THE TRUTH

His warm breath on my neck made me shudder. I pulled away from him, our faces a few centimeters off. His eyes begging for forgiveness, full of love but filled with agony. I was confident that he wasn't feigning innocence.

I don't know why, but I couldn't resist him anymore. Maybe wine got me a bit bolder and made me more attracted to him.

I pressed my lips against his. He was shocked and he pulled himself back.Though he withdrew, the heat between us was intense. He shied away for a second, and suddenly he took me in his arms, his breathing heavy, brushing his lips on mine, intensifying the peck into a long passionate kiss. Slowly, we break apart ,for some air. Our hearts beating louder, our cheeks beet red ,our eyes glistening with delight.

'Why can't I tell you the truth ?' he said.

"Eh? "

'Im sorry. I've heard that you lost memories about the past incident. I didn't know you are haunted by the same thing, this unfortunate incident for a decade. I should have probed into the matter more if I had known about your suffering! '

"Maybe you can help me know the truth! "

'When I saw you playing guitar at my birthday party, I felt happy. You made me laugh out with your naughtiness, a fuzzy warm feeling you gave made me wonder, "How wonderful it would be to live with her!" I wanted to know more about you. I was dragged away by my father before I could reach out to you. I went crazy, I was like "Who's that girl? I want to know about her?" All these questions popped in my mind when my father was introducing me to his partners. Before I could hatch a plan to escape from there, You came to us and your father who came beside you gave me a real shock.'

He introduced you to us, and I felt an electric wave pass through me, when we shook hands.

"Yes, I heard You ask my father , 'I didn't know you had a beautiful daughter, uncle? ' and I chuckled when I heard that."

' My heart was stolen by that laughter, you know?'

But my heart broke and I hated you when you asked me, 'What if we both get married? ' and you looked at my father for an answer.

'I was just joking, uncle! Look at her face, it turned pale! ' I laughed out, at your face realizing the sudden change in your expression.

"So….It wasn't a joke !" I inquired, my eyes looking into his to know the fact.

'What do you think? ' he asked playfully.

"It wasn't a joke at all for me and I hated the proposal and the engagement!" I rolled my eyes.

' Why did you hate the proposal ? Then did you hate me? I mean, do you hate me? ' he asked with his keen eyes.

" Yeah, I hated you…maybe for a while…" I hesitated to talk more and I stopped.

'Really?' his eyes brightened, as if he realized my unspoken words.

"I'm sleepy…." I moved up on the bed.

He stood up and turned to the door.

'Where are you going?'

"To sleep.."

'You're leaving me here, alone? '

He twisted his torso, looked with wide eyes, " I'm just a few steps away? "

' You can sleep here , the bed is big enough for two? '

He moved his feet towards me and took two steps to the bed, "Do you really want me to?" He pointed his index finger at himself and the bed.

' I can't sleep alone in a new place, please….' I pleaded with him.

"Okay! " He walked to the other side of the bed and lied on the edge of the bed, showing his back to me.

'So….What happened on our engagement day ?' I questioned him again.

He turned towards me, "You don't remember anything ? "

'Only fragments, that too in a nightmare!'

"I don't want to remember that day, it's more terrifying than a nightmare!"

' Did you force my dad into this marriage-business proposal? '

" What….? No….After the party…..When he came to my father's office , he asked me if I really liked you and wanted to marry you ?"

I was taken aback, I did agree I had feelings for you and would really love to be with you as a family and I told him, I wasn't ready for a union of life, marriage yet and you were just a girl who is in her late teen, So I wanted him to wait if he's really into marrying his daughter to me.

' Then how did the engagement happen ?'

A year passed and everything was normal, until a day, your father was furious and confused when he came to our home. My father took him to his office space and I followed them sneakily. I eavesdropped their conversation and got to know that there's an emergency, and he asked for our marriage to happen as early as possible. He convinced my father to make this marriage happen, he made my father assure him, whatever may come in the way ,this marriage should happen at all cost. As he was about to tell my dad, the reason for rushing the marriage, I was caught red handed by my mother and taken away.

