A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

10 GIFT Chapter 50 Alena

The next couple of days began to take a toll on me. It had almost been two weeks since | left hand Matteo.

| had been alone most of the texcept for when Mama or Alexei cto visit. They never cempty

handed and | appreciated that, as much as they cto giveendless advices, they didn't wantto starve.

My days were spent in the living room watching TV or in the bedroom, reading books. | had thought it was best

to keep my phone away even though | wanted to turn it on and check my socials. Alexei cwalking in with

another bag of groceries, heading straight towards the kitchen.

Ever

since Mama and Alexei cto stop by regularly, | had gave them the passcode to the door. It was easier for

them to drop by whenever they wanted to; especially when they decided to cearly in the morning,

sometimes | was still asleep in bed. Then, | began to realise just how much they ended up invading my privacy.

Mama always knocked on the door or rang the doorbell when she ceven though she knew the passcode but

as for Alexei, he treated it like his own house. "You surprised me," | muttered as he sat on the sofa beside me.

Alexei sighed deeply before staring ahead at the television.

"Why?"

You

could've knocked."

gavethe passcode."

"Well, you're using it really well."

He smirked, turning to look atbefore pointing at my bowl of fresh strawberries. "Can | have sof that?"

"No."

"No.

My dear brother decided to ignore my answer as he took the bowl away from me. He didn't have to ask in the

first place if he decided it was better to just eat them without my permission.

We had a lot of things in common. One of it was that we both loved strawberries.

"I bought these so technically, they're mine." He shrugged, dipping in the chocolate sauce before eating them.

"You left them here. So, they're not yours."

Whatever."

"Do you

mind sharing?"

"You should learn that first."

| groaned," "Give them back."

We managed to compromise by sharing the strawberries as we watched the television. None of us said another

word and we decided it was best to enjoy the silence rather than throwing another batter.

| had made myself comfortable on the sofa with my legs being wrapped with my blanket, it felt nice even though

Alexei was

Chapter 50

here to distu

to disturb my peace.

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"Just admit it, Alyosha... you miss me." | glanced at his direction.

He scoffed, "You knowtoo well."

"So, it's true? You miss me?"

"I miss it when we were teenagers. When we didn't have to worry about anything but ourselves," he replied.

"You still worry about nothing but yourself."

"Really funny, Alena. Explain why I'm here, then?"

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anywhere else than here but | continued to stare at my brother, knowing for a fact that was true. He could be in

New York or here he was, stocking up my fridge and keepingcompany. | knew my brother to admit he was

never perfect but he was never selfish, too. Alexei loved me, sometimes more than he loved himself.

He just had a different way of showing his love.

Mama a

asked you to be here, didn't she?" | asked.

"Not today, she didn't. That's all on me."

breathed, a smile plastered on my face. "Thank you, Alyosha. Really."

An hour had passed and we didn't realise just how fast twent by. Alexei was busy scrolling on his phone as

he answered a few calls while | finished the rest of the strawberries. The reality show on the television kept

playing the next episodes but | had somehow lost my interest. "Have you

decided when to chome?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not yet. Why?"

"You've been away long enough."

"Not enough...

| guess."

"Givethe remote," he pointed.

Once the remote was in his hand, he quickly changed the channel. My eyebrows furrowed at the flat screen and

it didn't takelong to realise what or to be exact, who was there.

Matteo, my husband, was having a press conference regarding his company. My eyes kept focusing onto him,

even though the words he uttered were unclear. | didn't pay much attention to what he was saying, only to him.

Only him.

| stared at the television, trying to hold back the tears.

He seemed different, a bit skinnier as if he had lost sweight. The darkness under his eyes were visible, the

shape of his face was slightly sunken and his brown eyes seemed lifeless. They used to be full of life.

| knew Alexei was looking atto see my reaction but | pretended not to care.

|

Matteo was live. Flashes were clear on his face as they took pictures of him.

"You miss him?" Alexei broke the silence, makingturn to look at him.

