Chapter 11

“Do you really wanna know why I came here, Colton?”

The question caught his attention in an expected way. There was a long pause as we studied each other’s faces. Colton’s light brown hair was longer, enough that he could tie it. He has gotten bigger since the last time I saw him. Not on the fat side but on the muscle side. His deep blue eyes were sadly the same. It no longer had the light it once held when Hana was beside him in his arms.

He didn’t speak but his face showed how much he wanted the answer. “I got stabbed, Colton.” He tensed. I raised my hand to stop him from overreacting even though he had every right to. “I’m fine. As you can see I’m here, alive and well.” He relaxed while nodding his head, urging me to continue.

“When I was lying in the hospital recovering, it made me think about things. I mean in the first place, it got me there because I was being nosy yet again.” I peered at him and appreciated his silence. It meant that he wanted me to talk and he’ll listen to everything I’ll say.

“I almost died for the same thing I did three years ago.” He tensed once again. “For solving problems alone.”

“Rose.” His call had meaning.

I shook my head in response. “You wanted to know what had happened to me that day the last time you saw me before I disappeared. I asked myself this. What if I did die and I never managed to tell this to anyone? Am I just gonna be that alcoholic, chain smoker who had drug addiction?”

“Rose, what happened?” He asked the same thing that day three years ago. But this time, the tone was heavier and full of emotion.

“I admit I had alcoholic tendencies and I used to smoke a lot. But I only did drugs once, Colton. Trust me on this.” He nodded in understanding. He gestured for me to continue, wanting to know the full story before diving in to talk with his own sentiment. He was always like that even until now. That’s what I like about him. He was simply a great listener. “Remember I told you we had a client named Jacob Moore? He dated my friend, Quinn for a while.” He nodded again in confirmation.

“I kept complaining to you that he was a shady guy. You said I just never liked him because I always hated the men Quinn dated. My suspicions were right when I coincidentally met him one time at a club I went to. It turned out he was involved in an illegal business. Drug dealing, human trafficking, guns, you call it. He was there doing his usual meetings. I snooped around trying to find out more but he caught me.” He inhaled a lungful of air. I almost did the same.

“Did he hurt you?”

“Surprisingly, he didn’t. He warned me instead. He told me not to say a word especially to Quinn. He threatened me I’d be killed if I did. I tried to be calm and avoid showing him fear or he would’ve used it against me. Nonetheless I agreed to his terms. But I was scared for Quinn’s sake. She was dating a dangerous man and she loved him, too. So I devised a plan. If I can’t get rid of him by telling the truth, I ruined myself instead.”

“Rose.” Shaking his head in worry and regret. Too late for that though.

“I kept on drinking alcohol. I smoked nonstop. I intentionally came late to work with a hangover, messed up the projects until I was no longer reliable. The last straw was when I intentionally let it slip that I was doing drugs, when in fact I only did it specifically that night so I’d get caught. As expected, Jacob was still a professional businessman. He might be dating my friend but above all, he was our client. He got mad that I was being borderline unethical and I couldn’t be trusted with the project. The project that would cost him clients and investors. Jacob was the kind of man who would always choose his work. I expected Quinn to defend me no matter what and she did. They fought until Jacob left her.”

“Just as I planned. I knew Quinn would always choose me. That was what I always thought about while doing it. It was my reassurance. I did receive a lot of extreme scolding, almost got sent to rehab if it weren’t for my convincing powers and told them that I’d change. And given she had her heart broken, it was all worth it when I saved her from him.”

“Rose, no. God.” He groused. “There would have been other ways. You could’ve reported him to the police.”

“He threatened me, Colton. He wouldn’t have spared my life and if he did kill me, he would’ve come after Quinn or Belle. I can’t get rid of him simply. He was already known in the underground. I think it was the only way.” I sipped the last drop the bottle had. The intensity of this conversation made me want to drown myself once more in liquor.

He was shaking his head. “Why did you keep this? Why didn’t you tell them?”

“Because Quinn would have done anything for me. And if I told them what really happened, she would be so devastated. Not for that bastard, but for me who ruined myself for her.”

I think I might’ve seen his eyes pooled with tears. He rubbed his face with his hand and inhaled deeply. “I’m so overwhelmed right now. I can’t believe you’ve been hiding this truth from us.”

I let out a small smile. “When I’m gone, you can tell her the truth.”

He gritted his teeth. “Don’t fucking joke like that. It’s not funny, Kura.”

“You’re really mad if you called me my name.”

“That’s because I am.” He exclaimed. “You should’ve- ugh, I don’t know, Rose. I didn’t know something like this actually happened to you. I couldn’t even be there for you. You never came back.”

“If I did, you would’ve noticed. There’s a reason why I put a distance, Colton. I would’ve confided easily in you with no second thoughts. You’re already my brother here.” I pat my heart. He smiled softly at that. “I also thought I should be better if I wanted to meet you again.”

“And you are?” Still smiling softly.

I shrug. “Maybe.”

He laughs. “I think you are. You’re glowing.”

I shrug again. “It’s the albinism.” He continued laughing.

After that emotional story, our conversation was lighter and full of jokes afterwards. It wasn’t the only one that was lighter, my heart was too. I knew talking to him would bring peace to me. The baggage was weighing me down and sometimes it put pressure on my job.

Even though I intentionally got addicted, sometimes there were times that it was not. And that thought had made me worried for the past years of trying to recover. I figured that maybe talking to him would make me feel better. If I hadn’t been in death’s door, it wouldn’t have crossed my mind at all.

I just want to be free a little for once by not telling her the truth.

“You should stay with me for the night. It’s already getting late.” He suggested as we exited his café.

“Oh I did plan on staying.” He laughs at my remark.

We went towards his house which was only a walking distance so there was no need for a cab. The walk took about fifteen minutes until we arrived. I didn’t need any guidance since I used to sleep in here. The guest room became my room.

We both decided to take a shower and meet in the kitchen right after for a tea. We were quiet unlike in the café where we were eager to tell each other’s stories. The silence was comfortable and reminded us of our time together in the past. The similar thoughts made us smile.

“Thank you, Rose.”

My eyebrows furrowed questioningly. “For what?”

“For coming here to see me.” He shrugged. “For trusting me your secret.” I giggled at the sudden sentiment. “I missed you.”

I smirked. “I know.”

He guffawed. “You’re still such a brat.”

I peered over the teacup as I took a sip. “And I missed you.”

We both grinned in both bliss and peace.

---

“What are you up to?” Colton eyed me in curiosity when I still stayed in his café the next day.

I wasn’t in the mood to go home yet. Not when I took interest in the blushing boy who’s working here.

“Nothing.”

“Go away. You’re disturbing my employees.” He shooed me away from the counter when I didn’t plan on moving. The boy from yesterday was now in charge of the counter. He blushed when I didn’t keep my eyes off of him.

“Rose. At least go sit at one of the tables.”

I roll my eyes, ignoring my best friend. “You know you just reminded me of someone.” He was looking everywhere but me. He was a super shy one which intrigued me more. Aside from that, he was cute. Like I want to keep him. His name was Eli and it somehow suited him.

“You done with your little vacation?”

I was startled at the suddenness and nearness of the voice. I slowly whirl around to confirm the familiar baritone.

Holy hell.

I suddenly remember why that blushing boy reminded me of someone. The very man himself, who easily blushes like the kid, was right in front of me.

“What are you doing here?”