CHAPTER 32: WE NEED SPACE!

"I'm sorry Lisa for invading your privacy tonight. But thank you for lending me your pajamas." Aisha smiled.

"What are friends are for anyway?" Lisa chuckled. "But are you sure not going to call Ethan tonight?"

"Hmp! He didn't even call me last night. He should know how it feels." Aisha pouted. Lisa grinned.

"But tell me honestly, you love him, don't you?" She teased her.

"Blah blahblah..!" Aisha curled her eyes."

"Hmmm… And I'll take that as a yes! Haha." Lisa cornered her, "I totally understand you my friend. Who wouldn't fall in love with that handsome guy anyway?" She started dreaming again then she suddenly snapped when she remembered something.

"Did he --------- perhaps ------- or how should I say this------- uhm,.. Did you already do that? --- You know---'' Lisa was scrutinizing her. Aisha knew what her friend was thinking so she slapped her shoulder.

"You pervert! Nothing like that ever happened!" She yelled at her best friend. Lisa was not convinced. She eyed her suspiciously.

"He never tried to take advantage of you? Ever!?" Lisa was intensified. Aisha shook her head. Lisa was surprised.

"OMG! I cannot believe that! How could he control his body when he's beside a beauty like you?" Lisa was over reacting. "He's not gay, right?" She murmured. Aisha eyed her.

"He's not!" She defended him.

"Okay, okay! Don't kill me with those stares." She joked. "But did he ever kiss you?" Aisha smiled blushingly when she remembered those intimate kisses that they had before.

"Hesh! Your face can't even hide a secret for you, woman!" She poked her side. They were laughing together.

"Was he good?" Lisa continued.

"He's not good, He's great!" She looked at Lisa convincingly then they both laughed at their dirty minds.

*** Meanwhile at the mansion, Ethan was thinking twice whether he should call her wife or not. It was already 11pm but she wasn't home yet. He was definitely guilty of what happened last night and he didn't know how to explain it to her. He didn't even answer her phone calls last night and there were 13 miss calls from Stacy. He decided to dial her number. He needed to give it a shot. Once, twice, thrice… she was not picking up. He tried to call her many times but she turned off her cellphone. He surrendered. Guess she was mad at him. Who wouldn't get angry if they discovered that their husband slept with another woman? But this was not the first time they did it. Before, Stacy didn't even mind it. But the new Stacy now wasn't like that anymore. He was wrecking his head.

Aisha told Lisa not to receive anyone in her office today. So when Ethan's secretary came to ask for her, Lisa lied about Aisha's hectic schedule. When it was reported to Ethan, he didn't believe it so he went down to Stacy's office personally.

"Please Lisa, let me see her." Ethan begged.

"I wanted to Mr. Williams, but Miss Stacy gave a firm order not to let anyone inside her office." Lisa explained as Ethan sighed.

"Then please tell her to meet me at the Sunrise restaurant at 7pm. Tell her I will be waiting." With that he left.

Aisha was leaning at the door, listening intently to Ethan. When Ethan left, Lisa went inside and she stared at her best friend still leaning at the door.

"You heard him, right?" Lisa probed. "You should go. Try to listen to him." She encouraged her.

"I'll try." She answered then she went back to her desk. She might look like she was reading the document, but the truth was she was thinking whether to go or not.

Lisa and Aisha went back to Lisa's apartment when they were done for the day. It was exactly 7:00pm when they arrived home. Aisha dropped her body on the cushion while Lisa prepared dinner then she remembered what Ethan told her in the office. She approached Aisha.

"Aisha, are you really going to ditch Ethan, again?" Aisha didn't answer, but she was also thinking about him earlier.

"Aisha, you better go! At least hear him out. Talk to him. Nothing will be solved if you keep avoiding him." Lisa was upset by her actions. She pulled her hand and pushed her into the shower room.

After a while, she helped her dress up a little.

"There, you're good to go." Lisa smiled.

"Thank you, Lisa.'' Then she bid her goodbye.

Ethan didn't want to give up yet so he waited for her. She was already an hour late but he didn't care. After a while, he saw her. She was so beautiful! He stood up to meet her.

"Stacy!" He was thrilled to see her.

"I'm sorry, I'm late. I was caught in a traffic jam." She lied. Ethan pulled a chair for her. She sat.

"You look stunningly gorgeous tonight." He spoke his mind.

"Thank you. You as well." They shyly smiled at each other. What is this? Their first date? Getting to know each other stage? Oh man!

They ordered some food then started eating. After a while Aisha looked at him.

"I'-I'm sorry. I'm sorry about the other night." Aisha expressed her most sincere apology.

"Stacy…" He mumbled.

"You have the right to get angry at me. Eli was your son in the first place. I'm sorry that I took the responsibility from you. I'm sorry that I hid everything to you." She continued.

"I don't blame you. I was carried away that night and I'm sorry for yelling at you. I didn't mean to—''

"Actually, you're right. Because of my selfishness, I put Eli in danger. I'm sorry Ethan." Silence came upon them. "Uhm… You and Angel? What's the real score?" Aisha hesitantly asked. Ethan was guilty.

"N-nothing. We don't have any special relationship ----''

"D-did you really sleep with her? The other night?'' Aisha probed. Ethan fell in silence for a minute before he answered.

"Y-yes. But I- I was not on my right mind that night ---''

"You don't have to explain, Ethan." Aisha cut him off, "I totally understand and I'm sorry that I cannot satisfy your needs.'' She was breaking up.

"S-Stacy… it's not because of that. I was just drunk and Angel ----''

"I told you it's okay!" Aisha exclaimed. "About that, I, I am here to give you your freedom." She looked at him fervently. "Ethan, from now on, just do everything you want."

"Stacy!"

"Ethan, I want space! We need Space! We both need it." She uttered as she looked away from his eyes.

"What do you mean?!"

"We need space. You have to sort out what you truly feel, who you want to be with and what you really want to do. I'll do the same also." She stated. Pain was visible in her eyes. Aisha stood up and was about to go but Ethan held her arms and pulled her closer to him. He immediately kissed her passionately.

Aisha cried when Ethan suddenly captured her lips. She missed him badly. Oh how she wanted more of him, how she missed his kisses every night, how she missed him cuddling her at night as they dozed off to sleep. She missed him badly. She parted her lips to respond to his advances. After sharing a passionate kiss together, their foreheads touched each other. Aisha couldn't stop her tears while Ethan wiped them away.

"Stacy, please. I know you didn't mean what you said earlier. I'm sorry… Please stay with me…" Ethan spoke in a sad tone.

"I-I'm sorry Ethan. My decision is final." She was breaking up. She removed Ethan's hands on her cheeks then she walked away with tears in her eyes.