A Glimpse of Past

Chapter 9

AYNE'S POV

"I don't know why my life is like this.", Anna crying, heavily drunk.

It's 8 PM already and they are still here at the unit, DRUNK!

Anna is hugging me while my brother is playing with my hair, swirling. I am only drinking a few sips, that's why I am not drunk. Plus, when they are drunk, they are everywhere, scattered, making a mess.

"Sister, you know that I still love you, right.", Mat is uncontrollably being dramatic right now.

"Ayne, I don't know why my dad chooses me to operate his company instead of my step-brother. It's not that I am not grateful. Maybe I am just too overwhelmed? But, I am only in my 20s and I want to enjoy my life yet I already have the responsibility.", Anna added.

"Hey!", Mat shouted, "Stop hugging her. I should be the first one talking to her!".

Anna ignored him and tightly hugged me, "No!", she shouted while shaking her head. They continued pushing each other when I heard a doorbell. I had a chance to be away from them and opened the door. I saw Lia, Anna's secretary, wearing sunglasses. I smiled. However, something caught my eye, beside her, it is Hans. Still I can say, nothing can be seen through his eyes.

"Why are you here?", I stuttered.

"Miss Cantle, I asked for help since you said that Ma'am Anna is heavily drunk–", she looked at my back while I also looked back and was about to show her but made us stop talking. We saw how they were fighting at my back, pulling out each other's hair. We quickly ran towards them. Lia stopped Anna while Hans stopped my brother.

"Ayne is only mine!", Anna shouted. I face palmed. These two...

"Ayne is my sister! How dare you own her! She owns herself!", Mat butted in.

"Oh yeah, she owns herself. Then, I borrow her!", Anna replied.

"Yeah, borrow her only!", Mat answered and then both looked at me. "Sister, Anna wants to borrow you," then stopped and looked at Anna, "Hey! What are you gonna do to her?!".

"Adopt her!", Anna answered.

"Why?!".

"So that she will be the one who will manage my dad's company, instead of me.".

I looked at both of them, dumbfounded.

"Hey,", Mat suddenly walked towards her and whispered, "Never do that or else the company will be a living hell for the workers.", then suddenly, both of them giggled. I calmed myself and looked at them in disbelief.

"True. True.", Anna, looking favorably to the answer, nods. "She's scarier than a tiger.", then act as if she is scared. Both of them are standing wiggly, restless. Both of them can't even stand straight!

After hearing this, I saw Hans how he desperately hid his laugh. I crossed arms and looked at Anna and Mat. They saw my eyes which made them hide at the backs of Lia and Hans.

"Are both of you already finished talking about me?", I seriously asked.

They both synchronously nodded.

"Then, go home.", I instructed.

"No!", both of them shouted and went towards me. "Can we stay here?".

"There's no available room.".

"There is!", Anna shouted and pointed at Hans.

"Me?", looking shocked, Hans replied.

Anna looked at him, with a straight face. "Ayne doesn't want to, so yours is the plan B. Let's go!" and starts walking, wiggling. Lia stopped her. Hans looked at me, convincing me not to let her be in his unit. I sighed. I raised my hand.

"Okay!", they stopped, "In one condition, stay quiet as you should be.". Mat and Anna smiled and nodded at the same time.

~ ^-^ ~

After cleaning the mess they made, Anna and Mat are already sleeping soundly.

"Miss Cantle, did you drink?", Lia asked. I smiled and nodded. "Oh, you should also take a rest."

I shook my head, "No, just a few sips. I can't get wasted whenever I drink with those hard-headed grown up infants because they always get into trouble.".

"Can't disagree.", Lia commented. We both laughed.

"Let's have wine?", I offered. Lia refused.

"Sorry, ma'am. I need to go ahead since Ma'am Anna has a meeting tomorrow and I need to prepare her materials ahead."

"I feel sorry for you."

"It's my job.", Lia answered and said her goodbyes.

Afterwards, an awkward feeling in the atmosphere concluded in the room.

"So, how are you?", Hans suddenly cut the silent ambience. I looked at him from the side and saw how he is looking at me.

I smiled, "Better than the usual. I want to apologize about dragging you into trouble.".

But before Hans can say, we heard raindrops start falling in the window.

"You know raindrops are more beautiful than flowers. The sentiment that raindrops can give is so beautiful, especially for a person like me who has limitations. Raindrops can even give our needs.", I faced him, "I know I am entering your life shamelessly but the desperation I have is on its peak. I need to get well. Away from these worries.", I breathed deeply and exhaled it smoothly, "When I met you, I saw hope.", I lowered my head, "Can...", I breathed heavily because of nervousness running through me, making me sweat, but I can't lose time. I need to act fast. "Can I use you?", those words I abruptly said after gaining confidence.

After a few seconds of gaining confidence, I raised my head. He is looking at me in question, unable to comprehend and rapid movements of his eyes towards mine. But before he talk, the lights turn off and a large thunder changes the mood. Surprised, I unconsciously grabbed his arms tightly. Then, the light suddenly turned on and we both looked at each other. We were stunned when we realized how close our faces and even our bodies, that we could feel each other's warm breaths and hear each other's heart beats.

Then, again the light turned off. His scent is entirely encrypting into my senses as I avoid myself from getting scared. Then, the light turns on for the second time. I stared at him, from his wide forehead to his small eyes down to his high rise nose to his pinkish lips. This perfect guy, physically, I can't define.

I don't know who you are but the hope I am getting from you makes me confused and positive to live outside of my comfort. This is not a mathematical equation that has a definite answer which I am used to. Is this the right decision?