Fate in Captivity

Chapter 19- Pitying him

(Aubrey)

We are still at the restaurant, eating and was constantly looking at him. He seems calm and satisfied even after that conversation I had with him a while ago. He seems eating fine and still lively with her outside interactions to different people especially to me, why he does looked like sad, always, whenever I saw him. I don't know the reason behind those lonely gazes but when I heard just some glimpse of his current life, I suddenly felt pity with him. Is that the very reason why he always smile on the outside but still crying in the inside? I want to know more of him, thing that I did not thought when I first saw him again. 

I know he did worse with me, he humiliated and even made the most unforgettable memory of my life- but him, he is currently living the life he is humiliating himself. I heard about his family, and now I heard how he made up until this point he is right now. 

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he suddenly asked and I snapped. 

"Nothing." I plainly answered and continued eating. This time, he is the one staring at me, I put down the fork and started a staring contest with him. Not even a minute, he started laughing out loud, I looked at him in confused and suspecting myself that do have something on my face. 

"Why are you laughing?" I asked to him and he was still chuckling. 

"Aren't you pitying me too much?" he asked as he was still chuckling. 

"What? No, why would I do that." I defensively answered and he suddenly moved towards me, near to my face that I could even see the corners of his eyes. 

"You are the only ne who could pity me, Aubrey. No one could ever do that to me." he whispered and I was hypnotized by his gazes. 

"We had too much food, let's go for a walk." he offered and grabbed my hand. Without any word, I just grabbed my hand and followed his steps until we got on the road. This path is surely different to other road we had, it has a lot of neon lights, planted flowers at the side, couples are seen everything being sweet and lovey dovey to each other. This is not a normal place for me, or even for us. 

"Such a great night, right?" he broke the silence as she said those words to me. 

"Yeah, I think so." I plainly answered just let the conversation flow. 

"So, what do you think?" he asked and I stared at him in silent. 

"Should we became a couple too?" he continued with a huge grinned on his face. 

"Jerk." I just mumbled and walked ahead of him. I just felt my cheeks becoming hot and the curve of my lips were now lifted as well as my cheeks, did I just smiled because of his words? 

"Aubrey!" I heard him yelled my name and I irritatingly looked back on him. I was surprised when he was standing at some photo booth and holding some placards that says about wedding and such. I turned my back on him and pretend like I don't know this guy. How could he do that embarrassing thing?

"Aubrey!" I was surprised when someone held my shoulder and when I looked back it is now Ken. I looked at Julius who was still at the booth and he was glaring while walking towards us. 

"Ken, why are you here?" I asked to him and he was smiling. 

"I was on my way home and I saw you, why are you here?" he answered to me. 

"Hands off, punk." I looked at the person behind Ken and at the same time he also looked back, we saw Julius who was now irritated. 

"Oh, I did not know you are here." Ken said and still smiling at him. 

"Of course, because if you knew, you would not approached her like that." Julius firmly answered and grabbed Ken's hand to remove on my shoulder. 

"Let's go, Aubrey." Julius said to me and grabbed my hand, I was about to walk and follow him when I stopped and looked back, Ken was at the same time holding my other hand- and I am now in the middle of tug of war game at this night hour. 

"Let go of her." Julius seriously said and his jaw were crushing. 

"Why would I?" he sarcastically asked to him. Seems like he was teasing him out and wanting him to be mad. 

"Can I say something?" I asked to them and they looked at me. 

"Of course, you can." Ken cheerfully answered. I removed their hands on mine one by one and stood straightly. 

"Sorry Ken, but I should go with him." I said to him and I saw his smile vanished, or am I just imagining things? As in one blink, he is still smiling at me. I nodded at him and walked towards with Julius. He was still looking at Ken behind me, so I grabbed his hand, this time he looked at me and smiled. 

"You really feels pity towards me, huh?" he said to me and I just smiled. 

"I just don't want a short course night." I answered and smiled at him. This time, he now felt light and looks like he got himself calmed. We continue walking along the path and this time, I gave in to his wants, we got pictures, played at the arcade and even tried street foods that of course he hasn't tried with. 

"What is this stuff? How come these circle things are so delicious?" he exclaimed while still stuffing food on his mouth and his cheeks looked like they were about to popped. 

"These were called as squid balls, and of course it is made from squid." I sarcastically said to him. 

"Really? How could they became circle?" he asked again, like a curious child. 

