My mother stopped me before I climbed up the stairs to know what happened. I paid no heed to her as my blood was boiling in anger, climbing the stairs and slamming the door. I plopped on the bed, tears rolling down.
'No…..Why am I shedding tears for a nobody ?' I wiped my tears and sat up. I made up my mind and took a shower and dressed up.
I called Nate to order some coffee and croissants to have at my office.
Nate was arranging my coffee and croissant on the table. I sat on my couch and took a sip from my morning drink, the aroma of the coffee letting me relax.
'You don't seem good!' Nate sat next to me.
"I turned to him, Do I? Ah….Must be the wine I had last night! " I laughed out .
'Then, What's with the mood to have croissant? You eat it only when you're upset ?' he peered into my eyes.
"Why do you have to know me so well, Nate?"
'Because….' he stopped, gently cupping my face with his hand, 'I wanted to! ' he smiled softly.
I started weeping and sniffling like a child and he patted on my shoulder, letting me lean on him. He put his arm around my shoulder and tapped, 'Is it that guy, Noah? I hate him, and I don't get what you see in him, I'll go break his nose, for revenge! Don't worry ' he said.
"Really? Will you? " I asked in a quavering voice.
He chuckled, 'Of course!'
I hugged him, smiling, "Thank you, Nate!"
'Huh! Now finish the croissant and come over, we have to look into the details of that New project we've signed with Ember and co !' his eyes widened and he looked at me speechless.
"We don't mix personal feelings in business", he joined me in a chorus.
After eating the pastry, I started checking the company's portfolio, the dealings and conditions for the project, the expectations and targets set. I verified the report submitted and went through the suggestions.
My phone kept ringing and I put it in silent mode and continued on with my work. It was past midday, when someone came in, diverting my focus on the door.
"Why are you doing this to me?" he shrieked at me, closing the door behind.
'Kai…' I was taken aback.
"Why do you keep ignoring me ?" in a subdued voice closing the distance between us.
'I….What do you want, Kai?' I shifted my eyes from him to the desktop's screen.
"Stop ignoring me, Ash! " his voice raised as he turned my chair, making me face him he leaned in, our faces inches away.
I exhaled, closing my eyes and looked into his, "Kai…what are you doing?"
'I want you to hear me!'
"And this is how you do it? " I raised a brow at him.
"And you're the one who assumes whatever comes to your mind, not letting others speak their hearts out ! Why do you always keep running away without facing them head on, Ash? When will you stop this? " His words are as sharp as a needle.
'Okay, talk!' I sighed.
"You know what? I never liked Noah, because he has taken you before I could ! You remember his 20th birthday party? I was there. I saw you playing guitar beautifully."
'You too!' I was shocked, 'of course! You're his cousin' I nodded.
"He was like an older brother until he proposed to you!"
'Eh?' I looked, his eyes lowered in sorrow.
"Oh my! Should I console him, his beautiful face turned pale. What am I even thinking?" I questioned myself.
"Ash…." he whispered, I came to reality, when he touched my cheek, "I love you !"
Words stuck in my throat in astonishment and shock.
"I know you like me, but this Noah came in and made you confused!" He clenched his teeth.
'Could it be?' I flashbacked the memories, realizing how true his words are.
"Do you love Noah?" he questioned.
Reminded by the morning incident, 'Hell, No!' I shrieked, shocked by my own words, I looked at Kai wondering what I told.
"Then do you love me?" he questioned again.
'What…?' I stuttered. 'No….' I turned away from him.
He moved the chair towards him again, "Then, What was the meaning for all your flirtatious acts? Why would you give me hope with such acts? Why did you lead me on?" he yelled, his eyes filled with rage and tears.
I touched his face to console him, he shoved my hands, took two steps away with his back facing me, he stopped, "You're an idiot and a goddamn coward!"
'Yes, I am. So what?' I controlled my strong emotion, to not break up in front of him.
He turned, "Hmph..How could you be so heartless?" his face reddened yet dejected.
'If I have a heart, I'll lose, Kai!' I said with a poker face.
He took a step forward, "Tell me, Have you ever felt anything for me?"
I looked away, gulped the lump in my throat, 'No!'
"So you were toying with me, my emotions?" his voice cracked.
Those words shook my stubbornness, still looking away.
"If you want, I can be your play toy forever!" he said.
