Novel Square
complicated man
The days passed slowly for Marco, who could even hear every passing second clearly. He had left his executive chair for some time. Projects and client meetings had been handed over to Pedro, secretaries, and his trusted associates.
For the past three months, Marco had been at the hospital, monitoring Letta’s condition. Every day, he didn’t want to miss any information from the doctors monitoring Letta. Although there had been no significant progress, Marco felt relieved knowing that the fetus in Letta’s body was growing well despite the medical equipment. For Marco, that was enough as long as both of them remained close to him.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
Footsteps echoed clearly in Marco’s ears as he gazed at Letta through the large window. The steps finally stopped behind him. Marco caught Arabella’s reflection in the glass in front of him. They fell silent, both observing Letta’s condition, before Arabella glanced at Marco’s shadow in the glass.
“You look more miserable than the last time we met,” Arabella said, but Marco remained unmoved.
“Is being in a relationship with me better than with the woman lying there?” Arabella said again, finally eliciting a response from Marco as he turned to look at her.
“If you’ve come just to say nonsensical things, you better leave,” Marco said, causing Arabella to smile wistfully.
“Even last time, I heard you still calling me with endearments and beautiful phrases of praise. But this time, all I get from you is a flat face and a disheveled appearance,” Arabella said, making Marco sigh heavily.
“I knew from the start you changed all our plans because you were already interested in her. You thought you could deceive me with all the excuses you gave me,” Arabella said, making Marco fall silent, realizing that he was actually just concealing his own feelings. Even Arabella and Edward knew the truth, but Marco could only acknowledge it now, as he covered himself up.
“So, what did you do to that woman that she looks so sad like this?” Arabella asked, still staring at Marco with her impassive gaze.
“I am somewhat grateful to that woman. Perhaps if I had continued with you, I would have been in this position instead. It seems I’m beginning to understand why I didn’t mind our relationship ending too much,” Arabella said, as if slapping Marco with the facts she conveyed, where Letta’s condition, because of him, made Marco feel more useless and cowardly.
“It’s still too early to blame yourself now. I heard she’s also pregnant. Is that your second child together?” Arabella asked again, prompting Marco to meet her gaze.
“Don’t be so surprised. I certainly know about her condition. Yes, as you know, Aunt Helena loves me like her own daughter. Of course, she will always say whatever she feels at the moment, even when you first met in the garden when Aunt Helena visited her for the first time. I still remember her words, how you first looked at her with a cold stare,” Arabella said, making Marco rub his face roughly. Of course, Marco was already aware of the closeness between Arabella and his mother. But why did he have to involve Letta in their conversation?
“I’m already tired enough. It’s better if you leave. Isn’t your schedule packed after you moved to France?” Marco said, causing Arabella to smile.
“It turns out you’re still keeping up with my information. Are you also finding out who I’m close to now?” Arabella asked arrogantly.
“I’m too busy to worry about anyone you’re dating right now. So just knowing where you are is enough for me. I still consider you as my little friend, not my ex-lover,” Marco said, finally choosing to give in and leave Arabella, who fell silent. Arabella clenched her fists as she looked at Letta. Somehow, although Arabella was thankful that it wasn’t her in Letta’s position at the moment.
But somehow, Arabella’s heart felt tight seeing how worried Marco was about Letta. Even Arabella realized that Marco wasn’t playing around with his feelings for Letta. Perhaps that feeling was much greater than the love he once felt for Arabella when they were together. Although Marco used to praise Arabella every day, sending sweet gifts, and thoughtful messages, all of that paled in comparison to Marco’s caring attitude towards Letta now. All the attention and sweet words felt meaningless to Arabella, making her smile wryly to herself.
“Yes, you’re a fortunate yet pitiful woman at the same time. I can breathe a little easier knowing it’s not me who is being toyed with by fate and brought together with a complicated man like Marco. I hope you wake up and recover quickly to face that man. I want to see how far you can endure facing someone like Marco,” Arabella said. After that, she chose to turn around and leave the hospital corridor, which was dedicated solely to Letta. Marco had truly prepared everything, including specialized doctors and nurses, to continue monitoring Letta’s current condition.
Meanwhile, Marco chose to calm his mind for a moment by exhaling cigarette smoke into the air mixed with the sound of raindrops. He stared straight at the dark sky. Marco didn’t even know what season he was experiencing. He had forgotten to look at the time, the date, and even count the days. It felt like Marco was too exhausted to count every second he spent just staring at Letta, who didn’t respond at all.