FORTY FOUR
=ASHLEY’s POV=
“Are you ok?” Agatha asked as her car stopped in front of my house. I nodded in response to her question and then smiled.
“Ash, you can talk. I am willing to listen. Earlier I noticed that you look somewhere while we were having fun.”
I could no longer stop myself from crying. She came over to me and hugged me.
Earlier, as I was listening to them and I was seeing Ulysses. I thought I wish I could see Charles grow up too. Talk to someone like Ulysses. I am attentive to him like Ley does to Ulysses. Give him everything he needs.
I HOPE, but I know I can’t do that anymore.
“Shh. I’m just here, we are here. Forgive me if I judge you. Forgive me for what I did.”
I wiped away my tears then smiled at her. “Thanks, Agatha. I’m somehow relieved because we’re ok.”
“And I won’t leave you again. I won’t because you have me now. I’ll try my best to help you to reconcile with Asher even as friends first,” she promised.
“I’m happy to see Asher, Agatha. All I need is forgiveness from him. When he forgives me I’ll be relieved.”
“I will help you.”
“Agatha, I’m sorry if I hurt your brother. But I hope you believe me since I loved him I haven’t even thought of looking for someone else. I love him with all my heart and surrendered my life to him.”
“I know, don’t cry I know,”
“I really love your brother. I can’t bear to see him hurt but I have to do it.”
“I am on your side. Everything will gonna be alright.”
“Don’t leave him, huh? Don’t leave him, please stay with him because you’re the only one he has right now.”
“Shh, you’re here too. I know that even if you’re not literally together, you’re still there for him.” I smile at what she says and wipe my tears.”Come, I’ll bring you inside your home.”
“No, embarrassing inside, too messy.”
“Nah, I insist.”
“But —” What if Asher is inside?
“Are you hiding something?”
“No—”
“Asher?” she asked.
“Huh?”
“I know he sometimes comes to you. I don’t know what’s going on but the night before Ley showed up at the office, Asher went home cried. He said he hurt you.” I sigh remembering that night. “He said almost kill you.”
“I know he didn’t mean that. We talked about leaving and I said yes. But Eugene came and I chose to go with him even though I knew he would get angry.”
“Really? Maybe he’s jealous. I hope you understand.”
“I understand Asher too much, Agatha.”
“Anyway, would you mind if I asked you where you went? You wouldn’t leave Asher if that’s not important.”
“Agatha,”
“Fine, don’t tell if you are not ready. I trusted you. So, is it ok if I can come in? Don’t worry, he’s not there, he told me he will go somewhere.”
“Are you sure?”
“Trust me.”
“Agatha,”
“Hmph?”
“What if Asher took a step to find out the truth?”
“Well, not impossible but don’t worry for sure he will tell me if he will do that. I will warn you or I will stop him. I will tell him to respect your decision.”
“You think you can convince him?”
“Ashley, are you ok?”
“Why?”
“You look so worried.”
“I’m worried about Asher.”
“Hey,” She reached out my hand. “Don’t worry about him. I will stay on his side, I swear.”
“Don’t leave him, will you?”
“Sure, for you and for me,” she said and touched my cheek. “So, let’s go? Tour on me on your home.”
“Let’s go,”
We got out of the car together. We also walked in holding hands. When I open the door I immediately open the light.
“Hmph, not bad. It’s just a little bit on our pad in the US. I mean your pad.” She laughed and said then looked around.
“My pad, where did you first meet Vince.”
“At Cliff and Lake I first met him not in your pad,” she said then sat down on the sofa. “Are you comfortable here? Do you want to move to a condo? I mean, my unit is vacant because I live in you and Asher’s house.”
“I’m just ok here,” I replied. “You want coffee?”
“Nah, I’m good, but are you sure?”
“Yeah, so, how’s the house?”
“Well, it’s still the same, the designs and the displays are nothing changes. It just moves when it’s cleaned. But it’s still at it is since you left.”This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
“Asher didn’t move anything, he didn’t throw my things?”
“He still believes that one day you will come home.”
“Agatha,”
“Nah, don’t say anything, please, I understand,”
I set beside her and held her hand.
“What more could I ask for if I already have you? It’s just you, I am so damn lucky.”
“Shh! We should stop this drama for a while. So, tell me, are you ok here?”
“Yeah, it’s ok, though sometimes there’s a nervousness because Asher suddenly shows up.”
“I’m sorry huh? I’m sorry if I can’t do anything every time he hurts you.”
“No, it’s not your fault.” She touched my forehead with a bandage.
“I’m not going to ask because I already know how you got it.”
“It’s ok, it can be removed, hey are you ok?” I asked when I noticed her forehead was furrowed.
When I followed his gaze she was staring at the table next to me.
“Why?” I ask.
“Is that a bottle of sedative?” she asked.
“Ah, yeah, what’s the matter? Doctors recommend that because sometimes I’m suddenly traumatized.”
“Wait, that’s an anti-depressant, Ashley, you’re not —”
“No, no, no, I am ok.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, there are times when it’s a bit, I’m confused but—but I’m ok. Believe me, I only use that once and I’m not dependent on it.”
“Ash,”
“I am not suicidal,”
“Ok, and?” I sighed then smile.
“I am hurt, but not depressed.”
“I am counting on you.”
“I am, you should. Trust me, Agatha,”
She smiled at me then kissed my hand.
“Please, please be honest with me always, Ashley. Tell me everything you’ve been through ok?”
“Yes, promised,”
Now that Agatha and I are ok, somehow I feel a little better. Because the only friend I was with was no longer angry with me and understood me.
Asher is the only one missing. When he forgives me I have nothing more to ask for. He and I will be friends, then I am happy with my life.
That’s the only reason I came back to him. To get forgiveness from him.