One Wish

26

Jasmine...

I'm a fool, Jessica... She said bitterly. A complete fool!

You were harsh with her. Couldn't you just be mistaken? I saw the shock on her face when she saw you. She couldn't have faked that?

She's a good actress! She dropped her clenched hands on the table. Don't let yourself be fooled. She cheated on me!

But you couldn't fake pain, Jas. I saw it in her eyes. Why didn't you give her a chance to explain?

She had every chance to explain. She didn't say anything about my accusations to her, did she? Instead, she showed me that she seemed to be crying. Why she could make a stone cry? She said full of bitterness.

Jessica didn't know what to say. When Jasmine discovered Mile's true identity, she was furious. It was her pride that was damaged most, not her heart. But from what she sees now, Jessica is sure that Jasmine's heart has been badly broken.

And she didn't know how to console her. Jasmine took a deep breath. Tell the lawyers I would like to meet them earlier. Her voice was void of emotion. Her eyes were bleak and unyielding. Jessica stared at her sister but she preoccupied herself again with the checks and documents to be signed. She stepped towards the connecting door and quietly exited. When Jessica disappeared from the room Jasmine stopped what she was doing. Her palms touched her face.

She wasn't sure if she could handle the pain she was feeling. Because if Elijah comes back and apologizes to her, she can't promise she won't forgive her.

Earlier when Elijah ran out, she wanted to run after her. She wanted to tell her that she would not have gone to the building. She hopes she just continues to believe that she doesn't know her. She hopes she just keeps pretending.

God, she loved her. And she was willing to give her the world. And her name.

With pain in her heart, she opened the front drawer. From there a small box was taken. While on her way to the meeting yesterday, she instructed the secretary to call a well-known jewelry store in Malibu. She talked to the manager to send a variety of engagement rings to the first hour in the morning, to her house.

She opened the small box and unbuttoned a white gold tiffany. It wasn't from Paris or Italy or any foreign jeweler. The stone was only a flash and not half the value of the jewelry she gave to other women who passed through her life.

But she personally, carefully choose the ring. It came from her heart. Something she had never done before. And her heart dictated exactly what Elijah would want in case she chose it with her.

Sweet, innocent, and lovely Elijah Hope.

But she guessed she was wrong.

Damn her. Damn her. Damn her! Jasmine threw the jewelry on the wall.

---

In the darkness of the room, Marley got up and moved to the other bed. She sat on the side of it and gently touched Elijah's shoulder who was lying on her pillow.

I'm not asleep, Elijah, she said softly. Just like I didn't sleep last night when you cried all night.

I-I'm sorry... if I woke you up, she sobbed.

You didn't wake me up. Last night I wanted to ask why you were suddenly acting like that. You were so excited about this seminar. You were so happy when you left the hotel yesterday morning. And I didn't want to ask. But you'll get sick if you continue doing that. You hardly ate last night at the induction party. You didn't have breakfast before and you just played with our lunch and dinner. Elijah's hands clutched the soft pillow and cried even more.

I'm ready to listen, Elijah... It could take off the burden a little.

You'll just laugh at me.

Try me.

Do you remember what I said to you about the bottle with just a message and calling card? Marley nodded. Elijah reached for the night lamp and between soft sobs, she told Marley the whole incident.

She owned a ship and was at sea, Marley said. It wasn't a coincidence, Elijah. It just so happened that you saw the bottle. Do you think this Jasmine also made that message in the bottle that was thrown into the sea?

I will never know that she answered with a sob. And I don't understand her, Marley. I don't understand anything about what she's saying except I feel like she wants to hurt me in a rage.

Marley took a deep breath. Maybe she was shocked and she didn't like the fact that you went to her office. Even if you didn't know that the Jasmine you were with at sea and the Jasmine on the calling card was the same.

But why? Why was she suddenly angry? It wasn't anger. It was the hatred I saw in her eyes... She didn't add the pain that she saw, because she wasn't sure. Marley nodded.

I can't answer that, Elijah. Everything will be just a presumption. Maybe she doesn't want you to discover her true identity. Maybe she wasn't that serious about the relationship. Did she tell you he loved you?

Elijah nodded. Not in so many words. But... Oh, Marley. She didn't want to tell Marley that although Jasmine didn't immediately admit that she was attracted to her, she could feel it in her heart that she did care for her, too.

You're young and gullible. And you just got mad at your girlfriend. And women like her eat young women like you for breakfast. And she wants your relationship to remain just a game. Then leave you with a broken heart in the end. Be thankful that you don't feel that deep for her yet. You'll be hurt more.

Was there more to the pain she was feeling at that moment? And how deep are the deep feelings? She was dying inside. After all, she wanted to go to sleep and not wake up the next day.

Her father was right. It was my fault, she said after a while. I should have thrown that card away before. I should have followed what you told me to throw in the trash bin. I hope it didn't happen. I hope we were happy to meet yesterday.

And stay deceived? She cried again.

Marley took a deep breath. I have a bag of sleeping pills. I need that for my kind of work. You can take half the tablet. It would make you sleep.

If I could overdose with- She stopped and stared at Marley. She wants to be ashamed of herself. It would be selfishness on her part. She should not even think about it. So she was hurt. But should she hurt her father too? Her Aunt? Marley smiled, full of understanding. Elijah smiled back between tears.

Thanks, I won't be needing it.

Good. You scared me for a while there, Marley said getting up and moving to the other bed.

Between the two of us, you are the more sensible, Elijah. On many occasions, I am jealous of you. While I hopped from one boyfriend to another, you remained chaste and determined. Keep it up, my friend. Another love will come along, someone very special. Wish from your star. You've been doing that since time immemorial...

She did not answer. She reached for the night lamp and turned it off. If she would try very hard, she could sleep and forget Jasmine.