Love or Vengeance

Chapter 12: Weight of Memories

Ivan's POV

After the break-in by the men dressed in black, Rimjel moved in with Emilie and Allejah. Because Rimjel was staying there, I also started visiting more often. But strangely, Allejah was never around.

Would she get mad if she found out I stole a kiss from her while she was asleep?

FLASHBACK

After I finished cooking, Emilie called Allejah to come eat. I still remember her saying that she wants to marry someone who knows how to cook.

I couldn't help but laugh when she said she was going to hold auditions for it—tsk, such a childish mind.

It turns out she ran away from an arranged marriage, which is why she's here. And to think I was assuming she came here because she was following me.

I found her asleep on the window seat, hugging a box of cookies.

To me, she's a different kind of woman. From the moment I first saw her, I already felt there was something unusual about her—though I can't quite explain what it is.

My heart races every time our eyes meet, every time the tiny sparks tickle my heart when our hands touch, how everything seems to slow down when you smile, and how every night you stir my thoughts. Do I love you already? Or am I truly in love? Why does it feel so fast?

He eats messily like a child. My eyes drift to her red lips. Swallow. I suddenly remember how he rejected what I made for her... I just wanted to talk to her, but she was throwing tantrums.

"Spoiled brat," I muttered. Before I could stop myself, I kissed her red lips. Maybe this is what they call love at first sight, I thought, just like Rim said, before leaving his room.

An hour later, she hurriedly came downstairs and left. Where could she be going again? I was about to go home when the two of them said they had to buy something, and when they got back, they wouldn't let me leave anymore.

I can't sleep when I'm at someone else's house, so I got out of the guest room and went downstairs. I glanced at the wall clock — it was almost one in the morning. Still no sign of her? A woman roaming around at this hour?

I was about to go outside to wait for her when suddenly the door opened. I saw the surprise on her face.

When I held her hand, that strange feeling returned — the feeling I only ever get with her.

Se agreed to let me stay in her room when I said I'd keep her company because I couldn't sleep.

Even though I'm a man, I really felt butterflies when she came over to me. She made her bed and gently laid me down. He even cuddled me.

Sleep came quickly... zzZZZzzzz.

When I woke up, I immediately looked for her, but she wasn't in the room, so I got up.

I soon found her on the terrace, sleeping with her head resting on the table. I tried to wake her up, but she wouldn't wake up, so I just picked her up and carried her to her bed.

I stared at her face — she looked like an angel, with rosy cheeks and lips, and her mouth slightly open as she slept.

I don't really know much about her, and whenever I try to find out, she always avoids talking about herself.

She eats a lot, it's obvious—almost like her mouth and stomach are machines—but she's not heavy. She's also easy to fool as long as you have food to offer.

I cuddled her for a moment before going back to the terrace to tidy up her things.

END OF FLASHBACK

It's Monday again. After I finished at the university where I study, I went straight to W&B to visit the first business Rimjel and I started.

Rimjel is an excellent barista and has loved coffee for a long time, so we decided to open a café. My dream is to become a great chef and someday have my own restaurant.

Our family's business line is mostly malls and hotels, but it's okay with my mom that I'm taking a different path because she knows it's my dream too.

Since we opened, sales have been good, so we don't have any problems with the café. Most of our customers are women because of the handsome crew members Emilie picked — actually, that was Emilie's sales strategy. Since the café is near universities, it's more popular if the crew is "good looking."

Emilie selected six male crew members, and they all went through her training. We offer a good wage, so it wasn't hard for her to find model-like crew.

As I was entering the gate, I noticed that almost all the customers were boys and there were so many of them!!!

My eyes widened when I saw Allejah holding a ballpen and notepad. She was smiling broadly as she took orders from the customers at the tables. She wore a green dress and flat sandals. Her straight hair was tied up high, and she wore the café apron.

I went straight to the main lounge of the café and found the six crew members nearly overwhelmed by the flood of orders.

