Chapter 4

Chapter 4

**Jheanne's POV**

After posting the photos of me and Ubi on social media, the comments flooded in.

Already replaced him that fast?

Wow, there was a backup waiting?

That was quick!

Maybe she's been with him for a while already!

Maybe that's why her boyfriend didn't show up at the wedding!

So she's the cheater too?

Those were just some of the comments I read.

And yes, they hurt.

Who wouldn't be hurt, when people looked at you like that? As if after being cheated on and abandoned for your best friend, you were somehow the bad one. Like I was the shameless one.

Well, I chose this act, didn't I?

So I had to face the consequences.

Let them think whatever they wanted. Hugo and I knew the truth.

And speaking of that bastard-had he seen my post yet? As far as I knew, we were still friends on that account. Then again, who knew? Maybe he'd already blocked me.

What would his reaction be when he saw it?

I shook my head.

Just thinking about him made my blood boil. If I saw him again, I would absolutely slap that smug face of his. He and Jana were probably having the time of their lives right now.

And me?

Here I was, looking like a drenched stray kitten-left at the altar and heartbroken.

I wiped at the tears on my cheeks.

It still hurt so much. No matter what I did, it still hurt. The fact that he didn't show up at our wedding that morning wouldn't leave my mind. It felt like something that would stay carved into my heart forever.

I sniffled.

"You really are such an asshole, Hugo Makatarungan. And your last name doesn't suit you at all. It should be Hugo Cheater instead," I muttered angrily through my tears.

Then I jerked at the sound of a loud crash in the living room.

It sounded like something had fallen and shattered.

I hurried out of bed to check, because Ubi was sleeping out there.

The lights in the living room were dim. I walked toward the sofa.

"Ubi?" I called.

No answer.

I saw him lying there, tossing and turning. He was making low sounds too, and from the look of it, he was having a nightmare. I walked closer and watched him.

Then I noticed the vase on the floor.

That was what had broken. He must've knocked it over in his sleep.

"D-Don't... l-leave m-me... p-please..."

I frowned.

Even in his sleep, he was speaking English.

And then I saw tears slipping from the corners of his eyes.

"What kind of dream are you having, Ubi? It looks like it hurts," I whispered, staring at him.

He kept repeating the same words, and the longer it went on, the more tears fell from his eyes.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I touched his arm and shook his shoulder lightly.

"Ubi, wake up. You're having a nightmare."

His eyes flew open, and our gazes locked.

I barely had time to react before he grabbed my waist and yanked me forward. I lost my balance from where I'd been leaning over him and fell right on top of him.

"Ubi!" I cried out.

His hands were locked tightly around my waist, and I was half draped over him.

"Don't leave me! Don't leave me!" he sobbed into my chest.

Yes-his face was buried right between my breasts, and my face heated instantly at the position we were in. My heart was pounding too, and I didn't even know why.

I tried to pull away, but he only tightened his hold around me.

"Ubi, let go of me. I'm not going anywhere because this is my condo! You're the one I'll kick out if you don't let go!" I threatened.

I felt his grip slowly loosen until he finally let me go.

I exhaled hard the moment I got free. I sat down on the coffee table and looked at him. He was sitting up on the sofa now, drenched in sweat.

"What the heck were you dreaming about? You held onto me like Death itself was coming for you," I said.

He lowered his head and pressed a hand to his forehead. He was sweating all over, and because he wasn't wearing a shirt, I couldn't help noticing the sheen across his chest. I bit my lower lip. His body really was naturally muscular. It made me wonder all over again where he came from. Who he had been before he ended up like this.

"Ubi? Are you okay? What did you dream about?" I asked again.

He looked up at me.

Our eyes met.

There was so much sadness in his gaze, as if he carried something unbearably heavy inside him.

"A... woman..." he said in a rough voice. "She... died."

"A woman? Dead?" I said. "Come on, don't think about it too much, Ubi. It was just a dream. Besides, we watched that N*****x show earlier, remember? The one with the victims being kept as souvenirs in blue drums. That's probably why you dreamed something like that."

I even gave a little laugh.

He nodded and looked down again.

"Well, go back to sleep out here. I'm going back to my room," I said, standing up and patting him on the shoulder.

I turned to leave but he caught my hand.

I looked back at him.

"What is it, Ubi?"

He stood up, so now I was only looking at his chest and had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. He was just so tall. And so big.

"Can I sleep beside you?" he asked, looking down at me.

I stared at him.

My mouth even fell open.

Dear God.

No man had ever slept beside me before except my dad when I was little. Not even Hugo had ever slept next to me, and he'd been my boyfriend.

"Please..." he murmured.

There was real pleading in his voice.

And why couldn't I say no to him?

I scratched my head.

What kind of situation had I gotten myself into?

This would be my first time sleeping beside a man.

And that man was a beggar.

"Uh... you can just sleep out here, Ubi. I move around a lot in my sleep. I might knock your teeth out," I said weakly.

His face fell, and he lowered his head again.

He looked like a child who'd just been denied something he wanted.

I bit my lower lip and glanced at the sofa. It was too small for someone as tall and broad as him. There was no way he'd sleep comfortably there.

I felt sorry for him.

I sighed.

Then I looked at him and finally said, "Fine. You can sleep beside me. But I'm putting a barrier between us, okay?"

His head snapped up, and his face lit up instantly.

"T-Thank you," he said.

"Come on, then. Let's go to bed."

I took him by the arm and led him into my bedroom.

Once we were inside, I arranged the bed and piled several pillows between us as a divider. My bed was wide enough anyway. There was no reason our bodies would touch.

I lay down first and pointed to where he should sleep.

"Lie down. I'm turning off the lights," I told him.

He nodded and lay down too.

I grabbed the light remote and switched everything off.

In the darkness, I could hear Ubi breathing.

I don't know why, but I didn't feel afraid of him at all.

I barely knew him, and yet here he was, sleeping in the same bed as me.

What if he suddenly strangled me in my sleep?

Or stabbed me?

I shook my head.

I trusted Ubi enough to believe he wouldn't do that.

I knew he was a good person.

I could feel it.

And I couldn't help laughing at myself. First I dragged this beggar into my condo, then introduced him to my parents as my fiancé, and now he was sleeping beside me.

Everything had happened so fast.

Almost as fast as Hugo abandoned me.