Chapter 162 - Escape

Unable to face Zirui and fearing breaking down even more, Kieran clenched his hand and with a fierce look directed at Zirui, decided to walk out of the church. Just because she now knew everything and was looking at him like this, his decision was not going to change.

Seeing him leave without a word, Zirui teared up even more and ran to him, catching his sleeve.

In a whisper like voice she called out to him,"Kieran!"

But unlike other times when they fought and made up, this time Kieran caught her fingers and slowly pushed them away from his sleeve. He had to stay strong or else she would be ruined. And he wouldn't let that happen. 

Since he had rejected her, she should back off. But instead of stepping away and feeling hurt, this tine Zirui did something he was not expecting. She pushed him. The sudden push caught him by surprise and before he could even recover, she brought her face close to his and said threatening,"Kieran Rown. Do you think that you can escape me by saying that you are sick? Well you can forget about it. You think we are not married and so that vow of sickness and in health does not apply? I have already said that vow to you a hundred times in my heart. So it makes no difference to me whether we say them here or not. You can chase me away now but the time you are so scared of? Where you feel that you will be too weak? I will come near you and stay with you. Then what will you do? Too bad for you, my heart has accepted you and will cling to you whether you want or not!"

Furious at Zirui's words about staying with him, Kieran tried again," Zirui. A relationship or even being together needs the consent of two people, you cannot force me to be with you."

Without a word, Zirui walked closer to Kieran and placed a hand on his heart, as she said," I won't have to force you. Your heart will."

"Do you know what you will have to go through if you choose to walk down this path? The cancer in killing for a patient but it is just as killing for those around him. A friend of mine had it. In university. By the end of his life, he only knew pain until finally he bled from every orifice as he slowly passed away. He braved every treatment, every side effect of the treatment only to lose in the end. And those who loved him could only suffer in helplessness. When he vomited his guts out after every chemotherapy session, they could only hold him and watch. Maybe say a few empty words. Do you really want to sign up for all that, Zirui? I don't know how long this illness will last. Chances are I might die soon but there is also probability that it will drag on for a few years. These are your golden years, Zizi. You wanted to roam the world with me on your grandfather's cruise. We won't be able to do that. I won't be able to do that. If you choose this road, your journey will only be from home to hospital until you finally bury me. By rhwn, your youth will have faded and all your friends will have drifted away since you will have immersed your self in my dying world. Think Zizi. This is not the time to be emotional. You have to think practically. And if you can't think practically then I will do so for you. Let me call your parents and grandparents and Shantao and ask them if they still want me to marry you."

"Yes. There is a possibility for all this. And you are right Kieran, I don't want to choose this path. If I could I'd rather be in your place than here in mine. You have thought of so many things within a few hours and are trying to scare me away. But I won't leave you. If there is a possibility for everything that you have said then there is also a possibility that you might be able to fight this successfully. Even if the journey is not a world your, as long as I am with you, I will be happy. Even if you have to fight that disease alone, I want to hild your hand so that you know that I am here waiting for you to win. Kieran, you are my destiny and my life. My path has already been chosen. I can't really alter it. Even if I can only be with you until you are... buried, I still want to hold your hand as long as I can."

Unable to find himself back anymore, Kieran hugged Zirui hard. He was still against her marrying him and wasting away her future but he could not bear to let her go in the face of her determination.

Gyeom wiped his tears as he stood behind the door, overhearing everything. There had really been a faint hope in his heart that Kieran would be able to convince her but he had known. An understanding hand landed on his shoulder and he started at Apollo who had an understanding look in his eyes. 

With a single nod of his head, he said quietly, "Let's go have a drink."

Seeing that the others were not around, Gyeom nodded and went ahead. He really did want to be alone and drink himself in to oblivion but he dared not. He had heard many stories of once famous stars going wasted because they would get addicted and it had been really difficult for him to stop himself from going down that way. He had been specially scared when he had been woken up in the initial days and realized that he had no memory of a week in between which he had probably spent smashed in his new 'home'.

Since then he had kept himself dog tired and busy. The only solution to stop himself had been to not get in touch with the brothers as talking to them always resulted in him having that irge again.

But maybe sharing a drink with one would not make him hurt too much. However, his hope was short-lived. Because the moment they entered the bar, the others were all waiting for him.

But instead of their usual readiness there was a somberness in the air. Apollo patted Gyeom on the back and said,"Our baby has grown up and we never even realized. Come on, we are so proud of you! We are going to celebrate your heart break and then toast for when you have a girlfriend who is also worthy of you!"

All the confidence slumped out of him and he asked in a low tone,"Did I do the right thing?"

Apollo turned in shock towards the kid and asked," What do you mean?"

"I could have taken her away you know. She would have forgotten him after a while. I would have made sure that she did forget him. And maybe when she discovered the truth a long while later, her heart would ache a little but she would have moved on."

Gyeom walked to the table and sat down with a slump, gulping the drink that Adam had just poured. Instead of answering him, Adam asked a question of his own.

"Why did you bring her then? You should have left her in the hospital."

Gyeom thought back to the that moment. He had indeed hesitated even then but not as much as he regretted now.

He had been about to leave when Zirui had called him back."Gyeom? Do you really believe that Kieran did this to me because he had cold feet?"

He had been wanting to answer in affirmative but knew that this is not what she wants to hear. She was already sure of her thoughts and just needed an affirmation. Sighing, he said,"No. I don't think that he is someone like that. He must have some reasons."

"Do you think he will confide his reasons in me if I confront him?"

Snorting, he had answered,"Of course not. Of he wanted to share, he would not have tried to run away."

"Then will you help me find the answer?"

He had agreed to find the answer but had not expected it to be so earth shattering. When Kieran had finally confessed, he had been tempted to turn about and cover her ears. But he knew as much as he regretted. She wouldn't.

He looked up at Adam and answered the question," Because I have grown up and understand that keeping her in the dark would only have hurt her later.."

With that, he raised another green bottle in toast and downed the drink in one gulp. Since they were having a celebration and he was the main guest, they could decided amongst themselves who wanted to be the designated driver. He was getting smashed and escaping the reality... For now.