32、Acceptance of Defeat
**Lisa’s POV**
What a quiet night and a blissful dinner. The dinner has been a good start for Archie and I. He can now enter our home whenever he sends me home and not like before that he stays outside. I was hoping that his relatives would do the same thing for him just like my parents did. I slept peacefully that night after Archie left home. He left with a smile on his face knowing that he just passed the first hurdle of our relationship, my parents. I just hope his next move is to introduce me to his relatives and mother.
I arrived at the office early because I woke up early and out of excitement that my parents agreed with my relationship. But to my surprise, Luigi is already at my office sitting in my visitor’s chair. I don’t know what’s his business this time, but I have a gut feeling that it is not good at all.
“Good morning, Luigi. What can I do for you this early in the morning?” I asked him
“Is that all you can say and ask?” He questioned.
I furrowed my eyebrow as if I asked something hurtful. “Then, what do you want me to ask if not for work related matters?” I asked him again.
He stood up as I approached my chair behind the table. He grabbed my wrist and slammed me to his chest and embraced me tight. I wiggled to release me from his hold, but he just held me tighter. He tried to kiss me but I turned my face away from him but he yanked my hair to face him. Then he forcefully kissed my lips like a hungry animal devouring my lips. I cannot release myself from his hold, so with all my force, I stepped on his foot with my heels. Then he released me with agonizing pain on his toes. Then I slap him hard on his face.
“What the hell are you thinking Luigi?! Is that how you want me to see how despicable man you are?! That you cannot accept defeat? You just now proved yourself that I cannot trust you anymore.” I was already sobbing, he was just standing in front of me while I sat on my chair still sobbing. I cannot stand still because my legs are shaking from what had happened. I can see that there were tears in his eyes. I pity him but I cannot force myself to love him because I love Archie.
He went to the opposite chair and held my hands while we both cried. “Sorry, If I did something drastic and hurt you in the process. I do really love you Melissa and it breaks my heart to admit my defeat and I could never see you again. I am really desperate to make you mine, but it seems that Archie really swept you on your feet.”
“Do you think that what you did can change my mind? Even if you raped me, I will not marry you! Just thinking that you forced yourself on me makes me hate you more! There will be no love at all. In desperation you did what you did, you must understand that love is a two-way relationship. You will not be happy if I give in to your desire, but will you be comfortable if I love someone but not you? I guess not, you will always be in turmoil. Luigi for the last time, I beg you to stop doing this. Accept your defeat and let’s just be friends. That’s all I can give you. I know you will find someone much better than me.” I continue sobbing.
He released my hand and stood up. He walked to the door and stopped. “I’m sorry Melissa, I really am. I just can’t control the pain that my heart suffered because of my defeat to Archie. If only I could teach my heart to stop loving you, I would have done so. Now I realize how painful it is to love someone but not reciprocated. I’m sorry, but I rejected your friendship because I wanted more than that. I know I can never look into your eyes ever again because of what I did. I am really ashamed of myself for all that it cost. With all my heart, I wish you happiness with the one you love. Sorry again Melissa, you will still be the one I truly love and will always be a part of my heart.” He left me sobbing and thankful that he will stop pestering me. That’s all I need for him to accept his defeat and stop his innuendoes.
**Luigi’s POV**
I really love Malissa and the incident at the lobby with Lily and Archie is something that puts me to think seriously of the incident. I cannot really let Melissa go to someone whose personality is questionable. I can’t say Archie is truthful to Melissa. What if Lily is telling the truth that Archie is also courting or pursuing Lily? I don’t want to see Melissa crying because Archie is unfaithful to her. I need to do something that could change her mind and divert her attention to me instead of Archie.
I get to her office early so I can talk to her privately. She was so shocked to see me at her office. I can see that she is afraid of me. It is apparent because we were the only people on this floor. She greeted me first good morning, though her voice was shaky like she was really afraid. Asking me if I have work related problems. I don’t know what comes to my mind. I grabbed her wrist and slammed her to my chest and embraced her. I wanted to kiss her like what Archie did the last time I saw them kissing at her office. But she refused to turn her head to me. So, I yanked her hair to force her to look at me. I successfully kissed her lips which tasted like heaven. I never wanted to let her go but she stepped on my toes. With pain, I let her go and I know her legs are shaking and I realized that I have done something wrong that I would regret for the rest of my life, hurting the only woman I have ever loved. She sat in her chair and I sat in front of her and held her hands to calm her down. But I feel her shaking and I cannot control myself from crying too. I cannot stop her from sobbing because of what I did. She told me if I succeeded in my intention, she would never love me, she would hate me more. I never intended to rape her. I know I made a mistake, but I know I am hurting her more. I caused her pain and I guess I need to release her from this pain and that is to admit my defeat from Archie. Maybe this is the right time to release her, but I can’t accept to be her friend because I wanted her to be more than friends. I can never look again into her eyes because of what I did. It will just give me pain and guilt. I will try to avoid her in the near future and I wish them happiness.Original from NôvelDrama.Org.