"Mom, I'm fine. I told you not to worry about it."
…
"What…it was just a little bleeding, Mom. The doctor just changed the bandage and now I'm already discharged, aren't I?"
…
"What..No, no, no..You don't have to rush back or anything, just finish your work and I'll just stay at home. I promise okay."
..
"Yes, Alia's at home too. So just don't worry."
..
"Yeah, about the bodyguards I asked for… done already, you're the best, mom."
.
"Ohh, one more thing, I wanted to leave sky ultima and focus on star corp now. Just wanted to let you know."
..
(Chuckles) "Very funny, mom. But yeah, something like that."
..
"Love you too, mom. Take care."
Ali cut the call with a sigh and turned his face to the side as his lips curled into a smile. "I really was a fool." he muttered under his breath, looking at his phone's wallpaper with his and Aarvi's pic in the background.
"You said something?" Emily asked, as she turned to look at him.
"Nothing, just that I'm stupid." Ali replied, while pushing her head to the front to keep an eye on the road, as she looked at him confusedly.
It was already around 9 o'clock for the night and the road ahead was dimly lit under the full moon and the flickering street lamps. The traffic at this time wasn't high but the roads weren't completely empty either.
"And what makes you say that?" Emily said as she slowed the car a little to finish their conversation.
"Well, I just realized I wasted more than 10 years of my life chasing ghosts. Even when everyone around me kept telling me it was just an illusion, an unattainable dream." Ali said, explaining his licking dog routine of a lifetime.
"So you're all awake now?" Emily asked, following his words which didn't mention anything clearly.
"I'm getting there. But I can see things clearly, and my eyes aren't closed, so that's a start." he replied with a chuckle, throwing his phone to the side.
"Well, I'm happy for you then." Emily said with a genuine smile which brightened her face, causing Ali to momentarily lose his focus as he stared at the air entering through the open window making her hairs fly around, while the light from the lamps fell on her face giving a stark contrast between her bright smile and the darkness around her.
Truth be told, it was probably the first time he looked at her so closely. I mean they were close, and she had been helping him with everything for years now, but this was the first time he actually noticed her like this.
"You're quite pretty, huh, Em. Did you ever fell in love?" Ali asked, while pressing the button that closed the windows, as her flying hair ruined the view of her face, and obviously burdened her driving.
Emily, who heard his sudden question, got surprised and ended up pressing her feet on the accelerator a little stronger, causing the car to suddenly gain a little speed, resulting in a shock that sent both of them to stick to their seats.
"Careful there." Ali said, as he used the seatbelt this time.
"Sorry." Emily said too, breathing a sigh of relief that there was no other vehicle in front.
"Haven't answered my question yet, got someone special?"
"Why.. Are you asking?" She said a little hesitatingly as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment while her thoughts started running wildly without any breaks.
"Just curious." Ali shrugged his shoulders and continued "I mean you've been with me for three years now, and I hardly know anything about you."
Hearing his answer calmed the mind of the young girl, but also brought a little bit of disappointment in her heart. But pushing those unnecessary thoughts aside, she showed a small smile and replied back.
"Well you know that I grew up at an orphanage running under your mom's NGO, and later started working for her. After that, she sent me to help you and that's it." Emily said honestly and added "So other than the little kids at the orphanage, you and your family are the only people I have in my life. I don't need no one else."
Ali, who heard her answer and saw her appearance clearly with his 'enlightened' eyes, had a thoughtful look on his face. "Hmm, you aren't one of those girls who want to repay kindness with life or something, are you?" He asked subconsciously as he remembered about some basic storylines for heroines. Wondering if she was one too.
"What..?" Emily looked at him with surprise as he said that but Ali shook his head and stopped her.
"No, nothing. I'm just babbling." he said, and looked out the window.
"I'm happy that you're happy, Ali." She whispered under her breath as she kept her eyes on him for a few seconds but as he didn't say anything else again, she turned her attention back to driving again.
Ali, on the other hand, looked at her after some time and said in his mind 'System, use appraisal on her.'
[ Name - Emily Hendal
Age - 27 Years old
Parents - Pranay Hendal and Tina Bishop
Role - Extra
Type - Orphan, Loyal, Villain's Assistant
Destiny - Gray
Emotion - Love. (+81) ]
[System note - The GVS 2.0 hates the plotlines of adoption where someone spends thousands of years looking for his parents, only to learn they weren't even his real parents, and his uncle was his true father. Or a dense guy routine, where a host is too dumb to notice any feelings of others and act oblivious, like the blind guy who can't see the light even if the sun shines on his face. That's why the system made a new function for itself to save itself from watching cringe.]
[Limitations - The function to identify parents and emotions is only given for those not favored by destiny.]
[To see these details for the favored son/daughter of destiny, upgrade the appraisal function from shop or spend points every time depending on the luck of the chosen target.]
Ali, who saw Emily's details and read the system's explanations, had a new understanding of a few very important things.
First, this system was smart.
Second, he was dumb.
And third, his assistant freaking loved him.
????
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Author note - I'm not very good at describing things so some things might seem off when I talk about appearances of characters, so don't blame me okay. I'll upload everyone's character illustration in one or two days together and then you can see and imagine everything to your heart's content, sound good.
Till then go drop a review, send some power stones and if you can, spend some coins on those pretty gifts too.