Chapter 38

Ashley

I waited in anticipation as I adjust my sitting position. Finally he'd tell me something. I just hope he won't back off anytime soon. The silence that suddenly resonate out of him made me snap out of my thoughts. His eyes were consciously on me but if to say, then I would say his attention was on something else.

"It's okay if you're finding it hard to talk. I might not know what you want to say but I know its not easy so take your time. I'll -"

"No. I have to tell you. I must. I cannot hide it from you anymore. Whatever I'm about to say now is purely coincidence" My brows knit in question at his words.

Reaching for his hands that were gently seated on his thigh, I gently squeeze them. "You and I should both know by now that we're in this together. Don't you trust me?" I asked. The first thing that should occur in a relationship is trust. If there's no trust, then that relationship shouldn't go along.

"I do. I trust you" His reply came out horsely that almost made my heart beat in it's ribcage.

A small smile made it way out of my lips. "Then if you do like you said, tell me everything. There shouldn't be any secret between us. We'll sort things out together"

I heard his intake of breath which caused me to assure him more by intertwining our hands. "First of all, let me start by apologizing for how I behaved last time. I wasn't a good bodyguard nor a good fake husband to you" A chuckle escaped my lips. Fake husband is it.

"I know right"

"I didn't intend to shut you out like that. Yet, I thought that will be the only way to gather my thought and not to hurt you more than I did. Whatever has been going on in your life, is something you're so concerned with and believe me with I say everything is just coincidence"

To say I understood where his words are heading to, I would be lying. Some part of me is anxious of what the final talk night be. However, slow and steady is better.

"You're right. I'm hiding something from you which conveyed all the fights between us. But today I want to tell you everything. From the start to the end."

"Okay?" Was the only thing I could say which came out as a question.

He kept mute for a second before raising his face to look at my face directly. Everything around me suddenly disappears. It was only my heart beating in circles. There's something about his eyes that makes me weak and makes my heart escalate than it's normally does.

"Do you trust me?" He said all of a sudden. His words held some sincerity in them as if he's afraid of my answer. I don't have to think twice. I know I do. So I answered with honesty. "Yes. I do"

"I know the person behind all that is happening"

"How-"

"Let me explain" he interrupted before I could get the chance to complete my statement.

"The attack-"

"Oh my God, you guys are here" A sudden voice of Kristine interrupted us. Both Neil and I snapped our face towards her as she panting hard. "I've been looking for you two. I have a very big news" She ushered amidst panting.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. If she's playing one of her tricks interrupting us, then everybody will know about us. "What big news?" Neil asked instead.

She took in a deep breath calming herself before speaking up again. "Your father Is here"

And that is enough to rise us up from our sitting position. "What?"

"Yes. You heard me right" To say I was shocked will be an understatement. My father came? For me?

"You have no time to water. He's waiting for you" without any thoughts, I found my foot walking on their own accord. Neil and Kristine long forgotten. My inside turn in anticipation as I made my way to Mr. Michael's house. For some reason, the journey back home didn't take me long.

My foot came to an abrupt stop in front of the entrance door as I took in a deep breath. Thoughts ran through my mind. What if he's here to tell me not to come back home? What if he decided to abandon me? What if....

My thoughts came to a half when I felt two pairs of hands on my shoulder.

"Take a deep breath and calm down. Trust me everything will work out" Came Kristine's voice. While Neil only squeezed my shoulder. Just the gesture is enough for me.

As Kristine said, I took in a deep breath which kind of can my beating heart a bit. "We'll be right behind you" Kristine ushered again. Turning the door knob, the door made a cracking sound. The moment I set my foot inside, my eyes were immediately met with that of my father. And my surprise didn't stop there when my eyes shifted to his side, seated my mom. To say I was shocked will be out of the word.

"Dad. Mom" I found myself uttering while I made my way towards them. The surprise evident on my face.

"Ashley" They both said at the same time. My mom was the first to embrace me in her warm hug. How I missed her motherly embrace. And at that moment, I knew I missed them. There's no way I will abandon my family. Pulling apart, she shower me with pecks all over my face. "I missed you my baby" she whispered pulling in again.

"I missed you too mom. So much" I tried my possible best not to break down in tears. I didn't know for how long we've been in that position until the clearing of someone's voice interrupt us which is none other than my dad.

"Aren't I going to receive the hug too?"

A smile erupt from my lips. However, it was for a short while when the tears I've been trying to suppress made themselves out. Without second thought, I ran into my dad's arms. "I missed you dad. Thanks for coming for me" He wrapped his arms around me patting my back.

"We missed you too. And worry not everything is one now. We're going back home"