As the first tear finally spilled over her cheek, she realized she didn't have to carry the weight of the world alone anymore. Eric didn't pull away; instead, he tightened his grip on her hands, offering a silent, steady anchor in the middle of her emotional storm.
It all started when her father passed away. She was 14 years old by then, and her younger sister, Cyril, was only 11. Her father's family, who had never truly appreciated or respected her parents' marriage, immediately began to chase her mother out of the house.
They wanted to keep only Jackie and Cyril because the girls shared their family's blood, but they wanted nothing to do with their mother. Her mother was very sick at that time, and because she was so weak, she and Cyril would always cry whenever the cruel family members came around to bully them.
Jackie watched this and told herself never to cry in front of them, since she noticed the family members always looked satisfied whenever they saw her mother break down. From that time onwards, Jackie's mom completely gave up her spirit. After months of this constant bullying, the relatives tried to take the girls away by force. Even their own mother tried to convince them to go with them, arguing that because the relatives were rich, they could cater to all of their needs and wants without any struggle.But the girls completely refused to go. Who was going to take care of their mother if they left, and how could they ever stay with people who openly hated their mother?
Instead, they chose to stay with their mother and worked very hard every single day. They managed to continue schooling on a scholarship while working odd jobs to cater for themselves and pay off their mother's heavy medical bills. If they had only been able to do the surgery much earlier, her mother might still be breathing today. Instead, her father's family had coldly turned them away, slamming the door on their desperate pleas for help. They knew perfectly well that her mother required a lifesaving surgery, yet they chose to do nothing before she finally passed away.
Sitting there, Jackie was suddenly flooded by the memories of every single hardship they had endured. The bitter weight of those struggles explained why, from the time she was just a little girl, she had forced herself to swallow her tears and lock away her truest emotions.
Eric caught the faint, trembling sound of her stifled whimpers. Moving closer, he placed his fingers gently under her chin, trying to lift her gaze so he could look into her eyes. When she stubbornly refused to lift her head, he didn't push. Instead, he gently guided her forehead down to rest against his shoulder. That small act of safety broke her down entirely; Jackie began to sob violently, finally releasing years of buried agony. Eric didn't try to offer empty words or force her to calm down. He simply held her close, letting her weep until her heart ran completely dry.
By the time her breathing finally slowed, the fabric of his T-shirt from his collar down to his shoulder was damp and heavy with her tears. When she eventually pulled back, Eric looked at her swollen eyes and felt a sharp, stabbing ache in his chest—like a penknife twisting in his heart. Reaching out with both hands, he tenderly brushed away the damp traces still clinging to her cheeks. Jackie offered a faint, grateful smile at his touch. His quiet devotion was a constant comfort, fueling a growing hope in her mind that he truly cared for her as more than a friend. But a lingering doubt remained; she feared he might never recognize his own feelings because he treated everything in his life with such casual detachment.
So, she resolved to take a step forward, closing the distance between them. She leaned in closer, pressing her soft lips gently against his. A wave of pure relief and joy washed over her when Eric didn't pull away. Though he didn't immediately respond, his stillness was enough encouragement for her. She moved in even closer, deepening the kiss as she softly brushed against his lower lip.Eric, on the other hand, felt his blood boil fiercely again. But this time, the sensation wasn't uncomfortable or distressing like it had been before; it felt incredibly good. His heart began to beat so wildly against his ribs that he feared Jackie might actually hear it. As her lips moved against his, a quiet battle erupted between his heart and his head. After a few agonizing moments of internal struggle, his heart finally won. He yielded to the feeling and began to kiss her back, abandoning his restraint. He took control of the moment, kissing her with a deep, unexpected tenderness.Inside, Jackie was absolutely beaming. The man before her was entirely gentle; every touch, every movement, and the very pressure of his lips carried a profound softness. They drew each other tightly into a closer embrace, continuing their gentle kiss until the rest of the world faded away and their lips grew completely numb.When they finally drew apart, neither spoke. They simply stared deep into each other's eyes, silently trying to read the raw emotions swirling within. After a minute or two of heavy, breathless silence, Jackie finally found her voice. She looked at him and softly confessed, "I fell in love with you at first sight, from the very first day you were introduced to me But I was busy arranging for my mother's urgent surgery at the time, so I couldn't focus on anything else," she explained softly. "Then, by some twist of fate, we met again right there in the hospital corridors. I still don't know if our paths crossing like that was pure destiny or just a random coincidence. But looking at you then, I knew I couldn't let the moment pass. I seized the opportunity to get closer to you. As days went by, I found myself falling even deeper in love, especially when you began treating me with such unexpected kindness.
