Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“Wait, Sean!” I exclaimed while chasing my breath. I paused from walking and sat on the bench. We just finished riding the roller coaster and we have been riding various rides since earlier.

“Are you okay?” What's the matter?” He asked worriedly. I grabbed the bottle of water that we bought and drank it immediately.

“I'm tired, I can't ride another one. It would be my death,” I uttered and shut my eyes firmly.

“Well, you've been screaming in every ride we rode.” He chuckled, probably teasing me.

“I'm not!” I exclaimed and moved my eyes away. “I…I was just having fun but I was not scared,” I reasoned out.

Honestly, I was screaming because of fear. For pete’s sake, everything that we rode almost took my soul away— it's breathtaking!

“You aren't scared? Maybe that's the reason why you were clenching my hand,” he heaved a sigh and glanced at his hand with pity.

Gosh, it looks like a tomato with its redness. I bit my lower lip and had nothing to say anymore. I was indeed scared.

“I'm scared of heights,” I finally admitted and pouted. I probably look pale right now. Everything around me is spinning a bit. This is what I get by riding those freakin’ rides.

“Let's eat, then. What do you want?” He asked while his eyes were already browsing around. I began to search the place to find where we should eat until the small store with a table around it captured my eyes.

“Why don't we try that barbecue house?” I asked, wearing a starving smile from my lips. I almost heard my stomach growling.

“Let's go, then.”

My lips parted when he grabbed my hand as he stood up. He began to gently pull me along with him while my eyes were pinned in our hands together. The warmness of his hand makes my dizziness vanish just like that.

I just found myself having a tiny smile, which is a bit perilous. Why am I smiling? Damn, this is alarming.

“What do you want?” We were both checking out their menu, and I swear, all of this looks delicious. There are also a lot of people who are coming by.

“I don't like spicy food, so I'll take this soy garlic barbecue. You?”

“I'll have the spicy barbecue ‘cause I love spicy food,” I uttered with excitement from my face that couldn't be concealed.

I only paused when I found Sean turned silent while eyeing me.

“What's the matter? Do I have dirt on my face?” I got conscious so I quickly checked my face on my phone. I was able to blow out a sigh when I saw that there was nothing wrong with my face.

“There's nothing. It's just that, I've never been with someone who likes spicy food,” he forced a smirk.

“Even Celeste?” I was dubious about asking that, but I still did. I didn't know where and how I mustered the courage to ask that. He could have fired me in one blink of his eye.

Our eyes finally met again. I am not blind not to see. There's no hope that Sean could ever forget Celeste.

“Even her,” he mumbled and shrugged. “I'll order, find us a seat,” he added.

I just nodded and began to find us a seat. I didn't wait for so long when he also came back to me.

“I had fun,” he uttered with a huge smile while watching the other people who are still pouring their energy around.

“How ‘bout you?” He asked and now glanced at me.

“I don't know. I almost vomit,” we both chuckled. “Tomorrow will be a busy day again. You've got a lot of work to do,” I reminded him.

“You are really fit to be my secretary. You've been reminding me of everything I have to do,” he shook his head.

“It's my job after all,” I replied and shrugged.

“Your order, Mam, Sir.” The woman began to serve us the food that we ordered. Sean also got us a dessert.

“Thanks,” I could not help but to stare at his smile. I feel like I'm getting addicted to that small view.

“Tell me about yourself, Dahlia. I don't know a lot about you aside from your basic information.” He mentioned.

“Why are you interested? My life is not that interesting, you know.” I chuckled while we were eating. There's nothing good about my life and I had to get used to it.

“Just tell me something about you. Who knows? I might find it interesting,” he said.

Silence embraced the two of us for a moment. I only broke it when I heaved another sigh and paused from eating. I was thinking if I should tell him this, but what would I lose right? I have nothing to lose. Besides, that's where I came from. That's what I am. That's who I am.

“I'm an orphan,”

I knew that it would make him stop from eating. After hearing that, he paused. I already foresee that he would definitely give me an eye so before our eyes could meet, I continued eating to avoid those eyes.

“I’m listening,” he said and broke the silence that satiated the two of us when I chose not to tell anything about myself anymore.

Now, it was me who paused. I glanced at him and both of our eyes met. He is the first man who didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he just wants to listen.

“Tell me more, Dahlia. I am your safe room,” I felt his hand on my hand on the table.

My heart softened.

“My parents? They said they died the day we got into an accident. It was a miracle when I still lived,” I smirked bitterly.

“I don't remember their faces. Good thing, there was a photo of us found in the car. That's the only thing that I cannot forget about how they look.”

“What about your relatives?” He asked.

I shrugged. “Honestly, I don't know if I have a single family out there. I lived all my life with the sisters inside the orphanage. I also watched a lot of my fellow kids get adopted and no one dared to get me out of there.”

“Did you like being there?” I stopped. I didn't anticipate him asking that instead.

“I do,” I forced a soft smile. “I really do. The sisters treated me as their child. They also taught me to be independent instead of choosing to end my life with my situation, you know.”

I can't believe I'm telling this to him. Charlotte is the only one who knows about this.

“I wasn't able to finish my studies because of lack of money. What can I do? I'm the only one who can provide for myself and the money that I earn from my part time jobs before isn't enough to pay my tuition.”

I breathed heavily. “See? There is nothing interesting about me. I have been living all by myself. Good thing I have Charlotte,” I chuckled.

“Where did you meet that friend?” He asked. Oh, he doesn't know about her.

“Her parents are the top donors in the orphanage; we met there. They are rich, you know. She always helps me in everything and I also had to decline her help. I don't want her to think that I am taking advantage of her. Besides, I must not rely on anyone but myself.”

That was what the sisters taught me in the orphanage. At the end of the day, there would be just me who will rescue myself. Not Charlotte, not anybody else, but me.

“I'm proud of you, Dahlia.”

That captured my eyes back to him. At that moment, I knew that I could burst into tears anytime. No one has ever told me that he's proud of me, but Sean Cohen did.

“You're making me cry,” I uttered and looked away from him. “I'm not crying though.” I added and refrained the tears from pouring before it could even pour.

“Cry, then.”

“Huh?”

I found him still looking at me. It seems like he didn't leave his eyes at me.

“I would be happy to shed every tear your eyes would pour,” a small genuine smile ended it all.

I don't know what I've done to be this lucky. Well, I found a boss who has so much benevolence.

After eating, he drove me home as well. We didn't notice the time and it's already 8 in the evening.

“Thanks for today,” I said as we got out of the car and we are already in front of my apartment's building.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at work,” I added and left him with a tiny smile before I took a step away from him.

“Dahlia,” he called, which made my feet automatically stop.

“Hmmm?” I looked back again. His hands were hiding from his pockets while giving me those sparkling eyes.

“Thanks,” he said.

I chuckled. “For what?” He's the one who did so much for me today. Why would he thank me?

“For making me smile…again,”

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