Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 403: She Said ’It’

Chapter 403: She Said ’It’

Arthur held her arm and stopped her from falling over as she tripped on a cobble stone that was misaligned.

"Will you watch where you’re stepping?"

Arthur let go of her seeing her eyes widened with shock. He noticed her clutching the little box for dear life and he couldn’t understand what she might be thinking.

"You can keep the ring if you like it that much," he spoke in a much calmer tone than before. She looked like a little child fearful that her candy would get stolen. "I’ll get you another-"

"No! If I am getting married, this would be the ring I’ll be wearing-"

"If?" Talia was interrupted by Arthur’s low grumble. "So, you’re not even sure about marrying me anymore?"

Talia looked at Arthur. There was a furrow between his eyebrows and he rubbed his forehead. He looked like he was in pain.

Did I spike his blood pressure by fighting? What have I done? Does his head hurt?

At that time, that was her first thought. She didn’t even think about what he said and that was the reason he was hurting.

"Fred, does your head hurt?" she tried to touch his head and he held her hand stopping her from touching in.

"No, my heart is hurting," he placed her hand on his heart. "Iris, what is bothering-"

"Oh no," Talia’s fingers trembled and she tried to unlock her phone, but her hands shook and the phone almost slipped from her hand. "Hold on... I should call the doctor."

"For fuc-" Arthur stopped himself from cussing. Her being so obsessed with his ’health’ made him a mad. He felt like she is over-reacting. Didn’t he assure her some time ago that he will tell her if he isn’t feeling good?

"Look at me, Iris! Do you want me to be sick that badly? Would it be your excuse to run away from me? Is that why you’re not planning on marrying me anymore? Because I got sick?" he grabbed her shoulders. "Honestly, I thought you’d be better than-" he paused seeing her eyes looking straight into his eyes and they started to get red. Her nose flared up and her lips curved to a smirk.

"Better than what, Fred? Why don’t you finish your words? Say it out loud. You think I am someone who leaves once they learn their partner is sick!" Talia’s hands trembled and her lips quivered. She was so mad, she fisted her hands.

Arthur realised that is exactly what he insinuated. He tut-tutted realising his stupidity and ungratefulness. If she is someone who leaves because of illness, she’d have left the moment she learnt of his tumour. She wouldn’t have stayed through his recovery.

She is worried for me... Isn’t that it? And I...

"Iris, I-"

Talia raised her hand showing her palm to stop him from speaking.

"You think I don’t want to marry you anymore?" she showed him the ring box. "Even now I can wear this ring and all it would take is one leaked photograph of me wearing an engagement ring for us to be tied for life! One picture is enough. My engagement will have to be announced and I will have to get married and once getting married, divorce is not an option. You know that, right?"

She opened the box and picked the ring out. Holding that ring in front of his face, she asked. "Do you want me to prove you that I am willing to stay with you for life right this instant?"

"No, stop it Iris..." Arthur tried to hold her hand but she took a couple of steps back.

He could see she was really angry and when angry she speaks the truth. She is not thinking twice about marrying him. She wants to marry him just like he wants to marry her. But...

"Not like this..."

He didn’t want for them to get engaged like this. This felt wrong.

"What was it? I want you to be sick so that I can run away? I really wish it was a slip of your tongue, FRED. Otherwise, if you believed even for a second what you said, I don’t have a f*cking clue who you are anymore." her voice broke and tears filled her eyes.

"I didn’t mean it, Iris... I am sorry." Arthur got closer to her. She was looking at the floor unwilling to look at his face. It hurt him. "How would I believe that after experiencing how caring you were with me? I’m sorry... You know I am an idiot." He tried to hold her hand.

"Don’t touch me!" Talia waved her hand and tears stared rolling out of her eyes.

"That day at the beach... holding you in my arms as you were unconscious... I –" she couldn’t even speak as her throat closed. "I thought you were dead! I froze and I thought you were actually dead... you didn’t wake up no matter how many times I called your name... I thought that maybe I should end my life too so that I don’t have to end up like my grandpa... all lonely and alone..."

