It broke Sydney’s heart. It felt like it’s not her first time seeing Caelum cry, maybe because she felt so comfortable with the man. Tears were running down his face as he looked at the view.

“T-That’s why this view is very special to him a-and…” He choked on his tears as he spoke, trying to continue the story but Sydney doesn’t want him to go on any longer.

So, for some unknown reason, her arms stretched out and cupped his cheeks. She pulled his face down to her while she tiptoed her tiny feet to reach for his lips.

Caelum was taken aback. His heart pounded loudly on his chest as she continued their embrace. It felt so right. He couldn’t stop himself and his arms automatically wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer to him.

Sydney pulled away, both scared and embarrassed with what she just did. But she can’t escape now, can she? “I-I… I…” She stuttered, didn’t know what to say.

So she mustered up her courage, looked up at his teary eyes, and asked, “Are you, perhaps… Julius? Is this your story?”

The man bit his lower lip, nodded, and broke down, crying once more.

“Oh, my dear goodness…” She couldn’t take the sight of him crying. It broke her too much, so she immediately tiptoed and wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling his head to rest on her shoulder.

It took them quite a while before Caelum has really calmed down. They sat on the couches that were around, and Sydney was even very caring to give him water.

He was just there sitting, looking at the view outside with wet eyes. She really didn’t know what to do. ‘Dammit, you kissed him, Sydney!’ She scolded herself for being very immature.

She suddenly faces him and bows her head, “I… I’m really sorry, Mr. Caelum.” Oh please don’t get mad at me.

His brows knotted, confused why she was saying her apologies, “Why?”

“I’m very sorry that I kissed you. It was my fault, please forgive me.” She kept her head down, both in sorry and embarrassment.

His heart sank. It was his fault in the first place why she had become like this. “No, it’s my fault. I should’ve been careful with how I reacted in front of you… you’re a good girl, Sydney. Thank you for trying to help me.”

She shouldn’t be like this, but her cheeks blushed tomato.

“Ha~.” Suddenly, he took a deep breath causing her to look up and check if something happened. “I really felt lighter now… thank you.” He faced her and smiled softly.

Sydney smiled back.

------

“May…” She hesitated to ask while they were walking along the hallway of the hospital, “may I ask what happened to your wife?”

Caelum stopped on his tracks, causing Sydney to do so as well. She looked up at him, wanting to know the answer, but the man said nothing and just looked at her with sorrowful eyes.

Just then did she realize that it was too sensitive of a topic and that she shouldn’t have asked, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—.”

“She’s safe.” He suddenly cuts her midway.

“Hmm?” Her brows rose, didn’t hear what he had just said.

“Let’s just say she’s safe now.”

“Oh.” Her lips turned into a shape of a circle while her head hung low before continuing to walk. Get yourself together Sydney! Why are you disappointed that his wife’s still alive?

Caelum, realizing that what he said made Sydney sad, stretched his arm, and took her hand on his. She froze, shocked when he held his hand. He squeezed her hand gently before telling her reassuringly, “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

It was surprising how his eyes could make her feel safe. She wanted to stare more into his beautiful eyes but he was still taken. Back off, Sydney… he’s married.

They both decided to drop the sad story for a minute and began to do things that were fun. There was a place in the hospital where the patients could play some board games and make art.

Sydney and Caelum played jigsaw puzzles. He shared more stories that he knows that were very interesting and fun and she couldn’t help but be drawn more into this man. I guess that’s how love, at first sight, feels like.

It was funny how Sydney wanted to forget her feelings for this man, but it kept on growing and growing with every second they share. From simple glances at one another to sudden slight touches of their skin. It tortured the self-control out of her.

So when it was late night and she had to go back to her room, Caelum felt how distant she was and he was worried that the day might end without them being on good terms.

They arrived in front of her room. It was saddening how they’ll part like this. Sydney bowed, “Goodnight, Mr. Caelum. Thank you for today. I really had fun.”

She was about to go inside her room, but he then stopped her by grabbing her wrist. Her breath hitched.

“S-Sydney…” There it goes again. Her name left his lips like butter, and she hates it how much she loves it. “What’s wrong?” He asked.

This time, she couldn’t really stop herself. All these feelings inside her were building up and it was hard to keep it. So she bit her lower lip, faced him, and looked up at him.

Caelum was surprised seeing tears on her round eyes. It tugged his heart. She must’ve been suffering all this while. He felt that, yet he decided to ignore it. All he wanted to do today was spend time with her.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, worried.

