NIGHTLIGHTS

Chapter 9 Nightlights

After they changed the place to have their dinner, they happened to enter Augustine’s restaurant. The man coincidentally in his office when they arrived and personally greeted and cooked for them.

“Why did you open this shop?” the old man asked as he munched on the food prepared for them.

“For personal reasons grandfather, I was supposed to give this to my supposed wife, she loves to eat different cuisine, but due to some reasons, the wedding was cancelled.” Augustine answered as he flipped and stirred two pots at the same time, looking like a professional chef.

Nodding his head, the old man mumbled “stupid spoiled woman” meaningfully glancing at his granddaughter and towards Augustine and both grinning and shaking their heads. Their tacit understanding made Allana feel left out, it seems the years she was away really made her lose track of the happenings around her.

“Gran, you knew Augustine’s woman?” she asked while wiping Jiuhan’s face that was filled with sauces. The old man only chuckled and dismissed her question by asking her about her plans. “I will take over Aunt’s company and train myself there then when I am capable enough then I will help out on the empire.” she casually said and shrugged her shoulders. Her nonchalant attitude irritated the old man which caused him to knock her head and nagged at her.

“You should divorce that sham as fast as you can, I won’t ask you to marry anyone anymore, but I wish you could be happy now. And if someone arrives, don’t close your heart Allana, I will be here. I am not sure if I will live longer but promise me that you will be happy.” listening to his heartfelt words, Allana could not help but tear up and hug the old man, assuring him and apologizing for her previous actions.

Although the man acted cold hearted when she mentioned it, later on he gently caressed her back and kissed her forehead.

…

They spent their dinner talking to each other while fifty percent of them is her grandfather cursing Xuan and Wei. Allana could do nothing about it and just chuckle and agree with them, she also managed to introduce and bond Jiuhan to him, the child now called the old man pops. And currently she watched their car speed off with her son abducted by her grandfather, she can’t say no after both the old man and the bun begged her for a little quality time between them.

“So where are you heading next?” Augustine asked and tucked the loose strand of her hair behind her ears. “Home?” she replied and smiled at him. “Do you mind if you join me for a ride?” glancing at his Audi behind them while casually raising his brows playfully at her. Shaking her head while giggling, Allana smacked his arms and got in his car with his help.

“Aus., how's your parents?” she asked. “They’re good, although they are rushing me to marry and have children” shrugging his shoulders while tapping his fingers on the steering wheel trying to mimic the rhythm of the song playing on the radio. “Of course, they will, you're already 27, sooner or later you will be turning 30, Uncle and Aunty aren't getting younger. I also want to see your children.” she nagged as she crossed her arms while her left brow raised at him.

“Don’t rush Yana, my wife will soon be ready for me.” he replied and winked at her. Allana could only grunt in annoyance as the man clearly had no plans of telling her about his relationship.

“Maybe you’re gay.” silence filled the room as Allana’s joking face turned serious after not hearing any response from the guy. “Are you?” stopping his car at the sidewalk while unbuckling his seatbelt, Augustine faced her and looked at her intently.

“Do you think so?” he seriously said with his clear eyes reflecting her, his thin lips formed into a line as he put one of his arms at the wheel and the other at the back of her seat. Seeing him this serious made her heart race and feel anxious.

“no” she looked away and pretended to watch the surrounding with great interest.

Augustine shake his head and continued driving towards the hill where you can oversee the whole city. “I am not gay, she was just playing around, and as a faithful man, I was waiting for her to go home with me.” his cryptic answers made her head hurt so she could only ignore him and ran towards the tree.

With her eyes closed, arms wide open while her feet tiptoeing. Holding her waists to keep her from falling downhill, Augustine stared at the scenery before him, taking in the fresh night breeze and the refreshing nightlights.

“I missed this” Allana whispered as she absentmindedly leaned her body on Augustine’s chest. If it wasn't for her occupied mind, she would have noticed the rapid beating of his heart, with red ears and cold hands, Augustine calmed himself and enjoyed the feeling while it lasted. It was rare for them to be this close, so enjoying the feeling isn’t a bad idea.

“Aus., if I had known this would happen, I should have forced you into marrying me.” she said out of nowhere. Augustine then laid his chin on the top of her head and smiled sadly. ‘Stupid Allana’.

“Why aren’t you talking? Do you really hate me that much?” pouting her lips as she faced him with her arms on her waist acting like a little child. After years of living their life, Allana could only show this childish child to Augustine after he scared her into thinking that everyone would laugh at her for acting stupid when in truth the man only wanted to monopolize her just for a little bit. Seeing this cute side of her again was relaxing, he would prefer her acting coquettish and spoiled on him than being a cry baby, crying over a sham man.

If he could only split Allana’s head and pry inside, what made her think that Xuan was someone worth crying for? Flicking Allana’s forehead, Augustine chuckled and went back to his car to get some chips and snacks that they got from the convenience stores on the way. Then handed her favorite snacks and a can of beer completely reverting the topic.

“Hey woman, what made you like that cheap man?” he asked after gulping down the can of cold beer in his hands and biting onto the chips that she feeds him. Both unaware that their actions exceed that of a couple.

“He reminds me of my first love” she replied while chuckling at the silly memory of her pitiful love story. “Xuan is a good person; his judgement was just clouded by his lust. Wei is a beauty, a certified seductress that she managed to sway the righteous Xuan her way” she added.

“He isn’t righteous nor a good man if he managed to cheat and bear to see his wife hurt for some girl who looks not even half decent.” ruthlessly calling the two names as if it got nothing to do with him.

“After I divorce him, I will live my life as a single and supportive mother, I don’t even dare think someone will accept a woman like me. Aside from having heaps of money, I worth nothing more than that.” hearing her belittling herself, Augustine’s face went dark and forcefully gave her a rub on her head, making sure that she regrets saying that to herself.

“Someone loves you, you're just an idiot, let’s take you home you naive and pessimistic woman” Augustine said as he strode towards his car clearly not in the mood to joke nor stay there longer, Allana could only shrug her shoulders and followed after him.

“Are you mad?”

“No

 “you are”

“..”

“Aus., did I say something wrong?” Still met with silence, Allana can only shut her mouth and wait for him to cool his head. Arriving outside her condo, Allana glanced at the stone-faced man and refused to get out of the car.

Minutes passed and it was already 3 in the morning and Allana unwillingly unbuckled her seatbelt and went out of the car. Glancing back at the stubborn man, she sighed and made her way to the elevator. As the door was about to close, a hand stopped it and Augustine’s face appeared before her.

“What-” cutting her off, Augustine hugged her tight and refused to let her go. “Don’t ever say that no one will ever love you nor accept you. Don’t you dare even think that you are worthless.” his exasperated and husky voice resounded while his hugs grew even more tighter.

‘Because if you think no one love you, you're making me feel stupid, because I love you Allana. If you think you are unworthy then I think otherwise, 14 years and I still love you, I'm still into you.’ he thought as he was still scared of telling her the truth, he knows she is unready to open herself again to someone. She is still broken and he is willing to wait, he already waited for more than a decade, what more can possibly happen. The difference is the time, he will wait for her beside her, he will help her heal and be ready. Be someone that will show her worth.

TBC

Maple Writes

(Don't forget to leave a comment, share and give me reviews for me to know if there are things that I should improve with and change at the same time. Have a good day. Enjoy reading.)