CHAPTER 37: When Past Meets Present

DARREN’s P.O.V.

After I finished eating, I took my plate downstairs and drink a glass of cold water. I didn’t call Dad for I know that he’s surely busy right now. Besides, I can take care of myself.

I can still remember his wide smile when I thanked him earlier. He looked amused, and seeing him happy for the very first time, my heart melted. Maybe I’ve been too stubborn to him lately. I should have considered his feelings when Mom died.

“Sir Darren, someone wants to talk to you on the telephone,” one of our maids informed me.

“Okay, thanks.”

I walked towards the nearest telephone inside of our mansion. I answered it with my voice full of curiosity.

“Hello? Who’s this?”

“Darren.” I felt shivers run down to my spine when I heard my best friend’s cold voice.

“Elij...”

“Let’s meet up, Darren.”

“Where?”

“I’ll send you the address.”

“What is it about?” I curiously asked.

“Just come and find out. If you didn’t, then you’ll probably just lost your last one and only chance of finding the truth. It’s about Claire.”

“Sure, sure. I’ll come.”

Those words came out from my mouth without even thinking. It seems like the thoughts are coming from my heart, instead of my mind. I badly wanted to know about the truth, but I’m still hesitating. Should I go, or not? Definitely not. But I want to. And maybe Elijah’s right. If I didn’t come, I’ll be missing my last chance to be with Claire.

I fixed myself and get ready to face my best friend once again. It was late at night, though I didn’t mind going out for something really important. I grabbed my keys and drove all the way from home to where the place Elijah had texted me the address earlier.

It took me about forty-five minutes to reached the place but I think it’s worth it. I parked my car in an open area before I hopped down from it. I walked straight towards the entrance of the coffee shop as I inhaled the rich aroma coming from their different products.

I clenched my fist as soon as I saw Elijah and someone sitting in the opposite side of the table. That man... I can’t forget his face. It was Gabriel, the man who ruined everything.

“What the fuck are you doing here?!”

I quickly walked towards him before grabbing the collar of his shirt. I’m currently gripping it very tight, unable to control myself from anger.

“Darren, stop!” Elijah scolded me.

“Why? Why the fuck would you tell me to stop, Elijah? This man ruined everything! Before it was Kate and Claire’s friendship, and now our relationship! Can’t you see? This man deserves to live in hell!”

“I know...” I heard Gabriel whispered.

I was stunned, unable to process what he just said. I loosen up my tight grip on him before I finally let him go.

“Darren, will you please, just listen to him first?” Elijah asked. “Stop letting yourself be dragged on by your emotions. For once, try to listen to us...”

“Fine.” I glared at Gabriel.

People are now staring at our direction. I didn’t mind them. When they finally realized that this thing is not going into a fight, they decided to look away before I could sent them some death raging glares.

“What do you want to say? Please say it now.”

Elijah looked at me, before shaking his head in disapproval. I arched one of my brows to him before he stood up.

“I guess I’ll leave you two alone so that you can have some privacy. Don’t hurt him, Darren. Please don’t fight. People are looking.”

I just nodded, same as Gabriel. When Elijah finally left us there, he took a deep breath before saying anything. He look nervous, though I could see the sincerity in his eyes that he wanted to reconcile with me.

“Claire probably told you about me.”

“Yes. She told me that you’re the one who ruined her friendship with Kate. Am I right?” Surprisingly, he nodded.

“Yeah, I’m that guy.” He chuckled to himself even though there wasn’t a funny thing about what I said. “I’m the one who ruined everything, including your relationship with her.”

“Why did you do it? You know that I already owned that woman but you still kissed her. What kind of man are you?!” I couldn’t contain myself anymore.

“The kind of man who loves your wife so much. When I found out that what you and Claire have was a fake relationship, I instantly felt hopeful. I thought that if I pursue it, maybe I could finally make her love me back. But she didn’t. She only thought about you...”

My heart nearly ached at that statement of his. How could he know?

“If you’re wondering why I knew about it, the answer is, she told me so. She said that she loves you so much. She said that in front of my face. Could you imagine how badly hurt I was that time? I’m the one who’s been loving her since high school but she chose you over me. Isn’t it unfair?”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I want you to fix everything. Elijah already told me what happened and I don’t know where is Claire either. Find her, Darren. This isn’t her fault. This is all because of me. I initiated the kiss, and she pushed me away after that. She confessed about you... And we ended things just fine. I couldn’t imagine that something like this could happen between the two of you.”

I clenched my fist, wanting to believe every word that he just said but I couldn’t. My pride and ego couldn’t accept it. How can I accept that fact when Claire is already gone now? How can I?

“Darren... I didn’t know you that much but I knew one thing that’s for sure. And that is you love Claire and she did the same. You still have a chance to fix what happened to the both of you. It’s not too late. Please don’t marry Mr. Frias’ daughter if you’re not sure of your feelings...”

I felt guilty. My conscience started to bug me a little bit. I frowned, looking at Gabriel’s current position.

“I can’t trust a man who I barely even know and ruined everything I have.”

I stood up after saying those words. He looked at me, disbelief is visible in his shocked eyes. I gulped several time before I started to walk away from his table. I’m almost by the exit when he said something that made me stop for a while.

“You don’t deserve Claire. I wish she could just love me back... But here I am, wasting my time explaining her side to a jerk like you.”

I want to go back, and punched him right on his face. But I couldn’t. For some reason, I knew that he has a point. Some of his statements were all nothing but true. It’s just me who didn’t want to accept it.

Cold breeze fanned on my face as soon as I stepped out of the coffee shop. There, I saw my best friend, Elijah, sitting on a small bench. I walked towards him, without saying any word.

“So, how did it go?” he asked, not bothering to look at my direction. He’s currently staring at the empty air, maybe thinking about something.

“I don’t know. I’m still confused. Maybe I’ll think about it. I tried to listen to everything he said, Elijah.”

“Hmm... I hope so too, Darren. Cause if you really did, you wouldn’t hurt another woman just for the sake of your broken heart.”

He stood up and walk away, leaving me stunned there like an idiot. When I turned around to face the direction he’s walking into, I called his name. I need to thank him for this.

“Elijah, wait!” Gladly, he faced me.

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry... And thank you so much.”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he just smiled and displayed a thumbs up using his hands as a sign of response. Until finally, he slowly vanished into my sight.

I quickly got inside of my car, wanting to visit the one place that’s very special for the both of us. My trip doesn’t even last a quarter of an hour from here. I parked my car, and decided to walk the distance between me and the bridge. In that way, maybe I could think about things clearly.

While walking, I reminisce everything that Claire and I did not just in this place, but anywhere in this city. Every moment that we spend together. I should’ve cherish it before any of this happened.

“Claire...” I whisper in the dark silent night.

Gabriel’s words are now slowly sinking into my system. My sweet wife, who wanted nothing but my trust. I failed to give it to her. I failed to be his good husband. I should’ve listen first. I should’ve let her explain herself before it was too late. Now I’m already regretting it.

I punched the railings of the bridge several times our of frustration. I wanted to feel the physical pain, not the emotional one. Cause it’s wrecking my heart with it’s unbearable edges. But it didn’t effect on anything at all. The pain in my chest is still the one who’s reigning on my system.

“When will I see you again?” I asked, as tears started to fall down from my eyes.

That question was probably the first and last one that I’m going to ask her because I could never see her face ever again. I could never give her any of my sweet hugs and kisses. I could never protect her from this cruel world because who knows, maybe we are miles away from each other right now. But most importantly, I never got a chance to tell her how I feel. To tell her that I love her too.