12 Chapter 12

It has been weeks since the incident with Alex, and Harith is doing a great job of making Athena forget. It is working, with the mighty powers of fun, she's now partially healed. Well, after all, her brother Adamson Chen freaked out, and so is her brother Samson. Samson is now working in Europe. But the news is making him want to continue in the US where he's near Athena, after all, he's the only one who can move. Adam is, hmm, he is a CEO, so, he can't just move to his sister's location. But, they are planning on visiting her and stay for a few days. Which is awesome because they plan to go to Florida. 

Harith and Athena, currently skateboarding. Now that Athena can do the 'Ollie' and 'Shuvit' she is now moving to something else easier. Well, of course, Harith is there to teach her. Well, in his mind, he's pretty amazed that she's learning quickly. He often catches her skating alone in the park every night. Well, according to male instincts, when you see a female alone, you should accompany her. And so did he, he accompanied her in those nights. But as for Harith, it is not only because of instincts, it is also because of the love he feels for her, hoping that she'll notice and love him back. Days went by and still no clue for Harith. But just like what Mother Gothel said 'All good things to those who wait.' but, they were talking about revenge, Harith's situation is love.

It was now at 8 o'clock in the evening and Athena went out with her skateboard, she stepped on it and decided to go to the park, as soon as she was on her way, she crossed paths with three hunks, as soon as she saw them, she's already sighted, she tried to back off with her skateboard but it was too late, she was blocked by the other guy, they wore a stinky kind of smirk on their faces together with their stench of cigarettes and alcohol. She knew that it was a bad idea to just go around the streets in the evening, yet she continued because she was able to do it days before Harith accompanied her, she assumed that it would never happen and now she's in that situation she never imagined. 

They weren't keeping their distance from her, not until a car honked at them. A guy called her and asked her to get inside. She didn't think of anything, she didn't even worry whoever the guy was, she was just desperate to escape that situation. As soon as she opened the backseat door, she immediately entered. She sat down, gasping for air, she looked scared, although she's wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants, those guys did not ignore her. As she was sitting down, she felt that there is a guy sitting next to her. She then realized that the driver didn't ask her where she lives. So where is he taking her, she was about to scream to the driver but a familiar voice spoke,

"Don't, it's ok, I'm here," 

She quickly turned her head to see who it was and to her surprise, it was Harith. And it's his dad who is driving the car. They are headed home, and so Mr. James invited her to their place. Harith is a bit against it as she's never been to their place. And he's worried about his room, it's a mess.

They finally arrived at their place and entered. They were having dinner and so they invited her to join. The meal was nice, her favorite was the fillets and patties. They finished eating and she asked him to show her his room, in a teasing way. They stood, climbed the stairs, and at last, the door, with some caution signs. 

He opened the door and like what she expected, it is a mess. But not top much, but it's certainly is. She jumped on his unmade bed, she bouned and he sat down beside her, and they talked,

"Never go out again, do you understand?" he asked her, but she didn't answer as she looked away,

"Look at me," he told he and she did,

"Never go out there ever again without me," he said furiously, she didn't answer him again,

"Athena, why won't you answer? I just want to protect you," after saying those words, there's silence.

...

It took nearly three minutes until Athena finally answered,

"I'm sorry, I was just trying hard to forget,"

Inside Harith's mind, he can't believe that she's not yet forgetting, in his heart, he's hurting because without forgetting, she'll never see her. He is so desperate to have her now that he wasn't able to stop himself and spoke,

"Athena... I... I love you. I'm sorry if I didn't tell you earlier but I was just waiting for you to forget, but unfortunately, you're not forgetting, you're not moving on, and so I thought that maybe if I confess now, you can move on and start falling for me, I waited because I am so worried of what might happen, that I might get hurt, but right now, I don't care. I want you to be mine, and so I'll work on it," those words made Athena speechless, and blush.

She was surprised and didn't even know what to say, she's afraid to say something because she's scared that she might say something wrong that would hurt him. She doesn't want to say that she loved him back, because it would be like saying it and committing the crime of misusing the phrase 'I love you' and just make him feel good. She doesn't want to hurt his feelings either by refusing, she doesn't want to lose him. And so she came up with the best answer,

"Harith, I don't know what to feel about that, but, you can always make me fall for you and see what happens. Is that ok?"

He smiled and hugged her and spoke,

"I'll make every effort to make you fall for me," 

They hugged until it's time for her to go back home, he walked her home and as they were on their way, the snow started falling into the ground.