This one's to @Mitchymusic for the amusing comments. Sorry that it came out so late ð
Anyways, last chapter of da book people. I love you all for all the comments and support you've been giving me and for backing me up all the way. Thank you for rereaders who took their time to reread this story and next surprise is gonna come up in the following chapters after this one (JUST PLEASE SCROLL THROUGH UNTIL YOU GET TO IT. YOU'LL KNOW WHAT IT IS ONCE YOU GET TO IT. READ IT. IT WILL BRING YOU JOY. (I HOPE -- UNLESS YOU'RE HATING ON ME)
Enjoy!
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"We'll get him back, Case. I know we will. He won't let you go that easily. He'll come back to us and if he doesn't, we'll get him to," Preston sounded so determined that if I wasn't there myself, I wouldn't believe that he was the douche who implied I was just another toy his brother would discard after he gets bored of me.
I rubbed my face, wishing I could just rub all the worry and anxiety out of my system.
I know I should be grateful instead of hating the situation. At least I will still get to see him. Even though he wouldn't remember who I am, I would still remember who he is and that's supposed to be enough.
To even imagine him waking up and look at me as if I was a complete stranger was enough to cause an ache in my heart to reach its peak. I didn't want to lose him, not after what we've gone through.
Through the hospital window, lightning flashed and a thunder's roar followed suit before the pelts of rain started hitting the window loudly, matching the gloom mood of the room.
"I don't want to lose him, Pres. Not after everything. It's my fault," I sobbed and I was surprise to feel the warmth engulf me the second the first tear slipped out through my shut lids.
Preston shushed me, "It's not your fault, Case. What happened was an accident. Don't blame it on yourself."
His words made the tears increase and soon, my chest was heaving from the effort to not throw something towards the wall out of frustration and anger towards myself.
I loathed the fact that even after what happened to his brother, Preston couldn't trace the dots and figure out that all the mishaps that have been happening begun the minute that I came along.
"It is my fault, you idiot. Why won't you just hate me?! I am the reason that your flesh and blood is lying on his death bed!" I yelled in outrage. "I am the reason that your brother might not remember anything. Not even you," I shoved him away from me and faced the other way, too ashamed of myself to face him.
"I wasn't strong enough or smart enough to get money quicker so that your mother would receive treatments and an operation quicker. I could've saved her and now I couldn't even fulfill the promise I made her," I spat out and felt his hand land on my shoulder, trying to coax me to calm down.
I shrugged it off, walked to a dark corner of the room and hugged myself, still not facing him.
"I street fight, Pres," I whispered and instead of receiving insults, I could practically see him shrugging.
"So? Adam fights too. It's not that big of a deal, Case. How would it connect to all of this anyways?" I squeezed my eyes shut and with a heavy heart, spilled the beans on my double life to him.
"... He threatened me on re-entering that competition or he will kill everyone I love. This was a warning. Not for Adam, but for me," a shiver ran down my spine and my fingers tightened themselves around my arms.
I didn't hear anything from Preston and I appreciated the silence, deciding to tend to my internal banter between my conscience and my inner demons.
"Honestly, I want to blame you. God, how I want to kill you right now for putting my brother in this situation but on the other hand, I couldn't do that because it wouldn't be fair to you."
My body was turned forcefully to face the man before me who, after all that I've told him, was still not looking at me with disgust but with sympathy.
"You didn't know this was going to happen, Case. I know you love my brother. You're carrying one hell of a baggage and it's my brother's choice to be with you or not and since he hasn't ran away, I'm going to respect his wishes and let you make your decision."
My eyes snapped towards his as he kept eye contact.
"So, what is it going to be?" I gulped while our eyes never let each other's wander away.
I knew what he was talking about. Now that Adam lost his memory. There is a choice to make. I was a nuisance to this family; a silent threat to them.
I was a silent threat to everyone I love. People were going after me, not them.
There was a choice I should make; to stay or to leave; and there were certainly more complicated things to think about.
Right before I could answer him, Jerry walked in with a grim look on his face.
"He's awake."
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply through my nose, Preston's question ringing through my head.
"So what's it going to be, Case?" I asked myself quietly and with a heavy heart, I knocked on the door and pushed the handle down and nudged the door open before stepping in slowly.
'Come on, Case. You can do this,' I told myself mentally, looking around the room until my eyes landed on the man lying on the bed with his eyes closed and a deep frown on his face.
His head was prepped on a pile of pillows so that he would be able to look around the room instead of just staring at the ceiling.
A lump was lodged on my throat and my heart plunged into my stomach as his eyes snapped open and looked my way.
My breath was caught on my throat and I held my breath, waiting for a reaction.
I was greeted with a frown and a perplexed look.
"Do I know you?" He questioned with confusion laced under his tone.
I could feel my heart drop even further.
'He doesn't remember me.'
The realization crashed into me and it finally dawned on me that I was a stranger towards him again.
'This is what you wanted in the first place; for him to not bother you and follow you around. Be happy,' I tried convincing myself with a pile of bull but deep in me, I knew that this man dug deeper than anyone did and he had built his throne that resides in my heart now.
My conscience was screaming at me to remind him who we are once more; to make him remember what we had before all of this happened.
