Chapter 23

Chapter 23

I wiped away all my tears and tried to comfort myself, deciding that I no longer wanted to hope for Troy. I accepted the possibility that he might leave me, but I couldn't bear to imagine myself begging for him as Margarette did. It hurts me more just imagining myself like that.

As I emerged from the bathroom, I was surprised to see Troy sitting on the couch with a beer bottle in front of him. I realized that I had been locked away for almost two hours, wondering if he had been drinking the entire time. Seeing him drunk and alone, my heart ached. Despite both of us skipping dinner, he had chosen to drink instead. I approached him, noticing the effects of the alcohol on his complexion.

As I looked at his closed eyes, I couldn't help but feel jealous of the women who had fallen for him before me. Margarette was definitely not the only one who cried and begged him. That girl he was looking for must be so important to him. He really must love her and I can't help but be jealous of whoever that girl is.

"Troy..." I called his name. He needs to go to his room and sleep there. I grabbed his arm to wake him up. He growled slightly and looked up at me. I can smell the beer on him. His eyes opened and our eyes met. He looks so drunk. His face was red and his eyes were bulging from drunkenness.

"Go to your room," I ordered him. His jaw clenched, and to my surprise, he pulled me close burying his head on my shoulder, and hugged me tightly. "Did you… mean it?" he whispered. It felt like a knife piercing my heart as he held me tightly, not wanting to let me go.

“You're drunk, Troy—”

"You said... you hate me... do you mean it?" Troy's voice trembled with sadness, causing my heart to ache. Tears welled up in my eyes, as memories of endless crying flooded back. It seemed like more tears were ready to fall.

"I don't even give a fuck about the woman my council wants for me!" Troy spat out angrily as he held me tightly. I was taken aback - his council wants for him? What did he mean?

"Yes, I am expected to marry whoever that woman is because that's what they desire... it's what my people want... it's what the prophecy foretold..." he muttered. I may not have fully understood his words, but one thing was clear - Troy didn't want to marry whoever that woman was.

He gazed at me with anguish in his eyes, a side of him I had never seen before. I was used to his sarcasm and aloofness, not this vulnerability.

"But after meeting you, I don't fucking care anymore…" he said, pain evident in his drunken eyes. My throat tightened - could I believe him? Should I risk falling for him again? Was it all a trap? If it was, I was already hooked.

"So please... don't fucking say you hate me...," he whispered, resting his head on my shoulder once more. I closed my eyes tightly as his breathing slowed, indicating he had drifted off to sleep. Carefully, I repositioned him on the couch, covering him with a blanket and hiding the bottle of beer. I softly stroked his face as he slept, feeling the weight of my complicated feelings for him.

It's so hard to love you, Troy. It's like I'm always surrounded by traps every time you make me feel like we might feel the same way. But I didn't expect that you would be affected by the words I said earlier. "I didn't mean that... I was so mad that's why I said that to you..." I said even though I knew he won't hear me. “But it's so hard to love you, Troy," I whispered as I left him to sleep and retreated to his room, grappling with the mixed emotions swirling in my head.

Tomorrow morning, I woke up early and prepared breakfast while Troy was still sleeping on the couch. After getting ready for work, I left the house leaving Troy behind. As I was having coffee near the site, I saw Engineer Nath passing by and decided to approach him. “Engineer!” I called him. He seemed surprised to see me.

I saw him glance at his wristwatch before he looked at me. "It's still early, why are you here now? Are you with Troy?” he asked and glanced behind me checking if Troy would show up. I shook my head quickly. "I'm just in a hurry now. I also have something to ask you," I said. He was actually the reason why I hung out at the café so I could see him and talk to him, that's why he invited me to the café again. This time he was the only one who ordered coffee because I already had coffee.

"So… what do you want to ask?" he asked as he sipped on his coffee. I took a deep breath before speaking. "You said before that Troy's work at the site was contractual?" I started. He nodded. "How many months is he working here already?" I asked. "I told you, two months from now he will be leaving his job. It means that it's been a month since he's been working here. His contract here is three months,” Engineer Nath said. I nodded.

"Did you know where Troy is going or where Troy is from?" I asked. He thought a little and shook his head at me. "I have no idea, Eli. I'm sorry but no one knows where Troy came from," he answered. I sighed heavily.

