Now, he would prove to all of them just how important he was to Lila. With that thought in mind, he rushed toward the mountain without bothering to wear his
Mount Shasta had a cable car that went halfway up, but the second half required climbing the steps on foot. He dialed Lila’s number repeatedly as he ascended, but the Ime was always busy. It was a clear sign that he had been blocked.
Hetned reaching her through WhatsApp but failed, so he unwillingly pocketed his phone.
The suminit seemed so close, yet he was already drenched in sweat. His legs ached and throbbed with pain.
He’d taken off his blazer and found it too troublesome to hold, so he tossed it by the side of the path. It lay among discarded trash left behind by other inconsiderate visitors and was an eyesore amidst the natural scenery.
a disheveled iness from the sweat and
Dorian’s shirt was soaked, and his tie was loose and dangling. His meticulously styled hair from the morning was now a d mountain breeze.
Droplets of sweat dripped from his face and left imprints on the s
steps before evaporating away.
Despite the scorching mid–day sun and the laborious hike, Dorian telt a cold chill in his chest. It crept up his veins, spreading to every part of his body.
He pushed himself forward in a blur, and the steep stone steps seemed to narrow before his eyes. As his vision clouded from sweat–or perhaps the spinning in his head–be lost his footing.
Nearby tourists gasped in shock. Some stepped forward to help, but another man was quick enough to hold Dorian back.
The man was dressed in simple clothes with hair tousled by the wind. He had a travel–wom appearance.
Dorian was jolted by the sudden incident and immediately felt his dizziness subside.
“Thanks,” he muttered before lowering his head to advance forward. His throat felt raw as it scrubbed with sandpaper, and it felt like he might cough up blood at
Having heard the news, Terry made his way up the mountain, skipping steps as he ran to get to Dorian’s side.
Having fmally caught sight of him, Terry slowed to a jog
Donan, why are you doing this to yourself?” Terry frowned and couldn’t understand Dorlan’s self–destructive behavior. Though he’d vowed not to interfere, he couldn’t harden his heart any longer after heating the news.
Dorian looked up with a pale face and clenched his fists to suppress his emotions. “Are you here to tell me that Lila doesn’t love me anymore?”
Terry frowned and didn’t losow how to respond, but his silence spoke of the answer. Dorian gave a bitter laugh and shook off Terry’s hand. Then, he marched ahead. “You know Lila well enough. I’ve wamed you before it got to this point. She doesn’t love you anymore, so it won’t matter even if you do this to yourself or die in front of her. What’s the point?” Terry asked behind him.
Dorian frog at Terry’s words. Yet, he refused to tum around and continued his club. He didn’t believe Intauryone else’s words. Hell, he wouldn’t belleve it even it Lila said it herself How could she just stop loving him?–
Teiry glanced back at the reporters who’d followed them up and snapped, “Haven’t you had enough?”
|
Though Dorian had brought this upon himself, Terry couldn’t just stand by and watch. The sight of those bloodshot, stubborn, and nearly desperate eyes of Dorian made his head athe with frustration
He caught up to Dorian and offered his friend a bottle of water. “If you’re go do it, make sure you at least get there in one piece.”
Derian’s breath was shaky, atal ins termbling hands couldn’t even open the bottle that had always been efloitless forhdim.
Terry had never seen him so out of control. The wrinkled shirt, crooked the, unruly hair, and terrifying red eyes were signs of a man on the verge of despair. Donian’s wortched look was no differed from a beggara. Perhaps he was, in a way, a beggar vying for Lila’s love.
Terry opened the bottle for him, and was to between pity and exasperation. Dorlandowned the entire buttle in one go and stül felt barely alive.
He looked up at the mountain sumanit, and his eyes stung with undeling tears. He wondered how much pain, Lila must’ve endured to come here it climbing bal What had she been thinking back thien?
