CHAPTER 5: THE CONFESSION

THE CONFESSION

My stomach has been complaining since earlier, and these rich people's food doesn't really content the monster in my tum-tum.

Imagine having a huge plate served, and the food I'm going to eat is just as small as a pingpong ball. It's aesthetic. It boasts the ultraexpensive vibe, but I can feel my hunger's killing me at the moment.

"And what does your lovely date do for a living?" Bruce asked before sipping his champagne.

Accidentally, a drop escaped on the side of his lips, causing him to jerk on his chair and mumble a curse.

"Bruce!" Amanda cried, didn't even hand him a napkin that's right in front of her.

"Oh, here." I gave him the napkin, and he took it with owe, scratching to dry where he spilled his champagne.

"Do you know how much that suit costs?"

I curtly frowned over that. Why would they react like that? I'm sure they have millions in their bank accounts. They can literally buy more than a thousand suits.

Bruce grunted when he knew it was useless to clean it with a dry napkin. "I should go to the washroom for a second."

I glanced at Eric. He kept his lips tight. He's not even looking. What's with him?

"Hurry up. We have guests," Amanda demanded and rolled her eyes when Bruce excused himself.

"He always do that, spilling drinks on his Dolce," she told me and giggled, lighting up the mood.

"I do that sometimes, too. Clumsiness always visits me," I shared, but it seemed like she didn't like 'clumsiness' upon seeing her how disgruntled her expression became.

"Mom, what's in this thing?" Cutting off the sudden tension, Eric asked.

I'm not that dumb to not notice that he saved me there.

"Oh, everything that is served today is my personal favorite. And for that, it has mint and bitter cacao as the main ingredients."

I had to admit, every food that she likes wasn't really my type. I'd rather have a cheap chocolate bar than this pricey dessert that makes me feel like I swallowed sweet toothpaste.

"I like them. It's the best dessert for me." Gracefully placed her hand on her chest.

"Darling, do you like it?" Leaning on the table, Amanda asked me with a smile. And I don't want to erase that smile on her expensive face.

"I like it. Very much." Grinning like a dog, I nodded my head. "I'm a huge fan of chocolates."

"Now I like you."

"How did you two meet? My son failed to mention that part to me." Amanda took a pea size bite and carefully gnaw.

"She works for me. She's the best designer in my company," boasting my profile, Eric answered.

I wanted to puke on that, reminiscing how his inner monster ate me whole and spit me out after chewing my poor self.

Take note that he was really going to fire me, luckily... he's under a spell. That magical flower spell. Yes, it was wrong, but at least I get to keep my job.

Wow, that's just selfish of me.

"A designer..."

"I'm a graphic designer, ma'am."

At first, I thought that I would have a glimpse of hypocrisy, but then she nodded her head in approval.

"That explains why the designed advertisements from my sons company are great."

She just gave me a reason to breathe freely.

Only if Amanda knows what's going on with his son, once she figured out that I got something with it, I'm pretty sure that she would have my face slapped and I'll be living my whole life in a grave.

I can feel my face getting hot. My whole body felt like I entered the oven when Eric once again placed his hand on my thigh.

Clearing my throat, I couldn't resist the electrifying effect he's giving me. It's a little hard to ignore his warm hand that's starting to ignite the quenched fire in me.

"Ugh!" Bruce came back with his suit and has evidence of being damped.

"You look like a peasant with that shirt. You're going to embarrass us." Finishing the last bite of her dessert, Amanda chided her husband.

"I've got no extra suit in the car," disappointed Bruce said.

Still trying to finish the dessert that I couldn't swallow, Eric leaned close to me. "Come with me."

Before I could ask what for, Eric stood up and excused both of us from his parents.

He's dragging me by my hand, and I've got no other choice but to follow.

Considering that his demanding huge steps are enough for him to pull me like a person in a body bag.

In fact, I am already dead. He just took all the air in my body with this simple gesture.

At the balcony, under the dark sky with millions of stars and the crescent moon watching us, Eric settled us by the corner where prying eyes couldn't reach.

"Is there a problem, sir?"

"It's Eric." Correcting me once again, his hands hold on the banister and let the city lights reflect on his eyes.

"Right, uh--"

"I never knew that you were engaged." He suddenly opened up and faced me. "For how long?"

This is a sensitive matter, and I'm still in the stage of adjusting my life in the present while the other half of my mind is still stuck in the past.

"About a year, sir," I answered anyway.

"Why did he leave?"

Letting out a nonchalant chuckle, I made a face. "What's with the personal questions?"

"I want to know," curtly answered. He stepped closer, trapping me at the banister with both of his arms on my sides. "And you're going to answer my question. Why did he leave?"

Hesitation came in like air brushing my skin. But I thought, hey, I never had anyone to talk about it.

"He works for an agency. He's a photographer working with magazines and beautiful models," I began. Immediately, my throat felt like there's something choking me.

"Unfortunately, he found someone who looks better than me, sexier and more responsible with her work."

Let out a mirthless laugh, I tried to just shrug that memory off, but I have to get it out of my chest.

"He said his goodbye over the phone. That's it."

Keeping myself from shedding a tear, I felt his hand cupped my chin and made me look at him.

"Call me mad. But I am glad he left you," he said, and I was about to question him for his cruelty over my poor heart when he kissed me.

All of a sudden, all the pain washed away. All I can ever feel is his warm and soft lips pressed against mine.

His protective arms are around me, and his kisses make me feel weaker by the second.

When he pulled out, I felt empty. I wanted more of him, and it was wrong, so wrong. But it everything that wrong just feels good.

"Eric..."

"I have been holding back this feeling." Keeping our space so little, breathing the same air. "But I like you."

I stifled, eyes wide.

I want to believe that sincerity is real, but I know that it was the stupid magic that speaks, not him.

Right there, I knew that my life won't be as lucky as this if I hadn't manipulated it. Because I knew it from the start, I was born to be miserable.

"I really like you, Nicole Allen."