Chapter 170: Leaving Behind
Astrid's POV
I settled back into the plush pillows of the hospital bed, finally alone after the doctor's thorough examination.This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.
My vitals were stable, he had assured me, and with some more rest, I'd be back on my feet in no time.
I sighed, relishing the quiet stillness of the room, but the serene moment was shattered as the doors burst open. My brows furrowed with concern as Nova stumbled in, her eyes swollen and red. "Nova? What on earth happened to you?" I asked, knowing that her eyes were red and puffy because of tears. "Who made you cry?" I asked her as she collapsed into the chair beside my bed. "You mean this?" she asked nonchalantly as she pointed a finger to her eyes. "It's nothing. I fell asleep crying last night. I just missed my sister," Nova answered, making me feel bad for her.
I must have brought back memories of her sister again, making her cry so hard until her eyes had turned red and puffy.
"I'm sorry," I apologized as I reached out and squeezed her hand.
Nova shook her head. "None of this is your fault, you shouldn't feel sorry," she replied.
Still, I couldn't help but feel responsible about it ever since I found out how much I meant to her.
"Astrid, there is something I needed to tell you," she spoke with a hint of skepticism in her voice.
"Sure, tell me," I answered as I scooted closer to her to show her how much I wanted to hear what she had to say. "I-I've been thinking about this a lot. I think it's time for me to go out there and search for my mate," Nova answered.
She looked into my face, waiting for how I was going to react.
"W-What?" I breathed out in surprise. "Y-You're leaving?" I stammered.
"Astrid, I'm twenty three years old already and I still haven't found my mate. I'm getting worried, I think it's time for me to go out there to search for my mate instead of just waiting here for nothing," Nova explains, but I couldn't understand her words.
"I thought... I thought we would stay together?" I asked her. It was just the other day when we promised each other that we would be there for each other forever. What's going on? Why did she suddenly decide to do something like this?
Nova fell quiet for a moment, and then she sighed and wrapped my hand in hers. "Astrid, I'm sorry. I hope you understand. I need to go out there. I realized that nothing would happen to me if I stayed here."
My brows furrowed as I looked at her intently, searching for clues on her face. "Is there something that happened? Is there something that you are hiding from me? Tell me, Nova. What is it?" I prodded.
It seemed out of the ordinary that Nova would suddenly think of doing something like this.
Nova shook her head. "It's not what you think it is," she assured me. "I've also been thinking about going out and exploring the world out there for a long time. I think it's finally time for me to pursue my dreams," Nova explained, trying to make me understand.
"But... you're leaving? You're leaving me behind?" I asked her once again.
I know I'm being selfish to have that as my reason. I don't want her to leave because I don't want her to leave me behind. But we promised each other that we would be
together; why is she suddeners
breaking her promise.
"I'm sorry, Astrid. I hope you understand-"
"But why now?" I asked, cutting her short. "I understand where you are coming from, but do you have to leave now?"
"Astrid, you already have Drystan, your father and your siblings to look after you. You don't need me anymore."
"You are what I needed the most, Nova," I replied as I grasped her hand.
Nova averted her gaze when she saw the look in my eyes.
"Look, I will let you leave, Nova. I will also help you find your mate and support you no matter what, but can you please stay for now. Just
me a year, Nova... no just a few e
months, give me just a few months," I tried to bargain with her when I saw how she had already made a firm decision to leave.
My heart broke when I saw that she had really decided to leave. She even told me that she cares so much about me that I remind her of her sister, and she sees me as her sister. It turns out it was all for nothing.
I felt like all the words she said were a lie, and I was not sure how easy it was for her to leave me.
"I'm sorry, Astrid. I promise I will come back. I promise that nothing would change between us—"
"I know that, Nova, but you also know that I need you right now," I cut her off once again.
Nova wasn't able to speak; she could only sit there in silence, still unwilling to give in to my words.
"Nothing that I will say could stop you, am I right?" I asked her, "You have already fully decided in your heart that you will leave."
Nova still remained silent, making me feel betrayed.
"Fine, if I couldn't stop you anyway, why bother to tell me about this? Just leave if you want to leave," I spoke coldly as I turned my back on her.
I thought I really meant something to Nova when she spoke her words the other day, but clearly, I meant nothing to her at all.