Chapter 48: Chapter 48

Days had passed so quick when Paul didn't even speak to her properly. She was about to leave the office when she saw Jem coming out as well.

"Ohh how are you? Have you talked yet?" Her friend asked her as they walked out.

"Not yet, he's even more angry with me, I swear. I had a bad talk to his guest earlier. How can I be nice to someone who can't even have decency in his wprds? Is it right for him to interfere with my job being Paul's secretary?" She frowned in response to her friend who had then stopped walking.

"Is that a handsome new face? That was a problem here then. When you were with Storm. If I don't make mistakes he was a business partner, he said, it looks like the other branch is having problems." friend's answer.

"So maybe, that can also be the reason why his head was so hot. Well I'm sorry I didn't know."

"Let it go first. You can relax too. Where we should go?"

"All right anywhere,just name it,"

This swelling landed at a diner. There are simple but seemingly expensive foods.

"Hmmmm .... it's expensive huh? I know you're used to this, "...

She beat her friend.

"Hey Ash!" It was a ridiculous complaint, as the waitress called.

"You're a bad judge, aren't you?" She whispered to her friend.

Later, as she rolled his eyes, she saw Paul in the far table with a man. The man in their office, she couldn't be wrong.

She told this to Jem.

"What's your plan? Are you going to approach him? You weren't invited." Jem grinned at her.

"Of course not, do I know what they're talking about? If it's business, what do I know?" She reasoned.

"What if they're talking about women, do you still don't care?" friend's temptation and teaseful words came out again.

"There youbare again, that's why you're not being into a relationship because you're a right suspicion. Your lover will get a little nervous right away. Hey, there's no perfect relationship." She smirked at ther friend, as if she knew what she meant.

Jem just kept quiet.

Later, she saw the two men come out.

"Jem, go home first and tell mom I'll be home soon? I still have work to do." She said goodbye to her friend before she even leave the restaurant.

"Why, where are you going?" The friend asked

"Maybe Paul is going home. I'm going to see him to their house. We need to be able to talk. I can't wait another day that we're like this. I'm going to clarify to him everything whether we will continue the marriage or not. I'm tired too." It makes her sad to look at her friend.

"I'll go with you. It's still early and I don't have anything to do at home. Besides, I'm going to visit your mom. We haven't seen each other for a long time since you drove me away." Supposedly, she was condescending to look at her.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Of course, let's go before I change my mind," she joked and then pulled her friend from the chair.

######## #######

On the other hand, Storm patiently waits for his brother. He obviously didn't like how he treated Ashy, so he had to wake him up to the truth. He would not let Ashy remain blind to what was true. He should also make his brother aware of his antics.There would have been no problem, but Ashy is the woman he loves the most. He will not allow her being used with his nonsense plans.

Its been dark and still he's not home.

He was just lucky that night. If he went home or he's to another nest, he would spend the night again.

"I thought you weren't going home again." he commented when he saw his brother going up the stairs.

"Do I need to tell you everything about my actions? Are you my father? If my father hadn't bothered me before, who do you think you are to do so?" He answer to his brother.

"Really Paul? Isn't there anything? They didn't mind or even get themeselves bothered because they're tired of you. Because whatever they do to straighten out the crooked path you're treading has no effect on you because you're tough." In time, he could not remember when he last scolded him. Because he did nothing but understand him.

"Am I the one to be blame? You yelled so loud. That was so intense very intense. Its like I have all the faults and I've done nothing right." He exclaimed.

"When are you going to make sure?"

"I tried, didn't I? But what did you do? You fooled me. You interfered with Ashy. Instead of letting us keeping quiet here, you caused trouble! Why? Because you can't accept that I'm the one she chose? Because you can't let yourself see the woman you love the most is with me now and she'll be with me the rest of our lives. You can't accept that you've lost the only thing you've been waiting for your whole life. " arrogant to stand silly in front of him.

Storm restrained himself. There are things he doesn't want to do. Words he shouldn't say.

"Because the way you thought was wrong. You're just using her to get what you want. You're just using her to show that you have a family. We both know it's true Paul. Hopefully it won't get to the point where I need another thing to do you wouldn't expect that I could. " he lowered the holding glass.

"That's what you're good at Storm. All you know is what my weakness is. I can't believe why you're so affected. Why is that?" It was a meaningful question?

"I don't like how you treat Ashy. If she has sinned against you, it's because I want everything about is be cleared. If she can still accept you even if she knows you're just using her. I've seen how much she protects you amd your feelings as much as possible. You can feel it. She prefers to be hurt so that you won't. I hope you can also think of caring for her, her feelings. " Storm frowned as he said this to the brother.

"You're hurt because he chose me more than you. Because he chose to hurt you more and because I'm more important to her."

