Kathy and I are holding hands under the table. Brian is constantly trying to flirt with Kathy, but she has been acting clueless and changing the topic. I feel so angry; all I wanted to do was hit him. The only thing holding me back is Kathy holding my hand.

The atmosphere feels so cold. I am wearing a jacket inside, but still, it's so cold it sends shivers down my spine.

"How did you find him? He is always so mysterious to the point it's creepy," Brian said, raising an eyebrow at me.

"I feel safe around him to the point it's not even real," Kathy said while taking food in her mouth.

Brian grins at her and says, "I thought pretty girls like you wanted special men to be in their life. Theo is the opposite; you deserve better." Brian's girlfriend shot him a hurt look. Aunt Janet looked at Brian while Uncle kept eating.

Kathy puts her spoon down firmly. I held her hand tightly. Everything becomes silent, only the sound of windows knocking due to the wind can be heard. Suddenly, she looked up at Brian and said, "Do you know where diamonds are found?"

Brian looked confused and shook his head.

"Diamonds are found and collected near the surface, in special volcanoes called Kimberlites."

"So?"

Kathy smirked. "Not everyone can and is able to recognize and collect them. Some even get their hands dirty with something else, which they think to be diamonds." Kathy looked at Isabella, then back at Brian. "Just for them to realize it's nothing but volcano ashes. And I found mine without even looking for it. So if someone tries to harm it, they have to face me first." Uncle stopped eating and looked up at her.

Brian looked agitated. I just listened to Kathy. Suddenly, all coldness disappeared, and warmth filled me. I didn't need her to stand up for me, but there is something so special about it when the person you love defends you.

Uncle said, "Brian and Theo, both of you come and help me get some things from the market." Brian got up furiously and went towards the door. I also got up and went towards the door.

We were walking back to the house after getting what he needed when he suddenly stopped and asked Brian to bring his medicines. "Why would I have to bring your medicines? Can't you remember them sooner?" Uncle just looked at him with a look that we learned never to disobey.

As Brian went back to the shop, we kept walking. "Volcano ashes, huh? I wonder why your own parents didn't notice what you are. Instead, they left you. If it wasn't for the child support they used to pay for you..."

I stood there, my heart freezing. I didn't eat anything, which isn't helping my stomach. This heck of a feeling of stomach rumbling. How can these same things hurt me again like the first time? I am used to it, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. I didn't say anything, and we kept walking, but he knew he had successfully done what he wanted: to remind me that nobody had willingly chosen me.

No, it's a lie. Kathy chose me. I didn't force her. She wasn't stuck; she is with me. She chose me. I am not alone anymore. We chose each other. "They did that because they were not stable; they were addicts." "And thank you for what you did, really! Thank God for the child support." He stared at me for a second, then started walking forward. They are not my family; I never had one.

After putting the bags in the kitchen, I noticed half-washed plates in the sink. When I came outside, I saw Aunt Janet. She looked nervous. She came near me and said, "Go to your room, Theo."

"Why? Where is Kathy?"

"Go, Theo," she said with a calm but decisive voice. My heart ached, and my stomach twisted. I ran upstairs towards the end of the long, dark hallway. "I tried opening the door, but it was locked from the inside." "Kathy," I called out. No answer. I only heard sobbing. What happened to her? I should have never come here. I hate myself for pretending in front of her that I have a family. "Kathy, please open the door. Let me in, or if I go downstairs, I might just finish everything." I waited for a second, then I heard the lock open. I saw Kathy in front of me, sobbing. I hugged her instantly. She didn't move, just said, "Let's go from here."

We found a hotel last minute. After we settled in, Kathy stood in the middle of the room. It was complete silence in the room. Kathy and I stared at each other, then she started crying. I hugged her tightly. I felt her arms wrapping around me. I never thought it could hurt me this much to see anyone crying. "They only adopted you for the child support. They don't love you," Kathy said, breaking the silence.

"Kathy."

She started crying, burying her face in my chest. It broke me. I never felt this much pain. Not even when I went through what I went through. I held her face, wiped her tears. "Please don't cry like this; it is hurting me more than it did when I went through all this." "You are the nicest man I have ever known in my entire life. I wish I could take all this pain away."

"You did. Just you being with me took all my pain away, and now I don't have any regrets because, in the end, I got you, and you give me more happiness than anyone in my life." Kathy looked at me, smiling. I hugged her, and she wrapped her arms around me. "It's over now. They can't do anything to you now. I love you, Theo, and I always will. They didn't abandon you; you are abandoning them. From now on, you will be very happy. We will get married and spend our life together. We stuck together through good and bad times." We stayed like this for a long time. Kathy fell asleep out of exhaustion. I didn't know if she would be comfortable with me sleeping in the bed with her, so I slept on the sofa. Luckily, I brought a blanket with me because I knew there wouldn't be any good ones in my aunt's house.

I woke up with Kathy brushing my hair with her hand. I smiled at her. She is very pretty. I smiled at her. "Good morning," she said.

"Good morning. Can you wake me up like this every day?"

Kathy smiled and giggled. My heart beat increased. "Why did you sleep here, my love?"

"I didn't know if you would be comfortable with me sleeping with you."

She smiled and said, "You are going to make me fall more in love with you every day for the rest of our lives, aren't you?"

"I will."

"I have no complaints."

This is the second last chapter of their past. I was feeling really down about this story, wondering if it was good or not, but again, I never thought I would make it this far in this story.

Thank you for your time.

Happy reading.

💛