Unexpected love from her

Chapter 4 (Complicated)

Alexa’s younger brother is one of my teammates during the competition. She had a conversation with her brother. Because of that, she found out that I was badly injured. Her brother told her that I was still in California because I was hospitalized. I decided to stay in California just to relax and I don’t want to hear any news or updates from Hannah’s new boyfriend. Alexa immediately called Hannah to tell her the news about what happened. I didn’t tell anyone about my situation except for my family.

Alexa called Hannah.

“Hey, Hann? Did you call Gin?”

“Nope. I have been busy these past few days. I am with Andrew. We, went out of town with his cousins.”

“So, you don’t know? OMG! Hannah.”

“Huh? Why? What happened to Gin?” Hannah asked Alexa.

“If I hadn’t asked my little brother about a competition in San Diego I wouldn’t know about Gin. She’s a badly injured girl! She twisted her ankle badly. She went to the hospital after the competition just to make sure that her ankle was okay.”

“Let me call her.” Hannah said.

Since my last text to her, I haven’t received any response or call from her since that day. She was busy with Andrew. Yes, you heard it right, the name of the guy is Andrew Anderson. Andrew’s family owns a digital marketing company in Singapore.

Hannah called me at that time. But the medicine makes me sleepy, so I didn’t hear that she called me. I received 20 missed calls from her. When I woke up, I checked my phone. I texted her that I had fallen asleep. She calls me immediately after I texted her.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah.” I told her.

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to disturb you. I know you are busy with Andrew, so I don’t want to disturb your time. Don’t worry. I am okay. I need to go. I have things to do. Take care.”

Honestly speaking. I tried to avoid Hannah. I am afraid that my feelings for her will destroy our friendship. My feeling for her is more than just being a friend. I am afraid that if I tell her she won’t accept me. After 1 month, I went back home to Singapore.

When I arrived at the airport, I went directly home. I didn’t tell anyone that I was at home except my family and my coach. I told my coach not to tell anyone that I had arrived. I trust my coach. She’s been my coach since I was still in my grade school days. He knows me well. The injury from the last competition hit me hard this time. I was advised to rest for 6 months for total recovery. I haven’t played for 6 months. I went to the gym just to observe, but just to be an observer.

My vacation is almost over. I went back to school to finalize my papers for the school opening. Hannah and Alexa were there to get their papers.

“Gin??!” Alexa shouted.

“Oh Hi! What are you doing here?” I asked Alexa.

“I need to get some papers for my college requirements. I am with Hannah. She’s in the office waiting for Andrew.”

“Oh, I see.” I smiled at her.

As I have said, Alexa is a keen observer. She asked me. And I know that I am a terrible liar. She noticed that my reaction was different. Alexa immediately asked me,

“What’s wrong?”

“Huh? Nothing.” I replied.

“You know what, you are a terrible liar. I know there is something wrong with you and Hannah.” She opened up.

“Huh? No, we are cool. We are both busy these days.”

“I know you, Gin, I can see it from before. You like her?”

“What are you talking about? No!” I answered guiltily.

“You can say NO but I can see it through your eyes from before Gin. You can’t deny it. Did you tell her?”

Damn! This girl caught me. But I trust Alexa. I know she can keep a secret.

“Is it obvious?” I asked.

Alexa asked me directly about my feelings for Hannah. I know I can hide my feelings for Hannah, but it caught me off guard again. Alexa is like my older sister. She cares for me like her younger sister. She doesn’t have any siblings, so she treats me as her younger sister instead. I appreciate her kindness. I know I can trust her. She knows how to keep a secret. I told her that I had feelings for Hannah but I wanted her to keep it a secret between us.

“You know me. I can sense if something is wrong. Let me ask you one more time. Did you tell her about it?” Alexa asked me.

“How can I tell her if she’s happy with someone already?” I pointed to Hannah, who was happy walking with Andrew towards us.

“Let’s see Gin.” She said.

“I can’t kick this time Alexa, but I can still punch someone.” I told her to keep it secret between us.

“HAHAHA noted Gin.” Alexa smiled at me.

Hannah ran towards me and hugged me tightly. She’s with Andrew. The two are smiling while going out of the office. Hannah asked me if I was okay. I told her that I was okay, it was just a twisted ankle. I told them not to worry because it is just a small injury and nothing serious. But Alexa overreacted to my answer.

“Just twisted ankle!?You are using crutches, Gin. It is not ‘just a twisted ankle’ anymore” said Alexa.

“We will give you a ride home. Andrew drives his car”, Hannah offered.

“It’s okay. I have my driver waiting for me outside. I need to go”. I refused Hannah’s offer.

“Are you sure, Gin?” Hannah insisted.

