Chapter 21:

KIEL'S POINT OF VIEW

We are on our way to Trisha's house. We are almost in the middle of the highway, but we are caught in the heavy traffic. I was looking in my rearview mirror, looking at Dalle sleeping.

"May I ask, where is Dalle's father?"

"He was gone; when I was pregnant in Dalle, he left us for his sake. We never knew what happened to him. I tried to look for him after giving birth to Dalle, but we couldn't find him. Maybe he doesn't want to have any attachment to his child." A bitter smile flashed across Trisha's face.

"Everything will be okay; maybe it was not the right time for Dale to see his father. If you want, I can help you look for him. Wait, what's his name?"

"His name is ---." A loud horn makes me look in my side mirror. Wait, is that Aurelius? Why he will run in the middle of the highway I just follow him by looking at him. What he was thinking was running here; he had his car, right?

"Is that Aurelius?" I give Trisha a confusing look.

"Well, he went a few times in the office for Ms. Odette; I heard he was Ms. Odette's best friend way back when she was still in the U.S."

"So he was only Odette's best friend?" He didn't court her?" She raised her shoulder while looking at Aurelius. An ambulance passes through the other way; it looks like an emergency. The traffic slowly got looser, and I found Aurelius in an accident venue, sitting on the floor. Did he know the person who got into an accident? Maybe it was his fault.

The flow of vehicles on the highway is starting to be normal. We were almost in their house when I found out they were both sleeping in the back. Dalle's face looked similar to someone I knew who didn't want to see me. After all, he hates me that much. Maybe when I have a son or daughter, it can look like Dalle; he was a cute, adorable, and smart kid. He even knows when her mom is busy. He was independent enough at an early age. Whoever his dad is, he will be happy to know. I park the car in front of their house and gently wake up Trisha.

"Trisha, are you here already? Wake up." She fixes her eyeglasses and looks at me.

"Sorry, sir, it was not my intention to fall asleep."

"No need to worry about it; it's okay. I understand you are just tired at work." She gently turned into Dale's position. I went out of my car and opened the car door for them.

"Dalle, wake up, baby; we are here already." Dalle turned to the other side without waking up.

"It's fine; I will just carry him into his room."

"But sir."

"No more buts; just get out of the car and open the house door and his room for us."

I smiled at her and nodded. She went out of the car and grabbed her bag. She opened the door while I was carrying Dalle. He seems heavy for his age; I didn't imagine he was kind of heavy seeing his body; he looks skinny but not, and his weight is calling my attention.

I put Dalle in bed and put a blanket on him. I look around their house; it's quite small for them; it's only a room where, when you face the other corner of the house, you can travel to the kitchen and dine in the comfort room at the same time.

"Why do you stay in this house if you can afford to buy a new one with your salary?" She gave me a chair, but I refused.

"This place was memorable to me; this is Dalle's father's hideout. When we were still in a relationship, we always came here just to see each other. Because of his status in life, we can't be together. His family was against us, and he said he would come back to us here. And I still hold to his word that Dalle and I will see him again in the future. Even though I knew it was blurry to be with him, I still held to his word for Dalle. Dalle deserves a father; I always see him looking at the other kids when they are with their father. I know he wants to ask me or tell me where his father is. But I don't know how to answer it if he asks me that."

"Don't worry; in the meantime, I will be his uncle, Dad. Since Odette was his mom, I don't see it as wrong to be his dad. Just call me if he looks for me. You already had my number, right?"

"Thank you, sir Kiel. I hope Ms. Odette will see how good you are."

"I need to go, so I can leave you now." She nodded. I leave their house, and when I get out, I can see now how small it was. Not just inside, but outside. I went into my car and started the engine. I saw a man wearing a hoodie behind the street light. I was about to come near him when he turned around and left. I look at Trisha's house; maybe that guy was the same guy she was mentioning. I drove fast, going home to my condo. I jump on my bed. I look at my phone; it's dead. I leave my phone on my desk. What a tiring day!

I look at the clock; it's already 10 a.m. I get up from my bed and charge my phone. As I step out of my room, I make my brewed coffee and open the TV.

News:

Actress-model Zafira Ajax got into an accident last night along McKinley Ave. Her brother, Aurelius Ajax, refused to give any information regarding her accident. Our team is still waiting for their response and details on her accident.

My jaw dropped after hearing what happened to her, so that's the reason why Aurelius ran last night in the middle of the highway. I rush to my room and open my phone. Shit! Ivan called me a hundred times last night. I dialed Ivan's number.

"Where the hell were you last night?" I walk back to the kitchen while holding my phone.

"Sorry, I looked for Odette yesterday and went to the mall with Dalle."

