26 Let me be selfish

Abi woke up early, brimming with energy as she readied herself for the day. After she said goodbye to her family, she set off to visit Kelly.

Familiar to the Young residence from prior visits, the servants recognized Abi and promptly ushered her to Kelly's room.

"How's your ankle?" Abi inquired once inside.

"It's fine. I'm recovering fast, Abi. Mom's just exaggerating."

"I see. That's great. Uhm… Kelly, I have something to tell you…" Abi's voice wavered as she glanced down at the floor, avoiding direct eye contact.

Kelly furrowed her brows. "Hmm? What is it?"

"I'm… I'm going to live with Alexander Qinn."

Kelly choked.

"W-what?! What the hell, Abi! What are you saying?"

"I'm sorry for telling you just now."

"Abi, look… why… why? Why do you need to live with him?!"

"Alex requires his girlfriends to live with him." 

"Oh my god!!" Kelly's eyes widened like saucers. "What nonsense is that?! Did he mistake dating as marriage?!"

"Kelly… I know it's outrageous. I know why you're worried. But this is my choice. I am going to live with him for a month."

Kelly held Abi's hands, worry evident on her face.

"Abi, listen to me. I don't know why you suddenly decided this but this is too sudden. D-did Alexander Qin do something to force you?"

Abi shook her head and then her face became severe. Abi knew she had no choice now but to tell her friend about her illness. She had hidden this from her for years because she didn't want her friend to look at her with pity, like everyone else. She wanted Kelly to treat her just the same and she didn't want her friend to worry about her. But now, she had no choice but to tell her.

"Kelly… I'm sorry that I hid this from you for many years. I… I tried many times to tell you but I was a coward. I've been a coward until I met Alexander Qinn. When I met him, I suddenly became daring. It was as if I became braver since that night I encountered him. I was afraid to tell you because I don't want you to worry about me. And I didn't want you to treat me differently once you found out about my condition."

"Abi… what are you saying? What condition?"

"Kelly… I'm sick. I was diagnosed with the same illness that killed my mother. And… and my time is running out."

"Abi… you're lying. H-how could that be? You're healthy and…" Kelly shook her head in disbelief. But then suddenly, she remembered all those times when Abi had to go and visit the hospital. And what? The same illness that killed her mom? Wasn't her mom died with the deadliest brain cancer?

"I'm sorry for hiding this from you, Kelly… please forgive me."

Kelly fell silent. She felt like the sky was falling down. Kelly's tears started to fall. She couldn't believe that her friend had kept this life changing news from her! She was in turmoil. She didn't know how to feel or react at the thought that she could be losing her best friend soon. She was utterly devastated. Why? Why did it have to be Abi? There are so many bad people out there. Why did it have to be her? This nice angel? Was it really true that… that nice people were always the first to… Oh, god... this can't be happening.

After a long while, Kelly managed to calm down. 

"So this is why you're suddenly determined to experience the things you never experienced before?" she murmured in disbelief. 

Abi nodded and Kelly felt like crying again. Abi was the nicest, the kindest girl she had ever met. She was that dazzling girl who shone like the sun and could infect everyone around her with her enthusiasm and kindness. And yet, this girl was actually sick and running out of time? Kelly couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"And… because you want to experience everything, you agreed with everything that Alexander Qinn said?"

"The truth is, Alexander kept refusing me." Abi confessed. "He tried to scare me away many times, telling me that he wasn't the one for me but… Kelly, he's the only man I have ever wanted. I want to experience how it feels to fall in love. That is my only wish before I… I know I sound crazy but this is my choice, Kelly. Don't worry, I know Alexander won't hurt me… physically at least."

"You know you'll get hurt… emotionally?"

"I at least know that falling in love isn't just sunshine and unicorns. But I still want to experience it," she smiled and Kelly felt her heart clench. What should she do for this girl? She knew she could only do one thing – support her.

"Fine," Kelly took a deep shaky breath. "So I presume you told your family that you'll be living with me for a month?"

She nodded and Kelly sighed again.

"I don't know what to feel right now, Abi. You're messing with my emotions."

"I know. I'm sorry…"

"So? When will you go to Alexander Qinn's?"

"Now."

"Abi!" 

"I'm sorry. I don't want to waste any more of the little time I have left."

Kelly's lips parted, but no words came out.

"I'm sorry. Please let me be selfish and unreasonable just for a month, okay?" Abi said with a sad but willful eyes. 

Kelly could only bite her lips. No one ever made her so emotional like this. Knowing that this girl had been suffering made her feel like she just want to give everything she wanted and grant everything she wished. Everything!

"Fine… you know I can't resist you. You just have to promise me one thing. Please make sure to take care of yourself, okay?" 

"I will, don't worry. I'll call you lots and actually, I still would go to work and am planning on going back home on weekends."

"As you should!"

Abi grinned with relief. "I'll come visit you in the morning before I go to work."

"Oh, my Abi… I… just take care, that's all I can say."

"I will. But can you do me another favor? Can you please not tell anyone about me being sick? I don't want anyone else to know, okay? Promise me."

Kelly hesitated but eventually agreed and after a long hugging and coaxing session, the two finally parted.

And of course, the first thing Kelly did once the taxi left was to call the damned prince to make sure that Alexander Qinn was not going to harm her best friend while she lived in his house.