Leanna-Chapter 239: [Confession] [I Love You]

[Confession]

. . .

. . .

Lance didn’t say anything. He was lost in his thoughts.

That’s right.

It was his pride that prevented him from telling what he felt for her.

At that time, when he heard her play the violin at their thirteenth birthday, she already made a mark in his heart. When they met again in the university after four years, he was overwhelmed with so many emotions that he blanked out. But he already had a girlfriend, so he pushed her away.

He may be arrogant and stubborn and rude and prideful, but he was definitely not someone who tolerated cheating and disloyalty.

So even he was unwilling and pained –– he pushed her away.

But sometimes, he couldn’t help but let out some of his feelings for her. Like at that time when he protected her at the seminar and that time when he watched her inside his car, hiding in the corner of the building. Then intervened when that annoying Fred came into the picture.

At that time, when they first kiss, then and there, he almost disregarded everything aside and let his feelings take control.

But he didn’t.

He couldn’t digest the idea of cheating. The reason why he avoided her every time he saw her. He was afraid the thin strings holding his rationality would snap, and he would forget everything and embrace her.

When he and Jennifer broke up, all he felt was relief. Of course, at first, he was angry.

Enraged even.

Jennifer was many things, but he sure didn’t expect that she would cheat on him.

What was hurting the most was not his heart, but his ego.

He couldn’t believe someone would do such a thing to him. It was hard to accept, and he denied everything at first. But after a minute, a revitalizing feeling refresh his mind. Like he was freed from thousands of years in a never-ending cycle of captivity.

On that same day, he let go of everything and accepted Emery into his life.

But he still couldn’t bring himself to confess his feelings for her. Especially after breaking up and after what he did to her. He likes her, but he treated her with indifference and cruelty in the past. And to treat her differently all of a sudden, his pride prevented him from doing just that.

He breathed a mouthful of air, and with a steady gaze on her and straight iron back, he walked out behind the curtains into the view of the crowds.

Lawrence followed behind him. It was supposed to be a duet, but Lawrence contented to play the guitar at the side while Lance held the mike.

Emery was behind the crowds in front of the stage. And when their eyes met –– he sang his feelings for her.

I wanna follow where she goes

I think about her, and she knows it

I wanna let her take control

’Cause every time that she gets close, yeah

She pulls me in enough to keep me guessing

And maybe I should stop and start confessing

Confessing, yeah

Oh, I’ve been shaking

I love it when you go crazy

You take all my inhibitions

Baby, there’s nothing holding me back

You take me places that tear up my reputation

Manipulate my decisions

Baby, there’s nothing holding me back

There’s nothing holding me back

There’s nothing holding me back

Lance poured his feelings into the song while maintaining eye contact with Emery.

When the song finished, he didn’t mind the crowds screaming and cheering and crying –– all his focus was on her and her alone.

He smiled when she smiled. Then she turned around, and when she met his eyes once more –– he was bewildered by how sad and dejected she was. Like the world was ending before her eyes.

Then out of the blue –– she ran away.

He shoved the mike onto Lawrence, eyes never left her as he went down the stage and chase after her.

----

Music and Lyrics:

Shawn Mendes

’There’s Nothing Holding Me Back’

----

[Emery’s POV]

[I Love You]

I felt conscious when Lance’s eyes landed on me.

After I settled my luggage and everything at Casa Montaña, I changed into my swimsuit and sprinted towards the beach, hoping I could still make it for the party.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I caught their last performance for the day. Though it was a closing performance, I did not care.

I was just glad that I had the chance to watch him perform. And when our eyes met, I was looking up to him on the stage while he was looking down at me amidst the flocks of people.

My body burned as I bit my lips, repressing a squeal. At the same time, I wanted to hide from his sight. This was the first time he saw me in my swimsuit. Though it was a standard two-piece black bondage bikini, I wanted to cover myself when his eyes roamed all over my body.

I was not this shy about my figure since I knew how good I look with whatever I wear, but this was Lance, the man I so dearly love.

His opinion of me matters the most.

But very soon, all my reservations completely melted when he began to sing. His voice was so amazing. How good he dances was the same as how good he sings.

I could not believe the twins could be so talented. No wonder they were so popular.

