Chapter Twenty-four

Rose

As tears start to fall from my eyes, I remain frozen at my spot; somehow surprised to hear his voice. My eyes wandering around—trying to find if he's actually here, watching me but I see nothing, causing me to cry even more. I want to hear more of him, I want to hear from him, I want him here.

''How's my Rose?''

To my surprise, I find myself chuckling before wiping away the fallen tears. Then, I drop onto the ground; feeling the sudden pain in my chest, hurting me more than I expect. With another smile appearing on my face, ''You idiot, I thought I lost you.'' I mutter.

''You never will,'' He replies.

I can't seem to stop the tears from falling, even though I know that he's alive, I have to see him. I want to see him. I need to see him. For some reason, he feels close that I can just reach out for him but it's impossible—he's impossible. ''Why did you do that to me? How could you?'' I wipe away the tears.

Elia stays quiet on the other line but I keep on waiting, it doesn't matter how long it takes because I'll be here waiting for him; I won't leave him. If, if he ever leaves me, I probably won't move on. Memories of us, they never seem to fade away even if I try because they will always be there. Clear.

Even if he might forget it one day, I won't.

''Rose—'' He calls out.

''You know what, Elia? I've had enough of you causing scenes! It hurts me most knowing that you're not here. For fuck's sake, I didn't even know you were alive or not. You could've been dead and I would still be waiting for you, like a complete fool. So, stop. Stop leaving me,'' I cut him out, not caring if I'm actually pouring out my soul here because I want him to know. I want him to know that he matters a lot to me, ''Do you really want to leave? Do you really want me gone?'' I breathe.

''You brought me here, so fucking stay will you? You left me for a year and I felt lost. Even if I was living the life I've never had, I wasn't happy. I wasn't myself. I'm only myself when I'm with you. Not just that, the explosion back in Milan—you saw me, you saw how painful it was for me to go through my life without you. Yet, you threw me away.'' I run my fingers through my hair, trying to control my breaths.

I continue, ''I don't care if you're doing this to protect me. I don't need protection. Even if you kicked me out of the country or fake my death, I still wouldn't be safe unless I'm with you. Don't you get it? Ju—just, come back to me, Elia. I need you,'' Without me realising, I am already crying the tears that I thought would never fall for someone else except myself.

To my surprise, he hangs up the phone, causing me to immediately blink my eyes in confusion. It also takes me awhile to realise that he's probably going to leave me for good. My heart aches at the fact knowing that I'll be on my own—a life that I might not survive. Is it worth living?

With my weaken legs, I manage to stand straight before breathing in—staying strong. The aching in my chest won't stop and due to that, the tears wouldn't either. They keep on coming; leaving traces of sadness. I turn around, walking back towards the house without glancing back.

As I look up at the glass window, my eyes widen as soon as I see a familiar figure standing behind me. My body goes ice cold; somehow not believing my eyes—is he real? The pain in my chest continues to break my heart into pieces but I remain calm, trying to reassure myself that I'm not dreaming. That this is reality.

''Stop imagining things, Rose.'' I mutter.

Seconds before I can make my way inside, I feel him wrapping his arms around my waist—letting me feel every inch of his body being close to mine. My mind keeps on telling me to walk away and leave because this is all a game but my heart won't stop pressuring me to turn around because he's real.

''I won't leave, not anymore.'' He whispers near my ear.

When he loosens his grip around my waist, I quickly turn to look at him. Once my blue eyes meet his brown ones, I can't seem to look away because I fear of losing him again. My hand moves up to his face, feeling the softness of his skin—loving how my touch feels real.

My eyes are occupied with tears once more, ''You idiot. Why did you leave? Why did you leave me? How could you—I waited for you, every single time. Yet, you would always walk away and leave. Why can't you stay? You're such a fool,'' I breathe out as I try to hold back my tears but they slip like they're made to fall.

Elia smiles down at me as his eyes are getting teary before he starts to cup onto my face, wiping away the fallen tears; and due to that, I feel like my whole life is breaking into pieces. At times, we're happy but most of the time, we're left sad and angry. He continues to wipe away my tears as he pulls my face closer, ''I'm sorry, amore. Forgive me,'' He whispers before pulling me in for a hug.

''Don't leave me,'' I lift my head up.

''I'm sorry,'' He continues to embrace me as he kisses the side of my head a few times, leaving me to cry again—we're both weak in so many ways yet we try to stay strong, we try

''I'm sorry,'' He continues to embrace me as he kisses the side of my head a few times, leaving me to cry again—we're both weak in so many ways yet we try to stay strong, we try. We always end up breaking and falling but in every way, we lift back up, with our heads held high. ''I'm here and I'll always be here, I'll be here for you; I won't go anywhere,'' He whispers in my ear.

''Stop lying to me, Elia. You said that you'll stay but you always end up leaving me, every time that you have the chance, you leave me here; alone. Why can't you see that I suffer without you? I'm nothing with you, look at me—'' I breathe out, crying.

''Hey, don't. You're everything with or without me. Your life doesn't depend on me, Rose. I'm here for the best or for the worst of you but don't say it as if you're nothing. You are worth much more than you think and I see that. Even if you fall and break, I'll be here to lift you up. I'll be here to attach the broken pieces of your heart,'' He looks directly into my eyes as he cups onto my face, those words meant more than anything else.

We both stare into each other's eyes but I can't seem to stop away the tears from falling. Even if Elia is standing here and I'm in his arms, I can't stop showing him how hurt or broken I am for not having him. He completes me, in every way that we both, never see.