"We have technology and this thing called processors. These were processed foods." I answered to him again while getting some with toothpick from the pan full of cooking oil and floating seafood processed balls. 

"What are these things? How could they be so chewy?" he suddenly looked at me while eating a lot again. 

"Those are called fishcake, stop talking while chewing your food." I exclaimed to him and he smiled while chewing it silently. 

"These foods were so delicious, should I buy the whole factory of it? Or should I start fishing business? Come on, Aubrey. Tell something!" That are the words I kept on hearing while we are still walking back to the car. I was just sighing while walking ahead of him and he kept on asking same questions with same thoughts. He just fell in love with street foods, I thought. 

"Aubrey!--"

"Julius stop being a kid!" I exclaimed to him and he abruptly stopped walking and speaking. He was looking at me with his pleading eyes and his lips were pouting as I speak. 

"I just want to ask if I should do it." he mumbled and I could still hear it. 

"Just let those people have their source of living, if you want to help, just keep on buying their products." I explained to him and he was nodding slowly. 

"Now, can we go home quietly?" I asked and he smiled at me like a kid. 

"Come on." I said and extended my hand, he grabbed it and I was surprised when he intertwined his fingers on mine. This is what I have expected but I am not complaining, though. 

We get in the car and of course, he still insisted to drive me home even if he don't have a car to use on his way back. We arrived at my apartment and I don't know if I should let him enter my apartment, I mean it could be awkward, this is the first time I would let a man enter my personal space. His eyes were wavering and I don't know why.

"You want to come in?" I offered and he suddenly looked surprised. 

"Me? Do you want to come in?" he repeated like he was in disbelief. 

"Yeah? If you don't want, then go home safely." I said and was about to close the door when a hand was in the gap between and I looked back, he was shyly holding back the door. I just scoffed and opened the door for him. He entered and started looking around, I don't have anything to hide in here, just me being the truest person when I am inside my own place. 

"Do you want something to drink or eat?" I offered to him and I saw him being stiff standing by the doorway. 

"You can sit, you won't die." I jokingly said and he started moving towards the couch. 

"Now, should I command everything to you?" I asked and he shook his head. 

"Then what do you want?" I asked again. 

"You." he nonchalantly answered and the silence once again came by. 

"Don't be a jerk, answer me properly or you will see a flying mug." I said to him and he gulped down. 

"Now, I will ask again, what do you want to have?" I asked once again. 

"Just plain water." he quickly answered and I smiled. I get bottled water from the fridge and gave it to him. 

"You can leave whenever you want." I said and I saw that he finished the whole bottle. 

"What should we do here?" he asked and looks like he was surprised to his own question. I burst out laughing and he is just staring at me. 

"Relax, Julius. How come you are much nervous than I am?" I jokingly said to him. 

"Because I don't know what could I do." he answered and I suddenly stopped laughing. I looked at him and he was avoiding my gaze. I walked towards him, slowly than he could imagine. I sat beside him and he was distancing himself from me. I chuckles and just stay on the distance we have. 

"You know why I don't stop the marriage?" I asked out of the blue. 

"Right, I asked you that night." he answered and looked at me. I smiled and still not directly looking at me. 

"I want to hear your side, your reason why you did that. And now, I knew, I am not complaining anymore." I answered to him and that is the time I looked at him. 

"Then, are you saying you are accepting my offer of courtship?" he asked with the hope in his voice. 

"No, I am saying I understand your situation, not your flirty personality." I answered to her and he laughs. 

"I would still take it as a yes." he said and stood up. 

"I think I should go." he said to me and I looked at him. 

"Did you just ask me that question here?" I asked and he nodded. 

"I was waiting for you to open it first, I don't want to give you any pressure. I can wait, even if how long you wanted." he said to me and smiled. 

"What if I just had you waited for so long? But still no reply?" I asked just in case. 

"It is alright, I had my whole life waiting for everybody. I am used to it." he said and walked towards the door. I followed him there as he opened it. 

"Julius." I called him before he finally leave my apartment, he looked back without saying something.

"Be careful always." I said and he nodded while smiling. 

"Of course, I can't die not tying the knot with you." he playfully said and I just scoffed. 

"Then I should get all your inheritance." I answered and shrugged my shoulders. 

"It is alright, if it is for you and for our children, I won't complain." he still answered my jokes. 

"Shut up! Just go already!" I yelled and he just laughing as I waved my hands to him. As I saw him get in the elevator, I closed the door and went in my room. 

Why do I feel so happy today?

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