Chapter 3. Shattered

"Long after I've given up, my heart still searches for you without your permission." - Rudy Francisco

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Stefan's POV

Gran loved to see us interact with one another and I could sense her motive, but I didn’t encourage her. She was desperate to make use of her matchmaking skills, but I knew it was impossible. 

Yet my heart didn’t wish to face the hard reality. It wanted to snatch moments with Rose and remain in this happy bubble forever, if it was possible. It was strange that I had never been so happy in all my twenty-four years of life as I was now with Rosy. She didn't need to make any effort at all. A little smile and a moment with her were enough to have me in an eternal state of bliss. She was strangely oblivious to the effect he had on me, and that endeared her more to me. It seemed a mere teenage girl had won my heart more than anyone else I knew. I just wished that I had met her before! I just wished that my life wasn't such a complicated mess as it was now! What I would do to be with her forever! I could die to just see a smile on her face. What was this madness? Why was I behaving like a hormonal teenager around his first crush? I had no answers to those, but I knew I was going crazy about her!

After a fortnight of happiness with Rosy, a phone call from my dad brought me out of my dreamland. Everything crumbled to dust when Dad asked me to return immediately. Claudia had gone into labor and had been admitted to the hospital for her delivery. I felt guilty for having completely forgotten about Claudia and my messed-up life. I immediately packed up and went to see Gran before returning to my shitty life. 

Gran was alone in her room, lying down and reading a magazine. She sat up when she saw me and gave me a sad smile, as if she knew I was leaving. Maybe Dad had informed her before calling me up.

"Call of duty?" she asked, keeping the magazine down and giving me all her attention. I returned her smile, knowing that she understood what I was going through.

"Yes, Dad called. Claudia is admitted. She's gone into labor." I knew Gran hated Claudia, as did everyone else, but she was the bitter truth of my life. My mistake!

"What about Anna, Stefan? Won't you meet her before leaving?" Gran knew everything about me, but that question was something I didn't have an answer to. I wanted to meet her, but she would weaken my resolve to leave her. Why couldn’t I have met her earlier?

"I’m in a hurry.” 

“She will be heartbroken, Stefan. Talk to her before you go.” Somehow her insistence made me frustrated. 

“Please gran, don't get your hopes up for something which is impossible.'' However, my scowl didn't deter Gran, and she prodded further.

"She likes you, Stefan. I saw the way you both look at each other. Please sort it out with her before you leave," Gran persisted. I knew Gran was very attached to Rosy, even more than she was to me, but I couldn't give her any false hope. I didn't have the courage to face her and talk about us since there was no possibility of an 'us'.

"Gran, please understand that Annabelle is not my type. I am married to Claudia, and she is expecting my child. There is nothing between me and Annabelle and there never could be. Please let us drop the topic here." I could not meet her eyes. It was the harsh reality, and seeing Gran's pale face made me feel like a devil. She nodded gravely and sighed and thankfully didn't prod any further. 

A gasp made me look towards the door. My heart broke when I saw Annabelle's pale face, as she stood there frozen, too shocked to react. She must have overheard every word I said. I stood like a statue, transfixed on the spot, not knowing how to comfort her. I knew I had hurt her and maybe shattered her innocent heart, but I was helpless. Would she hate me for it? It was better she hated me. She ran out of the room and I didn't have the courage to follow her and explain myself. My life was a mess, and I knew no one could understand what I was going through. Annabelle was just a teenager and beyond my league. She was a distant dream for me, a dream which I should forget. I quietly left the mansion with Duke. That was the last time I saw Annabelle.

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Annabelle's POV

My heart shattered into a million pieces when I overheard Stefan. I hadn't in my worst nightmares expected this. I felt unwanted and a burden on the Henderson family for the first time after my grandfather's death. 

I never saw a ring on his finger, but he was married and his wife was expecting his child. I couldn't believe it. My seventeen-year-old heart had weaved, dreams of a happily ever after with him, only to be painfully reminded of the reality. His words rang in my ears.

I wasn't his type.

It hurt me to even think about how foolish I had been to have fallen in love with him in such a brief span of time. He was the first man I ever spoke to about myself. The first to whom I had opened up. I could feel that he was equally attracted to me just as I was to him. Was it all casual flirting? I really was too inexperienced to know. I knew I had to forget him and move on. I had loved and lost, and this was the hardest reality of my life.

I flung myself onto my bed and cried my heart out until there were no tears left. I couldn't face Gran and stayed locked up in my room for the rest of the day, only coming down for food. Gran left me at peace and gave me my space. So, it was a relief when my school reopened and I could keep myself busy with my studies to block out all thoughts and feelings of Stefan out of my life forever.