I only truly realized that you might actually have feelings for me when I noticed how your behavior shifted—the sudden tension in your posture, the way your eyes darkened—whenever you saw me standing with Lon. That jealousy gave me hope. So, I decided to finally take the first step the moment a real chance presented itself. I knew that if I didn't act, it might take you a painfully long time, perhaps even an eternity, to look inward and accept what you truly felt for me."
Hearing those words, Eric sighed heavily, the weight of the confession pressing down on his chest. He stared blankly ahead, a bitter thought crossing his mind: What good did I ever do to deserve a woman like her in my life?
Part of him wanted to believe that God had brought her into his chaotic world as a form of divine compensation, a healing balm for all the crushing loneliness he had endured for years. But another part of him felt completely overwhelmed. She was too pure, too good for him, and he simply couldn't afford to let his emotions take over.
His life was dangerous; his entire job revolved around protecting Andy at all costs. His daily reality was dealing with threats and ruthlessly bringing down anyone who tried to cause harm, in one way or another, to Andrew. He knew exactly how the world worked—all of those dangerous people were constantly hunting for a weakness, waiting for any vulnerability they could exploit and use against him.
Eric didn't want Jackie to end up as collateral damage. He couldn't bear the thought of her getting hurt simply because he had let his guard down and accepted her into his dangerous life.Steeling his heart, Eric swallowed the lump in his throat and looked into her eyes."Jackie... I... I am so sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking slightly under the strain. "But I don't..."
"I know..." Jackie began, cutting him off as the cold realization started to set in.
"I understand. No one wants a person like me in their family. I'm just an orphan, Eric... just like my mom was."
Another wave of hot tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over her cheeks. Eric watched her, a heavy guilt settling in his chest. He had pushed her to open up, encouraging her to cry out all of her buried pain, only to inadvertently replace it with a fresh, sharp ache.Why is the world so incredibly unfair? Jackie thought, her shoulders shaking as she began to sob violently. She fought desperately to regain control of her breathing, but the wall she had built around her heart was completely shattered. She was letting herself go, entirely consumed by grief. But even in her broken state, a spark of pride remained; she couldn't bear the thought of Eric seeing her completely fall apart.Pushing herself up from the cold ground, she bolted toward the rooftop exit. Every step felt heavy, and an overwhelming sense of misery weighed her down.
"Jackie! Jackie, wait!" Eric called out, his voice laced with panic as he rushed after her.Before he could reach the handle, the heavy metal door slammed shut. The sharp click of the deadbolt echoed through the quiet night, leaving him stranded alone on the rooftop.
Eric stared at the locked door. With his skills, bypassing a simple lock would take him mere seconds. He reached for his tools, but paused. He needed to think things through. Perhaps this sudden distance was necessary; maybe they needed to confront the harsh reality of their current situation if he was ever going to keep her truly safe.Yet, the logic failed to quiet the agonizing ache in his chest. Right now, he didn't care about strategy or danger. He simply wanted to tear down the door, wrap his arms around her, and lock her in a protective embrace forever. He wanted to swallow up all their shared pain and quiet the desperate yearning between them. He knew exactly how much agony Jackie was enduring. It had taken immense courage for her to harbor hope, open her heart, and confess her feelings to him first.
"Ahhh!" Eric let out a sharp, frustrated cry into the empty night, running a hand through his hair.
He had spent his entire life mastering the art of being aloof, detached, and unbothered by the world. But Jackie changed everything. With her, his defenses crumbled. Looking at the closed door, he felt completely overwhelmed. Everything happening around them was devastating, frustrating, and utterly nerve-wracking.