"Was that intentional?"

"| just want to see him on TV."

Bxxt." Admit

"Admit it, you miss him. Why are you suffering yourself?"

"It's none of your business, Alexei.

"Fine. You're right, it is none of my business. Your marriage has nothing to do withbut as your brother, I'm

showing how much | care about my sister." He stood up, "I knew how much I hated him when he first cinto

your life but | saw the way he treated you, Alena. Saw the way he was there for you. How could you look pass

that?" "Why are you saying all of this to me?"

1

You saw it yourself. He looks miserable!"

"Like he hadn't slept for days."

"Exactly, and you're okay with that? You're fine with seeing him like that?"

I shook my head, failing to hold back my tears. They streamed down my cheeks and even though I tried my

hardest to wipe them away, they were too much; it had been awhile since | cried and | had thought on

maintaining that but | guess | failed miserably. It was horrible to see him like that.

It was torturing me, too.

Matteo was always well-kept, filled with charisma. The Matteo on the screen just now, was a different person. He

seemed out of place, confused and even drained. | hated seeing him like that, knowing | was the cause of it.

"Alena..."

"That's enough, Alexei. Just shut the f***k up,"

"You're

not listening to me."

"I am. | heard every word you said!"

"Stop thinking about yourself, Alena. You're hurting the people around you."

"You know what, Alexei? Just leave."

"What?"

"Just leave. Just f¥*++*g leave because | don't want you here anymore!"

Alexei sighed, taking a few steps backwards. The words must've felt like knives.

Eine."

Then,

| was left on my own as he walked out of the house. | could hear him start the engine before he drove away and

for once, | really felt alone. | had enjoyed my own company for the past few days but now, all | wanted was to

run into Matteo's arms. All | wanted was to apologise and feel his warmth again-I regretted my decision on

leaving. Why was | too selfish? 09:19 P Oct 25 G Chapter 50

| ran up the stairs. straight into my

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bedroom.

As | searched through my stuff, | couldn't find my phone anywhere.

That was when | realised, | had left it in the car after turning it off

| immediately went down again, straight outside and to my car. My phone was on the backseat and I didn't waste

another second to turn it on, waiting for the screen to light up.

As soon as the screen went on and | could see my lockscreen, many notifications cin.

My phone couldn't stop buzzing until the latest text, sent a couple of hours ago.

Once my phone was unlocked, | slowly scrolled through my notifications. A few were from my friends and family

but most of them were from Matteo-ever since the day | left, he hadn't stopped callingnor texting me. When

| had left, his texts were obvious: he kept asking aboutwhere | was, how | was doing.

After

a

a week, he had stopped asking but instead, went on to update about his days. Tears began to fall down my

cheeks as | read them, one by one. | didn't realise. | had spent almost thirty minutes in the car to read his texts

alone. 'l miss you Will you please cback to me, Alena?"

"This house feels empty without you. | can't breathe."

'l have a meeting later at 2pm. Just want to let you know."

|

'l just arrived at the office. Wearing your favourite tie.

'Alena, | miss you. | miss you so much."

‘Cback home, baby."

‘Cback to me.’

‘I

| love you.' The texts were short and simple but he never missed to send at least ten of them everyday. Every

night, he never missed to tellhow much he loved me, yet | never bothered to read any of them because |

was too focused on myself. | had hurt him. | forgot he needed healing, too.

| forgot

| leaned back on the seat, crying.

|

| stared at the lockscreen, a photo of him. It was a photo | took when he wasn't looking and believe me, he was

drop dead gorgeous. My husband was always attractive; if God had favourites, | was sure my husband was in His

list. My hands began to tremble as | scrolled through the texts again.

It tookby surprise when my phone beeped and | quickly looked down, to find Matteo's name.

'I miss you, baby. More than I do yesterday but less than tomorrow!"

That was it.

That sentinto tears and before | knew it, | felt my heart broke into a million pieces.

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