I love him but he doesn't love me. Not when he couldn't even remember who I am.
Those places we visited, the things we did together, the problems we faced together aren't even a memory to him anymore. They were mists that he would never be able to touch ever again.
I felt my heart breaking, my world crumbling down right before me as I looked into his eyes then and there. I can see him but he can't see me. He won't ever be able to see me.
I made a move to step towards him and he stayed put, he didn't flinch or cringe nor did he move closer. There was a frown and a curious look on his face.
"I'm sorry. Do I know you?" He asked again while biting his lips, indicating that he was thinking really hard before wincing and clutching his head.
I opened my mouth to answer him but closed it again once I remembered what Preston told me.
I've put this family in more danger than protecting it. Staying with them would mean putting them in the middle of a war that they know nothing of and that wasn't fair. They didn't choose to participate in this war and they won't be. I won't let it happen.
My heart screamed at me to say yes, to help rebuild his memory and make more of them by staying by his side but my head denied it, thinking more rationally and logically.
If you love them, you won't be reluctant in letting them go once you know it's got to the point where it's starting to hurt them.
This is for the best.
I forced a smile and made sure it reached my eyes. It wasn't that hard to fake a smile after a while of practice. I made sure my eyes were a bit squinted and casted the throb in my heart aside.
"No, I must have entered the wrong room. Sorry for disturbing you," My voice cracked in the end and I slapped myself mentally for that slip.
I feared that he was going to suspect something but instead, he mirrored a smile, although his was more strained, and nodded.
"It's no problem," he murmured, still staring at me like he was trying to push through the fog that was clouding his memory.
My heart cheered for him to dig deeper and successfully recognize me but my brain prayed that he would let it go and leave it at that for his sake.
I felt as if dozens of knives were piercing through me and my hands trembled at the force I was using to keep myself together for a little while. I prayed that I won't ever forget how his lips felt on mine or the sweet memories that were drilled into my head.
I turned around, ready to leave the room while caressing my lips and they tingled, as though to help me remember and relive it once again.
"Wait," Adam called out, causing my whole body to go rigid and my hand froze before it could touch the handle of the door. I put on a smile once more and prepared myself before turning around.
"Yes?" Adam squinted a little, drinking in my features and I could feel my heart cheering him on while my brain growled in my head for him to drop it. I was in an internal battle with myself and it was all because of the clueless guy I call my boyfriend.
He might not remember me as his girlfriend but I'll always remember. It was an eternal torture that I couldn't escape; that I wouldn't ever be able to escape.
"Do you mind helping me call the nurse?" I forced the sigh of relief in and the smile to stay intact as to not show my disappointment.
I'm complicated.
I nodded mutely, fearing that I would burst into tears then and there if I were to speak. I saw his confused expression and I realized my eyes were blurring, full with unshed tears and I hurriedly slip out of the door and shut it with a soft click and slid down the wall beside it with tears streaming down my face as I let go.
Wasn't the problems I have in the first place enough to keep my life interesting?
I forced myself to bow my head and closed my eyes, praying silently for the strength to get through this. To get past the problems and obstacles life is throwing my way.
After my meltdown, I picked myself up, wiped my tears dry and kept my chin up. I'll get through this. I know I will.
'You did the right thing, Case,' I told myself while walking down the dark hall, feeling alone and lost.
With that, I trudged through the halls to meet back with the others and tell them of my plan.
3rd person's POV
Once Cassandra was out of sight, Dom slipped out of the dark corner he was hiding in and knocked on the door before slipping into Adam's hospital room.
He closed the door silently and tensed up once he heard the voice of the man that stole his Casey's heart.
"Who are you?" Adam's voice was terse. The sight of this unfamiliar man was unnerving and an unfamiliar feeling kicked in; his head played out ways on what to do if this guy tries something funny.
Dom has always been convincing and he has always had that charisma that draws people in so it wasn't hard for him to smile to Adam and greet him like they were best friends.
"Bro, you scared the shit out of me. Don't do that, man!" Dom scolded jokingly with a grin on his face but the alarms were going off in Adam's head. There was just something about this man that sets him off.
His memory was hazy and he couldn't remember everything but he knew that the best thing next to his memory was his instincts.
"I'm sorry, do we know each other?" Dom noticed the wary look that flitted across Adam's hard look. Adam was the type that was hard to crack but he was sure that he could break him.
"Of course, we're best friends!" Dom grinned and Adam smiled at the response he received.
'Finally, someone who can help me,' Adam thought as he began to relax.
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BEFORE YOU GUYS SPREAD HATE.. LOOK OUT FOR THE SEQUEL; TO LIVE IS TO FIGHT ð
THE BOOK IS OUT. The link of how to buy it on scoop will be on my bio if any of you are interested.
Thank you so much for supporting me through this. And because I love you all sooo much, I won't be taking this down from wattpad even after it's published so that people who wants to read it for free will be able to if they want to.
A part of the money from the sales will be given to the free high school my family help found to help the less fortunate continue their education to high school. The money will be used to help expand the space for more students.
Thank you so much, I won't be able to do this if it wasn't for the continuous support you guys have shown me.
I love you all and God bless ð -J