I did not know of other dancers and singers, so I could not compare them. But judging from the sheer number of their fans and the wild cheering crowds, it was enough volume to speak of how good they were.

As the show progress, I reverted to my fangirl mode as I remained stupefied on my spot, unmoving as all I could see was him.

He seemed to be telling me something from the way his eyes locked on mine. My chicks burned from the thought that he might be confessing to me through the lyrics.

He was hypnotizing me with his eyes alone, and after the song ended, my lips stretched in a wide smile.

Not minding the noise from the crowds, this very moment –– only he and I existed.

Until the girls behind me crushed my world to dust.

"You’re so lucky, Jen! You have an amazing boyfriend!"

"Yeah! He confessed to you through a song. How sweet is that?!"

I turned around, and the smiling, smug face of Jennifer toppled my view. All the sparkles, the sunshine, the life, the sweet melodies, the fantastic sceneries turned to hell and doom and gloom.

Tears flooded my eyes, and I shot Lance a glance.

It was not me.

It was Jennifer all along.

I shoved everyone and ran away from the place.

"Lance!"

My attention flicked towards that voice, calling Lance’s name and saw Jennifer hopped towards Lance in a tight embrace when the latter went down from the stage.

I held my mouth when a sobbed pushed passed the lump in my throat.

I did not care if everyone saw me crying.

I had to run away –– fast.

Away from all of this!

"Em!"

My legs froze at the sound of my name from his frantic voice. Like an automatic response, I turned to his direction.

Lance’s eyes stayed glued on me. Without looking at anyone else, he pushed Jennifer away from him while the latter stumbled, landing on her butt against the ground. He then jogged towards me.

Absolute silence descended as no one made a sound. No one even paid attention to Jennifer, falling on the ground, butt first. Everyone’s attention was on us.

I stop functioning as I watch the approaching man in a daze. When he was inches in front of me, he reached out and held my hand.

"Em, where are you going?" he asked.

I snapped out from my reverie, and the hurt and pain came pouring in.

"A-away . . . away . . . ," I choked between catching my breath and sobbing. The tears in my eyes prevented me from seeing his face.

"Damn it, woman! Why are you running away?!"

I cried harder when he said it in an annoyed voice, which I was too familiar with.

"D-do not . . . *sob . . . Y-you do not . . . *hiccup . . . l-love me . . ."

Lance closed his eyes and sighed. "After all that singing, you still didn’t get it?"

His brows crumpled, and I stared at him with a teary face.

Lance rolled his eyes and pulled me in a tight embrace.

"I love you."

He whispered as he caressed my hair.

It was like a bomb exploded in my head, and everything shuddered.

I bit my lips when drop after drop of tears blurred everything.

"S-say it again . . ."

"I love you."

"A-again . . ."

"I love You."

"Again . . ."

"You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?"

He huffed a laugh as he released me and gently wiped away my tears. That was when the people’s cheers resounded like a waterfall.

With reddened cheeks and somewhat embarrassed, I lowered my head.

"Let’s go. Let’s get out of here," Lance whispered as he held my hand and pulled me away from the crowds prying eyes.

. . .

. . .

I was dreaming. I could not believe this was real.

I was floating. I could not feel my feet on the sand.

It was a wonderful feeling that I could not describe it with words.

The silence continued, but it was not the awkward silence, more like a comforting stillness as we walked on the shore, hand in hand.

My eyelids fluttered, caressed by the orange glow of the setting sun. I stopped and watched the orange horizon sea and sky.

"What is it?" Lance asked in a soft voice.

". . ."

". . ."

"I want a kiss."

Lance was taken aback. He then glanced left and right. "No, not in a public place, woman."

I did not say anything. I just stared at him with pleading, longing eyes.

Lance held his ground –– not backing down.

. . .

. . .

*sigh . . .

In a blink of an eye –– his face inched closer, pressing his lips against mine.

The kiss was so soft. It was a simple contact, and it lingered for a second before he withdrew. His face red as his eyes avoided mine.

"Let’s go."

He said and walked ahead, leaving me behind.

I giggled. Skipping a step, I chaste after him and held his hand.

"Yay!"

I chortled in delight and rubbed my cheek against his arm.

"Shut up."

He barked with an embarrassed voice, avoiding my eyes entirely.

I giggled nonstop.

I’m so glad I did not give up. 💕