CHAPTER 89: CONFRONTATIONS AND CONFESSIONS

Just be safe, that’s all.

Rome couldn’t help but smack his head as he recalled his encounter with the twins and how cowardly he had been in front of them.

He didn’t understand why, out of all the things he wanted to say, those were the only words that came out of his mouth.

If he thought about it, there had already been opportunities he had wasted and chances he should’ve taken when he was right in front of them.

He had messed up big time.

Alpheus and Dave exchanged a glance as they watched Rome clutch his head and run his hands through his hair like a man on the verge of losing his sanity.

Dave handed him a drink, and without a word, Rome downed it as if it meant nothing.

The two could only shake their heads.

They were at the bar, keeping Rome company after he had dragged them there.

However, hours had already passed, and instead of loosening up, Rome just kept staring blankly, as if his mind were busy wandering elsewhere.

"So, what happened when the kids finally saw you? Did they ask anything about you?" Dave asked curiously, taking a sip of his own glass of whiskey.

Rome slowly turned his gaze to Dave.

"Y-yes." Rome took another sip of his drink.

"Egypt asked me if there was anything I wanted to tell them..." he continued, his words slightly slurred as the alcohol began to take effect.

Alpheus and Dave exchanged glances.

"Then what did you say to her?" Dave asked.

"I said... just be safe. That’s all."

"That’s it?" Dave raised an eyebrow. "You didn’t even introduce yourself to them?"

"N-no. I didn’t have the courage to introduce myself to them as their father.."

Dave and Alpheus looked at each other again. They wanted to know about Rome and Sylvia’s past, on how they met but they knew Rome would never voluntarily reveal that information, no matter how much they pressed him.

They observed how Rome’s composure crumbled whenever the topic of Sylvia came up. It was obvious he still loved her.

Learning that Sylvia had been hiding the twins from him had only made him more distraught. At first, they had wanted to believe that it was Rome’s fault that Sylvia had left him and hadn’t told him about the twins.

But seeing him this broken made them think there was more to the story. Perhaps Rome had also been hurt by their relationship.

"Then why are you so frustrated right now? Do you regret not telling them you’re their father?" Dave asked again.

"Y-yes. I should have told them. That I might be their father... but I don’t know how to answer them if they ask how I can be sure I’m their father when I wasn’t there while they were growing up. And I don’t have any DNA proof. I can’t support my answer if they question me about that.."

Rome admitted, his hands unconsciously gripping his bottle of whiskey.

Dave and Alpheus exchanged another glance.

Alpheus sighed before slowly reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small piece of paper sealed inside a tiny plastic bag.

"Is a DNA sample really the only problem?" Alpheus asked.

Rome frowned as he looked at Alpheus. His eyes slowly widened as he realized what he was holding.

"Is th-that perhaps..." he stammered.

"Yes. However..." Alpheus said, tucking the strand of Paris’s hair back into his pocket.

It had been collected when Paris had left a hair clip in his car, leaving a few strands behind. He hadn’t planned to give it to Rome, but his curiosity about Rome’s past with Sylvia got the better of him. He wanted to understand how they met and why things had ended so badly.

He looked Rome in the eye. He could see how desperate Rome was to get his hands on what was in his pocket.

"You know, I want to know first how you and Sylvia met before I give that to you. I’m curious how things ended so badly between you and Sylvia—that you went your separate ways, that you ended up married to my cousin while Sylvia secretly raised your twins alone. I want to know it all."

Rome clenched his jaw, took a sip of his drink, and glared at Alpheus.

"Tsk. That’s all you want to know? Then give me that first." he demanded.

"Nope. I want to know your story first so I can decide whether I will give it to you or not." Alpheus replied seriously.

"Me too. I also want to know your story." Dave added.

"Pffftt—h-haha... what the heck... why do you want to know about it? It’s not like our story is some kind of drama for you to know..."

But Dave and Alpheus couldn’t miss the pain behind Rome’s words. He was still hurting. He didn’t want to admit it, but the wounds from his past were still there.

