Trapped

Chapter 46: AFTER

Chapter Forty Six:

Warren Callahann's invitation.

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I'M IMMOBILIZED IN tracks.

Hearing shuffling footsteps approach me, I tipped my chin upwards. Warren was already standing in front of me, offering a hand to help me stand up—or gather the things I was holding, I wasn’t even sure anymore.

All I knew is that my heart seemed to stop beating.

“Let me help you with that.”

“Oh, I can manage,” I informed, clipped. But just like me, he wasn’t taking no for an answer. As my legs supported me to stand up, Warren reached out a hand on my arm and gently helped me stand up. The moment I was firmly on my feet, he hurriedly reached for the picnic basket that I was holding. I was too stunned to even protest.

“Are you alright, Maxwell?” Warren’s voice was full of concern, and don’t make me start on the way he gazed at me with such worry. It made me feel a lot of emotions. I grew confused, uncertain why he asked that question. Warren noticed it, and he immediately added. “You’re crying…”

Despite the sunny weather, I shuddered. With my free hand, I patted the tears that continued to escape from my eyes. In my peripheral vision, I saw Warren fished something out of his denim pants. He offered a handkerchief to me almost instantly, and I hesitated before finally accepting.

“Thank you,” I gently wiped the tears with his handkerchief, and I almost bawled my eyes out again the second I caught a whiff of his scent. His handkerchief smells like him…

Gosh, how I miss his natural smell.

No—I shouldn’t think like this…because if I think like this, I might actually show it.

Shaking the thoughts away, I bit my lower lip. “This… this is my first time visiting my—Chandy’s grave.” I almost made a fool out of myself by exposing my real identity, and because of that, Warren puzzlingly eyed me. “I… I s-still can’t believe that she’s gone.” —that I’m gone. As soon as I said those, he gazed back at the tombstone and I did the same.

Even though it has been almost a month since I was buried, there were still a lot of bouquets and pots of flowers that surrounded the huge white marbled stone that sheltered the coffin underneath. Yellow peonies are my favorite type of flowers, but it wasn’t limited to that—there were a variety. I caught a glimpse of carnations, hyacinths, sunflowers, and most especially white chrysanthemums. There were also wreaths that were slowly withering due to the course of time that they’d been staying at the museleo.

The sight made my heart sink.

“I think that makes the two of us,” Warren heaved out a sigh. Our eyes met, and I could almost feel a shock of electricity travelling through my entirety as he flashed a sad smile. “This is my first time visiting Chandria as well,” he gestured his head to the side, beckoning me to go closer to the tomb.

I nodded at him and trailed.

Despite wanting to tell him that I’m aware, I know I couldn’t because he’ll find out that I was eavesdropping on him earlier. I didn’t want to make a bad impression.

My eyes gathered to the front. As I neared the place, only then did I noticed the LED screen embedded to my tombstone. There was a video playing on it, and I almost stumbled on nothing as I grew familiar with each picture and videos that were playing on the screen. It was a collection where I was smiling, laughing, and seemed to be an embodiment of happiness. It wasn’t even just me—all important people in my life were with me in the video.

It took a ton of self-control to keep myself from wailing. But there was no way I could stop the tears that pooled inside my eyes. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I tightly gripped on the white marbled stone. Although my legs seemed to betray me as I staggered backwards.

Big, firm hands wrapped on my arms, catching and supporting my weight before I fall. I didn’t even need to turn around to check if Warren was the one who did such a thing—we were the only ones inside the museleo so it’s simply a no brainer.

“Maxwell, are you alright?” he worriedly asked. He helped me sit on one of the wooden benches provided inside. “You seem unwell.”

How can I tell him that I’ve been unwell the moment I woke up in Maxwell’s body? How can I tell him that I’m not, in any way possible, alright? How can I reach out to him without scaring him away?

I’m so lost, and I’ve never felt more alone in my entire life.

The thoughts opened the faucet of my tears. I couldn’t hold back the emotions anymore as I sat there and cried my heart out. I buried my face in between both hands, sobbing harder than before. I’m mourning… I’m currently in so much grief that no one could possibly take the pain away.

Just as when I thought I couldn’t cry any harder, my wail grew louder the second Warren engulfed me in his embrace. The warmth in his body mingled with mine, somewhat soothing my feelings. His large hands gently tapped on my back on a slow rhythm, seemingly coaxing a child who just lost her favorite toy. I buried my face on his neck, crying endlessly. Warren didn’t utter a single sound, but I was aware that he was crying with me as well.

Once again, he offered a shoulder to cry on.

I wish he knew that I was the one he’s truly hugging right now. I badly wanted to tell him that everything’s going to be alright.

… because I’ll definitely find a way for things to get back to the way it used to be.

And no one’s going to stop me from doing so.