Mr. Hephephobias

CHAPTER 125 - Protecting Your Feelings

The morning sun has greeted, even the trail of rain last night also welcomed the morning of Quebec City, the distinctive aroma of petrichor. Today is the last day Lucia and her family are in Quebec City. Lucia will spend the rest of the time taking her and her sister on a beach vacation before they return home tomorrow. Not only Lucia and her family, but Reisa and David also come with them.

They really enjoyed every gust of wind and the smell of the beach, as well as Lusia who looked very happy. Even he did not realize that Rayn had now been sitting alone in a beach cottage. Rayn does not want to interfere with Lucia's happy time with her family and best friend just to take care of her suffering from Hephephobia.

Even though he could not join them, it was enough to see him that Rayn was already very happy. Amidst his concern for Lucia, David suddenly walked towards her and was about to sit right next to her. Rayn immediately got up to avoid David.

"Sit down, I'll keep my distance" David told Rayn to sit down.

Rayn got up and slowly sat back down, while David sat a little away from Rayn. The situation had become awkward considering Rayn had not often met or talked with David. However, David breaks that awkward atmosphere by congratulating Rayn.

"Congratulations on your marriage" David said without shaking Rayn's hand.

Rayn turned her head, she broke down a smile and was very grateful to David. Both are now looking towards the beach, where currently there Lucia, Reisa and others are enjoying the beauty of the beach. They laughed, ran and played happily.

Both Rayn and David's eyes seemed focused on looking at their wives and lovers. Unknowingly the two untied the smile together. "She was my first love" David said suddenly.

Rayn ended her smile and looked at David. "I can see how much you love him" Rayn said, looking back at the beach, just where Lucia and Reisa were currently taking pictures together.

"It's not my boyfriend at the moment, but he is" said David glared at Lusia who was now also looking and waving a smile throw at Rayn and David.

"What are they doing there?" ask Lucia to Reisa.

"Let the men with their time" Reisa said, ignoring and asking Lucia to take the picture again.

Rayn quickly turned her head and looked at David with a different look. While David was still staring at Lucia then waved back at Lucia. "He was my first love, Lusia" David said without hesitation to Rayn.

"You.." Rayn said.

David looked at Rayn. "Don't look at me like that, she's the first love I've ended without revealing it. Like a love that claps one hand. Yes, love claps one hand" he said.

No one knows if Lucia was David's first love. Lucia and David used to attend the same school. At that time, Lucia was a student with a scholarship, she also met with a classmate who eventually became her best friend until now, Reisa. It was there that they met and the beginning of their friendship began.

David falls in love with Lucia when they meet for the first time in her school's Photography Club registration. David really likes the persistence and confidence of Lusia who is not easily intimidated just because she became a student at the prestigious school because of the scholarship she got.

At first David went to the club' only to meet with his senior, but seeing that Lucia would register for the Photography Club, he decided to register as well. The two begin to get closer during their time at the Club' until Reisa meets and falls in love at first sight with David.

Lucia never knew how David felt about her. For Lucia, David is her best friend, just like Reisa. Lusia knows that Reisa likes David a lot, and she decides to help Reisa get into the Club and get to know David more. Lucia was even determined to match the two.

David accidentally found out about it, until he finally ventured to ask Lucia. What she looked like in Lucia's eyes and what she meant to Lucy. 'The best friend, until whenever David will be his best friend', that's what Lucia said. Hearing that, David began to release his feelings and decided to become the best friend as Lucia said.

"Have you ever regretted it? For not fighting for your feelings back then?" rayn asked after hearing David's story.

"No...! I never regretted it. Although I ended up burying that feeling without revealing it, I never regretted it" David said.

"Why?" ask Rayn to relax.

David looked towards Reisa. "Because she.... Because of him I have no regrets. I'd regret it if I couldn't see his feelings to the end. At that time I just started to realize that Reisa is the person who has always been there for me with all her sincerity. And I would be a fool to ignore it to wait for a love that never existed for me" David said.

"Why are you telling me now?" ask Rayn.

"Because you're a lucky man" David said briefly.

David smiled and looked back at the beach. "Lussia is like a diamond, whoever sees it will start to want it. She is a precious woman and also extraordinary. So, never think of letting go or giving up. If that happens, you will be the one who will regret it deeply. Protecting the woman we love is not just keeping her feelings, but you also have to keep your feelings from being weak" he continued.

