26 Joining Hands In....

Claire:... What are we?

Ashton: Huh..?

I blink in surprise at her question. She looks away from me and back to the park view.

Claire: We're not friends, complete strangers or people who simply loathe each other. Are we mere acquaintances or strangers with history?

That's the question that'd been plaguing me too. I observe her profile for a moment, thinking of an appropriate response before speaking.

Ashton: The latter.

Claire: What?

She turns to look at me in surprise.

Ashton: Being called that is better than being called people with no such history at all. Even though we know that they're not the happiest memories and feel as though it's best to forget about them, deep in our hearts we still know that we can't abandon them and pretend that it all never happened.

Claire:...

Ashton: The happy times, the arguments and the misunderstandings made us what we are today. They're lessons from life and we learn something from them, the hard or easy way. The memories are what make us stronger. They're the ones who give us the final push to change ourselves, to adapt.

It was the pain that took away our innocence and taught us to become stronger to face the real, harsh world.

Claire:... We.. can never start over, can we?

She casts her eyes down and grips tightly on the hem of her skirt. Seeing the pain in her downcast eyes, my chest feels tight, it hurts so much that I can't breathe. Call this inappropriate but..

Ashton:...

Claire:..!

I pull her into an embrace not giving her engagement a second thought.

Ashton: Don't look like that.. please.

Claire:..!

My heart stings to see her like that. She freezes for a moment but then rests her head on my shoulder. She slowly wraps her arms around me and clings onto my blazer.

Claire: Why..? Hic..

Ashton:...

Her voice gets choked with tears as she manages to let the little rhetorical question out and I rub her back to soothe her.

Claire: I'm sorry.. I just didn't want you to give anything like that opportunity up so I lied.

Ashton:...

I knew it.

Claire: I was too scared to tell the truth all these years or admit my mistakes so, I blamed you for all that happened... I'm so, hic, sorry.

Her calm an indifferent attitude from the time I came back has fallen apart revealing the 'Innocent Claire' half of her that I knew. However, something tells me that she's not only talking about the rumor but, something more grave. Now's not the best time to ask her though.

And so, I stayed with her till she calmed down. That day, we made a promise: none of us brings up the 'dark period' and we both won't live as acquaintances or strangers but, as the friends we were before our relationship. I can't change the past but, I can make my future that was supposed to be sans her, now with her by my side; not as woman but, as my friend.

A few days later..

I'm visiting my parents (Mom) since she was really anxious on the phone earlier today. She didn't get into the details and just told me to get to the Beckett House ASAP. I hope nothing bad has happened. The car pulls to a stop and my chauffeur opens the door for me.

I step outside and see Christian waiting for me. His usual slightly cocky yet elegant tone absent, he greets me.

Christian: Welcome, Young Master.

I give him a slight nod in response and we head inside with all the maids and staff bowing and greeting me.

Ashton: Do you know what this is about?

He glances back at me and his usually expressionless face shows signs of worry. Has something bad really happened?!

Christian:... It's a....

Ashton:..???

He purses his lips unable to say anything which just makes me more nervous. He never hesitates to break any news to me, ever. We reach the main room and he opens the door for me.

Christian: Young Master Ashton has arrived.

I step inside and my parents turn to face me. The sight is nothing out of the ordinary with my mother smiling pleasantly at me and my father showing no interest whatsoever.

Mom: Ashton! You came at the right time!

She looks at the people sitting in front of her and I follow her line of sight to see a middle-aged man and woman with a younger lady sitting on the side. She turns her head around to face me and my heart almost stops.

Blonde hair, blue-green eyes, puffy lips, slightly tan skin.... I could recognize this person anywhere.

Ashton: Kate?!

Kate: Hello!

She smiles gently and I'm at a loss of words. What's she doing here?! The man sitting beside her, probably her father, speaks up.

Kate's Father: You two know each other?

Ashton: Yes, we were... friends.

I shouldn't mention anything about our relationship now since we both are from very influential families and something like that could tarnish both of our families' reputation.

Kate's Mother: Isn't that great, Elaine!

The woman (Kate's mother) beams at my mother. Wait, what's going on?

Mom: Don't just stand there, come and sit down.

She motions towards a seat nearby and get seated on it.

Ashton: So, what was it that you want to talk about?

All of them exchange glances finally resting them on my father.

Ashton:..???

He looks at me with no emotion in his eyes and slowly opens his mouth and I swear nothing could've prepared me for the shock I was about to feel...

Dad: We're planning to join your hands in marriage.

Ashton:...

It takes me a while to process what he just said.

Ashton: What?!