"What's going on?" I asked one of the crew. "Why are there so many customers?" It would have been fun if there were just many customers, but I couldn't understand why they were all male college students.

"The customers suddenly flooded in when Miss Allejah arrived," one crew member said, sounding exhausted. "And they're all guys."

"And they even want Miss Allejah to serve them," one crew complained. "She's been here since early morning."

"What!? Who told her to come here?" I said irritably.

"She came with Sir Rimjel and Ma'am Emilie earlier," another replied.

"Where are those two now? Why did they let her work here?" I frowned.

"They left. As far as I know, Miss Allejah is waiting for you, so she made up an excuse," said one crew member. Why would she wait for me? I glanced at Allejah's spot—though she was smiling, I could see she looked tired.

"Well, who told her to work here?" I asked the crew member left standing in front of me, as the others had left to serve customers.

"No one, sir. But there was this persistent guy earlier who requested Miss Allejah to serve him. Then more customers came, and they all asked for her."

"Come with me."

We walked over to Allejah, who was busy taking orders from a guy, while the others watched her.

These jerks, what exactly did they come here for? The café or Allejah? So annoying! I wanted to kick those guys staring at her right in the face.

"One coffee latte, thicker, one almond poppyseed, and one chalet malt cream supreme," said the man as Allejah listed the orders.

"Anything else, sir?" Allejah asked politely.

"Hmm, can I get your number?" the man asked. I don't even know this girl's number, and now this guy is asking for it? I'm about to punch him.

"No, sir," she replied politely.

"Why? Do you have a boyfriend?" Before Allejah could answer, I hugged her, which surprised her. Looking closely at her face now, she looks exhausted.

"Hello, my babe," I said. She looked at me, puzzled. "We're late for our date." I took her hand and removed the apron she was wearing. "She's my girlfriend," I introduced her to the man asking for her number.

"You guys handle this," I told the crew.

"Yes, sir."

I helped Allejah get into my car. She still didn't say a word. She was frowning and wiping sweat from her face.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, but she just gave me a cold look. "Why are you staring at me like that?" She looked scary. Maybe she got mad because I introduced her as my girlfriend? "If you're mad that I said you're my girlfriend, I'm sorry." Still no answer.

"Hey, where are you going?!" I shouted as she got out of the car, so I got out too.

"I have my own car!" she shouted at me. Was she angry? But why would she be mad? I only did that because... because... why exactly? I don't even know! I just felt annoyed at that guy—he seemed like he was trying too hard. But so what if he was? What's it to me? Was I jealous?

She quickly drove away in her car, so I hurried to get into mine and followed her.

She stopped in front of Emilie's house and got out immediately. Before I could enter the gate, she locked the main door.

Sorry, I have a duplicate.

I opened the door and looked for her in the living room and kitchen—she wasn't there. I went upstairs—still nowhere to be found. I opened her room door.

Gulp

"Aaahhh!!!" she screamed. I quickly closed the door and ran out of Emilie's house. I immediately got into my car and went home. I hurried inside the house.

"Kuya—" Sofia greeted me, but I ignored her.

I shut my bedroom door. I felt weak and leaned against the back of it.

I nervously pulled at my hair.

Why did I open the door without knocking? What will she think of me now? That I'm some kind of pervert? How am I even going to face her?

That was the real definition of sexiness. I need to erase that image from my mind. I've seen a lot of girls in two-piece swimsuits, but hers was different because it wasn't just underwear—it was in her room, right in front of me!!!

"What am I going to do!?"

"Ivan, are you okay? Your sister said you have an allergy." Allergy? Where did he get that from?

"N-nothing, m-mom," I stammered.

"Then why did she say you look like a tomato?"

"Nothing, Mom, I'm fine," I still didn't open the door.

"If you feel worse, call me right away."

"O-okay." I sighed with relief when I heard her footsteps fade away from my room.

The next day...