“Don’t worry about her, Hann. I will go with her. You can go with Andrew. You said that you were going to watch a movie, right? I will send Gin home. I will make sure that she will be okay even though she’s not, right Gin?” Alexa looked at me with a smile.

“Yes, you can go ahead. I don’t want to bother you. I am okay, Hann. I have Alexa with me. I know she can take care of me, right Alexa?” While giving Alexa a sharp look into her eyes.

“Yes ma’am,” Alexa said while she was smiling.

Alexa knew my feelings for Hannah. She even teased me when Hannah was not around. I am starting to avoid Hannah this time. I don’t want to watch her with someone else. I am still here for her if she needs me, but I know her priority right now is not with me. She has someone else. I think I need to accept the fact that everything changed between us. While Alexa and I were on our way to the car, Alexa told me,

“I can see the pain Gin.”

“Yeah, you can see it”, I pointed to my ankle injury.

“That’s not what I mean. I can see it through your eyes.” She said.

“Oh! c’mon Alexa. Stop it.”

“Why don’t you tell her, Gin? Are you afraid?”

“Yeah, I am. I am afraid that our friendship will be gone if I tell her about my feelings for her. She’s happy. I don’t want to ruin it” I said.

From that day on. Hannah feels that I avoided her. She noticed that I had been with Alexa recently. I spend more time with Alexa than with her. I spend time with Alexa because we are preparing for her little brother's birthday. Her little brother is my junior in our taekwondo team. We went to the gym every Friday and Saturday afternoon. Hannah noticed that we were busy and we spent more time.

Hannah texted me asking if I was free because she would bring me food. Andrew brought her food and she wanted to share it with me. She told me that I have been busy with Alexa lately. I told her that we had preparations to make for Alexa’s brother’s birthday. I even told her that I would sleep at Alexa’s place and we were busy. After that, I didn’t reply to her text or answer her call.

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Alexa is a good friend of Hannah and mine. She knew my feelings for Hannah. She kept it as she promised me. She treated me like her younger sister. She’s like my older sister. But one day, Hannah confronted me. She came to my place. I was alone at that time except for our house helper and security at our house, Sunday afternoon. My parents are always away because of business trips and my siblings are too busy with their jobs.

“Hi! Why are you here Hannah? Any problem?” I asked her.

“Oh, I just want to check if you are not busy. Lately, you have been busy.” She replied to me like she was irritated.

“We know that we are both busy. What’s up? Did you eat?”

“I am not hungry, Gin.”

“Okay. Is there something wrong?” I asked.

“Are you avoiding me Gin?” there! She spits it out.

“No! Why do you ask?”

“I feel like you are avoiding me after graduation”

“No, I know you’re busy, so I didn’t even disturb you. I know you are busy with Andrew and I don’t want to disturb you. I know that you are happy with him.”

I lied to her. I avoided her from the time that I knew that she was in a relationship with Andrew. I am good at lying to her. I didn’t tell her the truth that I was jealous of Andrew. I wanted to tell her that she was the one who left me when she met Andrew. She left me just like a thing. I feel like Andrew is more important than me. I hate to admit it but I felt mad when she told me that I was avoiding her.

“I am not avoiding you. I was busy at that time with the competition. That’s it”, I told her.

“Don’t lie to me, Gin, I know that you are avoiding me.”

“Huh? No. I don’t have any reason to avoid you. You are my friend, best friend. Remember?” I still lied.

“You are jealous of Andrew,” she said.

“I’m sorry what? No! Why would I?” I started to get mad.

“I am happy for you. You are in a relationship with Andrew. I know that you like him so much. And I am happy that you are happy Hann, no hurt feelings. Promise.”

She was not convinced of the lie that I threw at her until she said.

“Do you like Andrew?” She confronted me.

I didn’t expect that it would come to her mind that I liked Andrew. I waited for a few seconds before I answered her question. I want to make it clear to her that I don’t like Andrew.

“What? No! are you out of your mind? I don’t have feelings for Andrew. Why are you asking me that? That’s non-sense. Okay, how about this one? I don’t know why you are acting like that. How about we cool down first and let’s talk about it once you are not mad anymore. Okay?”

But she wanted an answer. She’s not convinced by my answer. I am trying not to make my emotions affect my decision, but our conversation is getting serious. I tried to calm her but she wanted me to answer her honestly. I tried my best to relax and think clearly before I had to answer her. I looked at her and she was mad. I know she’s mad at me. I don’t know how I can calm her, but now she’s starting to get jealous because of Alexa. Until I told her the truth. My true feelings for Hannah.

“I trust you, Gin. Why are you doing this to me?” Hannah told me.

“Doing what? That I have feelings for Andrew? Oh no! I told you that I don’t have feelings for him, Hann, trust me.”

