.....
An hour later, Emil who was lost in his thoughts got startled when his phone beeped with a new message. He looked at the sender's ID and when he saw who had messaged him, his barely calm heart started to pound heavily in his chest.
"Sorry for the wait. Am now free" Yvonne had sent.
He turned to look at the closed door of the restroom where Daniel had gone to take a rest. His eyes stayed on the door for couple of seconds, and as if coming to a decision, blinked his eyes and retracted his gaze.
He went straight to his call log and dialled Yvonne's number.
The call was answered right after it got connected. Yvonne's melodious voice came through, a bit unhappy and accusing.
"Why are you calling just now ? Do you know how much I have miss you ? I didn't get to hear from you the whole of yesterday. What happened ?"
'What happened ? That's the wrong question. You should ask what had not happened !'
Emil had just opened his lips to say something when Yvonne's accusing and questioning voice came through once again.
"Forget it. You were probably busy with work. --- But, am still angry that you didn't even send me a single text message. Where's your loyalty? Don't I come first to you anymore ? Or you probably don't love me anymore."
Yvonne accused while pouting and curving her lips. She maybe complaining or having fun as she accused him. But, unfortunately, the guy on the other end took every word seriously.
He was unhappy with her choice of words. Especially her last words.
Emil's heart that was pounding earlier on, almost dropped to his stomach when he heard her last sentence.
'Or you probably don't love me anymore'
"Don't you dare say those words again." he sharply said. It was a bit threatening.
Yvonne's slightly opened lips paused when she heard his threatening words. She was a bit confuse. 'Why did he say that?'
"My love for you goes way back. Don't ever doubt my love." Emil spoke, but this time, it wasn't like his first rebuttal. His voice was soft. Full of love.
"Okay, but why voice call, and not video call? I miss your face"
....
"Are you listening ?" Yvonne asked when she didn't hear anything from Emil.
"Mmm, am here."
"So... should I video call you..?"
Emil went silence for sometime. He seem to think about something. He cleared his throat before speaking.
"No, I can't do video call ...." He strained off, not knowing how to continue.
'I feel guilty. I can't look into your eyes right now' These words were stuck in his throat.
"Are you busy ?" Yvonne asked a bit disappointed as the smile on her face fell.
"Am never busy ..."
" for you."
Before Emil could complete, Yvonne completed his words for him. Emil softly chuckled as the corners of his lips unconsciously curved.
"Did you want to tell me something?
"Huh?" Yvonne asked perplexed
"Your message from minutes ago said you had a lot to say to me" Emil uneasily said.
"Oh ! that ? I just.. just.."
" Okay, I understand."
" You do right?"
Emil went silence in thought. His mind full of ideas as to how to break the 'news' to her, without angering her.
"Hey, don't sleep on me" Yvonne called when she didn't hear anything from him, except his faint breathing.
"Precious, am going to tell you something that may hurt you or probably anger you. But .." Emil paused for couple of seconds before he continued, "But can you promise to listen to the very end ? Also, please don't put forth judgement yet."
Although Yvonne was confuse with Emil's serious words, she still gave her word to him.
"Okay, I promise"
Emil took a deep breath before he opened his lips to speak.
.....
Five minutes later, his voice came to a stand still. There was silence for a while.
"Am sorry" His voice very regretting
There were two occurrences, major and minor. One pained him deep in his heart. While the other, that's the minor was only a passing fear that will soon end.
He told Yvonne everything about the later occurrence. That's the disgusting scene he woke up to this morning. What made him drink so much, that, he didn't tell her.
He wasn't planning to keep his mummy's illness a secret from Yvonne. He sincerely didn't want her to believe and forgive him unwillingly.
"Haha, is that why you don't want me to see your face ? You feel guilty?"
"..."
"Did something happen between you and her?
"No"
"Case solve. ... See how easy it is. There was no need to trouble yourself about this unimportant thing. Am not that stupid. I know and trust you okay." Yvonne said in all honesty.
Emil heaved a deep breath, a breath he didn't know he was holding. That's when he realised how much scared he was. He had thought of possible ideas of Yvonne mistrusting him.
But this outcome, was beyond his worried imagination.
" So Mr. drunkard, will you tell me what or who pushed you to drink? " Yvonne asked a bit teasing.
Emil chuckled, "Is that another nickname you're giving me?" he asked massaging his forehead.
"No, it doesn't makes you look cute and adorable."
Yvonne's words caused him to laugh. His first laugh after he learned the truth about his mummy's illness.
...