Stigma

~*The failed attempt*~

As soon as Delia was in the water, her mind focused on saving Devian. All the worry and fear was gone and she saw towards him against the strong current. Her arms ached, her heart thudded with panic and her eyes kept watering but she swam towards him. 

With great difficulty she pulled him out, her weak muscles ripping in pain as she carefully dragged a now unconscious Devian. All through the near-drowning experience she cried her way out and tried the CPR she learned in school health classes.

After three attempts, Devian coughed out water and his eyes slowly opened.

Delia felt her whole body go weak with relief as she literally fell on her butt and sobbed hard letting the stress out.

It took a moment for Devian to realize what happened and where he was when he saw Delia crying right in front of him soaked in water. He processed what happened, feeling the burn in his lungs and when everything fell into place he got up too fast causing him to wince in pain as his head hurt.

"Delia, tell me did you jump in the water?" He asked feeling agitated and angry, but somewhat hopeful.

She nodded in the most adorable way possible and Devian sighed deeply at her immediate loss of anger. Devian looked at her with awe and worry, awe because she jumped in the water to save him even though she herself feared it and worry because she didn't care for herself too much.

"I thought the water was one of your fears."

"It is- it's- it's just I just wanted to save you." She said like that is all that mattered.

Devian moved closer to her and pulled her in for a hug. Even in this cold night, warm waves flowed in his body at her touch. They sat there like this for a few minutes as gradually Delia calmed down and stopped sobbing. 

"Let's go. I will take you to the doctor." Devian said helping Delia to stand up.

He noticed the little scratches from sharp rocks here and there and mentally winced at those injuries feeling guilty and helpless. He wanted to scold her and tell her never to put anyone before herself or that never to risk her life for someone like him but he couldn't bring himself to say anything as he just felt immense gratitude and surprise as to how far she went for him while she didn't even know all his schemes.

"You almost drown Devian, I am fine." She said her voice still heavy after all that crying.

Devian called Paulo asking him to pick them up and waited in the car for him to arrive since Delia wouldn't let Devian him drive after almost drowning.

He couldn't help but worry about Delia in soaking wet clothes and that she might get sick after this so he turned the heat up and tried not to think about it too much.

"Why did you jump Delia?" Devian asked looking straight ahead instead of looking at her.

She sighed and after a moment's silence she said, "It was terrifying."

"What was? The water?" He asked sharply because it was more reason to not jump.

"The idea of losing you." And she looked away outside the window embarrassed at herself for saying this out loud.

Devian stopped breathing and turned towards her sharply. What did she just say? 

If he was losing before, he was crushed to defeat right now. She found the idea of him losing so terrifying that she jumped in the water to save him even after she fears it.

Sudden tears formed in his eyes and he tiled his head back to not let them fall and show how much her words mattered to him.

His hands gripped the steering wheel too tightly as he realized how miserably he succeeded with the plan and how amazing he lost himself in it. He was supposed to make her fall in love and break her heart but right now his heart was breaking because as soon as the darkness fills him, only one of them could survive.