“Then why are you avoiding me? Since you’re back from your competition, you are different. You spend more nonsense time with Alexa.”

“Don’t tell me you are jealous that I spend time with Alexa?” I asked Hannah.

“I am your best friend, Gin. You can ask me if you need something.”

“I LIKE YOU, Hann!! There! I said it. Are you happy now?” I told her directly without hesitation.

“… huh?” Hannah was shocked when I told her the truth.

“You heard it right. I like you. I don’t know how, but I feel something different when I’m with you. I would be mad if you spent more time with Andrew when you first met him. I asked you to go out with me but you spent time with Andrew that time when I needed you. I tried to understand you at that time, since you are a graduating student with more projects to do. I didn’t disturb you at that time. I let you finish your work. Until graduation day. After your graduation ceremony, I asked you to go out but you refused since Andrew asked you to go out at that time. I respect your decision. Until you told me that you are in a relationship with Andrew. I knew from the beginning that he liked you. But who am I to stop him from liking you? I am just your best friend, your best friend that secretly liked you for a long time.”

“I like you, Gin, as my best friend.” She said,

“That’s the problem, Hann, I like you, not just my best friend. I like you more than a best friend. It’s hard to like someone who doesn’t like you back”

I confessed to her that time, but after she knew that I liked her, she walked out. And she never texted or called me for a long time. She’s avoiding me after I confessed my feelings for her. I tried to talk to her but she refused to. From best friends to just only friends.

It’s been 7 years since the day I confessed to her. We have still been friends those 7 years, but not so-called best friends anymore. She had already graduated in Political Science and she was studying Law at that time. I am a graduating student. I took Psychology. During those 7 years, I tried to talk to her, but after the day that I told her about my feelings for her, she’s different. She’s cold to me, not the Hannah that I knew before. I understand, in this society that we are living, it is not usual to have a relationship from the same girl to girl or boy to boy.

I tried to understand Hannah. I accept if that is her decision about our friendship. Just only friends. I hid my feelings for her for a long time until now. I am thankful that there is still someone who understands me for being who I am. I thought I was good at hiding, but it’s not. Even though my family is always busy. They know my real identity and feelings towards Hannah. At first, my parents couldn’t accept me for who I am. I confess to them honestly. I am thankful that they understand me and they support me for who I am, as long as I am happy. My siblings also accept me for who I am.

Alexa is still our friend. She knew that I had confessed to Hannah that day and we are still good friends, the 3 of us. I didn’t realize those 7 years of being friends would only lead me to something new. Then one day I met someone. Her name is Dominique. Dominique is Alexa’s friend in the modeling industry. Alexa graduated in Fine Arts but she’s in the fashion industry this time. Dominique is Alexa’s one of the models.

“Hey Alexa!” I called her.

“Hey you Kiddo! How are you? It’s been a while.”

“Yeah, I’m doing great. I have been busy with my studies and also with the company.”

“I heard that you are the heir of your family empire. Please don’t forget me when you are on top”

“Of course. I won’t. You are precious to me sister!” I told Alexa.

“Hmmm. I know she’s still precious to you”. Alexa teased me about Hannah. She knew that I still loved Hannah secretly. I am open to Alexa.

“What’s up? Anything I can help?” Alex asked.

“Oh yeah, I would like to ask for your expertise in modeling. Our company is looking for a model who will showcase our new design. Can you please help me with this?”

“You have a lot of employees in your company. Why are you working on this? But anyway, I have one in mind. I will let you know once she’s here.”

“Great! Please let me know so that we can talk about this event. Thanks!”

“Yeah sure! I will call you once she’s here. I need to go. I have a meeting at 10. See yah! “

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It was 4 p.m when Alexa called me. I didn’t expect that she would help me immediately. I know that I can count on her when it comes to fashion. I know this is her field.

“Hey kiddo, I have Dominique here.” Alexa said.

“Sorry who? Who’s Dominique?”

“OMG! You are looking for a model to showcase the new design for your company, remember?”

“HAHAHA. Sorry, I forgot. Yeah, I will be right there. See ya!”

“Can’t wait. See yah!”

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That was the first time I met Dominique. She’s one of Alexa's models and also her friend. I went to Alexa’s office.

“Hey!” I entered Alexa’s office.

“There you are, meet Dominique. Dominique, this is Gin, the daughter of the Chen media and telecommunications company. The next heir of the empire”, Alexa introduced me to her model.

“Nice meeting you Dominique.” I shook her hand.

“Nice to meet you ma’am,” Dominique said.

“Oh no, call me Gin. No need for ma’am. You can call Alexa ma’am, but not me.” I smiled at her.

I did not expect that this project would lead us to a roller-coaster situation. We talked about partnership about the design that day.

