ELI
The morning sun spilled lazily through the windows, kissing my face with warmth I didn't deserve. My eyes cracked open slowly, the ache in my chest heavier than ever, as if my ribs were iron bars caging my breath. Lian's voice broke the silence, cheerful and teasing as always.
"Get up, heartbroken princess. I'm heading to my man's place," he said, bouncing on the bed next to me.
I groaned, clutching my pillow tighter. "Five more minutes."
"Nope. You begged me to help you pack, remember?"
I blinked up at him. Right. Today was the day. The day I'd finally break Damir's heart, just like he broke mine.
Lian helped me up, and we dragged my suitcase out of the closet. He snatched one of Damir's hoodies off the chair and held it up, smirking. "You sure you don't wanna sleep in this one last time? Might still smell like your sugar daddy."
I snatched it from him, heart thumping, but I didn't answer. I folded it carefully, almost too carefully, and placed it into the suitcase. Every single thing I packed screamed of Damir. The bracelets. The cologne. The silk shirt I'd only worn once on our trip to the coast.
"You're literally taking a breakup shrine," Lian teased, zipping up the suitcase. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you wanna hurt him, but not forget him."
"I don't want to forget him," I whispered.
"What?"
I shook my head. "Nothing. Let's just get this over with."
Lian followed me downstairs, but stayed behind the moment we reached the edge of the hallway. My heart slammed against my ribs. I could hear soft laughter, Damir's and… my father's. Their voices were a low hum in the kitchen, blending with the clink of coffee cups.
I squared my shoulders and walked in.
Damir was at the counter, dressed in a black turtleneck and grey joggers, looking infuriatingly perfect with bed hair and a smile that faded the second he saw me.
"Eli," he breathed, standing up. "You're awake. Do you want…."
"I'm done packing," I interrupted, tone cold. I didn't meet his eyes.
He blinked. "Done… packing?"
My dad turned, his brows furrowed. "Eli?"
I swallowed, keeping my eyes locked on the kitchen tile. "I'm leaving, Damir. I'm done with… us."
There was a moment of silence so thick I thought time had frozen. Then Damir stepped forward, voice shaky. "Wait, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying I'm done. With this relation…ship..let's break…up"
A tear slipped down my cheek, and I wiped it away angrily. "You lied to me. You made me feel special, and then you made me feel disposable. Like I wasn't enough. Like Philip still had a place in your heart."
"That's not true," he said, voice cracking.
My dad tried to say something, but I raised a hand. "Please. I'm tired. I'm so, so tired of loving people who hurt me."
Damir took a step closer. "Eli, I didn't mean to….?
I turned and stormed upstairs, chest heaving. Behind me, I heard the scuffle of feet. Damir followed.
"Eli, wait. Please!"
I didn't stop. I grabbed my suitcase, ignoring the shaking in my hands. Lian was waiting in the hallway, trying to look casual but obviously worried.
"You okay?" he asked.
Before I could answer, Damir caught up. He grabbed my arm, pulling me into a desperate hug from behind. I froze.
"I'm sorry," he whispered into my neck. "Baby, please. I'm so sorry. I messed up. I was scared and stupid and…fuck…I love you. I love you so much."
I bit my lip, heart shattering. "It's too late, Damir."
"No. No, don't say that." He spun me around, cupping my face. "Look at me, baby. Please. You think I care about anyone else? I've never felt like this before. You're the only one who makes me feel alive. Who makes me want to be better. Just… don't go."
Lian took a step back, trying to give us space.
"You don't get it," I whispered. "I'm broken. And every time I try to heal, it's you who cuts me open again."
Damir dropped to his knees, hands clutching my waist. "Then let me stitch you back together. Let me fix what I broke. Don't walk away. Please."
His tears soaked into the fabric of my shorts. I looked down at him, this strong, terrifying man reduced to a trembling boy in love. It was too much.
I dropped the suitcase. "Fuck it."
I launched myself into his arms, lips crashing onto his. He caught me, groaning into the kiss, hands locking around me like chains. I clung to him, legs wrapping around his waist, pouring all my pain, my love, my frustration into the kiss.
"I hate you," I gasped between kisses. "I hate how much I love you."
"Don't ever stop," he whispered. "Don't ever stop loving me, baby."
We kissed again, harder, more desperate.
Behind us, Lian gagged dramatically. "Ugh, get a room. Or wait…you have a whole mansion. Just not this hallway."
We pulled away, laughing through tears. Damir leaned his forehead against mine.
"Stay," he said.
"I will."
Lian scoffed. "So now that this is over, should I make a move on your dad, Eli?"
I glared at him. "My dad sucks."
"Tell him I said that," Lian smirked.
I looked back at Damir. "I love you. Just… don't break me again."
He kissed my forehead. "Never."