She shook her head slowly as tears began to fall, “I hate it…” She croaked, “I hate it that I’m starting to like you.”

His brows furrowed, also feeling the pain she’s going through as he heard what she said.

“I hate it that you’re married and that I only had to know you just today. I hate it that I love you.” She cried, doing her best to stay calm despite her body reacting otherwise, “How am I going to face you now when you know what my feelings are for you? How are we—.”

She stopped.

Caelum had just grabbed the back of her head before pulling her into his shoulder and hugging her tightly. This wasn’t supposed to happen, Caelum. You’ve caused her too much pain!

“I-I’m sorry if I made you feel like that. Please don’t feel guilty, please…” He told her in a soothing voice, still not knowing what to say.

Her fist crumpled and she lightly hit the man’s chest, blaming him, “Why are you like this even now? If you want me to forget you, you should’ve just left! Your wife’s going to hate you more if you do this—.”

“My wife is dead, Sydney… she’s safe now.” He cut her off.

She froze. She didn’t know what to do. Now she felt more embarrassed about how she acted assumingly and how it made it more difficult for Caelum.

Both in relief and anger, Sydney continued to gently punch his chest. She wanted to shout, but just on time, Caelum hugged her tightly, causing her mouth to be muffled on his broad chest, “I hate you!”

He chuckled lightly, couldn’t stop his heart from fluttering as he embraced her in his arms.

When she was already feeling better, Caelum pulled away slowly and bend his back to check whether Sydney was okay or not. The girl’s face was covered in tears and her nose was puffy. It fattened his heart.

“Look at me…” He placed his fingers under her chin and pulled it up gently.

“What?” She sniffed, “Now I look ugly because of you.” Her lower lip pouted and it made him smile handsomely.

She still felt upset. How could he not tell her the truth earlier? Did he really want her to be tortured throughout the whole day? Whatever bad feeling she was having, it all went away when Caelum spoke.

“I love you, Sydney.”

------

Tucking her to her hospital bed, Sydney can’t take her eyes off the man— his man. Her lips stretched outward when she thinks of the future things they’ll do together, and tomorrow will be their official ‘first day’.

“I might melt if you look too much.” Caelum joked while he arranges her blanket on her body.

She giggled, “Oh we don’t want that, do we now? Especially that we have lots of things to do together tomorrow!”

The man nodded as he chuckled lightly, “Yes.” After successfully tucking her in, Caelum rested his hands on the railings of her bed and looked at her sincerely. “What do you want to do tomorrow?”

“Hmm…” She pressed her lips as she thought, “How about we start off by having breakfast tomorrow? Just like how newly married couples do?”

Caelum laughed, “You’re really an advanced thinker, aren’t you? You already want me for yourself and yours only. You should listen to yourself, you literally just said that you wanted to get married to me.”

She puckered her lips, “Am not…”

He smiled at her softly, “It’s okay. I would love to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Hearing this, her eyes beamed but at the same time, her cheeks blushed, “Really?!”

The man looked at her for a while, just scanning her whole face. She had a cute petite round face, her brows were cutely shaped and her eyes were round as well. She has a fairly tall bridge but a perfectly cute pointed button nose. Her lips were plump and a little small.

His eyes got stuck on his lips, and Sydney looked at him in confusion, “Is everything alright, Caelum?”

He woke up from his deep thoughts and nodded, “Yes, I’m alright.” Slowly then, he leaned closer and closer to her until their breaths were inches away. Sydney felt butterflies in her stomach as soon as their lips embraced and for the first time ever, she felt how a sincere, loving kiss was.

Caelum pulled away slowly. Still holding her cheek, he gently rubs the pad of his thumb on her skin. Looking into her eyes as tears began to fill them, he said with all his heart, “I love you… my love.”

She didn’t know what was wrong, but she gave him a small smile and also held his cheek, “I love you, too. Caelum.”

He patted her back until she drifted off to sleep.

-------

The next day, she woke up. And as usual, she did her morning routine that the doctors scheduled for her. And of course, to free her mind, she went out to the place she loved best.

The hospital garden.

But there was something that bothered her.

Sydney sees a very interesting man in the hospital garden. He looked popular and friendly because a lot of other patients were hurdling around him, giving him smiles and greeting him good morning.

It was her first time seeing him though. Through her stay at the hospital, she’s never seen him and it’s unlikely to see someone very approachable to almost all of the people at the hospital. There was something fishy about the guy, and she didn’t like it.

That is until the man raised his head and locked eyes with her.

- E N D -