Chapter 146: You’re the reason I came back.
Augustine’s breath hitched for a moment, his gaze locked onto Charles with stunned silence.
His heart thudded, loud and erratic beneath his chest, but his lips slowly curved into a fragile smile.
"You... you love me?" he whispered, as if trying to confirm he’d heard correctly, his voice still hoarse but laced with emotion.
Charles nodded, his eyes glistening. "Yes. I’ve been too proud to say it before, but almost losing you made me realise—I never want to go another day without telling you how I feel. I love you, and I don’t care who knows it."
"Gush!" Augustine exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. "This literally feels like a dream," he purred, a soft smile tugging at his lips despite the dull throb in his head.
Charles’s heart fluttered.
Watching Augustine’s stunned expression, he broke into a quiet, amused smile—one that trembled with emotion. It felt surreal... almost too good to be true.
Confessing his love for Augustine felt like a weight had finally been lifted off Charles’s shoulders—a breath he didn’t know he was holding now free.
"Charles Donald," Augustine called softly, his voice warm despite the weariness.
He paused for a moment, taking in the glow of joy on Charles’s face. "I love you, Charles Donald... and I’m so happy that you’re in love with me too," he said, emotion thick in his voice.
Then, with a gentle smile, Augustine tapped the side of the bed, silently inviting Charles into the space beside him.
"Come and lie beside me," Augustine added softly.
Charles gave a small nod before climbing onto the bed, gently settling beside Augustine.
He placed his hand on Augustine’s chest, his head resting just above Augustine’s arm.
They lay like that in peaceful silence, unmoving for the next five minutes.
And in that stillness, Charles couldn’t stop the quiet blush that crept onto his cheeks—amused, comforted, and wrapped in the warmth of the man he loved.
’I never knew confessing my love would make me feel at ease with myself,’ Charles thought, gently biting his upper lip as a soft smile danced on his face.
The room remained wrapped in comfortable silence, until suddenly, the door creaked open and a nurse stepped inside, her eyes widening slightly at the sight before her.
Charles gently leaned away from Augustine’s shoulder, his eyes following the nurse’s every movement as she handed over a small cup of medication and carefully fixed a drip to Augustine’s hand.
The quiet beeping of the monitor blended with the soft sound of the fluid entering the IV.
Once the nurse completed her task, she gave a small nod and quietly exited the room, leaving Charles and Augustine alone again in the stillness of their shared space.
Sigh!
"Pookie," Augustine called, his voice soft and low.
Charles raised his head, meeting Augustine’s gaze with slightly arched brows. "Yeah?" he mumbled.
"Umm... can you tell me that you love me once again?"
Charles scoffed, the corners of his lips twitching as a blush crept up his cheeks.
He sat up slowly on the bed, eyes fixed on Augustine. "I already said it before," he teased. "So why do I need to repeat my previous words?"
Augustine took in a deep breath. "I want you to reassure me that everything that’s happening right now isn’t a dream," he mumbled.
"Hey," Charles purred, gently cupping Augustine’s cheeks as he stared deeply into his eyes. "This is real, Augustine Wales. You being with me is real," he whispered, caressing Augustine’s chin with tender fingers.
Augustine sighed, nodding his head as a faint smile formed on his lips. "Have my parents been able to find out who was behind my car accident?"
Charles shook his head. "Your dad believes it was a planned attack. The crash site was too clean—someone cleared the evidence. And not just that... the dashcam in your car was tampered with, and even the nearby road camera was sabotaged."
Augustine exhaled. "Well, once I get better, I’ll make sure I find the person behind this."
Charles smiled softly and nodded in understanding, his fingers gently trailing from Augustine’s cheek down to his lips, lingering there as he took in the warmth of the moment.
He could feel the longing in Augustine’s gaze, and Charles’s heart began to race, his breath shallow as the desire to profess his love all over again overwhelmed him.
He liked the thought of being vulnerable with Augustine, of laying his heart bare without fear of judgment.
Slowly, Charles used his thumb to gently caress Augustine’s lips, his gaze locked on him with unwavering tenderness.
"I’m so proud of you, Augustine Wales," Charles began, his voice soft, laced with emotion.
He paused, taking a shaky breath. "It must have been hard for you. I mean... you were in an accident. You might’ve seen your life flash before your eyes."
Charles took a deep breath, his lips curving into an amused smile. "I’m proud of you for coming back to life. For fighting strong and for being the man I love."
Augustine blushed, a faint red creeping up his neck.
He nervously licked his lips, moistening them with his tongue as his gaze softened, a shy smile tugging at his lips.
"Thanks for loving me." He purred, the words still feeling surreal as butterflies fluttered in his stomach, a warmth spreading through his chest.
"Besides, while I was unconscious in my car after the accident, all I could think about was you," Augustine began, his voice low and filled with emotion. "I believe you’re the reason I came back. You’re the one who makes my life truly meaningful." He whispered the last words with a seductive warmth, his eyes locking with Charles’s.
Charles chuckled softly, his ears and cheeks flushing a deep red.
He leaned in closer, his thumb gently brushing against Augustine’s lips, and without a second thought, he captured Augustine’s lips in a passionate kiss.
Charles sucked on Augustine’s lower lip, pulling him closer as the world around them seemed to vanish, leaving only the electric connection between them.
Time felt as if it had frozen, each heartbeat a reminder of the love that had blossomed between them.