Soon after, they joined us in the dining room for lunch and my father announced to us about our marriage. Your father looked relieved then, which made me realize that he felt at ease once the marriage proposal was agreed to. Maybe he felt at ease, that his daughter will be safe!

'So it was my Dad's doing, after all? '

"No…he wanted to protect you, from something, maybe someone or some kind of threat?"

'What kind of threat?' I pondered, the sudden flash of my phone crossed my mind, making me shudder in fear.

"What happened?" Noah touched my cheek worriedly.

'It was…I...I was being tracked for a decade now! They've planted something on my phone and I was being watched for 10 years!'

"What…? Where's the phone? "

'When I was with Kai….I broke it!'

His eyes widened in fury.

"It's broken? Where is it?" he shrieked.

'Come on, it should be thrown away! Someone's tapping my phone! What are you screaming like that for ?'

"Ah…it's..Just to find the culprit…!" he stuttered, "Wasn't that your mom's gift?" He said after a brief thought.

'Yes, my mom's only gift I've had!' I pouted.

"What do I say, you're such a kind and loving person!"

'Eh…What are you talking about suddenly?'

"Nothing…Do you….love Kai?" he asked hesitantly

'I think so!' I said with a serious face, but laughing inside, seeing his face turn pale.

To my surprise, "I see !" He moved up and got off the bed.

'Hey…What happened?' I rose up.

"If you love Kai,I have nothing to do with you?"

An idea crossed my mind to know my heart and others.

I said aloud to him,'I feel the same way about you too!'

"What?" He walked around the bed and sat across from me.

'You both make me go crazy! I just don't know whom I want to be with?'

"You must have had too much wine! That's why you are talking like this!"

'No…I'm sober and what I said is true and I can't decide, understand me!'

"Are you sure that you feel similar things for the both of us?"

'Yes!'

"Hmph…It is possible", he breathed a heavy sigh, "After all Kai is such a  handsome guy, with talents, who can't fall for him?"

'What do I do Noah?' I asked him with pouted lips and innocent eyes.

"Look, It is your feelings, I should not decide for you. It is your thing to find out who you want to be with your whole life! "

'That's it?' I raise my brows at him, as if expecting him to show any sign of possessiveness and jealousy, but none.

"Mmm…Sleep well." he put me to sleep  and covered me with the blanket, before he left.

I grabbed his arm and he turned to me, 'Are you sure?' my eyes pleading.

He loosened my arm, bent towards me, cupping my face, 'I don't want to confuse you anymore! You are not the same Ash I've seen 10 yrs ago, You can do anything. You're the Ruthless queen of businesses, remember? I'm sure you can figure it out, and I'm so proud of you that you've become such a brave woman, a strong, kind person despite all those hurdles you've faced. I'm glad you choose to be kind, after everything! And that's why, I am not confused about my feelings, but proud I've fallen for someone like you!'

My corners of my eyes tried hard not to push the tears out, until he leaned in closer and kissed on my forehead.

'Good night!' he left, pushing me into the well of confusion. I reclined on the headboard baffled.

I relaxed on the sofa, but my mind was running a mile a minute, rationalizing my story,  with many hidden facts. I rubbed my forehead anxiously, convincing myself, "She isn't ready yet, to know the truth. I can't hurt her!"

All I've known was being sleepless, worrying over the hidden truth, lost in thoughts, when I was shaken up from sleep by Ash.

'Its morning already. I should leave!' she said.

"Is it? Let me drop you!" I moved up, but she refused.

"That's okay Ash, I need to go home too!" I insisted.

'It's alright! I've already called Nate and he's waiting for me downstairs! Thank you! See you!' she disappeared just like that.

"Is she avoiding me?" I straightened my spine in realization.

"Could it be? No…But her eyes never looked into mine! She avoided eye contact, which means, was she embarrassed or was she blushing?" I ran after her.

Before I could catch up to her, she got in her car, despite me running to the main door. I breathed heavily, my hands rested on my knees for a break. My driver approached me wondering if I wanted to leave.

I hopped in my car and drove home disappointed.