"Who the hell is that Dalle? Come on, you need to convince her to go to the U.S. while she undergoes her therapy." I talk to her doctor; the scar on her left cheek can't fade away. And she needs to undergo walking therapy since her foot got dislocated, but not badly enough for her to not walk. I need you to do that."

"Dalle was a kid that had the same look as my brother."

"How can there be a resemblance to him? We knew your brother hated commitment. That's the reason he left your family and your family business. He doesn't like to be controlled by your dad." I sighed after hearing everything.

"Yup, but somehow I have this guts by looking at that kid."

"Kiel, listen to me; you need to convince Zafira that it's okay before you take any action with that kid."

"Fine, I'll go to the hospital."

"Good, tell me what she will say about this; I know his brother won't agree. But when Zafira speaks up for herself, he can't do anything. That's what we do, okay?"

"Yeah." I hung up the phone call, drank my coffee, and ate an apple.

I'm hoping you are the guy I saw last night, brother. I moved fast and took a bath. After taking a bath, I put on a plain shirt, black pants, and a cap. Before I walk out of my condo, I double-check everything to see if I forgot my keys or my phone.

While walking into the parking lot. I saw Odette driving her car. Maybe she was off to work. My queen was hard-working. I went into my car and started my engine. I drove off to the parking lot. While driving on my way to the hospital, I saw the place where the accident happened last night.

Her car crashed; she will be fine indeed. I finally arrive in front of the hospital. Reporters surround the hospital. I went to the parking lot and wore a face mask before I went out in my car. I head down while walking and get inside the hospital. I look at my phone and see Ivan's message.

14th-floor VIP Suite Room

I took the elevator to the 14th floor. I lean into the elevator while still looking down. Some patients and nurses get in. I finally stood in front of her. I opened the door and saw her sleeping. I came near her and kissed her forehead. Slowly, she wakes up and sits on the bed.

"Kiel!" She shout I saw Aurelius get up and go to me. He grabbed my collar.

"Did you see what happened to my sister? Huh! She had an accident because of you! You chose another girl over her. after what you did to my sister. You just took advantage of her! I'll file a case against you!" He punched me in the face and fell to the floor; he went on top of me. I know where his madness came from.

"Stop! Don't you ever dare hurt Kiel!" Zafira pushed her brother and helped me get up. Even with a scar on her face, she was still beautiful.

"Sorry if I'm just late; I didn't know you got hospitalized. Ivan just called me earlier. I didn't open my phone or my TV when I got home last night. How are you?" I held her scar in her face. She looked into my eyes with a teary eye.

"Here, I'm ugly now, not pretty enough to be your mistress again." I wipe her tears while looking at her.

"You have never been my mistress; I liked you way back. Sorry for hurting you." But not the same as how I feel about Odette.

"A jerk is always a jerk." I hear what Aurelius says—am I a jerk for hurting her? She doesn't deserve me.

"Aurelius!" She screamed at him, but her voice was crackly enough to know she wanted to cry.

"What? I'm telling the truth, princess; this jerk just used you; he didn't love you. Accept that fact. He will never love you the way he loved Odette. Right, Jerk!" Aurelius just left the room. Zafira removed my hand from her face.

"Now I have to tell you something. I can't be your screen partner since these scars can't fade away. Even if I want to, I don't know what to do. I can't even walk properly in the meantime. So I think this was the best for us. I was happy all the time we were together. When I say I love you, I mean it. I love you that much; that is the reason why I fly from the U.S. up to here in Korea just to be with you. I'm just a die-hard fan who makes his idol his boyfriend. Yet maybe the timing wasn't right and wasn't meant for us. But I will keep all those moments when I'm with you. Just to tell you for the last time, I love you, my Kiel." Her tears were racing to fall.

"You can still be my screen partner if you want. We can go to the U.S. while you are in a therapy session, and we can do the plastic surgery for your scar to fade away. But I want you to remember that I loved you even though I couldn't show it to you. I'm happy to hear I was your idol. But I have a better idea than that: I can be your friend who is by your side every time you need me. Don't worry this time, no more affection, pure friendship." I tap her head and mess with her hair. I saw a gunny smile on her lips.

"Thank you, but for the meaning, can you get out in front of me so I can move on and give you the pure friendship you want?" Don't worry, I'll think about doing the plastic surgery. And once I made up my mind, I want you to be at my departure, okay?"

"Okay. So do you want any food? Sorry, I didn't buy flowers because I was in a rush when I heard you had an accident."

"Nah, it's fine; can you peel an apple for me?"

"Sure." Why peel the apple? I can feel her just keeping staring at me. I cut it into pieces and grabbed a piece of an apple.

"Say ahhh."

"Ahhhhh." I put the piece of apple in her mouth while looking at her. The pain was still in her eyes, but she tried to hide it with a smile on her lips.