Chapter 26: Chapter 26

It took about one hour and fifteen minutes flight from our country to Bali. We finally arrived and landed safely at the airport.

Half of my shoulders almost felt cramped, I couldn't feel anything like my body was numb. I didn't mind Mabel using my body as a back cushion for her, in fact I liked it. I wanted her to feel comfortable.

When was the last time I went to Bali? The answer was a long time ago. As I got off the jet, I could smell the scent of old memories. It felt like it still lingered in my mind of the last time I was there.

I sighed when Daniel called me. He took me to meet a tour guide. He said hiring a tour guide would make it easier for us to get to interesting tourist destinations. I just agreed with him, he knew best. Although the last time I was in Bali, I didn't need a tour guide.

We shook hands with a man named Joko, our tour guide. The man was so friendly, and advised us to hurry to the villa and rest because he couldn't wait to get us to our first destination soon.

I agreed with him, so I ordered my man to inform the others. From where I stood, I could see Mabel from a distance. She sat next to Miranda. There was something that made me sharpen my eyesight. Her face didn't shine as bright as before as she looked sad. Something was bothering her.

"Why does Miranda's face look familiar to me?" Daniel said for a moment we looked at the same direction.

"You've met her before?" I asked with my eyes following where Mabel was staring. Unfortunately, my eyes could not reach what she was paying attention to, because it was blocked by the building wall.

"You know the feeling like you've seen someone, but you forget where and when." Daniel tried to remember where he had seen Miranda. As for myself, I had never seen that woman before. But I was quite wary because she was with Rainy.

Rainy couldn't possibly take her if there wasn't something she had planned carefully.

"Shit, I can't remember." Daniel said resignedly.

"Maybe you mistaken the other as her," I said to stop Daniel from struggling with his own thoughts. "I'll get my men to find out about her,"

"Good idea," Daniel nodded. "I'm very curious,"

"Now we better head to the car," I said when I saw one of my men approaching Mabel. She looked taken aback before finally nodding and standing up following his lead.

My men were already lined up in front of two black pickup cars. Rainy asked me that she wanted the first car specifically for women. She did that on purpose. I had no other choice so I agreed, but the hell I would be in the car with just Ashton and Daniel. Great! I should have brought my limo.

Daniel tried to hold back his laughter seeing how I was caught in a dilemma.

Mabel got in the car after Rainy and Miranda. She sent me a smile through the open car window. Their car became the car that left first, after that we followed them in the second car.

"So Ashton? Have you been to Bali before?" I asked as Daniel raised an eyebrow at me.

"I have," Ashton answered with disapproval. He didn't like me asking.

I smirked enjoying his strong aura of hatred towards me.

"Just straight to my point, Adrian. I don't like you, and just so you know, I'm on vacation here because of Mabel. I feel the need to keep her from you,"

"Whoa, guys." Daniel again tried to mediate. I raised my hand to silence him. It was between me and Ashton, not him.

"I know what kind of man you are, Adrian." Ashton said through gritted teeth. "You'll only hurt Mabel in the end. So before that happens, you better give up and leave her for good."

I stared down at the toes of my shoes, slowly looked up with a smirk. "I'm tired of hearing that, but what's the proof? Mabel is still with me and even happier than before. Just accept the fact that she loves me, not you, Ashton. Just because she can't like you, you forced me to leave her? You're so pathetic."

Ashton's face stiffened. He came forward and grabbed my shirt collar. I didn't take my eyes off him. If he wanted to hit me, then he could try. "I will never give up on her,"

Ashton's body shook, his anger rising. It was his fault for wasting the woman who fell in love with him. He couldn't even read how Mabel wanted to be with him, apart from breaking her so many times.

Ashton angrily released my collar. His breath hitched. I snorted and straightened my collar. He should have hit me, then I could have started the unfinished fight between us.

Daniel let out a sigh of relief. He looked back at the road. After all whose idea made me sit down with Ashton? I should have sat next to the driver, but instead Daniel sat there.

Not long after we arrived, I got out quickly together with Ashton. I assumed what happened was nothing. I just didn't want to add to Mabel's burden to worry about. She already had enough.

I fell silent when the building in front of me was so familiar. My grandfather must had deliberately rented a villa that I really didn't want to step on again. I exhaled. As the trouble earlier wasn't enough, now I had a fight with myself.

I was being honest when I said I had been to Bali. But I was not alone, Selena was with me. She knew very well about the island, as she often vacationed there. My grandfather purposely made me stop at the villa. He knew the last time I was there with Selena.

