Between The Lines and YOU

Twenty Five

I didn’t know where we were going, he just pulled me along and ushered me into his car. Truth be told, I wanted to get some air anyway, so I didn’t resist. Before leaving, I quickly changed into the spare clothes I usually kept in my locker, then went with him. I’ll just explain everything to Ivy once I get back to the condo. Thinking about what happened earlier makes my head throb. Maybe I should start looking for another place to live, my conscience can’t handle staying in Kael’s condo anymore, knowing I hurt him that much.

"There’s a place I want to show you. My safe haven." He reached for my hand, his touch so gentle. He caressed it softly, and I wondered, how could I ever stay angry with him when he was like this? With me, he let her guard down. With me, he showed emotions no one else got to see. The things Kael said earlier, I refused to believe them. They weren’t what my heart and mind told me. I didn’t want to doubt what I felt for him. Instead of answering, I simply smiled at him and leaned against the car window.

We eventually arrived at an unfamiliar place, somewhere I had never been before. A large sign read. Welcome to Garden de Victoria. The massive gates opened wide. After parking, he invited me to walk with him. A vast stretch of Bermuda grass spread before us, and I gasped at the sight of the garden castle. It was alive with a breathtaking variety of flowers.

"Is this a tourist spot, Knox? It’s beautiful. I wonder if people have held weddings or debuts here?" We walked hand in hand toward the grand structure.

"No, this isn’t a tourist spot, nor any of the things you mentioned. I bought this place when my mother died two years ago. He took his life because of my father’s mistress." He swiped a card, and the doors of the garden castle unlocked.

"I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked." He guided me inside, and I realized it was far bigger than I had imagined. Wide paths stretched out, lined with dazzling blossoms. The walls were made of tinted, heavy tempered glass, no wonder I hadn’t been able to see inside. At the far end stood a towering tree, so massive it looked perfect for a treehouse.

"He hung herself there." He pointed at the enormous tree. A pang of sorrow pierced me. How could he speak so calmly? And yet here I was, crushed beneath the weight of his revelations. I watched as he approached the tree and murmured something I couldn’t hear, then turned back to me and beckoned me closer.

His eyes were different now, void of emotion. He smiled, but it was the kind of smile born of numbness, the kind that hides the deepest wounds. I stepped toward him and gave him the sweetest smile, one I reserved only for him. He smiled back, though it wasn’t the smile I was used to. Still, it was enough.

"Let’s climb up there." His words instantly wiped the smile off my face.

"Knox, I don’t know how to climb trees. And that’s way too high we might fall." Was he planning to die with me? That’s sweet and all, but I wasn’t ready to meet Saint Peter just yet. He chuckled softly, then took my hand again, guiding me to the back of the tree. That’s when I noticed the ladder.

"Oh," was all I could say. He slipped off his shoes, and I took off my heels as well. He climbed first, and I followed closely behind.

The moment I reached the top, I was stunned, the wide space in the heart of the tree felt almost magical. A mat was laid out, and he was already sitting there, patting the empty spot beside him. When I sat, he lay down, pulling out a small purple pillow and using it as a headrest. It was strangely adorable.

"What do you call this tree, Sir?" I asked, savoring the gentle breeze that brushed past us.

"Stop calling me Sir." Even without looking at him, I knew he was glaring at me.

"Why not? It’s a sign of respect. Don’t you like being respected?"

"You know what I mean, Pria. Stop acting like you don’t know." I let out a soft laugh.

"Alright, fine. So what’s the name of this tree?"

"Why are you so eager to know?"

"If I can’t afford to buy a house someday, I’ll just plant one of these and make it my home." I burst out laughing at the seriousness in his expression, he wasn’t joking at all. But my laughter lasted only a moment, if I wasn’t careful, I might just collapse right here and never make it home. He closed his eyes and let the cool breeze wash over him.

"It’s called an angel oak tree. For thousands of years, trees around the world have been visited, worshipped, and celebrated. In my case, I only came here to mourn, hoping I could feel my mother’s presence." He spoke with his eyes still shut, sunlight slipping through the branches of the angel oak and brushing against his face. For a moment, I lost my senses completely. I forgot what he had said and simply stared at him, mesmerized by his ethereal beauty.

The way the heavens themselves must have sculpted him, it was a masterpiece beyond compare. A living work of art I could never capture, no matter how many times I tried to sketch it. I must’ve been the luckiest person alive to witness him like this, to sit beside him, to listen to his voice. He was a mystery. And the more I tried to understand her, the more I realized how wrong everyone else was about her. I had to believe what I saw. I had to believe in him.

When he finally opened his eyes, only then did I manage to look away.

"Do you bring Scarlett here too?"

"I lied to her. She doesn’t know. It’s better this way. I know she wouldn’t accept it, but soon… when I finally find the courage, I’ll tell her."

"So you’re the only one who ever comes here?"

"Today’s her birthday. And this is the first time I’ve brought someone with me. She hated cake, so instead I filled this place with flowers, caring for them was her hobby. She hated having people around. That’s why I never bring food here."

"Oh! Happy birthday, Aunty. Sorry if I’m being noisy." I bowed my head slightly and touched the bark of the angel oak. I glanced up when I heard his soft laugh.

"Stop it. You look like an i***t. This tree isn’t her body. Come lie down beside me." After calling me an i***t? Fine. I’ll still lie next to you. I used my arm as a pillow and looked up. From this angle, the thick branches curved like the shape of a heart, it was beautiful, peaceful. We both lay on our backs, gazing at the clear sky.

