“I’m so sorry. I’ve ruined your shirt.” She sniffed, wiping the tears off her cheeks with the back of her hand.

“Don’t worry about it.” He smiled, looking down at his shirt then back up at her. He pulled her into another hug. “What matters is that you’re okay.”

El placed a soft kiss on her forehead, squeezing her hand with his own.

They sat in silence as Helena tried to recollect herself.

She then suddenly remembered that they had a gallery opening to attend. She had no longer felt like attending it but then decided to still go since she had already promise El that she would.

Helena pulled away and said with a tight smile, “Thank you for being such a sweetheart, El.”

“Don’t mention it.” He grinned, happy to see Helena smile again. “I hope you feel better after letting it all out.”

El was glad that Helena chose to share her troubles with him. Ever since they had started dating, he noticed that Helena barely revealed herself to him when she was troubled and that made him feel vulnerable. Vulnerable because he was very drawn to Helena and that there was this possibility that he was in love with her.

“I do.” She nodded. “We should get going or else we would be late for the opening.”

“Are you sure you still want to go? “ He asked, willing to not turn up at the opening and to stay by Helena’s side if she decides not to go.

“I’m sure. I already promised you that I would go.”

“You really don’t have to if you don’t want to, you know?”

“I want to.” Helena smiled, knowing how hard El had worked to get his works to be displayed at this gallery.

As much as El wanted Helena to be there, he didn’t want to force her into going when she wasn’t feeling very well.

Helena noticed the look of uncertainty on his face.

“El, really. I really want to go to the opening.”

He wasn’t completely convinced but then agreed. He knew that Helena was going for the sake of him and he appreciated that.

 “Okay. Well, we’ll leave early whenever you feel like going home.”