XI
Marc was frozen in his spot as her words repeated in his mind,
"I was twelve and stupid! All I wanted to do was fit in but how could I when I had the biggest crush on the boy that everyone in the class called a loser? How could I admit how I felt when all I could think about was making friends as the new girl? I know that what I did was stupid but I didn't think it affected you as much as it affected me. I went through all these years wondering what happened to you and hoping that you didn't feel as awful as I did after saying those things to you! And even now, knowing that I don't deserve to have feelings for you, I'm still in love with you!"
She was in love with him?
For all these years?
"But why didn't you tell me? You could have told me in secret instead of leaving me to live with this self-hatred that you put in me with your words."
"I'm sorry Marc but I really wasn't thinking at the time. I just thought you deserved to be with someone who wouldn't say such hurtful words to you."
"But this whole time--"
"I know! I feel awful about it and it doesn't help that I still have feelings for you. But I completely understand if you don't want to see me ever again. This past week, I was just happy knowing that you could tolerate my presence but I'll leave now and I won't try to enter your life ever again."
He watched her as she took a few steps but before she could pass him, he held onto her arm to stop her.
"So you really have feelings for me," he stated more than asked, causing her to nod.
And although he hadn't forgotten all the pain that her words had caused him, just knowing that she felt the same way about him was all he needed to be overcome with a sudden warmth as he turned around and held her face in his hands before kissing her.
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back until they pulled away to catch their breaths. And as they looked at each other, small smiles appeared on their lips.
"I can't say that I've forgiven you for what happened but I'm willing to try and see if this--us-- if we'll work."
He reached his hand out to her and she grabbed onto it before they began to walk back to the party.
- - -
He smiled at her as her grip on his hand tightened. She smiled back.
They walked into the banquet hall to find that the party was still going on. But to his surprise, his father wasn't there. He looked around until he found his mother and they both walked to her.
"Where's father?" he asked his mother. She turned around with a dark expression on her face.
"What's going on mom?" he asked. A few stray tears fell onto her face, causing him to release his hand from Catherine's grip as he wiped his mother's tears.
"What is it?"
"Your father--"
"What happened?"
"You need to see him--now. You don't have much time."
"What do you mean?"
"He's in the master bedroom. Go with Catherine."
He looked at Catherine who looked at him with a confused expression. She followed him as he began to walk away from the banquet hall.
Moments later, they entered the bedroom to find his father still on the bed.
"Father, what's going on? You said you'd join the party," Marc said.
His father smiled before he was overtaken by a coughing fit. When he finished coughing, his smile reappeared as he focus his attention on Catherine.
"And who is this beautiful lady?" his father asked, his voice noticeably weaker than before.
"Father, this is Catherine, my girlfriend," he felt his lips turn into a smile as he looked at her and she smiled back.
"Catherine, this is my father."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Balesco," Catherine said, taking a few steps towards his father's bed.
When she was close enough, she watched as his father reached out to her and she held onto his hand.
"So you're the lady that has managed to melt my son's heart."
Catherine chuckled.
"I have to admit that I'm also the one who caused it to freeze," she said, her voice solemn. His father shook his head.
"That was in the past. All that matters now is that you've been able to reconnect and from the looks of things, I think you're going to have a great future together."
His father gestured for Marc's hand and he reached out to him. His father placed his hand on top of Catherine's and as he felt the warmth of her hand under his, Marc couldn't help but to look at Catherine.
"The love that you feel for each other in this moment, I want you to treasure it. Because if there is anything that I've learned during my time in this world, it's that love has endless benefits and it truly is one of the greatest blessings in this world."
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