''Rose, I love you.'' He says.

My mind goes blank and my heart stops beating at once—leaving me staring at him in a way that shows how much confusion I'm feeling. As he stays still at his spot, with both of his hands cupping onto my face, he says the three words that could change everything; between Elia and I.

''You love me?'' I breathe.

''It takes me awhile to realise but I love you, Rose. Everything that we've been through, every single pain that we shared, those are the moments that will always make me realise how you're very special. You're not just Rose. You're my Rose and I want you to be mine, from this day onwards. I won't leave you and you won't leave me, we'll be together, going through things together because I want to be with you—it doesn't matter if being with you would cost me my life. I would lose it than losing you,'' He says, looking straight at me. I feel a tear slip from my eye, a mix of sadness and happiness.

''But I wouldn't risk losing you,'' I mutter.

''Then, we'll run away. As far as we can, we'll keep on running. I'll leave everything behind and I'll end everything that I've ever started for the sake of us. For the sake of you. I don't mind losing the things that i used to care because now, you're all that matters. If to be with you is to lose everything, I'd choose you. I would always choose you. Wherever and whenever I turn, I'll look at you.'' He smiles down at me, caressing the side of my face with the back of his hand.

My lips curve up into a smile before I pull him close once more, meeting his lips as soon as possible. Within seconds, he is already kissing me back with all of his might—showing how his emotions and feelings for me are real. I show him and give him everything through this kiss, all in one.

Both of his hands are wrapping around my body, wanting me to stay and be close. Truthfully, I want that too. I want to be close so that we can share everything together. We might have met in a way that we never expect but we'll try and change the outcome, we'll come a better person. We'll be a better us.

''I love you too,'' I breathe out.

''I would never leave you even if you push me away. I'll always be here for you, through thick and thin because I love you, Elia. There's nothing more that I want but to be with you. I've got nothing to lose but you—you're everything to me and I need you. I really love you,'' I say, looking into his eyes.

''Shoot me if I ever push you away,'' He kisses my cheek before meeting my lips again, kissing me passionately slow. My heart beats fast at our kiss, maybe because I've missed him more than I've ever missed anyone or anything. It's quite a shocker to find someone to accept me just the way I am.

We both are extremely close to each other, it doesn't matter because we don't need distance. They only separate us in every way possible and that's far from what we want. We want each other so why bother with space? We'll accept and trust one another, believing that there's nothing more than love.

''You're back,'' I turn to see Elliot standing near the front door.

Elis, on the other hand, is busy looking at me—and I know that there's something in his eyes but he smiles, clenching his jaw afterwards before looking at his brother. Then, I see Elliot running towards our direction, pulling Elia for a bone-crushing hug, leaving me chuckling at his behaviour.

''I can't believe it,'' Elliot says as he smiles, widely.

Without us realising, Fiore is already standing beside Elis, looking at her son in surprise. My eyes follow her gaze, seeing that she's only focusing on Elia—her son that she hasn't gotten the chance to meet for years due to her safety. He has kept himself away from her, not wanting to cause himself any regret for giving in his feelings. He wants her safe, I know that.

''Elia,'' She calls out for him, causing him to turn and look at his mother. Both of his eyes are open wide, not quite realising that they would actually see each other again—in this way. He smiles at his mother before making his way towards her, pulling her close as he kisses her face, showing how he misses her more than anything, ''You're back,'' She cries.

Elliot wraps his arm around my shoulder, smiling down at me.

''You've changed a lot. Look at you, all muscular and handsome. I've missed you, my son. I thought you would never come and see me but here you are, it's hard to believe. You're just like how Rose described, you've grown into a very perfect young man. I'm proud of you, no matter what you did in the past, it doesn't matter because you're here.'' She kisses onto the side of his cheek, showing how she misses him very much.

''I love you, mother.'' I hear him whisper in her ear.

As I watch them together, it pains me to see how they're love for each other is very wide. How Elia managed to go through his days without seeing her, I know it must've caused him a lot of pain but he kept it all to himself. He accepted every single blame that he received, not wanting to hurt anyone else but himself. He's strong, I admit. He's very strong. In and out.

''Thank you for coming back,'' Elis pats onto Elia's back, smiling slightly.

Elia pulls him close for a hug as tears slip his eyes, ''I apologise, for everything. You're the best brother and I never blame you for anything. It doesn't matter if you left, if you didn't, I wouldn't have met Rose. I wouldn't have realised how my life could be so much better with one single mistake. You made me realise, so, I, thank you.'' He says directly to his brother.

Elis glances at my direction for a few seconds before nodding at Elia. It brings me happiness to see him happy—to see him finally getting together with his family, how they are bonding so quickly. Love. It's something that no one can escape, no matter how cruel or how painful it would be, they would always return back and love.

Elia turns towards me before placing his hand on my waist and kissing at the side of my head, causing Fiore to look at us in awe. She smiles widely, ''I'm glad you've found your Rose, Elia. She's as orange as you've always liked,'' She chuckles, leaving me smiling once I understand her meaning.

''With their warm, vibrant tones, orange roses symbolise enthusiasm and desire.'' I remember. Elia looks down at me, ''She's every colour that she can be.'' He mutters, smiling. It takes me awhile to realise how I've always stare at him as if he meant the world to me—especially his dimples. They are perfect in every way, they show how he's also a joyful soul, apart from Elliot.

''Because I'll love her in every way,''