What are you doing here?

- Lia's Apartment -

A sharp hiss escaped Antonio's mouth as he sat up with his thumbs placed on his temples. From the second he woke up, a hammering migraine attacked his nerves - the pain was unbearable.

"You're awake." Lia's voice sounded soothing to his ears as he applied pressure on his temples. He narrowed his eyes at the sight of Lia in her sleepwear.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, assuming he was back at his place.

"You were drunk last night and I-" Before she could finish her sentence, he interrupted her words rudely.

"Lia, nothing happened between us last night. So, be careful of how you speak. Some words can't be taken back once it is said and I won't forgive those who lie to me for personal gains." He warned, staring straight into her eyes.

As if she had expected such a response from him, she shook her head and smiled stiffly. "You're too quick in assumptions. I was going to say that I saw you drunk on the streets and brought you back to my place to rest. So, you are in my apartment right now. Don't worry. You slept in my bed while I slept on the couch last night. Here, take these pain killers and drink the hangover soup later." Lia handed him the pill in her hand and a glass of water.

"Thanks, then." He took the pill from her hand and quickly swallowed it.

After he finished hydrating himself, he attempted to get out of bed. However, his legs fell weak, making him fall back onto the bed.

"Be careful!" Lia stretched her arms out to help him balance. The moment her fingers wrapped around his arm, he avoided her touch.

"I got it. I don't like people touching me so casually." Despite his condition, he refused to let her help him.

Lia sighed, placed her hands to her hips, and stepped away from him. "Antonio, we used to be so close. What happened? You weren't like this before."

"Did you not understand my words yesterday? I told you that you will become my enemy if you go against Selina or have any thoughts of harming her. I warned you already." At this point, his fingers were tightly curled to his palm.

"I understood your words clearer than water, but you are the one who didn't listen to what I said. Antonio, think about all the times I accidentally leaked information about the missions and you saving those you cared for. Have you ever thought that none of those were accidents? Do I look so dumb as to leak confidential information like that?" She bit deep into her bottom lip, stripping the dried skin off.

"Lia, you know better than I do. Just stay away from her and we could still be friends." He didn't want to continue discussing the same subject repeatedly. At the end of the day, it was her choice whether she wished to maintain this friendship. On the other hand, he only wanted to protect Selina from harm.

"Antonio Liam! Can you stop with this friendship bullcrap? I know how protective you are when it comes to Selina, but aren't you going overboard? When have I ever hurt anyone close to you?" She closed her eyes, turned her head away from his sight, and took deep breaths to control her emotions.

"Then have you forgotten how you lied to me about Selina's death? I believe she was dead, yet all along she was safe in another man's arms. If you didn't fake that report and told me the fake news, I would've continued searching for her and the man with her now would've been me! I would've been the one marrying her!" He slammed his fist onto the blanket behind him.

Lia's lips curved to a self-mocking smile. She nodded slowly and faced him with reddened eyes. "Yes. Yes! I lied to you, but have you seen your state at that time? You wouldn't eat nor sleep. Forget even having water down your throat! You kept looking for her with no results. You get mad at yourself and forgot all about your duties. If your father didn't tell me to create the fake reports and for me to tell you the fake news of her death...will you still be sitting here right now?"

For once, her emotions exploded in front of him. She trembled as she confessed what she did and she didn't try holding back her anger anymore. "Ask yourself. You know it better than anyone. Even after all the fake reports and that corpse, you weren't doing your best. However, you were at least doing something productive."

"Yes, I lied to you and I apologize to you for that. But even if you did find her first, would she really choose you to be her man? Or was this all a one-sided love all along? Did you think you can get her to love you? You think about it yourself!" She lashed out at him, letting her tears run down her cheeks.

Heartbrokenly, she wiped away the tear trails and waited for his response. He observed her expression and calmly replied to her words. "You said you did it all for me but was it really? Wasn't it for your personal gain? Even if it is a one-sided love, there is a chance for her to accept me. And now? She's married and there is nothing else I could do about this. However, I will continue loving her. So, don't think about hurting her behind my back."

Antonio straightened his legs gently before standing up on his own. Step by step, he walked toward the entrance to her apartment. When he walked past her, he paused momentarily. He whispered, "Or else, the next time we meet, we will only be enemies."

"Haha...Hahaha..." Lia laughed after hearing his warning. She held her forehead in her palm and combed her hair backward. "Great! We'll see about that."