Down Bed Castin & Cleona
Chapter 21 ~ Billing Promises

A handsome tall man with white skin, a pointy nose and thin lips was smiling broadly in front of an antique mirror in his room. The seventeen-year-old man was tidying a bow tie on the collar of his shirt.

After wearing a suit and also making sure his appearance was absolutely perfect without any flaws, then he left the mirror, then stepped towards the nightstand.

Harles Afson, that is the full name of a handsome man who now stepped confidently while carrying a black rose. Harles is ready to give a surprise to the woman he loves.

***

While turning her back, Cleona was left flabbergasted by the presence of someone she of course recognized. The figure of a handsome man who used to always stand at the forefront to defend when he was bullied and hurt. Who else would that man be if not.

"Harles," Cleona covered her mouth with both palms.

Cleona was with Harles for a year. At that time Harles was in the second grade, while Cleona was a new student.

Wherever Cleona went, Harles always protected himself. Until one day, Harles evaporated his heart. Cleona's refusal made Harles slowly move away. Even so, Harles was always there when Cleona needed him.

"How are you, Cleona?" asked Harles who was standing right in front of Cleona who was still shocked by the presence of Harles in his room and Castin.

"Harles, you—"

"I'm back, Cleona. Do you remember your promise? You promised you'd wait until I got back, does that promise still hold?" asked Harles with a sad look on his face.

While Cleona was stunned, in case Harles was not in front of her at the moment. Cleona would not remember his promise.

"Why silence, Cleona? What's been going on since I left?" asked Harles again, Cleona felt very guilty. How could she possibly be that kind of woman, hanging the heart of a man who kept waiting for her faithfully. In fact, willing to languish in prison for his sake.

"How did you get to this place, Harles?" Cleona asked, hoping that her question could change the subject.

"Behold your promise to, Cleona" Harles returned.

"Harles, I'm really sorry about you. I can't keep my promise, you can punish me in any way, but I really can't be with you because it's too late" Cleona said in a free-falling tear.

"What do you mean?"

"I've been the wife of another man, Castin Afson name ...." Cleona could not continue his words, only when he realized something that he should have realized long ago. How could he not realize that Castin and Harles' last names have similarities.

Cleona drops her body on the floor, after realizing that Castin and Harles are siblings.

Harles was still standing at his original spot, with a wry smile. "You married my older sister, Cleona," Harles revealed in a quivering voice.

Cleona looked up and said, "I'm sorry Harles, there's a lot going on."

"What made you forget me?"

"I'm sorry, please forgive me, I'm guilty. Now tell me what you want from me? I'll do whatever it is, as long as it doesn't ask me to part with your brother. I ... I love Harles so much, I beg you, don't separate me from him, I beg you," Cleona inched closer and knelt at Harles' feet.

As devastating as Cleona was, not a single bit was comparable to the destruction of a Harles. Like Harles first found a flower, he took care of the flower lovingly, he gave the best protection, even he also sacrificed a lot for the flower. But, he had no right because the flower was not his.

Who does not hurt, see the woman he loves, willingly prostrate at his feet for the sake of a man who is none other than his own brother. Life is not fair.

"What do you want, Harles? Do you want to take me to prison to break through my guilt for killing? All right, just take me. But, please do not separate me and Castin, "please still prostrate Cleona.

"I don't want anything, Cleona. I just wanted to....