Blown away by his words, I turned and his face was so closer, he looked into my eyes. 'When did he come closer?' I wondered and before I could say a thing, he pressed his lips against mine.
He moved away and said, "You are lying, Ash. I've been looking out for you and reading and finding all kind of information about you for a decade and never once I heard you dating a guy or flirting with a guy, but what we have isn't fake , I know you, I love you!" He smiled brightly.
'No….It's not…'
"Stop Ash…You don't have to pretend, I won't believe your lies, None will come in our way! See you my love!" he left.
It all happened in a wink and I pinched myself to know that it's not a dream.
'This is crazy! Ah!....' I held my head in confusion.
I should have stayed away from them. Now I'm in big trouble. How do I solve this? It was a terrible mistake to test them and now I am more perplexed. This is bad.
I shifted my hands to my chin and looked at the space before me, my mind blank, not knowing that time is fleeting, until his voice broke the silence.
"Ash…..Ash….."
'You….Why are you here and who let you in?' my tone pitched.
"I've been calling you from the morning and texted you many times, but you didn't respond!" he said.
'What makes you think I'll respond to you after what happened?'
"Look, I understand, I should have stopped my father, though he has a reason!"
'And what would that be?'
"Your mother never liked our engagement and she is still against it!"
'Really? You think this is the best excuse?'
"No…..There's much more and I can't reveal it!"
'Noah…Please..I hate being led on like this!' My own words stabbed my heart, reminding me of Kai's words.
"Ash ... .Do you remember when I told your father asked for this marriage?" he looked at me deeply and continued, "I heard the whole conversation and I can't hurt you with the truth, I'd rather become a loser, an unlucky guy!"
'And this is what you came for? To confuse me more with this philosophy of yours?'
"Maybe I don't have the guts to reveal it! I'd rather be the bad guy who left you before and even now!" his tone lowered, eyes welled up.
'Oh! Right…I should've known! How stupid of me!' my heart bombarded my ribcage. 'Get out!' I yelled at him, my palms banged on the table.
"I know I've hurt you more, but understand it's all for your own good!"
'My own good and who the heck are you to decide that?' I sneered.
"Ash…It's complicated.
'Stop your act! I don't wanna see your face and get the hell out of my place!'
"I get it! Maybe, You'll find the truth one day and I hope you won't hate me then !" He took a few steps away with his head low.
'Hate you? You think you deserve my hatred? I think you love dragging me down, and act like you are an empath. You are a goddamn freak who spoiled my family and the reason my dad is now in a vegetative state must also be your plan! I wonder if your father devised the plan and used you to lure me in?'
He stopped, turned around, "What?" his eyes wide.
'Your father's evil plan to get at my dad, so that he can rule over the service sector and hide behind the mask as a good one by the marriage proposal right?' I shrieked, as I moved up the chair.
He clenched his teeth, calmed his nerves and sighed with closed eyes. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at me, "Are you trying to provoke me?"
'Tch….' I looked away as if not interested in his words and folded my hands, 'I saw who your father is, this morning? Stop pretending that you are good, Noah. What was your plan? If you wanted to take over this service sector business, you could have worked and there are more options, but I never thought you'd stoop so low, conspiring against us, especially my father!' my eyes pressed through him for more.
"Stop it Ash! I can't hear a word more against my family."
'Such cruel family deserves better praise, Eh?'
"Stop!" He took his steps towards me and stopped at the table.
'And you played me yesterday, Nice act ....I didn't know you're such a deceiver! Like father, Like son!'
"Enough!" he banged on the table, "You want to know the truth right? Hear it then, your father begged for this marriage, he forced my father to agree for this union! Are you satisfied now?"
'Haha…Nice try, Noah !' You sure are talented in deceiving, cooking up stories and what else?
"Not as good as your mother, she was the reason your father wanted to get you married off and I wonder if she is the one behind the blast!"
'What? Ha…Now you're blaming my mother?'
"Is she really your mother? Go ask her what happened 10 yrs ago? I don't give a damn if you believe me or not, but your mother is the one who plotted and your father fell into her trap!" He looked at my eyes and left.
I flopped on the chair, unable to accept that Noah is totally different and the fact that I don't know anything about him. How could he pin it on my mom? Why? Sweat beaded on my forehead when I realized how much mom hated this wedding arrangement, with Noah especially, because she wanted me to stay away from him. What's the truth? I felt lightheaded imagining the possibilities. Darn!