I got no excuses for all of these goodbyes
Call me when it's over, 'cause I'm dying inside
Wake me when the shakes are gone
And the cold sweats disappear
Call me when it's over and myself has reappeared
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know why
I do it every, every, every time
It's only when I'm lonely
Sometimes I just wanna cave and I don't wanna fight
I try and I try and I try and I try and I try
Just hold me, I'm lonely
(Sober by Demi Lovato)
...............…
Seeing Jose suddenly leaning towards her and heading straight to her lips, Arissa stepped backward reflexively and suddenly, heavy rain poured down and wetted them both in an instant until their body soaked and drenched.
"Arissaaaaa!!!!"
A loud voice called her name from behind and made her turned then she saw Cristan running towards her while he is using his jacket to protect his head from the rain.
"What are you doing!!!"
"You have just recovered a few days ago and now, you soaked wet like this…"
"Come on, let's go home now!!" Cristan snapped worriedly while he pulled hard her hand away from Jose who was still stunned on his spot.
Amid heavy rain and confusion, Arissa has no other option and forcibly, follows Cristan hurriedly. She even didn't have any chance to say goodbye to her senior properly.
"I'm sorry, Jose. I'll see you again ... bye for now.."
Jose only can see and watch the whole unexpected scene before him…
Then, he smiled resignedly and waved his hand.
After Cristan got Arissa into the car, she texted the head of the fire department to stop the "fake rain" and shortly, disappeared from the area as they instructed.
In an instant, the rain stopped all of sudden and the sky is bright clear again like nothing has happened before. Only Jose who still standing there all alone and look around with a confused face.
After that, he got out and walked out from the amusement park, and heading into a black Maybach that had been waiting for him since some while ago. Inside the car, there is an expressionless lady who has been waiting for his arrival.
"So, how is it?" Chara asked Jose straight-forwardly with a flat face and tone as usual while handing over a dry towel to him.
Jose shook his head hard. "She rejected me..."
Chara breathed a sigh of relief afterward. After all, her hunch was right. It wasn't Jose that the girl liked before but someone else. But, who is he?
"Anyway, don't you think the heavy rain that you created before, it was a bit too far, Chara. Was it the part of your plan B too?" Jose asked her back curiously.
Chara shook her head.
"No, it wasn't me. It's Cristan…"
And again, Jose glanced back at Chara. His facial expression is unreadable.
"........"
"I'm going home now…" Jose sighed exhaustedly and hand over the towel back to the lady butler then getting out of the car.
After Jose left, the corner of Chara's curled up slightly and formed a smile.
"Plan B.....succeed...."
..............................
Cristan brought Arissa whom soaked and drenched terribly to the apartment. Her body starts shivering because of the cold and she sneezed repeatedly without stopping. Quickly, Cristan opened the door, snatched a dry towel, and shortly, took a set of pajamas for her. Then at last, he also prepared warm water for Arissa.
"Would you like to take shower now?" Cristan asked worriedly.
Arissa nodded lightly, grabbed a dry towel from his hand, and her pajamas before she rushing into the bathroom. Therefore, Cristan made a glass of hot chocolate to warm her body.
His actions today were indeed quite outrageous. Triggered by jealousy, he went crazy to stop Jose from kissing her but in the end, he made her condition even worse and the girl had just recovered a couple days ago. Moreover, last night, the wind also blew hard in Moonlight Lake. Against the extreme temperature constantly in such a short time, as strong as someone is, they would fall sick afterward. Especially if they are not wearing proper outfits.
I'm so sorry, Arissa…
Cristan apologized inwardly at her with a pang of deep guilt. Yeah, he should admit it. It's his ego. It's his pride. No one ever say no or rejected him before. All females adored him. Worshipped him. Submitted themselves under his spell and charm but the same mojo, doesn't work with her at all. She's immune to all of his "weapons" and the fact that there was someone that she liked more than him. It hurts. It hurts his pride deeply.
He feels disappointed. After all that he had done to her. After all his efforts to protect and keep her safe. After all his doing….
Why not even once she glance and saw through it all?
Why is she still remember the other guy who met her recently after he left her over these years?
Cristan sighed deeply with a heart.
Why are you so complicated, girl?
Arissa, when are you going to see me as your man?
Would that day will come someday?
Would you open up your heart once again for me?
...........................….
Once Arissa finished her bath and warm steam stills evaporating from her body and her hair is damp wet, but her face looked pale. She is obviously sick. Dead sick for sure. She doesn't stop sneeze either. While she is sipping a glass of hot choco that he made for her, Arissa constantly wiping her nose with tissue paper. Seeing her pitiful condition, Cristan open a small cabinet and took medicine, and prepared a glass of water for Arissa so she can drink it quickly.
"Thank you..."
Arissa thanked him briefly and she drank it fast. Then, her head leaned limply on the back of the sofa while she closed his eyes. Resting herself and let the med do its magical work inside her body. Oh… how unlucky she is today!
She had just come working today and her condition started to deteriorate. Again.
No, this is not good…
But, on other hand, she can't do anything. Then, shortly after, Arissa fell asleep on the sofa due to the side effects of a medicine that Cristan had given to her before.
Seeing her in deep sleep, slowly, Cristan put her arm behind his back and carried her in his arms, and placed her carefully on the bed inside her bedroom. Then, slowly covered her body with a warm blanket. Cristan stared at her face who stills in a deep slumber. She looks very beatiful and peaceful as well. It's solemnly quiet. This moment is rare and also his favorite whenever he can be close with Arissa without any disturbance.
But then, something is happened. The heat of her body temperature rise slowly and her face turned red. She's got a fever!! In panic, Cristan searched a thermometer and use it to measure the girl's temperature.
Gosh!
It's 38.9 degrees Celsius!
It's fucking hot!!
In a rush, Cristan gets a basin and filled it with cold water, and mixed it with alcohol then he dipped a washcloth and put it on her forehead to reduce the heat of her body temperature. After a while, his action was completely useless. Her temperature remains utterly high. Shortly, Cristan searched and looks for another medicine to reduce her fever and fed Arissa who is still in a semi-conscious state. After a while, her temperature dropped gradually and bean sweats are coming out all over her body.
Cristan breathed a sigh of relief. He was just about to go out and put the basin and the washcloth inside the bathroom, when suddenly, Arissa grabbed the hem of his shirt.
"Don't go...."
"Cris….tan…. like... I like…"
She mumbled incoherently in her sleep and still murmuring the words subconsciously. She is delirious.
Cristan couldn't hear clearly what the girl was saying to him so he brought his ear slowly to Arissa's lips.
"...li…ke…..you...Cris…tan…."
His body froze when he heard those words that spilled out from her mouth.
Did he just hear the word "like" from her lips? But, he wasn't sure.
When Cristan looked at her once more, the girl's breathing is steady and had returned to normal.
Cristan stroked and dried her sweat-drenched forehead and neck gently and then, he exhaled a deep breath heavily.
Arissa, my dear…
Please tell me….
How long should I wait for you?
..................….
I'm sorry to my future love for the man that left my bed
For making love the way I saved for you inside my head
And I'm sorry for the fans I lost who watched me fall again
I wanna be a role model, but I'm only human
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know why
I do it every, every, every time
It's only when I'm lonely
Sometimes I just wanna cave and I don't wanna fight