Hannah is busy with her law school. She still visits me at our house sometimes if there is something urgent that we need to discuss a business matter. Hannah’s family law firm is one of our legal team. Most of the time we talked about business and work, unlike before that, we could talk about anything as my best friend.

I told Hannah to prepare the contract for the project in partnership with Alexa and Dominique. Then she asked.

“Are you partnering with Alexa on this project?”

“Yeah, there is a good opportunity if we are going to partner with Alexa. She’s also an expert when it comes to this new design that we are promoting.”

“You are also partnering with Dominique for this project?” She asked.

“Is there any problem with this new project? I asked for help from Alexa to look for a new model. She said that Dominique was the best candidate. I also talked to Dominique. She’s nice and professional. The decision is final. We need to finalize the contract so that we can start immediately.”

I got irritated and started to raise my voice when I answered Hannah. I don’t know why she keeps on asking me about the new project that we have. I worked at our company as a part of my training to manage our company in the future. Hannah is an on-job-trainee in our company. She was assigned to the legal department as part of her training to become a lawyer in the future.

Hannah has been busy with her studies since she went to college. She didn’t have time for any relationship. Her relationship with Andrew lasted only for 4 years, then they broke up. After that, she was never in a relationship again. There was this guy who liked her but she didn’t pay attention to him, since she was too focused on her law school and preparing for the Bar exam.

The photoshoot for the new design started. The first few days of the photoshoot went well until there was a change in the design layout. The design team decided that I needed to be in the picture since I am the new face of the company as the new Heir of the Chen empire. It was decided from the above that they needed to put a new face to the company’s image. At first, I rejected the idea since I am not confident in front of the camera. My parents and siblings asked me to do it for the company. I call me sister Mika.

“Hi, sis! Can I ask for a favor?”

“If you are going to ask to decline the photoshoot, don’t you dare. It is our parent's request and we agreed to it, including your 2 brothers. You need to do it, Gin. I am so proud of you!”

“You should be the next Heir since you are the eldest.”

“We are happy with the profession that we have right now. Gin, you are the best candidate for the next heir. We will always support you. I need to go. See you soon.”

“Omg! Okay, take care. See you soon.”

I didn’t expect that this project with Dominique would put Hannah confused.

I did the photoshoot with Dominique. We partner in every photoshoot. I can tell that she’s good in this field. This is my first time doing this photoshoot. She guided me in every process. I am thankful to her for the tips that she gave me when facing the camera.

“I didn’t expect modeling to be very tiring. I thought facing the camera was simple but it’s not”, I said to Alexa.

“You will get used to it,” Dominique said.

“Oh no! I hope this will be the last time. I feel my body aching. Feels like I am still in training for taekwondo.”

“Come here.” Dominique massaged the back of my neck.

“It’s okay. No need to do that. I am okay, I am used to having body pain.”

“Yeah, she’s used to it. She was injured even more. Don’t worry about her, Dom,” Alexa said.

“You know what, since I was still in my grade school days, I have wanted to learn taekwondo. I love sports but my parents won’t allow me ‘coz I am weak at sports,” Dominique said.

“You like sports? Sports are good for both mental and physical health,” I answered.

“Can you teach me some basic taekwondo? I am a female and I want to defend myself. I want to learn basic self-defense.”

“Me too. I want to learn basic self-defense,” Said Alexa.

“Once our time will allow us. I will teach you some basics,” I told them.

From that day on, during my free time, I go out with Alexa and Dominique. We spend most of our time eating outside. We go watch movies, we go shopping.

Hannah saw us eating outside with Dominique and Alexa. Alexa saw Hannah and she invited her to eat with us.

“Hannah! “Alexa called to her from the distance.

“Hey Alexa, how are you?” Hannah hugged Alexa.

“I am doing pretty good. How are you? I heard that you are so busy with your work and studies? Don’t be so harsh to yourself, girl. Chill sometimes.”

“Oh, hi Hann!” I greeted her.

“Hi Gin, you guys. What are you doing here?” Hannah asked.

“We are going to eat at the Chinese restaurant. We are celebrating since we are done doing the first photoshoot of our project. By the way, Hann, this is Dominique. She was the Gin partner during the photo shoot. And you know what, Gin has the potential to be a model.” Alexa proudly said to Hannah.

“I feel sorry for the photographer if I am the model Alexa.” I jokingly answered Alexa.

“Do you see the result of the photoshoot? These two look good together in the picture. There is a chemistry between you two,” Alexa said.

“I have a good teacher, right Dominique?” I said,

“You look gorgeous in the camera. You have potential Gin.” Dominique said.

I didn’t expect that conversation would put Hannah in an uneasy situation. I can tell that the result of the photo shoot went well. I didn’t expect that the photographer was so good at getting our angle too.