Kiss in the Shadows

I lowered my head, pressing my palms against my face. Choking and sobbing, I felt no shame in my disheveled appearance. Despite the desperation in my words, I knew this wasn't the end of the story for me and Fiore.

"Please, Fiore, listen to me," I pleaded, dropping to my knees, hoping he would hear my sincerity.

"Are you serious, Miranda? Do you think I'm foolish enough to forgive you after everything?" Fiore's disbelief stung.

Standing up again, I yearned to embrace him, but I was merely insignificant in his furious grasp. Meanwhile, the culprit responsible for all this stood idly by the window, even finding time for leisure. Fueled by anger, I lunged forward, attacking Xylon with a flurry of punches aimed at his slender back.

"This is your doing, Xylon! You're a monster! I hate you!" I shouted in rage.

To my dismay, Xylon's eyes remained closed, showing no signs of pain. He pretended as though he experienced it all, unaffected by the havoc we wreaked on his childhood friend. It became clear that he had orchestrated this wicked plan. Tears streamed down my face as I realized he had no intention of explaining the truth to Fiore. Once again, I fell to my knees, this time at Xylon's feet.

"You're a fool, Miranda! Are you truly desperate enough to submit to your enemy?" I scolded myself.

"Miranda, what are you doing?" Xylon's eyes widened in surprise at my actions.

"P-Please, Xyle. I beg you. Tell Fiore it's not my fault. I had no idea... that it was you... that you had taken..." I choked on my words, unable to utter the truth. I couldn't fathom how this jerk had taken my virginity instead of Fiore, my fiancé.

Tears streamed relentlessly down my cheeks, like rivers with no end. They symbolized a rainstorm devoid of a rainbow, an ocean devoid of hope.

"Stand up, Miranda," Xylon commanded firmly.

"Please, X-Xyle, I beg you..."

"Stop it, Miranda."

Already deafened by Fiore's words, I heard him say, "I will never forgive you, no matter what you and Xylon say. You lied to me. You and my best friend. Miranda, you're such a w---."

"Fiore!" Xylon admonished him, yet Fiore remained unaffected by anything I said.

Unprepared for such words, Fiore exploded with certainty, "I've made my decision. I won't marry you, Miranda."

My heart sank to the depths of the ocean. All my dreams had crumbled before me.

Fiore retrieved a bag from a nearby cabinet, as if it had been prepared for departure and was waiting for someone to claim it.

"Please, F-Fiore," I pleaded, abruptly standing up to prevent him from leaving. "D-Don't abandon me..." I wrapped my arms around him from behind. "P-Please, Fiore, I love you. I never had feelings for anyone else. You're the only one I love. Those moments you witnessed were misunderstandings. When I closed my eyes, it was your face I saw. Fiore, it's always been you..."

He simply wrested my hands away and walked away. My heart and eyes burned, but I followed him like a desperate child.

"F-Fiore, please... Don't leave me." Fiore turned and looked straight at me. I met his handsome face, his remorseful eyes focused on me. The same eyes I fell in love with when we first met. I recognized them, but they lacked the spark, the colors. The love that was once mine had vanished. I was no longer the apple of his eye, the most cherished person in his life. It was all gone.

"Miranda, I forgive you. Both you and Xylon. You have the option to be with him. If you prefer him, I'll be willing to let you go..."

"I don't want him. I want you, Fiore."

He gently tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. He was still tender and incredibly kind, the qualities in Fiore that I admired.

"But you still betrayed me, Mir. You didn't love me." I shook my head firmly.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you need. I'll explain to my parents and to your aunt why a wedding won't work for us anymore."

My chest constricted, threatening to unleash agonizing pain. Fiore caressed my tear-stained cheek.

"They'll understand. They won't judge you. I'll take care of it." He glanced at Xylon, who stood there, his jaw clenched and fists tightened. He had no right to unleash his suppressed anger.

God, he's despicable! He's the demon responsible for all of this. Why didn't he speak up? Why didn't he express his thoughts? His silence was driving me mad. He's a beast!

"F-Fiore..."

"Goodbye, Mir."

Fiore stepped further away from me. With every attempt to follow him, my trembling feet betrayed me. I could no longer move. The folded blanket fell upon me as the door closed, a white canvas on which my infidelity was revealed. The splattered red blood resembled a painter's brushstroke. Beside the blanket lay the red handkerchief I had used to cover my eyes. I had been willing to offer my virginity to Fiore. He had expressed his desire for it to be passionate, intense, wild, and seductive. So I undressed in our bedroom, blindfolded myself, surprising him with my willingness to give myself to the one I cherished the most. But then... Tears welled up in my eyes once again. Fiore was no longer by my side. He was gone.

"Miranda..." I was on the verge of bursting when I looked at Xylon. He still wore his boxers, his hair disheveled, and his lips stained bright red. If I had known it was him I was intimate with, I would have bitten his lips until they swelled, silencing him.

"You're worse than a beast, Xylon. I hate you. Curse you!"

The mesmerizing expanse of the woods in varying sizes captivated my gaze through the glass window. Not a single house could be spotted, only the imposing presence of tall trees since Fiore brought me to this secluded place.

My attention was diverted as a sound drew near.

"You should have something to eat." Xylon placed a plate of Arroz Caldo on the table near me. The tantalizing aroma of the dish and the delightful scent of garlic wafted in the air.

Fiore brought him along, smug with his culinary skills, aside from being Fiore's best friend. He excelled at cleaning and was an exceptional driver. Everyone seemed aware of these qualities. As a result, Fiore became overly reliant on him, always turning to him for favors. Jealousy would occasionally gnaw at me, as if they shared a deeper connection and I was merely a decorative piece between them. Nevertheless, I understood their bond predating my acquaintance with them.

"Softy, please, eat while it's still hot."

I glanced at him. Softy. He hadn't called me by that name in a while. I'm uncertain of its origin, but it's how he addresses me when we're alone.

"Stop calling me that. I'm not Softy," I retorted through clenched teeth.

"You'll always be my Softy."

"I'm not yours!" I immediately shouted, my anger boiling within me, my chest heaving.

"I know. You're not mine," he uttered gravely, his eyes locked with mine. I resisted his piercing gaze, quickly averting my eyes.

"Well, it's good that you know. You should be aware of your place, Xylon," I remarked.

He settled on the couch next to me. "If you intend to starve yourself, just say so. I don't want to waste any more time cooking for you."

His words tingled in my ears. "Why? Did I ask you to cook for me? You insisted on serving me. Besides, why are you still here? This house belongs to Fiore and his family, not you!" I emphasized.

"Remember what he said before he left? We can stay here as long as we want. Moreover, we're in the middle of nowhere. We have to wait for his return, so... sorry."

I contemplated marching away, running from him. Or perhaps pouring the scalding porridge over his body, watching his muscles melt away. But I reconsidered, not wanting to waste any food. There are countless hungry people around the world.

"Sorry?" I echoed mockingly. "You have quite the nerve to say that."

"I'm sorry that Fiore left you, but I won't apologize for what I did to you." His eyes turned dark, his unwavering gaze fixed on me.

My blood surged even hotter. He was sorry because Fiore left me, but not sorry for his actions towards me? To hell with him!