To Endure A Little More

TWELVE

2 weeks later...

Aelia paces around the room, taking large steps and breathing heavily while Terran leans on the wall, arms crossed, as he sighs deeply. Both of their minds were heavily laced with worry. 

"What the f**k did just happen?" Aelia speaks, panicking to a farther extent while her heart was throbbing in her chest with fright.

"We just got invited to a dinner ball by the Peterson family, who according to their believes are expecting us to return from our trip." Terran says, shutting his eyes in frustration.

"Yes exactly, because two weeks are over!" She throw a fit of pique, followed by tears. "Why isn't he up yet?!"

Terran found no reply to serve her. It's been two weeks since the both and Jeremy had gone missing. Although to feed everyone's concern and confusion, they'd said they'd be on vacation in Venice. Which, speaking of, Luan had done his research on once a week had passed by without the three making little to no contact with him, along with no photos or whatsoever, nothing that could work as evidence that thee were on vacation. And to add to his scepticism later, he'd found their cellphone numbers to be active in the city meaning they hadn't left the country all the way to Venice. For further confirmation, he'd had worked with his alliances at the airport and hadn't found any record of the three leaving the country. Although it was quite clever of Terran and Aelia to buy the three tickets and visa, and unless they hadn't travelled with their private Jet, Luan was unsure if they were actually on tour which held him back from exposing them and then confronting them, let alone question them on what could make them make up a lie as such.

While on the other hand, Aelia had spent the past two weeks taking care of Jeremy who was tied down to machines that was holding him alive and had shown no sign of waking up from his deep slumber. She had barely eaten and rather stayed by the former's side, hoping he'd wake up; if not today, maybe tomorrow; if not tomorrow, maybe someday. She had been preparing herself to finally face the man when he'd wake up and make everything right but to her disappointment it was past two weeks and Jeremy's body had remained the same with no sign of consciousness.

Terran had been full on support. He's had to take care of both Jeremy and Aelia for how hard she was going on herself for what happened to Jeremy. To favor fortune, Terran and Aelia always owned a room in each other's house so Terran had been staying over ever since, pretending they are vacation together to take no risks at getting caught about their lies.

"Call Andrew, we need to call Andrew." Aelia panics as Terran gets a grip on her shoulders and makes her look at him.

"Calm down Aelia!" Terran dead pants. "He said we should only call when Jeremy behaves oddly or differently. He has nothing to do if Jeremy is still the same."

"DOES TWO WEEKS LOOK LIKE A JOKE TO YOU?!" Aelia yells, walking away from Terran and sitting on a corner of the room, arms hugging her knees tightly as she starts weeping. "I can't lose him too..." her voice is lower than a whisper. 

"Does it seem like I'm having it easy? I'm worried and in pain as much as you are, Aelia..." Terran argues whilst keeping his tone as calm as possible but Aelia only sobs more and Terran can't help but grow fragile at seeing her condition.

"Andrew." Aelia's gasps as her head shoots up and Terran notices the addressed entering the room with a sigh. He looked different than last time which was probably because he had dyed his hair black from hazel brown.

"I'm sorry to see him still the same." Andrew speaks, addressing to Jeremy's still body, as the other two lower their heads. "I was hoping he'd wake up soon."

"Well he didn't." Aelia states without emotions, staring at the wall across her. Terran's only able to throw her a look but his lips remain sealed. Taking a huge breathe in, she speaks again, "Anyways..."

"How's your secret fiancé? I heard you're getting married soon." Aelia asks as Andrew's cheeks tint slight pink, trying to c***k a smile.

"Ah, news has traveled I see."

"Don't worry, your friends know how to keep a secret. It was me. Lilith answered your phone when I called earlier." Aelia says assuringly, trying hard to distract herself after days of focusing on Jeremy only who seemed to show her no response.

"Yes, she told me you called, reason why I'm here." Silence falls on them again and before it gets awkward, Andrew speaks again. "Terran, could we speak? In private?"

Terran nods but Aelia shows no reaction whatsoever. The both step out of the room and Terran prepares himself for what he fears Andrew is about to say.

"Tell her." He says as Terran's lips stay sealed. He shuts his eyes at the elder's words. "The truth."

"What do I even say? ...how do I say that?!" Terran speaks out of frustration as Andrew motions for him to calm down.

"Just simply tell her. The reason why he isn't recovering so easily. If it's too hard, just say you learnt of the truth today, she doesn't need to know you knew all along. You didn't utterly lie since the reason he is in coma is mainly the fault of alcohol intoxication."

Terran nods, try to muster up some courage.

"Jeremy..." Aelia starts. Tears almost brim her eyes but she holds them back and her head hurts while her heart hurts more. "I know I haven't talked to you ever since you got caught in this but I want you to know...

"I'm sorry..." Aelia cries, holding Jeremy's hand in her own and massaging it lightly, caringly. Her nose starting to take the spotlight by bleeding away but she immediately wipes the blood away before continuing to speak to Jeremy's comatosed body after trying to down

"It's my fault you're in such pain. All I've ever done is bring you pain. I should have thought of your feelings at least for once instead of being consumed with my own. Please wake up. I promise you I'll try my best to make it up to you, do my best to bring you happiness only from now on. If you let me... Will you ever forgive me?"

Another hot tear leaves her eye and she shuts her eyes, intertwining her fingers with his. "Who am I kidding..." she chuckles in pain as she speaks to herself, looking down on her lap, failing to look at Jeremy with so much guilt and regret. "Why will you even forgive me?"

"Because I love you."