I immediately went to Freya’s house. When I rang the bell, a woman opened the door.
“Ethan! You’re back!” Then she threw herself at me.
“Helena?”
“Yes!” She giggled. “Didn’t recognize me? It’s me, Helena.”
I blinked. Helena’s hair was straight now though it had some layer of different lengths. She looked more tempting than before. “Wow!”
“Just wow?” She grinned, pulling my hand, so I followed her to the living room. “Do you like my new appearance?”
I nodded. “Absolutely yes, my darling.” I pulled her hand now, and she fell into my lap. “Is Freya at home?”
Helena shook her head. “Why?”
“I want to say hi, but also this.” I landed a soft kiss on Helena’s lips. “I miss you so much.”
Helena smiled. Her eyes were shining. “I miss you too. I keep thinking of you.”
I kissed her lips again. “So do I, darling. So do I.”
“What do you think if we go to your villa instead?”
“Oh? Do you miss Ernie or the cook’s meals?”
Helena giggled. “Well, I miss Ernie and the cook’s meal too, but also ....”
I waited for Helena’s following words, but she didn’t continue and blushed instead. “But also?”
“You know.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
She pouted and pinched my stomach hard until I grabbed her hand. “You are mean.”
“What do you mean? I honestly didn’t get what you meant.”
Helena moved her face forward, then she whispered in my ear, “Since you have returned, it means your business has finished, right?”
“Well … yes and no.”
“What do you mean?” She wrinkled her forehead. “Now it’s my turn to be confused.”
I took a deep breath then touched her face. “Helena, it didn’t work as I planned.”
“I don’t get it.”
“I failed ….”
Helena hugged me. “I’m sorry. Is there another chance?
I shook my head. “I don’t know how to tell you this.”
“It’s okay. You can tell me, and I will listen.”
“Oh, Helena!” I covered my face with both hands. “How am I supposed to tell you?” I sighed and took a deep breath. “Shortly, I made a huge mistake eleven years ago. It has affected me until now. So, I went to Crescent Island to find someone I wished could help me.”
“Did they refuse to help you?”
“No, she didn’t refuse to help me, but she couldn’t help me.”
“Oh …. So, what will happen to us?” Helena bit her lower lip.
I touched her lower lip a few times until she didn’t bite it anymore. “We should wait, darling. Although—”
“Although?”
“Although there is another solution.”
“What is it?”
“I can’t tell you! It’ll hurt you more.”
“What is it? It involves me too. I need to know.”
I took a deep breath. “Are you sure?”
Helena nodded. “Please tell me.”
“The woman told me that the only solution to my problem was finding a young and powerful witch.”
“What for?”
I didn’t continue my words since I knew it was a mistake to share them with Helena. “Forget it!”
“Ethan! Please tell me the rest.”
I hugged Helena and kissed her hair. “I don’t want to hurt you, darling. I swear!”
“Ethan? What’s going on? What happened to a young and powerful witch?
“Let’s forget about that, shall we? Let’s pretend we have never discussed it.” I kissed Helena’s forehead. How could I lose her now? She is more beautiful than ever. It hurt my heart only to imagine that I would let her go.
“Ethan, we know you need to tell me about it. So, please, if you want me to sleep well tonight, tell me. What should you do with the witch?
I said nothing and sighed instead. What should I tell Helena?
“You should do what with the witch?” Helena scratched her head and stared at me. “Ethan? Please? I need to know.”
I took another deep breath. It’s so hard! But Helena was right; she had the right to know. So, after taking a deep breath, I said, “The one I met told me I need true love from the witch.”
Helena bit her lower lip. “Maybe you can make her your sister?”
“Also, we should love each other.”
Helena stared at me as if she saw a ghost. “What did you say?”
I pulled Helena into my embrace. “That’s why I didn’t want to tell you. I don’t want to hurt you.” I kissed her hair. It hurt so much. I couldn’t imagine how Helena’s feelings right now.
“Does it mean … w-we should end our relationship?”
“No!” I stroked her back. “No, Helena. I can’t lose you. I don’t want to lose you.”
“B-but then …. How could you be with the witch if you didn’t let me go? She whimpered. “M-maybe it’s a sign. Maybe we don’t mean to be together.” Helena sobbed on my chest.
I shook my head, unable to say anything since a lump was in my throat. If I said something, my tears would drop.
Later, I took deep breaths repeatedly, trying to control my emotions. I needed to be strong for both of us. I got this! I hugged Helena tightly until she gasped.
“Ethan, you hug me too tight! I can’t breathe.”
“Sorry.”
There should be another way. Then something crossed my mind. “Helena?”
“Yes?” She sniffed.”
I pushed her shoulders a bit, staring at her face. She was crying, and my heart hurt. I made her cry, while what I wanted the most was to make her happy. “Please don’t cry, my darling. I can’t stand it to see you cry.”
Helena bawled and laid her head on my chest. Her tears damped my shirt. “It hurts so much! I can’t lose you.”
“I can’t lose you either, darling.” I dried her tears with my handkerchief. “Please, listen to me first.”
She was quiet for a few seconds. Helena didn’t look into my eyes but at her lap.
“If we cannot mate for the rest of our lives, can you accept it?”
I lifted my head and nodded immediately. “Yes, Ethan. I can accept it.”
“Are you sure? It will be a huge sacrifice since you can’t give birth to your babies.”
Sorrow filled her eyes for a few seconds, but she shook her head. “It’s okay. We can adopt a baby.”
“Helena, you are still young and gorgeous. You can get any man you want. Are you sure you want to stay with me, darling? I won’t blame you if you choose to end our relationship now.”