Yes, Miss Manoban

CHAPTER 28

Erika woke up due to the constant ringing of her doorbell. Half-awake and tired from all the crying, it was a miracle she was able to stand up and answer the door.

"Astrid?" she asked surprised. "What are you doing h—"

"You sleep like a dead person. Do you know how long I've been ringing your doorbell?!" the girl hissed as she grabbed her by the wrist. "Oppa's plane leaves in an hour. Come with me."

"Huh? Why—"

"I'll answer your questions later. We need to go right now—"

She tried to break free from her grasp but the woman had a tight grip. To which Miss Manoban grinned.

"I spent some time in the gym, love. There's no use trying to escape."

"Your brother doesn't feel the same way, Astrid. I... I can't face him—"

"I don't believe what my brother said and neither should you," the girl stated before letting out a sigh. "He loves you, Erika. Believe me. He's just said he doesn't because he think he's protecting you."

Her brows furrowed. "Protecting me? From who? Veronica?"

"He told you about her? Well, that girl might look like she could kill you in your sleep but getting a threat from her is like getting threatened by a cupcake. She's 100% harmless."

"So who? Who is he protecting me from?"

"From himself. He's protecting you from himself."

"Why?" She was more confused than ever. "What can he possibly do to hurt me even more than he already did?"

She saw how Miss Manoban's eyes soften. It started to glaze and took a deep breath.

"My brother didn't tell you everything, Erika. There's a reason why he's leaving for New York today and it's not because of business."

She held her breath as the next words came out of Miss Manoban's mouth. A high pitched sound buzzed in her ear as everything around her slowed down.

She felt her throat dry down as Astrid finished. Her heart pounding heavily and her breathing started to go rugged. Without a word she ran past Asher's sister straight to the street and hailed a cab.

"The Airport please. Hurry."

The driver—who looked confused, did as he was told. She prayed she wasn't late. She prayed she'd get to him on time.

-

Asher's chest felt heavy as he walked into the airport. He wasn't able to get some decent sleep after everything that just happened.

Hearing Erika tell him she loves him was like a dream. He felt genuinely happy and his heart wouldn't stop beating so fast. He wanted to wrap her inside his arms and kiss her senselessly. But he had to wake up and face reality. If he had told her he felt the same, they would be happy, yes, but... she'll eventually find out about his illness. She'll find out he's dying and knowing her, she'd sacrifice everything she worked hard for just to take care of him. She'll throw away her life just to take care of a man that would eventually leave him behind. It would be unfair.

His thoughts were cut off when a guy in black clothes, black cap and black mask suddenly bumped into him.

"Sorry!" The guy apologized in a muffled voice. His voice was somewhat familiar.

Judging from the guy's attire and the big camera case he had, he may or may not be a fansite manager. The SERENA sticker on the case was also a dead giveaway.

He didn't recall Ji Eun having an overseas schedule for this month. Maybe he just forgot.

"Passport and boarding pass please," the guard said as he reached the security check area.

He went to grab his passport and boarding pass in his back pocket. Surprise, surprise. It wasn't there.

His forehead creased as he checked again. Then went on to check his coat pockets hoping to have placed his passport there.

"Sir?"

"I think I just lost my passport—"

Then he remembered the guy in black who just bumped him.

"Sir—"

"For a moment." He said then sprinted back to the direction where the guy just went.

The airport being a busy place had tons of men wearing a black cap and a mask. So he looked for a guy wearing all black and carrying a silver camera case.

He spotted the culprit near the departures entrance gate. He ran as fast as he could and tried to grab the guy from behind. But he saw him and ran away.

Man was he a runner!

Calling all passengers of Flight LK019 bound for New York, please proceed to the boarding gates... Passengers of Flight LK019 bound for New York, please proceed to the boarding gates... Thank you.

He cursed. He's gonna miss his flight—

"Ya Asher Jung!"

He froze. He knew that voice really well. Slowly, he turned to face the woman who can't seem to leave his mind since he first laid his eyes on.

"How dare you!" she yelled causing everyone around them to look. Then she started to throw her shoes at him. "How dare you decide things for me!" Dodge. "How dare you lie to my face!" Dodge. "How dare you not tell me that... that..."

She dropped on the floor and cried. He felt his chest tighten and immediately run towards her. His arms automatically wrapped around her as he tried to calm her down.

"Why? Why didn't you tell me?" She cried. "I... I..."

"I didn't think it'll go this far..." he answered calmly. Yes, they were causing a scene and tons of cellphones were directed at them. But he didn't care. His woman was crying and he needed to calm her down. Reputation be damned. "I... it's unfair if I told you—"

"Unfair? Don't you think lying to me wasn't unfair? I love you, Asher. And I don't care if you're dying or whatever. My feelings for you will stay the f**king same!"

"I know that. But... but you deserve someone who'll be there for you. Grow old with you. Not leave you—"

"Who are you to tell me what's good for me or not?" she spat shocking him. "I deserve you, Asher Jung. I graduated at the most prestigious school in this country and worked my a*s of to put up a business from scratch. I f**king deserve you and nobody else! I don't care if I get to spend only five, three or one year with you. I don't even give a d*mn if it's just a second. But I'd rather live a short life with you than a full one with someone else. I love you even if you're such an idiot."

She didn't let him speak as she crushed her lips on his. Everyone around them cheered like there just saw a movie or something.

And just a few meters away from them, Asher clearly saw how a man in full black apparel hand over what seems to be his passport and boarding pass to his grinning sister.