"I left her because I loved her. But that doesn't mean I'll let you fool her." Neither the front nor the back stated that Paul knew what his brother would say.

"There's nothing you can do yet. Because we'll get married with or without you" Paul said strongly.

Storm looked at him angrily.

He stared at him so hard that he thought he would almost die if it were just deadly.

"Even if she will going yo know the truth?"

"She trusts me. Whatever lies you will hoing yo tell her, she wouldn't believe you. I'm sure with that." It might be a threat or it could also be a defense mechanism.

"Let hergo Paul."

"And why would I do that? So that you have another chance to take her away from me? Is that what you want?" he gave him a silly smile.

"Because you can't love her. Because you can't give the love that should be for her. Because while she's waiting for you, she doesn't know that you're on someone else's lap. While she's worried about you, about what you were doing, While you're enjoying yourself, she's here alone and has no other thought but to be faithful to you! We both know you can't love her because you love someone else. " Storm could no longer restrain himself.

"That's the only thing that can make me happy. And there's nothing you can do if Ashy loves me. If you love her, you yourself must learn to be happy for her. So I will marry her even if she doesn't make me happy. " That's a bold answer.

"You can't do that Paul, you can't do that because we both know what you want! " He stared at his brother with a stare that he would never forget in his whole life.

"You've stopped Storm." It is a rebuke to the brother.

"Because it's true Paul. Because Ashy and you like the same man. Because you like men and men are the ones you can love. Because you're gay, whether you admit it or not, she will going to find out. And I won't let her be ridiculous." Even if he stops himself, it's too late. He had already said what he wanted to say.

"Gay, so what now? I'm happy. At least I'm doing what makes me happy. What about you? You did follow what made our parents happy, but what are you now? There's nothing left of you. Even if you're crawling, till, the woman you love won't come back to you because you can't fight what feel for her. Why? Because you're a coward! Even though I was rebellious in their eyes, I didn't live a lie. Even if they hated me, I'm still happy. because I am with the only man I love. " he burst into tears as he looked at his brother.

"If you're really happy, you don't have to use someone else to get what you want. If you're really happy, you'll let Ashy go and you'll admit to her the truth. You'll tell her you're not really a man at heart. Be a man." He dare to tell her who he is. he emphasized the man's greeting so that he could understand what it meant.

Paul would have turned his back on his brother but for the fact that he had to ignore his words.

"Will you admit it or will I say it?" Storm threatened him.

"Yes, I'm gay, but I will never admit that in front of her!" He yelled.

Soon, the world of the siblings will almost be shocked.

"Did I hear it right? Did I hear it right that you're gay, Paul? " Ashy came out of the doorway, having just arrived with her friend Jem.

"Ash, you just heard it wrong. Let's talk about... "

He couldn't continue to say anything because the crisp slap from Ashy fell on his face.

One, but equal to a thousand slaps laced with rage and regret.

"Ash," Jem tried to stop her, but she also lost the courage to do so. From what she sees, her friend will not hold back.

"What did I do?" she asked in anger with the tears she had been holding back. She feels like she has lost all the emotions she has been holding back for so long.

"Ash, I'll explain. Listen to me." Paul pleaded while holding his cheeks reddened.

"Listen? Why, did you ever listened to me? I'm almost crazy at the thought of how I can make up for you. I can hardly sleep because my guilt is consuming me. Why am I with your brother while you don't know how am I going to feel.? Because I first thought about how you would feel. Because I thought about how you can show me the love and respect that a woman seeks from a man. " Tears welled in Ashy's eyes.

He tried to hold her in her arms, but she walked away.

"Ash, I'll explain. Give me a chance.

"Many times, Paul, for a long time I didn't even notice. Because I didn't look at your fault, instead i focused with your goodness. But I ask you, how did you put up with my mistake? I almost gave up on myself. I just want you to forgive me. That's right. The stench you're hiding is even worse. You made me look like a fool! You just used me. I was hurt not just once but over and over again, while you also lied to me over and over again." If only he had a chance, he would have hit it earlier.

"Ash, listen to my explanation first. I know I hurt you. I know that, but that doesn't mean that everything you saw in me is a lie. The I took care of you is all true. You are important to me too, so I'm scared because you seem to be looking back at my brother. " he bowed as he secretly looked at Storm, who then didn't know how to greet Ashy.

Even Jem was stunned while looking at their friend. Yes, it is annoying. But in that case? She didn't know that hiler anger would only intensify.

"You don't deserve anything good from me. Now we're even. I don't have to apologize to you because you equaled everything I've done even more. I thought you were real. You're even more fake than I thought. What a pity. , I didn't listen to your brother. It's a pity because I sent my anger to him, I became blind to the truth. Now, you are free. We are both free. " Ashy had turned her back on him.