David says it's not to shake Rayn, but he hopes Rayn can appreciate his own feelings more to protect their love. It was done after remembering Rayn never gave up on his feelings and let go of Lucia when he thought he could not protect her.

"Thank you" said Rayn like a real man. "Thank you for telling me she was your first love. You're right, I'm a very lucky person to have it" Rayn said, smiling at David.

...***...

Without feeling the time has passed, even Lucas began to look exhausted and wanted to return to the Hotel. They have traveled to the beach, enjoyed the beauty of the city, shopping and now ended by enjoying a variety of typical Canadian dishes in a luxury restaurant.

"He said to get some fresh air for a while. I'll call him" Mickey said.

"No need, I'll call and look for him" Lucia said.

Lucia took a moment to leave the dining room, and went out to find Rayn. Along with Lucia, Rayn was also about to return after reading a message from Lucia that said if they were done and would return to the hotel.

Ryan immediately stopped his footsteps when he saw the figure of the woman who had now become his wife walking towards him. Lucia looks like she's looking for him looking back and forth. Rayn stared silently at Lucia. Instantly he recalled David's words on the beach.

"Protecting the woman we love is not just about keeping her feelings but you also have to keep your feelings from being weak."

Despite being a considerable distance away, the two eyes of the two of them finally met each other and looked at each other.

"I'm sorry Rayn, all day I've been too busy with my mother and sister to ignore you" Inner Lucia looked at Rayn who was standing there.

Rayn walked back to Lucia. Lucia broke down a smile and extended her one hand to Rayn who was getting closer. Rayn immediately grabbed Lucia's hand and held her. Lucia thanked Rayn for giving her time today to be with her mother and sister. He also asked about what Rayn was doing alone there. Rayn just smiled, he said just looking for fresh air.

Rayn asks Mickey to take Lucy and Lucas' mother back to the hotel, while she takes Lucia somewhere because there is someone she wants to meet. Lucia agreed without asking where and who they would meet.

In the car, Rayn did not remove her hand from Lucia. "There was someone I had to meet, I knew I should have met him before our wedding to get his blessing, but I was too insecure and worried about letting him down. That's why I want to introduce you directly to her as my wife" Rayn smiled.

"Someone who will give you blessing?" ask Lucia.

Rayn simply replied with a nod that made Lucia become even more nervous, she was even more nervous than when she had met Rayn's father before.

After a long drive, the two reached a funeral. Rayn stood in front of the tomb of a woman who always occupied the number one position in his heart. And also next to Rayn stood Lucia, the woman he loved so much and would accompany him in his life time.

Confidently, Rayn clasped onto Lucia's hand and began to greet her mother, Ms.Angelina. "Mom, I'm coming" said Rayn looking at the mother's grave with a smile,

"I know, you're probably going to complain and beat me up because I'm just introducing it now" Rayn said.

Rayn looked back at Lucia. "Do you remember the pigtail girl I told you about when I came here a few years ago? She is the one, the bar-bar girl who has absolutely no fear" continued Rayn still staring fixedly at Lucia.

"He was the one who saved me back then, he was also the one I always relied on and he was." Rayn said. "She's my wife. Did mom like it? She's very pretty, isn't she? Dad approved of us even though I had to threaten him first. But no, without me doing it my father would have believed my every decision, just like my mother would have always supported me" Rayn said.

Lucia was stunned to see Rayn say it with such a sincere heart. She must have been very close to her mother, that was what Lucia was thinking at the moment. Lucia smiled and looked back at Rayn's mother's grave.

It was time for Lucia to greet her mother-in-law. "Mother, it's good to see you. Even though Rayn has said something about me, I still have to say hello and introduce myself properly. My name is Lucia, wife of your son. I wouldn't mind if I also called you Mom. I'm sorry I just met my mother now" Lucia said.

Lucia looked at Rayn, then looked at Ryan's hand that was tightly grasping her hand. "Mother, thank you for giving birth to such an amazing son. Although he likes to be ignorant and look indifferent, but he is a kind-hearted man. I love him very, very much. Not only that, I really want to always be by his side, see him, accompany him and share his love with him. I hope you can give your blessing and prayer from heaven for us, mother" said Lucia made Rayn moved.

"Thank you Lucia, in my difficult and restless life, you came like a light" Rayn said in her heart.

"I will continue my mother's struggle to take care of Rayn, will never leave her and will always love her."

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*** to Be Continued ***