Where did I go wrong?
”Sibal, did Aciel text you?” I asked, a bit weary.
My phone is dead. And we’re currently on our way home. It’s night time already. For sure Aciel is bombarding me with text messages.
”Yes ma’am.” Sibal answered.
I nodded and rested my head on the car seat after. I don’t know why I feel so tired. It’s been a long day. My mind is blank after hearing all of Angelo’s chitchat. I just know that I have to deal with what's coming my way.
Can I really do that? Can I actually fool Aciel and end this all in our own ways? All his plans sound so easy, but in reality it’s not.
I looked outside and watched the high skyscrapers. You know that feeling when you have a dream, and that dream feels so far out of reach. I can put Angelo’s words in that way. It seems so impossible, it’s beyond my own ability.
”Ms. Hampton.”
My thoughts stopped when Sibal called me.
”Yes?”
”Should I tell Mr. Evans where you went today?”
My brows shot up. He didn’t tell Aciel where I was today? My eyes widened. I wanted to tackle that part but I chose to shut my mouth. I can’t believe this. Sibal, who’s Aciel’s trusted man, didn't tell him all these?”
”I-I’ll tell him.”
He glanced at me from the rear mirror then continued driving. It’s the least that I’m expecting to happen. It’s not what I imagined it to be tonight. Suddenly, I’m out of reasons and thoughts. That’s why as soon as the elevator opened, seeing his face marked with amusement and hope, I was lost for words. My shoes clacked when I walked inside.
”Where have you’ve been?”
I blinked. Definitely not the words I’m expecting him to say. I was so ready to answer him, “Didn’t Sibal tell you?”
So instead of answering him, my eyes roamed around the wholeness of his penthouse. Maybe I was too preoccupied when I arrived that’ why I didn’t notice the dimness of his place. Candles everywhere, white and red roses everywhere. The mix aroma of something fresh and sweet captured my nasal preference
I gulped. My eyes went back to him. He’s wearing simple casual clothes. In his wrist is the sparkling watch that screams wealth and luxury. His hair is well fixed. In short, he’s looking fly while I’m still in my school uniform.
“What is happening?” I uttered under my breath.
Though my face is blank, my insides are shaking because of the fictional setting of his penthouse. This is something I would see in the book and not in this lifetime.
His jaw clenched in a hard way when I asked that. He bowed a bit before looking into me. He came near me and I’m just there, standing with a blank face.
”I waited for you for dinner.” he said and reached for my hand.
I watched him clasped our hands together. My knees almost turned jelly when he did that. That was a normal move for him, but for some reason my heart is aching so bad because of his simple gestures.
He guided me to the direction of the table that’s in the middle of his pad that’s not usually there. From there, you can see the city lights that look so peaceful. The tiny lights and tiny fires of candles are compromising each other, providing the light yet immense beauty.
He pulled the chair for me. I can say that I’m not myself. My mind, soul and heart are fighting at each other. It’s like they’re different individuals who're arguing and me as the owner of the body ends up not feeling anything.
”What is this for?” I asked when he sat in front of me.
The candle light dinner… the flowers on the table and the exquisite food. All of it didn’t do any justice. Because in my eyes, it seems like he’s the only one I can see.
”For you.” he said.
My heart thumped so loudly. I avoided his gaze because the longer I look at him, the more I feel guilty.
”You’ll fool him. Gain his trust. If that will cost your own body, do it. He’ll act like he owns you and you must submit yourself to him. In the end, you’ll get what you want. You’’ make him pay. Say yes to that plan, and I’ll spill every information you wanna know.”
I gulped and shook my head remembering Angelo’s words to me.
”Are you alright?” Aciel asked.
”N-nothing.” I sighed.
He stared at me for some while, then after a few seconds his lips stretched for a smile. A genuine and never before seen smile. Showing his full set of white teeth, it made him more handsome.
”We should eat now. Though the food might be cold now since you took a bit long to get home.”
I bit my lip to stop it from shaking. I look at the food that’s served. It will almost pass as fine dining. But I know from the looks of it that he’s the one who cooked it. I felt more guilty.
”Do you want me to heat it up?” he asked but my attention is not on it anymore.
I shook my head continuously. For him it’s an answer to his question. But for me, it’s my body’s way of reacting from all the confusion that I’m feeling.
”Alright. I’ll cut your steak so you can eat. I know you’re famished.” he said and reached for my plate without even waiting for my approval.
I watch his bright face cutting the meat in a delicate way. Like his life depends on perfection. Like it’s his only desire to show me. After he did that, he smiled and put my plate back again. I gritted my teeth. I’m losing my patience now.
”Do you want me to-”
”I met with Angelo.” There. I said it.
I saw how the smile on his face slowly disappeared, and I don’t know why I felt like I was being torn to pieces. I came home, and he looked so happy, flaunting all these things for me. Yet here I am, wrecking all that he planned for this evening.
I couldn’t pretend anymore. I feel like I’m gonna burst if I don't tell him that. I’m choosing him. I wanna hear it all from him.
”And I bet you probably know the reason why.” I added.
The candle light reflected in his eyes. He clenched his jaw hard without saying anything. I just can see the darkness in his eyes. Not literally, but what’s inside.
”So tell me.. Because I wanna hear it straight from you.” I said with conviction.
”You didn’t trust me.” he said with bitterness and… hurt?
”I don’t trust anybody.”
”If you don’t trust him then why are you asking me now?”
I spat a chuckle without a hint of humor. I’m just so frustrated that he’s putting my words into my mouth again.
”Just fucking tell me Aciel.” I said gritting my teeth.
He smiled a little and I saw pain pass by in his eyes for seconds but disappeared so fast. Like it’s just there, but hiding.
”This is not the night I expected.”
”Oh, I don’t have time for your bullshit.”
He looked at me with so much disappointment and weakness. “This is bullshit for you?”
I gulped and prayed that I would turn numb so I could look at him without feeling this guilty. “Just tell me, Aciel.”
He shook his head, and that’s for himself not as an answer. I waited and waited. And finally after a minute he let out a sigh and looked into my eyes. I brace myself.
”I thought you’re over it.” he smiled. “I thought, after giving all that you wanted you’ll get over your plans that you’re making inside your head.”
My brows furrowed.
”I know from the very start that you’re planning to get away. But I thought when I confessed my feelings for you, you finally changed your mind. That you looked at me in a different way now. But I was wrong.”
I gasp inside my head. He knew?
”I shouldn’t have expected anything from you. And I understand.” he nodded to himself. Can’t even look me in the eye.
His Adams moved like he’s having a hard time swallowing all that’s choking him. I felt the same way. My chest tightened as I felt so pained hearing it all from him.
”But I just want to know Alia. Where?” he lifted his head and looked at me. “Where did I go wrong?”
My lips shook and I bit it to stop.
”But since you wanna know. Angelo’s foster parents are the reason why I lost my family. The business and all that. If he has fooled you to get inside your head then I’m saying this to you now,”
My eyes widened a bit when he stood up and put down the cloth harshly. He jugs the wine in his glass without stopping.
”He’s not worth being an ally. I did nothing to him. Just so you know, he owes me big time.”
And then the clacking of his shoe echoed in the whole room, leaving me spaced out.
