Scars of Time

Chapter 22: "Happiness"

Hope's POV

"So, what do you think?" I asked with genuine curiosity, observing his gaze wandering around my office.

"Hmm, it's not bad."

"What do you mean not bad? I decorated the place with my own hands."

He fought to keep a straight face, determined not to succumb to the urge to laugh.

"Why? What?"

"Nothing."

"TELL ME."

"Fine. It's just....the opposite of you."

"What does that mean?"

"I mean you usually dress up a little bit....(he pointed at me up and down)...let's say mature...but your office is quite childish."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes in annoyance before leaving Rory with my assistant, who was unfortunately stuck with the night shift.

"This is a vet's office. It's supposed to look a little childish."

Although we already moved on from that conversation, it continued to occupy my mind throughout the whole way to his house, so, I couldn't resist asking once more, "Did you truly not like it?"

"I liked it."

"I'll kill you. Answer me genuinely."

"I am. I really liked it."

"I wonder why you don't seem very convincing at the moment!"

"Hahahah. I am a very honest person, trust me."

Despite his teasing, I couldn't help but feel a sense of joy bubbling inside me. It seems like maybe it's alright for us to start off as friends. After all, we can have easy conversations with each other.

However, as I found myself unable to look away from him, his undivided attention on the road ahead, in that particular moment, I knew for sure that I wanted something more with him. But this time I want him to be by my side willingly, and not because I threatened him or offered him money.

And although he doesn't realize, I think I might try to fight against this curse at least once in this life. So he doesn't have to be affected by it at all.

"Do I have something on my face?" He abruptly interrupted the silence, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"No. Why?"

"You've been staring at me the whole way here so I wanted to know if maybe there's something wrong with me." Without hesitation, he pulled over into a driveway and pivoted his attention towards me.

"Well, you can't blame me. You're handsome."

His face flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly averted his gaze, clearly caught off guard by my response.

"Is this your house? It's quite big." I asked with the intention of shifting the topic.

"It's my friend's house. I moved here recently."

"Do you live together?"

With a nod of his head, he gestured for me to follow him into the house, where I actually had the chance to meet this friend only for a brief moment.

"This is my friend Neil. Neil, this is Hope."

"Hello and goodbye." he said with a casual wave and a quick grab of his jacket from the hanger by the front door, leaving without uttering a single word of explanation.

"Where are you going?" Alex yelled behind him but he didn't even listen as the door had been closed long ago.

He turned around and pressed his lips together.

"Guess it's just us two."

"Do you want to go eat outside?" I asked, as I knew he felt it was inappropriate for us to stay alone at his house this late.

"No, it's okay. I promised to prepare a meal for you, so I'll stick to my word. I'll be busy in the kitchen so you should make yourself comfortable."

....................

Alex's POV

Just like always, Neil decided to keep me in suspense by not revealing where he was headed and now it's just the two of us all because of him. It should not be that big of a deal, but the fact that we slept together makes me uncomfortable. I feel like a jerk, because it was her first time and it had to be with me.

She hasn't even asked anything from me. She is simply by my side, which makes me more of a jerk than I already am.

That's why I want to be friends with her. I'm trying to make up for my mistake.

"Do you need help?" she asked, popping her head on the kitchen door, making me snap out of my thoughts.

"No, it's okay. You can put on a movie if you want, so you don't get bored."

She nodded and walked back inside.

"What's your favourite song?" she shouted from there.

"It's 'Hold on' by Chord Overstreet. What about you????"

She didn't answer my question but instead turned on the song for me

I carried the food inside and she kindly helped in setting up the table.

"I think a song has this incredible power to convey what a person feels without having to put it into words." her voice broke the silence, as we started quietly consuming our meal, filling the room with a melancholic tone.

"I agree. You can get to know someone better just by asking about their favourite song. But you didn't tell me yours."

"It's 'Happiness' by IAMX," she replied, leaving me to wonder if I had heard that song before.

"I'm not familiar with it. The name sounds promising though, it seems like a song that brings joy."

She nodded, accompanying it with a warm smile as she carried on with her meal.

"Is the food to your liking?" I asked because it was too silent between us.

"Yeah. You are a really good cook."

"Well, I've been cooking since I was really young. We had a cook in our orphanage and, because I usually hung out with the adults instead of the other kids my age, I learned a lot of things from them."

"Orphanage?!!!" Her eyes widened in disbelief, and it suddenly dawned on me that I had never brought up this topic before.

"Yes. I grew up in an orphanage."

"What's the name of that orphanage?"

"'Wings of Angels' Why?"

"Nothing. I was just curious."

"Oh okay."

I felt like she started acting weird as soon as I mentioned the orphanage. I'm used to people treating me differently because of it, but I guess it still hurts a little bit.

"Do you want anything to drink? Let's watch a movie or something. "

"It's getting late. Time is going to be worried."

"Okay. I'll drive you."

"No need. I've been a nuisance to you enough today. Thank you for the meal."

"No problem."

With a swift motion, she seized her purse and swiftly departed through the door, without even giving me a chance walk her outside.

As much as I don't want to admit, I thought Hope would be different. I genuinely wanted to be friends with her. But I guess she comes from a rich family. If not her, at least her family would be against it.

As I sank down into the couch, I decided to listen to the song she mentioned earlier. Maybe it can cheer me up a little, as I'm left here all by myself once again.

Unexpectedly, it had the opposite result.

Instead, it made me relate to her. It provided me with a glimpse into her inner world, helping me comprehend, even if just a little, the emotions she carried that day on the rooftop, which I had totally forgotten about.

She is very good at hiding it.

Turns out, we're not so different from one another after all.

All we both want is to find happiness.