Times Three

Chapter 10

It is already morning here at the hospital and Annika is sitting in front of me with her arms and legs crossed, while I am here trying my best to avoid her eyes for the possible interrogation. What happen earlier should not be brought now, that is so humiliating. Of all the people, why did she find us? And how come that I woke up hugging Aspire when he slept in my lap?

“I cannot believe that you choose man over friends. Really, Tine? In the car?”

“You made it sound inappropriate.”

She raises her eyebrows then squeal and hops on the center table between us, slapping me out of happiness. I roll my eyes and someone knocks on the room, Annika turns back to normal and responds with her formal voice, then an unexpected man shows up, with his infamous dead eyes and a dozen of orange roses. It is KID who smiles at Annika and approach her straight like I am not in line of his sight, since Annika is beside me, she grips the sleeve of my pajama and that made KID acknowledge my presence. He gave me a slight nod then focus his eyes on Annika and hands her the roses. Annika looks at me as if asking for my approval then I nod at her, suppressing the questions starts to build inside me.

“I already tell the Supreme Council about your situation; you are excuse as the president of your club so you better recover soon.”

That is the longest sentence I ever heard from KID.

Annika is ready to argue with him when KID turns his head to me and say that I am not included in the absentee slip with his dead eyes and turns his back on me. I raise my eyebrows at what happen, pointing to myself while I look at Annika to give analysis of what just happen but she only shrug. Is that what you call favoritisms?

I reach for my phone when it vibrated when I feel someone pushes me real hard that I lost my balance, but a pair of arms caught me before the floor welcomes my face. His arms envelop around my chest and stomach, he twisted me and carry me in bridal way making Annika gasps in shock as what she witnesses in front of her. When I face the man, it is Aspire again saving my face out of humiliation in front of KID. Still in his arms, he faces Annika and bid farewell but stop immediately to give my bag and cellphone.

Annika! Selling your friend again and again!

Aspire nods at her and his eyes stops at the rose Annika is holding, then look at KID with a smirk forms in his lips and shakes his head like he sees something ridiculous.

“Fascination, passion, enthusiasm, attraction, and desire? Which one of these do you want to say?”

Annika and I look at the innocent roses who becomes the fiery discussion of these two. Is it the meaning of the rose? Never thought that you could use it to convey message. Suddenly an idea pops in my head, but that is too bold for a girl.

“I believe it is none of your business, Levefre.”

This is getting awkward! Why am I being tied up with their feud?

When they say be careful with what you wish, a man who is full of words suddenly appear, evading the awkwardness with what he is good at. Before he can even utter a word, Aspire turns his back to everyone and left the room, still in arms. I told him to put me down but he continues walking to the hallway. A lot of people recognize him and murmuring since he often appears in television from participating from various business commitments.

Embarrassment take over my body from the attention I am getting, that is why I bury my face to his chest. It vibrates like he is enjoying everything that is happening right now. How I wish the feeling is mutual, my face will all over be in the internet for sure.

I do not know where we are going but I can feel the breeze of fresh air, far from those hospital smell. Thinking it would be a great idea to see my surroundings when a flash of camera blinded me, a pack of media suddenly appear in front of us, blocking our way towards the hospital. He puts me down and cover my face with his body, protecting me from the fiery questions of the media. Of course, a famous business woman is confine here at the hospital can skyrocketed their ratings, not to mention that they work in the same field.

The reporters become more aggressive for answer that the hospital’s security system immediately take action and guide us for our safe leave. I know what will be the consequence of what happen today, mother and father will be notified about my involvement since Mister Levefre already spilled the reason why his wife is still at the hospital. Despite the money we get from the businesses, our privacy gets being invaded because of this social status.

Aspire uses our bag to cover my face from the camera and hurriedly opens the back seat of the car, pushing me to the opposite side and immediately sit beside me, closes the door and tell the driver our address. The driver nodded and immediately starts the engine but the reporters are still blocking the way, and I can feel the anger rising from Aspire. I firmly hold hid hands and look at him while telling the driver to continue since these reporters are afraid of dead anyway. He takes my advice and we finally made it out.

I sigh from that experience; it was nerve wrecking to be exact!

After a few hours we made it in our home, I invited Aspire inside the house since I really stink and a good bath is what I badly need. Nana and Mr. Santy welcomes us and prepares breakfast, I asks them if they already ate and they responded yes, then I told Aspire to wait me up in the or wander around the house while I am showering. I did not wait for his answer and runs to my room because I cannot endure it anymore.

It almost took me an hour in the shower but fortunately, I remember that someone is waiting for me downstairs. I cover my body with my robe and but some beauty products in my face, while waiting for my hair to dry. When I finish all the things I need to do in the bathroom, walking towards my vanity mirror and get my lotion to moisturize my skin.

“So, this is what girls do every morning?”

I look at the man who is sitting in my study table as his chin rested in one of my pillows with my widening eyes, my legs are visible to him with nothing inside. I scream and throws my other pillow to him and runs inside my wardrobe. Good thing that I finish applying the lotion in my body but he saw me with that state. It is embarrassing! What is he doing in my room by the way?

I just pick a v-cut sleeveless shirt and a cotton short. We are not going to Saint Louis Academy according to Aspire, and he said that reporters are pooling in front of their home so he will stay in our house for this day. Does this call for a rest day and barbeque party with Nana and Mr. Santy?

After I finish dressing up, I look for Aspire in the whole room but I did not see his soul. Where is he? Sleeping? But he had a goodnight sleep yesterday and he did not even spare my lap from his heaviness.

Sounds of laughter from Nana echoed in the house as I went down to look for Aspire. The sound came from the kitchen where Nana’s favorite spot in the house. I walk to the kitchen and saw her happily chatting with Aspire as they cake some oatmeal cookies. Leaning on the wall refrigerator and observing the two of them as they wait for the cookies to be cook.

Aspire looks peaceful like he is not some asshole I met years ago, or I judge him quickly like I did to KID when I first met him?

“What are you thinking that you are smiling like a wife, while you watch your husband and mother in their bonding?”

“Mr. Santy?” I acknowledge his presence and he smile, then look at the two again giggling in excitement when the cookies they bake is finally out of oven.

“How can you tell if you like someone?”

Mr. Santy become silent for a second, as if he is thinking of a correct answer to my question. “When you feel comfortable around him, protected, home and smiles every time you see him, even though he always teases you like an immature spoiled brat but never gets mad at him. Lastly, when you start seeing the goodness in his heart. Why do you ask, Celestine?’

My lips parted when I heard what Mr. Santy said, scared of the conclusion forming in my mind and look at Nana and Aspire beckoning us to taste the cookies they made. Mr. Santy left my side while I stay glued to my place.