I stayed awake all night, unable to sleep because I kept thinking of ways to apologize to Allejah. I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. How can I even approach or talk to her now? Maybe she's already cursing me. How do I say sorry? Should I call Rimjel? Yes, I need to call him for advice. He answered right away, but I hadn't even spoken yet...

"Hey bro, you called a while ago. We took Allejah to the hospital."

"What hospital!?" I asked, panicked.

"At UIH, bro."

I didn't bother getting dressed and immediately grabbed my car keys.

"Son, where are you going?" my mom asked.

"I'm in a hurry, Mom. Allejah was rushed to the hospital."

"Huh!? Why?" Mom asked, worried.

"I'm coming too," Sofia said.

"Me too," Mom added.

"Oh, where are you going?" I didn't answer Dad, but I heard Mom explaining. "I'm coming too." So all of us headed to the hospital.

I felt nervous and worried as I drove.

"Son, she will be alright," Dad said, but I didn't reply and just drove faster.

At the hospital...

"Nurse, room of Allejah Yoon?" The nurse looked at the monitor and checked.

"What's your relation to the patient?"

"I'm not going to ask you again, and we're in a hurry already!" The nurse was startled and scared. "Just say it—boyfriend and husband—what else do you want!?"

My parents and Sofia were all shocked.

"Sir, Room 201," the nurse said as we hurried toward the room she mentioned. When I opened the door...

Allejah was struggling to remove the IV drip attached to her. She was crying, and my heart ached seeing her like that.

"What the hell!!! I told you I'm not sick!" Allejah shouted at the couple holding her hands on either side. "Moooommmyyyy!!!" she cried out.

"Please press the emergency button, Tito," Emilie begged Dad. He immediately pressed it, and soon after, the doctors rushed in.

"Stay away from me!!! ... Mooommmmyyyy!!!" She was hysterical, so the doctor injected her with a sedative. "Mom," she whispered, then slowly began to close her eyes.

I approached her bedside and held her hand after the doctor finished examining her and explained her condition to Mom.

"Stay away from me! Mooommmmyyyy!!!" She was hysterical, so the doctor gently administered a sedative. "Mom," she whispered softly, then her eyes slowly began to close.

I stepped closer to her bedside and took her hand after the doctor finished the examination and explained her condition to Mom.

"What happened?" Mom asked tearfully.

"She tried to cook, but she didn't know anything about my seasonings," Emilie explained through tears. "She's allergic to seafood, and she accidentally used seafood powder in what she cooked, which caused her to have trouble breathing." Emilie's tears flowed harder. "When we found her this morning, she looked pale. I shouldn't have gone to that seminar in Manila."

"Don't blame yourself. No one wanted this to happen," Dad said gently.

"I had no choice but to bring her to the hospital," Emilie continued while Rimjel hugged her.

"She needs to face her fears," Mom said meaningfully. "She's not afraid of hospitals, but she's afraid of situations like this."

I listened to them while staring at the woman I... smiled at the thought: the woman I love. I wiped the tears falling from her eyes.

Fears? I'm ready to face them with you, Allejah. We'll get through this together.

"Why does she keep calling her 'Mommy'?" I asked.

"We're going out for a bit, Sofia and I," Dad said, excusing himself.

"Her mom passed away three years ago," Emilie replied. I felt sorry for Allejah — maybe that's why she got so hysterical earlier. "Tita Athena is right; Louise needs to face what she's afraid of."

"Louise?"

"I mean Allejah," Emilie quickly corrected herself.

"I'll stay with her. You guys should go home now — Mom, Sofia still have school, and Dad has work," I said.

Mom nodded and gently stroked Allejah's cheek.

"Stay strong, Louise." Why do they keep calling her Louise? I didn't say anything.

"Watch over her carefully, and if she has any problems, call immediately," Mom said.

I just nodded, and she left.

"I'm going home to get her things," Emilie said as she was about to leave. "Are you sure you'll stay with her?"

"Yes, I'll take care of her. Bring Rimjel along."

"Okay, we're leaving now."

"Take care."

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

Hi-Yu