Chapter 11: I Love You

Chapter 11 - I Love You Rafael was sitting in the living room while Bianca made him a cup of hot tea. If Adrian was a coffee addict who couldn't go a day without caffeine, Rafael was the opposite. He didn't like coffee. He preferred tea, the scent, the warmth. He said the smell of tea helped calm him down. When Bianca returned, she found Rafael with his eyes closed. She set the cup on the table in front of him, careful not to disturb the quiet. "Raf," she said softly. "Hmmm..." "Here. Drink your tea." Rafael opened his eyes, looked at her for a second, and picked up the cup. From her angle, Bianca could see the steam curling up from the tea as Rafael held it. True to habit, he raised the cup and inhaled the aroma before taking a sip. "Why have you been avoiding me?" he asked as he placed the cup back on the table. "You know why, Raf..." "Is this about Miranda?" Bianca said nothing. She didn't nod, didn't look at him just stared ahead, silent. But her silence said it all. For God's sake, Bianca had just learned that the man she had been sharing a bed with for the past six months was actually engaged. Engaged to a woman who, on top of being stunning, was also genuinely kind. And the worst part? She hadn't heard it from Rafael. She heard it from Miranda herself. Last week, Miranda had come to the office to meet Adrian. While she waited, Adrian was still in a meeting. Bianca ended up chatting with her. The conversation had started light, harmless until Miranda casually brought up her fiancé. Rafael. Apparently, Rafael and Miranda had been arranged to marry since they were children. And not once had he told Bianca. As that memory flooded back, Bianca blinked hard, her jaw tightening. Rafael let out a slow breath, his jaw tightening. "My relationship with Miranda is purely friendly, Bianca. Nothing more." Bianca let out a small, humorless laugh. "Friendly? Do you even hear yourself? You two are engaged, Rafael. Engaged!" Her voice rose. "It's strictly business, B. Just business. I'll call it off if you don't like it." "Rafael!!" Bianca shouted, cutting him off as she shot to her feet. She began pacing in front of him, disbelief written all over her face. She couldn't believe he would even consider breaking off an engagement because of her. "I'm serious, B. Please don't leave me," Rafael pleaded, desperation leaking into his voice. He paused, watching her carefully, searching for any sign that she believed him. But Bianca stayed still, unreadable. Rafael leaned back slightly, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "This is killing me, B," he muttered. "You're pulling away from me like I did something unforgivable, and I'm standing here trying to explain what I should've told you a long time ago." His voice cracked a little at the end, and he quickly looked away, trying to pull himself together. "Miranda is a good woman, Raf." "I know, B. I know she is. But I don't love her. I love you." Bianca blinked, stunned. Her breath caught in her throat as the words hit her. She hadn't expected him to say it, at least, not like that. Not with that much weight. For a split second, her composure cracked. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. She quickly looked away, masking the tremor in her chest. "Rafael... whatever this is between us, it was never a real relationship." "It's been six months," Bianca continued, her voice strained. "You can't seriously think you're in love with me after just six months." She paused, then said more quietly, "If your relationship with Miranda is just business... then what we have... it's just pleasure." "That's what we agreed on from the start. No strings. No feelings." She looked him straight in the eye. "And you broke that." Rafael lowered his head, defeated. His chest tightened. His heart ached. He knew exactly how it started between them, casual, simple, no expectations. But the more time he spent with her, the more everything changed. He didn't even know when it began. He just knew he felt something now. Something real. "B, please... don't leave me..." His voice broke, barely more than a whisper. There was no anger in it, no pride just pure desperation. Rafael took a shaky breath, as if holding himself together by sheer will. His hands clenched at his sides, his shoulders tense, eyes clouded with something deeper than just sadness. "I'm trying here," he said, voice trembling. "I know I messed up. I should've told you everything. But I didn't know how to... I didn't want to lose you." He rose from the chair and slowly walked toward her, unsure and careful. "You don't get it, B. This... whatever this is between us, it's the only thing that feels real to me right now. And the thought of you walking away..." He swallowed hard, unable to finish the sentence. "That's enough, Raf," Bianca said, voice tight. "I don't love you. And I won't be the one who ruins your relationship with Miranda. Rafael suddenly reached for her again, closing whatever space was left between them. Bianca could clearly see her reflection in his eyes now, his pain, his desperation. Unconsciously, she swallowed hard and looked away. "Look at me, B!" Rafael gripped her shoulders. His voice was hoarse, pleading. "Look at me and say it again. Say that you don't love me. Say it, B." "I. Don't. Love. You." Bianca met his eyes directly. "I don't love you, Rafael." She was lying. There was no way she didn't feel anything for this man. With his soft eyes, gentle heart, and disarming patience. She said it to push him away. To make him hate her. "I don't believe you," Rafa said, voice low but firm. "Say it again. Say that during all this time... you never felt anything for me." "Raf, please... don't do this," Bianca murmured, lowering her head as her eyes welled with tears. Suddenly, Rafael cupped her chin and tilted it up, forcing her to look at him. "You're mine, B. Mine." He kissed her rough, desperate, aching. All of his frustration, confusion, and heartbreak poured into that kiss. Fear crept into Bianca's chest as he kept going. Sensing her body tremble, Rafael finally pulled away, his breathing ragged. "I'm sorry, B..." he whispered, his voice filled with regret as he gently touched her cheek. "I love you. You're the only one who can make me feel like this. Please... don't leave me. My heart.. God, it hurts so much." He rested his forehead against her shoulder, as if hoping he could disappear into her. "Raf... Miranda's been your friend since you were kids. You've known her your whole life. And I know she has feelings for you." "Miranda is just a friend, Bianca. That's all," he said honestly. "She's perfect, Raf. She's rich, beautiful, smart, she has everything. There's no way you don't feel something special for a woman like that." Suddenly, Rafael stepped back. The love in his eyes vanished, replaced by something hollow. "So that's what you think of me?" he asked quietly. "That I look at a woman and only see money and a pretty face?" Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked away. The look he gave her before leaving cold, broken, hit Bianca like a knife to the chest. ***