"Knox, can I ask you anything?"

"Anything, as long as it’s not nonsense." I thought carefully. He said no nonsense, and I didn’t want to waste this chance. It wasn’t often that we spoke like this. Most of the time, he did nothing but tease and flirt with me.

"Why do you keep teaching, when it’s obvious you don’t like it?"

"It was my uncle’s last request. Just a three-year contract." I turned to face him. He propped himself up on his elbow, facing me in turn. He reached for my hand resting on my stomach and began to play with my fingers. Even such a simple gesture made me squirm and blush with delight.

"How long have you been at V.C.U.?"

"One year." I let out a small sigh of relief. That meant I still had two more years of seeing him around, at least until my third year.

"What’s your plan after two years? Will I still get to see you? Will you stay in Japan with Scarlett? With Celine?"

"Now, you’re talking nonsense." I caught him hand before he could pull it away.

"How is that nonsense, Knox? Celine’s your girlfriend. Of course you’d stay with her." I wanted to add what about me?but I couldn’t. I didn’t have the right. Who was I, really? I had no money. I couldn’t stand beside him in the way he could. Celine could give him the world, while I… I had nothing.

And even if I wanted to ask him to wait for me, I knew he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. If he had to choose between me and Celine, I would surrender before the fight even began. How much more when it came to talking about his future? I had no chance.

"I’m planning on breaking up with her. Maybe tomorrow." I shot upright at his words. Now that’s a freaking revelation. My heart soared.

"R-really?"

"I can’t keep her while pursuing you. That would be unfair." I flushed scarlet, but the heaviness in my chest from Kael’s sudden confession earlier was instantly replaced with something warm, something that filled my heart to the brim. I didn’t waste another second. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him down with me until he lay flat again. He might not have broken up with her yet, but the fact that he would tomorrow, that meant he was choosing me. He propped himself up on both elbows. I leaned down and showered his face with kisses, and he pulled me by the nape to kiss me full on the lips, deep and passionate.

I grinned when his brows arched at the gentle push I gave him. Because if I didn’t stop, he never would have stopped kissing me either. He’s a kissing monster.

“Time out first, Knox.” I pressed a quick kiss to his lips before smoothing out the frown on his brow with my hands.

I laughed softly when his expression didn’t change at all. Then I kissed him again, because he still looked unsatisfied, God, I’m so weak when it comes to him. He finally smiled when I pulled away.

“Stay here. I’m going to get something from the car.” I only nodded before lying back down again.

How did he manage all of this? I couldn’t imagine the pain he felt whenever he came here alone. That hollow ache of knowing he would never be able to talk to his mom again… and maybe things weren’t even right between him and his dad. He carried so much responsibility. He’s just twenty-four, yet it feels like he never really had the chance to enjoy life. I was lost in thought when he returned. I quickly stood and grabbed the baskets he was carrying, since it looked like he was struggling with both. He sat down again, and I helped him unpack them, filled entirely with food. We just ate earlier, and now it looked like we were about to eat all over again.

“This place used to be my safe haven,” Knox said quietly. “A place where I could be with myself. Where I could be alone. But I want to change that from now on. Next time I come here, I want to remember us, too. Aside from my mom. This angel oak tree, you and me. Our first date.” I froze, staring at him as my mind went blank. Then everything clicked into place, why he brought me here, why we were sitting beneath this tree.

Our first date.

It might sound dramatic, but I was so touched by his words that I didn’t even realize tears had begun streaming down my cheeks. He didn’t want this place to hold only sadness anymore. He wanted our first date to be here, on his mom’s birthday, to make it special.

“You’re so unfair, Knox. You’re making me cry.” I gave him a light smack on the shoulder. He caught my hand and pulled it close to him.

“You’re really cute, love.”

Love. I rarely heard it from him. The word only made my tears flow harder, though this time out of pure joy. I wished we could always be like this. I wrapped my arms around him to hide my eyes, which wouldn’t stop spilling over. He gently rubbed my back, soothing me.

“Come on, Pria. Just one more.” I shook my head furiously, already losing count of how many bites he had fed me. I felt so stuffed I could barely move.

“No.”

“One.”

“Even if you count to a thousand, I can’t anymore. Knox, my stomach can’t stretch any further.” I even pouted, trying to look cute. Oh, so maybe I should make him eat all the food from the other basket then. He always tricked me into eating more with his sweet gestures. And of course, that smile of his, who wouldn’t give in?

“Isn’t it delicious? I cooked it myself.” There it was, the guilt trip.

“I said no. Look at this.” I started lifting the hem of my twisted top to show him my stomach, which felt ready to burst, when I caught the subtle twitch of his lips. Narrowing my eyes, I glared at him.

“What?”

“I know those little moves of yours.”

“I’m not doing anything. What’re you talking about?”

“Nothing. I just said you're handsome.” He laughed, and I could only stare at him. Not only because it was rare for me to hear those words, but because they sounded so wonderful coming from him. He was never like this around other people. Even when we were at his house with Scarlett, he barely showed any emotion. Same thing at V.C.U. he always looked intimidating. But when it was just me… he turned into this sweet, playful, slightly crazy maniac. And I loved it. I loved that I was the only one who got to see this side of him. Like it was our little secret.