WHAT CELSO WANTS TO HAPPEN

"Talk to me, Lena," he insisted, his tone pleading, eyes searching hers for any hint of relent.

Lena sighed deeply, feeling the weight of his gaze, and turned to face him. Just as she expected, he had followed her all the way to her apartment. The hallway was quiet, the muted hum of city life barely seeping through the thick walls. Not wanting any neighbors to witness their confrontation, she decided to let him in, her fingers trembling slightly as she unlocked the door.

"What do you want to talk about, Celso?" she asked, her voice carrying an edge of weariness.

"About us. About the two of us, Lena. It doesn't seem right to just leave things as they are. I miss you so much, and I really want to experience all the things we used to do again," he said, his words filled with a desperate longing.

Lena watched as Celso took a step closer, his eyes dark and intense. She was standing by the kitchen table, her hands gripping the back of a chair for support, while he was just a couple of steps away. The dim lighting cast long shadows on the walls, creating an intimate yet suffocating atmosphere.

"I miss everything we did in the hut, Lena," he said softly, his voice a mix of nostalgia and desire.

Lena felt like she had been slapped. Her heart clenched painfully in her chest, and she let out a dry, bitter laugh.

"Sex? That's why you're here? You want to sleep with me and you miss all the things I let you do to my body?" she couldn't hide the hurt in her voice, each word laced with a raw, emotional edge.

For a moment, Lena felt a sudden pity for herself. That was the truth. She felt sorry for herself after hearing everything this man had just said. It pained her to realize that this was all Celso saw in her. Even though she knew she had no real feelings for him, she couldn't understand why every man she met seemed to only want sex from her.

"Why does it seem like every man I meet just wants sex from me?" she couldn't hide the bitterness in her tone. Her eyes, usually so vibrant, now seemed to shimmer with unshed tears.

She had wanted to show Celso that his words didn't affect her, that she didn't care what people thought of her. But she couldn't pretend anymore. Or maybe it was more accurate to say she was tired of pretending?

Maybe it wasn't just the first time. Maybe it wasn't the last. Maybe it was both.

"Isn't that the truth? Don't tell me you don't miss what we did in the hut, Lena?" Celso grinned. It was a malicious grin that only fueled her anger, his lips curling in a way that made her stomach churn.

"You're disgusting!" she yelled, her voice echoing off the walls of the small apartment.

Lena knew Celso was a smart man. She knew he understood what she meant. But she couldn't understand why he kept speaking such hurtful words to her, why he continued to label her with vile words that not even a dog deserved.

"Wow! And what do you know about the word 'disgusting,' Lena? Wasn't I close to paying you to call you a whore? Why, do you think you're better than the women I've been with before? Do you think just because you moved to Manila, you're different from them? No matter what you do, you're still the Lena I slept with in the hut!" Celso insulted her, laughing loudly afterward, his voice dripping with cruelty.

Lena opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly, the door burst open, revealing a familiar figure. The sound was like a thunderclap, startling her into silence.

"Calum!" she exclaimed in shock, her eyes widening as she recognized him.

"You have no right to insult her!" Calum yelled at Celso, his voice like a storm, landing a powerful punch on his jaw, causing him to fall. The force of the blow echoed through the room, the impact sending a tremor through Lena's already fragile composure.

Lena felt rooted to her spot. In an instant, Calum grabbed Celso by the collar and dragged him out of the apartment. The hall light flickered ominously, casting a harsh glare on Celso's terrified face.

"Don't come back here, or I'll break your face!" Calum threatened, pointing at the quivering Celso, his eyes blazing with protective fury.

Everything happened so quickly that Lena just stood there, watching. She was surprised when Calum approached her and hugged her tightly, his strong arms wrapping around her like a shield.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" he asked, his voice full of concern, his eyes searching hers for any sign of injury.

Lena didn't know why or how, but she felt helpless. Was it because of Calum's tone? Or the worry she saw in his eyes and handsome face?

Whatever it was, it didn't matter. The truth was, she was grateful he had arrived. She was grateful Calum was here to save her from more hurtful insults she could have received from Celso.

"Let's go inside," he said gently, guiding her back into the apartment.

Lena nodded, still holding back tears. She didn't want to cry because they were still outside. But once they were inside, all her emotions and restraint broke loose. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs, her tears flowing freely now.

She heard Calum close the door behind them, but he didn't let go of her. She stayed in his arms, drawing strength from his firm chest where her face was buried as she sobbed. His scent, a comforting mix of soap and something distinctly him, enveloped her.

"I'm here, Lena. No one can hurt you anymore," he said, gently stroking her hair, his touch soothing her frayed nerves.

Lena's eyes welled up even more at his words. For the first time, besides Marius, someone had come into her life who made her feel she was important.

"Calum," she whispered, her voice breaking, as she continued to cry.

Calum cupped her face in his hands, his touch warm and reassuring, looking at her intently. His eyes were a deep ocean of empathy and determination.

"You know, I have a lot I want to ask you. That's the truth," he said, his voice soft and steady.

"W-What?" Lena asked, still confused, as she wiped her tears with trembling fingers.

Calum nodded repeatedly, smiling as he continued to dry her tear-streaked face with gentle swipes of his thumbs.

"You know, I think we were brought together because we need each other," he said, his words filled with a quiet conviction.

"Need?" Lena asked again, her voice barely a whisper.

Calum nodded. "Lena, I heard everything that man said to you. All the insults and hurtful words that could affect your mental health. And I want to tell you not to pay attention to any of that. Because I see something different in you when I look at you," he said meaningfully, his eyes holding hers with a sincerity that made her heart ache.

He guided her to the living room, seating her on the sofa gently, as if she might break.

"Wait here," he said before heading to the kitchen, his movements calm and purposeful.

Lena watched Calum's every move. She followed him with her eyes as he took a glass from the cupboard, filled it with cold water from the fridge, and then returned to her.

"Drink this," he said, handing her the glass with a reassuring smile.

Lena took the glass and drank. After finishing half of it, Calum took it back from her and placed it on the coffee table.

"Now, I want to know if it's okay with you if I ask you something?" Calum's tone remained gentle and unchanging, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of her emotions.

"About what?" Lena asked, still confused, her voice a mix of exhaustion and curiosity.