Everyone started to step inside, but not me. I couldn't have survived going in there without a shadow from Selena. There was nothing different from the villa building. All forms and facilities provided were the same as last time.

"Come in, my bro." Daniel put his arm around my shoulder, stood with me looking at the villa.

"You go in first," I patted him lightly on the shoulder, turning back towards the car.

I took out my phone and called my grandfather. What's the point of all this? I knew this vacation was just for his bad plans, but I didn't think there was more to it.

"Glad you called. How's Bali?"

"It's not about Bali, it's about you, grandfather. What do you mean by telling us to stay in a villa that I obviously don't want?" I asked desperately.

"You don't like the villa? The villa of my choice is very good. The building is large and spacious, suitable for all of you." My grandfather gave me an explanation I didn't ask for at all.

"There are many villas like your description in Bali," I snapped. "This villa is not the only one,"

"What's the matter with the villa, my dear grandson, Adrian?" My grandfather asked in a curious tone. It would be a lie if he didn't know. "Because of Selena?" He laughed across the line. "You should thank me for bringing you back to a place full of your memories with her, instead of getting mad at your own grandfather."

"What exactly do you intend to do with this?" I couldn't help myself. It felt like my heart sank knowing my grandfather was constantly taking advantage of my grudge. I was like a steering wheel that had to obey the driver's orders.

"I just want you to remember your grief, anger, grudge, and of course, your mission. Even if I had to take you to the villa and make Selena's face ring on your head, I would."

My mouth snapped shut. I looked back at the villa. Through the window pane, I could see Mabel standing with someone in the living room. She chuckled sweetly. I strained my gaze and saw that the person she was talking to was none other than Ashton. They seemed to have made up.

I couldn't take my eyes off them. I didn't take my eyes off the smile Mabel gave Ashton. Her face wasn't gloomy anymore, and it was then that I realized her sadness could only be overcome only when she was with Ashton.

What Mabel said about being with me felt like bullshit now. No matter what she said, her body and gestures could never lie. She still wanted Ashton.

"I understand,"

"Good, now prepare yourself because you're going on vacation." My grandfather chuckled. I knew what that vacation meant.

I ended the call when I saw Ashton leaving the living room with Mabel. I felt displeasure. I stepped into the villa immediately.

In the living room there was only Miranda. She looked up from her phone when she noticed my presence. "Hi," She smiled.

Oh God, I'm not in the mood for small talk right now.

"Did you see Mabel?"

Miranda nodded and pointed to the back door leading to the swimming pool. I smiled briefly to her and then headed over there. I stopped at the glass door leading to the courtyard. Even the courtyard of the villa was still the same. I remembered how excited Selena was to swim when we first arrived.

The sound of water splashing startled me. I watched Mabel splash water on Ashton, vice versa. They sat side by side on the edge of the pool with their feet in the water. The urge to get close and pull them away from each other was almost driving me crazy. I didn't like this feeling.

"Found the one you're looking for?"

I chuckled lightly and looked to the side. Miranda was standing with her body propped against the doorway and her arms folded across her chest.

"I see you've found her, so why not go over to her?" Miranda's eyes scanned mine.

Not getting an answer from me made Miranda raise an eyebrow.

"Are you okay with that?" Miranda asked again, casting her eyes on Mabel and Ashton.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous, but wouldn't it be more appropriate for you to ask your best friend?" I smirked seeing Miranda confused about what to say to me. "Rainy's into Ashton,"

Miranda smiled with a sigh. "We all know who's Ashton's into,"

"Who?" I challenged her.

Miranda only gave me a sympathetic expression. She didn't mention any women's names other than shrugging her shoulders. "We both know you're smarter to know who,"

"Miranda! There you are!" Rainy ran to us with a smile on her face like she had found a great treasure. "Oh, Adrian is here too."

Miranda smiled and pulled Rainy slightly away from the doorway. She wanted to keep her best friend from getting heart broken at the sight in the courtyard.

"What are you talking about with Adrian?"

I could hear Rainy's questions. Her voice wasn't low enough when she talked about other people behind their back. Miranda explained by making up a story that the two of us were discussing plans for tourist attractions for tomorrow.

I jammed my hands into my pants pockets, watching them both. Miranda stood with her back to me, while Rainy was facing me. It made it easy for me to see what kind of expression Rainy had, other than a few times she looked at me cynicly.

Rainy seemed to say through her eyes how much she hated me. My unwillingness to cooperate with her apparently managed to push her to the edge. For that, I just sent her a smile. It was definitely an expression she didn't expect to appear on my face.

But then Rainy's face turned emotionless. She was no longer looking at me, but at what was behind me.