Reiner – Can’t Give Up

“I see…you’re right,” King said after a short pause and his eyes were on me.

Honestly, I was too shocked to say anything, and I quickly realized that there wasn’t anything for me to say. Apart from perhaps offering Reiner some words of congratulations on his upcoming wedding? I wasn’t so kind-hearted that I could do that when I was suffering so much inside. My head hurts and my chest felt tight. I knew that I could start crying at any moment and I also knew that I didn’t want these people to see it.

“Sorry but I’m not feeling well. Please allow me to excuse myself. Thank you for hosting dinner…” I mumbled awkwardly as I got up from my seat.

Turning away, I started walking away as fast as possible while trying not to cause a scene by running away. I didn’t want to believe what I had just heard. If Reiner is really going to marry someone else, then why am I even here? None of this was making any sense to me anymore. I felt so crushed that I didn’t have the strength to face anyone right now. I just wanted time alone to think and to cry.

As I walked along, I wasn’t even sure where my feet were taking me, and I didn’t mind. All I needed was to get somewhere far far away from him and other people right now.

…

Queen watched as a terribly upset-looking Natalia excused herself and quickly stood up before marching away from the table where they were supposed to be having dinner. The scene before her disturbed her deeply and so did the conversation that had just taken place.

“Why did you have to do something like that to her?” Queen asked as she glared over at her own son.

“I don’t know what you’re referring to,” Reiner replied coldly.

“Don’t give me that. I don’t know what you’re thinking but there’s no valid excuse to say things like that in front of her when you know well how she feels. Even if what you said was the truth, you didn’t have to say it like that,” Queen snapped.

The next moment she was out of her seat and had started walking the way that Natalia had headed.

…

After walking along for a while, I started crying. I wasn’t sure where I was or where I was going or when I should stop walking. My legs just took me forward and my eyes just let more tear drops fall onto my cheeks. I felt warm wetness on my cheeks before the wind blew on them. After a while, I realized that I didn’t need to walk anymore. No one was around and this part of the island may as well have been deserted. There was just enough light for me to see but not enough for anyone that may pass by to see my face or my tears clearly. It was perfect, honestly.

I sat down on a small grassy slope next to a bush and continue to cry. When I got onto the plane and left my old life behind, I never thought that the journey would be easy for me. I never thought that Reiner would accept me so easily. I knew that it would be hard and harsh. Just like the old man had told me, I knew that I needed to be brave ‘in every sense of the word’.

However, no preparation that I could have done could have prepared me for this. I looked up at the starless and cloudless night sky and thought that my life now was as empty and meaningless as the starless sky. For a moment, I thought that it might be best for me to go home. Lucien will take me back with some scolding. I’ll apologize as many times as it takes. I’ll ask Zak for his forgiveness for being too weak to fend for myself and survive on my own without his support. I’ll admit to Edward that even with all the things he’d tried to teach me that I was still useless.

“Hell…what am I thinking?” I whispered to myself as I closed my eyes and took in deep breaths.

You didn’t come this far to give up, Natalia…

Just then I heard footsteps behind me. Reiner?

Quickly, I turned around. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Reiner who came after me. I blinked rapidly before turning around to wipe the tears from my eyes and face. For some reason that I couldn’t quite understand, Queen was standing there with a very worried look on her face.

“Natalia…” Queen said my name softly and I could tell that she was upset too.

“Hi. Sorry for walking off like that,” I quickly apologized for my rudeness earlier.

“That’s not a problem. Can I take a seat?” she asked.

It was quite funny because there were no seats around. We both just had to sit on the grass. I nodded my head at her and she sat down on the grass next to me and stretched her long legs out in front of her. Her movements were graceful, and her body still retained most of its glory from her modelling days. I knew that I should say something, but I couldn’t figure out what to say so I just waited for Queen to speak.

“I’m sorry about what you had to witness. As a host, I’m ashamed for dragging you into our family affairs in such an unsightly display,” Queen apologized.

“Oh no…that’s ok. You don’t have to apologize for anything,” I quickly quelled her worry.

“As a mother, I’m ashamed for my son’s behavior,” Queen continued.

“It’s ok…” I said in a soft whisper.

“If you don’t mind, can I tell you a short story?” Queen asked before turning to smile brightly at me.

“Sure…” I replied.

It wasn’t like I had anything else to do right now and I had all the time in the world to listen to her story.

“There was once a young model who was very invested in her career. She enjoyed her job and she had support from the people around her. With luck and hard work, she found fame and she felt like she was heading in the right direction,” Queen started off with her story.

--To be continued…