"But we’re curious. If you don’t want to tell us, I can just give the sample back to Sylvia. You know, I promised her I wouldn’t say anything about the twins. And now... thinking about it, it feels like I’ve already broken my promise to her—"

"Tsk. Fine. I’ll tell you."

Rome shot a glare at Alpheus before downing the remaining sips from his bottle.

His mind was still sharp despite being tipsy. He didn’t want to talk about his past, and if it weren’t for the sample Alpheus was holding, he wouldn’t have shared a thing.

He still remembered everything vividly.

Memories that still haunted him. Memories with Sylvia he had long wished to bury and forget.

It all began back in college. Everything was happy, simple, and seemingly perfect for them. But there is no such thing as a perfect relationship, it was always meant to fall apart, no matter how perfect it seemed.

***********

Flashback......

"H-hi... I’m Sylvia Lincolm... please accept this gift, please!"

The 18-year-old Sylvia said, bowing her head as she handed over a small gift wrapped in a cute box.

Rome furrowed his brows, glancing around to make sure she was really talking to him.

It was the girl he had secretly liked for so long, yet he didn’t have the courage to approach her, as she was the kind of girl who preferred staying alone rather than having friends.

He was about to accept Sylvia’s gift, but he suddenly stopped.

His classmates suddenly erupted into cheers.

"Pfftt, Rome! Take that gift already! Don’t waste it! She probably saved up for months from working as a waitress for this, haha!" one of his male classmates shouted, causing a ripple of laughter around them.

Rome’s brow furrowed.

"What’s wrong with that?"

Rome asked his classmate before gently taking the gift from Sylvia’s hands, which made her cheeks flush with color.

"What’s wrong with Sylvia giving me something she worked so hard for?" he added, glaring at his classmate who had caused a scene.

Everyone at their school knew that Sylvia was the only scholar in their prestigious, exclusive school, mostly reserved for the children of wealthy business tycoons.

Despite being poor and orphan, she had earned her place through hard work and intelligence. Because of her background, she was often bullied.

That’s why Rome despised anyone who treated her unfairly, he couldn’t stand seeing her hurt by others.

His classmates fell silent. Some of them pretended to be busy with other things, while others subtly left because they were afraid of him.

He’s hanging out in the gym now as he likes to play basketball as his hobby. Some of his classmates like to watch him play, so he just lets them. However, he doesn’t like how they disrespect Sylvia.

"Y-you know my name?"

He looked at Sylvia’s gentle voice. He can’t help but be stunned by how she’s beautiful in her own way. He can’t help but be attracted even to her simple gestures.

"Yes. You’re pretty popular, that’s why everyone knows you."

She shyly looked away. "I’m s-sorry..."

Rome frowned. Did he say something wrong for her to say sorry?

"Why are you apologizing? If there’s someone who should say sorry, it has to be him." He then glared at his classmate who spoke earlier.

"Oh come on! Rome. Are you expecting me to say sorry to her? Haha, she must be so lucky then! Haha"

He glared at Marco. If Sylvia wasn’t there, he probably would have punched him already. However, he can’t let Sylvia see that. She’s too precious to witness him getting into a fight.

If he still remembers it, his name is Marco. He didn’t know anyone from his class, but this Marco guy is one of his arrogant classmates who likes to stick to him. He hates how he’s thinking he’s above from the rest.

"Say sorry to her. Or else I will make you say sorry to her in the principal’s office for putting Sylvia’s bag in the trash yesterday."

Marco fell silent for a moment before smirking.

"The heck, bro! why would you think I’m the one who did that? She’s just a nobody that doesn’t deserve to be studying at our school, so why are you taking her side? Unless you fall for her that you want me to say sorry to her. Haha!"

But Rome’s gaze only darkened.

"What’s with liking her? That doesn’t change the fact that you have to apologize to her."

Marco fell silent, as did some who heard it, including Sylvia, who froze in her place.