"Iris... I’m..." Arthur’s heart broke seeing her speaking with her lips dry and her throat felt heavy. He knew that feeling. He has had such thoughts when he first saw her unconscious too.

"But you were breathing... Only then my brain started to function and... I tried not to breakdown. I knew it would be useless in that situation... But I was useless... I couldn’t answer any question the doctor asked and I only stumbled... but..." Talia snorted.

"Iris..." He paused seeing her empty look.

"Even you thought I was worthless... That’s what I thought when I learnt your assistant knew about every detail of your tumour. I was wearing this ring, waiting for you to wake up and to show you... but after I talked to your assistant, that ring felt so heavy... so I removed it..." Talia placed the ring back in the box.

"Ah, now I know why you’re mad I didn’t talk to you about the tour before. It hurts right?" she let out a dry chuckle. "But I know you didn’t hide it from me thinking I am worthless. You had a hundred reasons not to tell me... I am someone with a history of depression and you felt the need to protect me, or like Gigima said you might have wanted to see me smile for one more day so you hide your sadness from me or... anything else... I don’t care about that at all... It’s..."

"What is it?" Arthur wanted to know more of her grieving she kept locked in her heart. Also she is right about most of the things till now.

Talia paused as she got closer to the answer to the question that’s been nagging her these days. But when she tried to get a grip of the answer, she felt like she had only caught the mist and still there was nothing solid in her hands.

What was it?

"Do you even want to live, Fred?" she asked the question, but she felt like she had drifted far away from the answer she got. "You sat on such important information for months before you acted on it. I kept on asking and you said it was just migraines. Can you even blame me for doubting you whenever you say that you’re fine?"

She talked calmly as she had calmed down on her own.

"Ah... I am such a..." Arthur squatted on the floor holding his head. "I’m not having a headache. I just feel terrible realising how much of an A** I am."

Arthur said with a sigh and Talia sighed along. He looked terrible and she didn’t want to stress him, but since he says he is fine, she didn’t feel guilty for speaking out her mind.

She felt free. But she still had a little confusion in her heart about the answer she was looking for.

"Give me some time, Fred. I know you can’t be blamed and it is my fault for thinking too much. If I am going to marry, you’ll be the one who’d be standing by my side. It’s a promise. But... I don’t want to enter into our marriage without a clear mind. There is something bothering me. Wait till I find out-" her heart skipped a beat.

What if he won’t wait anymore? He’s waited a decade for me! What if he doesn’t want to wait anymore? Should I just agree for marriage and figure out everything else along the way? But... It feels wrong.

"Iris... It is fine. I’ll wait," Talia was pulled to a hug and she looked up to see Arthur looking down at her with his usual gentle smile.

"I’m sorry, Fred. I’m sorry for being such an extra-"

"Iris..." he placed a gentle kiss on her head. "You are not extra. You were thrust into a terrifying situation rather abruptly when there were ways to lessen the stress you went through. You had to face a terrible sandstorm alone and you bravely faced it. It is understandable for you to be overwhelmed when the dust settles. You did well, my dear Iris. I’m proud of you. Me on the other hand...It was my fault for waiting till the last moment."

"But I really don’t blame you." Talia added as she leaned on his chest. She felt happy as he understands the requests even she could not understand.

"I will definitely be more careful with my health, Iris. I promise." He rubbed her back.

By her long angry rant, he understood the thing that is bothering her.

She is scared of death – his death to be specific.

He carelessly said that he won’t die, but in a pleasant night when the mood was right, he fell unconscious in her arms out of nowhere. It would have terrified her. He would be terrified too, but he handles it differently.

For her who is scared to even visit graves, the reality that there is a possibility that he can die and leave her alone too, would be unacceptable.

He wanted to explain her innermost fear to her, but she is someone who’d believe the solution is right only when she comes up with the solution. He decided to give her time for a month until she returns from the tour to think about it herself.

It would be better if she realises it herself, otherwise he could give her clues.

"You should, Fred! You have no idea how much I love you," Talia looked at him in his eyes.

Ah... she said it after a long time... she said she loves me...

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