Chapter 13: Chapter 13

"Slipped, chased by criminals in two sedans, nearly died in a car accident, and passed out. Couldn't you get yourself out of trouble for a bit?"

I set my eyes straight to the television screen, watching the animation that was presented. Ashton had been giving me his pent up words since morning. He became more talkative than my own parents since what happened to me.

Ashton then blocked my view of the television by standing in the middle with his hands on his waist.

"What?" I snapped.

"You're not listening to me,"

"Come on, Ash. I'm still not feeling well. Let me just sit back and finish my porridge," I grumbled.

"You didn't even touch your porridge spoon,"

I rolled my eyes. I couldn't stand eating porridge in these three days. I wanted to eat ice cream, pizza, fried chicken and more. But Ashton even forbade me. He took good care of me, but I couldn't stand it for a long time to be restrained from doing what I wanted. He kept forcing me to go back to the room. I was sure even my bedroom walls were tired of seeing me there longer than usual.

"I want ice cream," I whined even though I knew it wouldn't work.

"No," Ashton folded his arms across his chest with a shake of his head.

"Please?" I whined again with sparkling eyes and gave him the saddest expression I could show.

"Puppy dog eyes won't work on me,"

"What?" I replied innocently. "I'm begging you, Ash. I'm bored,"

Ashton sighed and stepped away from the television screen. He sat down next to me and took a bowl of porridge which I only held on to like a display.

"Let me feed you,"

I shook my head, locking my lips. Ashton gave me the first bite. "Open your mouth,"

I turned my face away from him. "Ice cream first! And then I will eat this bowl of porridge. I promise you,"

Ashton said nothing, but waited for me to open my mouth. But I didn't want to give up on him either. Until finally he sighed and gave in. "Okay, I'll buy you an ice cream now."

"No, wait!" I refused while tugging at the hem of Ashton's shirt as he was about to stand up.

Ashton's confusion was evident on his face.

"I want to go there too,"

"What? You can't!" Ashton refused, then stood up and placed the bowl of porridge on the table. "I've obeyed you, and now it's your turn to obey me."

I stood up from my place too. I knew I was no taller than Ashton, but what's the harm in approaching him and tiptoeing to challenge him to stop me face to face? "I said I wanted to go there! Period,"

Ashton froze in place when he found my face to be so close to his lips. I gave him a brave look, though little did he know that my heart was losing its beat because of him.

But my cool scene had to just disappear as my foot hurt, and I lost my balance. Sometimes I forgot that my slipped foot hadn't fully recovered.

My eyes widened as I nearly fell backwards, but swiftly like a hero, Ashton's hand caught my waist and held me from falling. I was pushed forward until our bodies were embracing each other.

It's not like we never hugged, or made physical contact like holding hands, but this accident was different from all of that. We stared at each other in silence after that awkwardly.

"Then come along," Ashton glanced at me then left the room as fast as he could.

I swallowed heavily. After Ashton actually closed the door, I smiled like a fool.

Later that day, I got what I wanted. Nothing really interesting, until Ashton suddenly told me something.

"R-rainy professed love to you?" I asked, feeling uninspired to eat my favorite chocolate ice cream.

Ashton nodded. This time he didn't order ice cream. He really just wanted to fulfill my request. "I've had many confessions of love from women. And you know after that I just toyed with them. But Rainy? She's going to be your half-sister, and it never crossed my mind to hurt her."

"So you're going to make her your girlfriend?" I asked quietly.

"What do you think?" Ashton questioned me back. He looked like he was curious about my response.

"According to me?" I shrugged. "I don't know. Only you can make your own choices, I mean your heart. It's more honest and true," I didn't dare turn to Ashton. I was afraid he would notice a change in me after he told me that.

"I know what my heart wants," Ashton said hesitantly. "But reality is complicated. It makes it difficult for me to reach my heart's desire,"

"It's still about that woman you like?" I asked, feeling a pang of jealousy every time Ashton mentioned this mysterious woman. He liked this woman for a long time, that means since I started liking him too.

Ashton just smirked at me.

"Your smirk is a bad situation for me," I admitted, unable to read what was going through his mind as he gave me that mysterious expression.

"I was just thinking if it turns out that you're my soul mate,"

I immediately choked and coughed. Even my ice cream fell to the ground.

Ashton immediately rubbed the back of my shoulder. "Is it that bad imagining me as your soul mate?" he asked, still worried about me.

I didn't answer other than trying to calm down and stop coughing.

"Wait a minute, I'll buy you a drink." Ashton ran somewhere to buy a drink. I tried to catch my breath after he wasn't around me anymore. Why would he say such a thing? Didn't he know that every night I dream of it?

