Catching up (2)

"I was hoping to get some insider news. To help me know what I'm up against." April pursed her lips.

"Is someone troubling you?" Colm's brow furrowed.

"What? No. no.. Well, not right now at least. Might be in the future though." April scratch her head. Being a Mistress would surely anger the Official Wife.

"What do you mean April?" Colm wasn't sure where she was going.

"Alex's wife. Francesca. Can you tell me something about her?" April rubbed her face with her palm. She was getting nervous. Colm was a genius. Surely he would be able to figure out about them later.

"Francesca? Is she troubling you? April, Tell me honestly." Colm loosen up his tie. He didn't like where this was heading.

"Well, she isn't right now. But Alex told me recently that they fought because of me. Because Alex brought me here." April sighed. She needed some sort of excuse to get pass this. Although she didn't want to betray Alex, he was the perfect escape goat right now. Serves him right for being a beast!

Colm clenched his fist and bump it heavily on his table. He had the wild intuition that Alex would bring trouble to April. He didn't want April to get hurt, even if it wasn't Alex's fault.

"What do you want to know?" he asked.

"What is she like? How does she react if she is angry?"

Colm sighed. "She does things dirty, April. She would try everything to get what she wants. She is fierce and feisty. One of the many reasons why Alex fell for her."

April gulped. Being Alex's Mistress sure is a tough job. "I see. We'll I guess I have to be ready for anything."

"If it comes to that, yes. Let Alex get you some bodyguards. For you and Sky's safety. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you." Colm sighed, he then added. "April. I still want to marry you."

April sharply inhaled. "Colm, I thought we talked about this?".

"You did, I didn't. You said that I only wanted to marry you because I felt guilty. But I realized something else when you left. Yes, maybe at first I did. I was guilty for letting it happened to you. For you to sacrifice your life for me and for experiencing all of those because of my family.

But now I know, its different. I grew up and gotten stronger because of you. I became who I am now, because I wanted to protect you. I'll be here to show you a kind of love that can never be given by someone else. To let you understand that I don't care what happened to you in the past. I am here whenever you need a shoulder to lean on, to cry on. In times that you lose yourself, I'll be here standing beside you. I will keep you from harming yourself or anyone." Colm stood up and look towards the window. The city was bustling busy. People were walking and Cars were constantly moving to their destination.

"April, when you left. I realized that a piece of me also left with you. Call me corny but I do love you. I've love you since we were just kids. I have admired your wits, your adventurous spirit and how you constantly make me laugh. When you shielded me back then, I felt weak and upset. I was already determined to grow up strong, so I could become your big brother. Right now, I realized that I don't want to be your brother. I want to be your companion in life, to become the father of your kids. To be able to grow old with you, through thick and thin.

I know that you only treated me as a brother right now, but give me a chance. To show you what love really meant. I love you and Sky. You know I already accepted him like my son, the day that you've given birth to him.

So what if Alex wants to stand up as his father? That doesn't mean that he could keep you as well. He is married, April. He is in love with his wife for more than 10 years. He fought with his parents, just so he could marry her. She could never be easily replaced. No matter how long, First love never dies. As I love you. You will always be in my heart.

If you choose me, there will be only you. You won't have to fight for my attention. My parents already love you and treat you like their own. I would love you, cherish you and spoil you." Colm gulped. His confession wasn't planned, but he wanted her to know. It had been bugging him ever since she left. They had never been on an awkward moment before. Him and April always shared their dreams, complaints and secrets with each other.

Especially when April was mentally unstable. He stood beside her, acted like a guardian. Only Colm could get closer to her on those first years. He was the one who she first recognized and the person who let her touch her.

As she struggled to fight herself, he was always and always beside her. Even when he left to England to study, He would constantly check on her. Making sure that she was alright. If anything does happened, he would instantly catch the first flight, just to visit her. Just because she was looking for him. April was constantly looking for him, even when she lose her mind. That's why he was confident to say this over the phone. They were close to each other.

April didn't know when she started crying. Her eyes was wet, she tasted the salty tears coming down on her face.

She knew that Colm was smart. He must've guess why she was asking this questions. He might not know that she and Alex were together, but Colm could sense that April had feelings for Alex. He couldn't blame her though, even he was fond of his bestfriend.

Colm's confession brought joy and sadness into April's heart. His words struck into the deepest part of her. She knew all of this, that Alex could never be fully hers. Alex already have a wife, a wife he fully adores.

Coming into their picture was only a crazy person would do. April would only get hurt in the process, she would only succumb more into the darkness.

"Colm.. I..." April's voice was shaky. She didn't want to hurt her friend. Colm had been there for her since the beginning. He was right, he really was her shoulder to lean on. She knew how much Colm sacrificed his time to be beside her. But she didn't know that it was because he loved her as a woman, not as a little sister nor his savior.

Both of them were silent. Colm could hear her crying. He wasn't trying to hurt her or push her to accept him. Only that, he wanted to have a chance. He did sense before, that she likes Alex. He could see it on her eyes, everytime April saw Alex. He just didn't say anything, what could he say though? Colm knows that April wasn't stupid. She may be mentally unstable but she wasn't an idiot. It was only because of the trauma that she experienced.