I give up, Din. I can't force my heart. I've been holding this feeling for you for so long."

A cold shiver ran down Anyelir's spine. Emil and Adinda? Them?

Byan carefully observed the changing expressions on Anyelir's face.

"If you don't love him, why have you shown affection and care for Anyelir all this time?"

"Because you had a girlfriend back then!"

A thud resounded in Anyelir's chest.

Good Lord.

"Now that I know you've broken up with Nico, I don't want to lose you again, Din. I'll sort everything out with Anyelir."

Anyelir felt like her legs were turning to jelly. How easily Emil said all of this. Byan immediately supported the girl's body in front of him. Anyelir let Byan's hands support her; in fact, she held onto his hands tightly. She bit her lower lip hard.

"I've loved you for so long, Din, since we were still in school. I thought I had given up on you. I thought by getting closer to your friend, I could forget this feeling, but I couldn't. Especially after hearing your fiancé break off the engagement unilaterally. Please, Adinda, I can't let you go this time."

Emil's voice revealed the feelings he had concealed all this time.

"I can't hurt Anyelir; you promised in front of her family to propose to her soon. You can't play with my friend."

Anyelir didn't know what was happening there, but hearing the heartfelt confession from a man who had shown such immense love for her left her feeling disappointed.

And Adinda? Her friend? Did Anyelir even have the right to call Adinda her friend?

"Look at me, Adinda. Tell me that you don't love me. Tell me that you never had feelings for me, despite being in a relationship with Nico."

So Adinda also harbored feelings for Emil? Then why did she try to set herself up with Emil all this time?

Byan saw tears falling down Anyelir's cheeks. He didn't know what was happening inside her, but he could feel the sorrow of the girl he cherished. Anyelir flinched as she felt Byan's fingers wiping away her tears.

Damn it! She didn't even realize the tears were flowing.

Double pain. Just when she was clearly betrayed by the man who claimed to love her, now, in front of the man who never admitted his feelings for her, she fell in love.

"Emil... I..." Adinda's voice sounded hesitant, and then it suddenly disappeared.

As there was no sound, Anyelir intended to turn around to see what was happening there. But Byan stopped her. This time, Anyelir resisted, pushing Byan's shoulders so that he stumbled a step back, and Anyelir quickly turned around.

If Byan hadn't held her, she might have collapsed right then and there. She saw Emil, the man who had begged her to accept his proposal just a while ago, now embracing Adinda, and...

Anyelir couldn't describe what she saw. All she knew was that she widened her eyes, her fingers covering her mouth, and she shook her head in disbelief. She took a step back, bumping into Byan's chest, and that was when Byan embraced her from behind.

"Let them go," Byan whispered warmly in her ear.

The pain in her heart was indescribable. While she was clearly betrayed by the man who claimed to love her, in front of her stood the man who had never admitted

his feelings for her. All the while, Anyelir believed that she had captured his heart.

"Please," Byan continued, "let me fight for my love, Anyelir."

Anyelir still didn't know what was happening over there, but now, she could feel Byan's love for her. She was just trying to sort out her feelings. But now, she felt betrayed by Emil, and if Adinda also had feelings for Emil, then what was this whole charade?

Anyelir watched her friend and former fiancé walk away. She wanted to move, but she still felt Byan's arms holding her tightly from behind.

"Let them go," Byan repeated softly in her ear.