"Is there a problem?" Engineer Nath worriedly asked. I quickly shook my head and smiled at him. I chatted with him a bit before we parted ways to go to our jobs. When I arrived at the shop, I saw Troy leaning against the wall as if he had been waiting for someone. I saw how he followed Engineer Nath's direction with a look. He seemed to see that we entered the site together. His eyes were filled with rage as soon as he directed his eyes on me. I passed him but he immediately overtook my arm.

"What the fuck was that?" he looks furious right now. I can tell because he's always had a negative impression of Engineer Nath.

"Back off, Troy," I said firmly. His eyes were angry and bloodshot. "Did you know how worried I was when I woke up and you were gone from my house, Eli? And now I see you with that man?" he asked sternly. I tried to push him away, but he didn't budge. I glared at him, but he stood his ground.

"What's your problem? I’m not like you who will flirt with all the women who like you back!" I raised my voice slightly. His jaw clenched. His expression softened a bit, and he released my arm.

"What did you do with him?" he asked more gently this time. "It's none of your business anymore," I retorted coldly and tried to walk past him, but he quickly followed. I could sense that some of our colleagues were already watching us. "It is my business, Eli. You're my girlfriend—"

"Then, I'm breaking up with you!" I confronted him, and he turned in shock. He came closer and gripped both of my arms. His expression was painfully clear. He was hurting but trying to appear strong for me. Seeing him in pain because of me broke my heart. Why was he being so unfair!?

"No... we're not breaking up, Eli—"

"Then, stay out of my business, Troy," I said coldly. He nodded and pulled me to a secluded area where we wouldn't be seen, as we both felt the eyes of our coworkers on us.

"I'll do anything you want, Eli. Just don't break us up..." he almost pleaded. I didn't say anything, but I was taken aback by his next move. He softly kissed my lips. I took a step back, and I could tell he sensed my hesitation as he stopped kissing me. There was fear in his eyes as he swallowed hard. I looked away, feeling my resolve weaken. I feel like I just want to hug and kiss him the way I want.

"I'm heading to the shop now," I bid him farewell. Without waiting for his response, I walked past him. When lunch came, Troy and I sat in silence during lunch. He didn't attempt to start a conversation with me, but I could feel his eyes on me, analyzing my every move.

I need to keep my emotions in check until I fully understand who Troy really is. That's my plan. There was a lot of suspicion in everything he said last night when he was drunk and I needed to know who Troy really was.

After finishing work, I discreetly left and headed to the convenience store where the woman who talked to Troy worked. My goal was to learn more about Troy's identity by any means necessary. Despite knowing I should have done this sooner; it was Margarette who inspired me to seek out the reality behind Troy's identity.

As a commoner of Tyreese, how is there a woman destined for him to marry? I thought it was just for nobles or royalties? In the werewolf world, it is! And what does Troy mean when he says 'his council'? And there was a prophecy he was talking about. When Troy mentioned 'his council' and a prophecy, I knew I needed to understand everything before I could fully trust him again.

"You know Troy, right?" I asked the woman when I had the chance. The woman was surprised but immediately recovered when she saw that I was familiar with her.

"Yes! Because he often buys groceries here! And also, because he's the most handsome and hot gentleman I've ever seen in my entire existence!” the woman giggled. I don't know if I should smile at what she said. I suddenly want to pinch this woman's skin. "How long did you know him?" I asked in a serious tone.

"I think it's only a month! And shit… his eyes were magnificent!” the woman said imaginatively. I just shook my head. "What else did you know about him?" I asked more. I almost jumped when she suddenly shrieked. What the heck?

"All I know is that he doesn't live here because I asked him before if he was from here in Tyreese because that was the only time I saw him! It was my first time to hear his voice and yet my heart fluttered so much! He said that he was from the faraway town of Tyreese! But apart from that he didn't say anything else!” she said excitedly.

This woman is insane. Anyways, it means everything matches. Troy went here to this place a month ago. Wait... I remember this woman asked when Troy and I went grocery shopping if Troy was back to his town because she didn't see him for a while, right?

"Do you remember when you asked about Troy not being here for a while and if he had returned to his town? How many days has he not been here?” I asked. The lady paused before responding. "He didn’t show up here for almost a week and the last person he was with was a tall and handsome man!" she elaborated. Troy with someone? A tall and handsome man too? Then... it must be John?

I said goodbye and thanked the woman while I pondered over all the information I had gathered. No one seems to know where Troy is truly from, not even Engineer Nath. My curiosity about Troy deepened. I can't help but have more questions about Troy.

Isn't it intriguing how he instantly trusted me and allowed me to stay at his place when we first met?

Who are you really, Troy?