Ashton came back sooner than I thought. He bought me a bottle of mineral water and gave it to me. I took it and drank slowly. "Thank you, bestie." I nudged his elbow, and Ashton gave me a murderous glare. "By the way my ice cream hasn't finished yet and it fell. Don't you want to buy me a new one?"

"No," Ashton refused, pulling me by the arm. "Now you must go home and go back to rest,"

Ashton didn't mess with his words. He made me go back home and continued the rest of my day in my room. I snorted at the view on my balcony. Every time I see the garden, all I remember was Adrian, when I saw him sitting there with a blank expression. After what happened, I couldn't reach him. Not only Rainy, but now he was avoiding me too.

"I hope Adrian is okay," I whispered to myself.

I held onto my phone, fighting with myself not to try to call him again, but I couldn't. I dialed the number and hopelessly waited for him to pick up the call. Why won't Adrian pick up my calls? What if I'm in trouble and need him?

I sighed feeling alone. When I was with Adrian, I felt so alive. He made me do crazy things I never thought I could do. Being friends with him was interesting, but I didn't even know if he considered me as a friend too or not. And regarding his marriage proposal, I didn't know how long he would be willing to wait for my decision. I still wanted Ashton. But then I realized that we wouldn't be more than friends. What did I expect? Ashton even frankly told me that he was in love with someone.

"This is crazy. My romance life sucks. My genre of life seems to be comedy!" I yelled down along with the wind. I gripped my phone tightly, but then I jumped in surprise when a call came in. Unknown number? Who else is this?

"Hello?"

"Miss Mabel?"

"Yeah, it's with me. Sorry, who am I talking to?" I didn't recognize that person's voice at all.

The man chuckled, but then he coughed. That's when I knew I was talking to an elderly man.

"Let me introduce myself to you. I'm Valentino Moretti, Adrian's grandfather. Look, my grandson told me a lot about you. He never did this to a woman. So I'm sure there's something special about you,"

I felt sweat dripping from my temples. I reminded myself not to faint again. For God's sake, I didn't expect to be talking with the devil himself. I knew a lot about Valentino Moretti through the internet.

"I was thinking of inviting you to visit my mansion for dinner together. Adrian is also here," explained Valentino Moretti with a heavy chuckle.

Hearing Adrian was fine, I felt calm. But why doesn't he pick up my call? Was there something that made him avoid me?

"So, would you like to join us for dinner?"

I pondered for a moment. It was a good offer because I could check and scold Adrian straight away for avoiding me. But... If I tell my father and the others, will they agree? I meant, my father might let me be with Adrian, but if his grandfather was there... would that be okay? Especially Ashton, he would definitely be the first one to stop me from going.

"Miss Mabel?" Valentino Moretti, or I could say Adrian's grandfather, didn't sound like he liked to wait. He seemed to have guessed that I was wrestling with my own decisions.

"Y-yeah?"

"What do you think? If you agree, I'll send a car to pick you up. You don't have to worry. I'll take care of everything,"

"It sounds great, and I really want to. But, I'm sorry, Mr. Moretti. For now, I'm still not feeling well and haven't recovered yet." I answered, looking at my feet.

"Are you sick?" asked Valentino Moretti in surprise. "Why did Adrian even visit me? He should be with you now,"

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling bad because now I seemed like I was seeking Adrian's attention because of my health. Oh, Mabel! Why did you have to explain that you're sick?

"It's okay, really."

"Nothing's okay. Adrian is such an idiot. Let me have him come to you now,"

"Wait, no!" I immediately refused. Adrian was clearly ignoring me. "No need, Mr. Moretti. I'll be fine soon enough,"

"I'm going to talk to Adrian now. See you later, Miss Mabel. I hope your condition will get better soon,"

I was about to open my mouth, wanting to stop Mr. Moretti from talking to Adrian about me, but what could I do? He ended the call one side.

How will I face Adrian? Why am I so nervous about him? I shook my head, trying to divert the thoughts in my head with something else.

Inhaled, then slowly exhaled out. Take it easy, Mabel! Dealing with Adrian was no big deal.

After all, it was Adrian who had been causing me trouble all this time. He must take responsibility! I was in danger because of the enemies of his family.

Little did I realize that day I started to smile when I remembered what I went through with Adrian.

I laid back down on the bed, staring at my ceiling. I had been staring at them since yesterday, but I still liked them. It felt calm, and only my mind got busy. I was tired of doing nothing, so I closed my eyes to sleep and just enjoying my rest time.

The dream about Adrian still haunted me. Because in my dream, he was the only and last person who stood up for me when everyone else was gone. Funny, isn't it? Even in the real world, Adrian left me when I was sick like this. He didn't care.

My dream was completely wrong. I sighed, not wanting to think about it anymore. I would better forget about it. That's the best thing to do.