Best Part of Me

45

When Jonas let go of the hug, that's when I decided to roam my eyes around.

Xav, Ash and his mother were all looking at us. Xav was full of confusion, Ash's mother was crying with us while Ash was just sitting there, his elbow was resting on his knee while he was looking at the floor.

"I..I'm sorry. I was very emotional because I never thought I would see you again." I said while wiping my tears.

"O-okay okay. Here drink this." Iniabot ni Xav ang isang basong tubig sa akin, matapos ay lumapit ito upang abutan din ng tubig ang ina ni Ash.

"Let's talk later." Bulong ni Jonas. I just nodded at we both sit beside each other, tumabi ako sa ina ni Ash at marahan nitong hinaplos ang aking kamay. Ngumiti ako ng bahagya at hinawakan ng mahigpit ang kanyang kamay.

My eyes landed on Ash, he was just silent the whole time. He was bowing his head and just firmly looking at the ground, I don't know what does he feel right now or what he was thinking.

"So..Uh, yeah. Let's talk about the case." Umupo si Xav sa kanyang swivel chair, at hinalungkat ang papel sa tambak tambak na papeles sa kanyang lamesa.

He loosened up his tie and stretched his neck.

"We've already filed the case as you all know. A hearing was set by tommorow, and we need you as a witness Mrs. Chance. That would be the last and final hearing so we have to make things right." Mabilis na tumango ang ina ni Ash, pinusan nitong muli ang kanyang luha na nagsimula nanamang pumatak.

Ash lifted his hand and wrapped his arm around his mother shoulder.

It was sweet and heartwarming, I smiled secretly and gripped her hands tighter.

"Actually there's not much to be done. Just rest and prepare for tommorow. As a witness we need full protection so our witness protection team will escort you to the hotel we booked. Please let us know if you need anything." Xav explained professionally.

"And for you, Zoe." He looked at me for a while and again, he took a folder out of the mountain of papers and scanned the pages. "You will inherit your parents assets. As of now, all their assets were frozen but once everything has settled, everything that the government will not seize will be yours."

I was stunned and speechless. Never in my wildest dream did I ever wanted to inherit anything from them. I was their only daughter so that was given but I wouldn't want anything from them.

"I won't accept that. You know that Xav." I answered.

"I know. So I prepared this list." He handed me a paper, it had a lot of names and I looked at him confusedly.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Those are suggestion list of charities and individuals who need financial help. You can donate a part or all of inheritance to anyone you can choose." He answered, I nodded and stared at the paper.

"T-thanks for the suggestions but you know.." I sighed and bowed my head. "I couldn't even get myself together, I don't think I can handle this."

Everything was too much to handle for me. As much as I hate to cower and fall apart, my mind couldn't handle anything now more than myself.

"Don't pressure yourself. I will handle all her affairs until she get better." Napatingin ako kay Jonas sa kanyang sinabi. Xav raised his eyebrows, probably wondering who this guy was and how will he handle everything for me.

"He is Jonas, my butler since I was born. He knew all our businesses and stuffs so I think he will be a great help to me." I explained to Xav.

"That's great. Let me know if you need any help, Jonas." He handed Jonas bunch of papers, and Jonas accepted everything and assured me he will take care of everything for now.

Xav and Jonas were discussing something when someone knocked at the door.

"Atty. you have a meeting in 10 minutes." Saad ng kanyang sekretarya. Napahawak si Xav sa kanyang sintido at tumingin sa kanyang relo.

"Alright I'll be there in a moment." Huminga ito ng malalim at kinuha ang kanyang mga gamit.

He looked stressed and busy these days, I just can't imagine everything he's been going through lately due to this case.

"I'm sorry. I'll let my team send you to the hotel. And Zoe,.." He paused and sighed and again massaged his temple like he was having second thoughts if he was going to the meeting.

"Can you stay with them for tonight?" Nanlaki ang aking mata sa kanyang sinabi. That was something out of nowhere, I was confused and looked at Ash immediately, our eyes met and it gave me an instant mini heart attack.

"W-why? I don't think that's needed." I answered.

"You...you." He couldn't finish what he would like to say, he was having second thoughts if he would say it. "You can't be left alone."

"I can. Don't worry--"

"If I arrived late awhile ago, I know you won't be here right now." Mabilis akong napatingin sa mga kasama ko sa kwarto, they were all staring at me.

"What do you mean by that?" Ash asked, the first time I heard his voice. Xav stared at me as if waiting for my permission to speak but I just avoided his eyes.

"I promise I won't." I answered, trying to divert my eyes somewhere.

"I just want to be sure."

"Whatever it is, I think it was a good idea to stay with us tonight Zoe. Please." Ash's mother held my hand and I couldn't answer.

Jonas tapped my shoulder, "I'll take care of everything while for now. You can go with them to rest for tonight. Tommorow will be the trial."

And just like that, I was convinced to stay with Ash and his mother at the hotel. Xav's team drove us towards a well-secured 5 star hotel and it was 3 separate rooms for us.

"Hija, sabay na tayo kumain mamaya ha?" Bilin nito bago kami tuluyang pumasok sa kwarto.

I roamed myself around the room and it was indeed 5 star. I opened the ceiling to floor curtain and the glass window was overlooking the city. I walked towards the balcony and the cold wind brushed against my skin.

It was just 4:30 pm, but the wind was already cold, probably because it was only few days before Christmas.

Natigil ako sa pagtitig sa kawalan ng marinig ang pagkatok sa aking pintuan. Tinungo ko iyon at ngumiti bago ito buksan.

My smile instantly faded when I saw Ash standing at my door, hands on his pocket while staring at me. My heart raced automatically inside my chest and my knees suddenly felt so weak just by his mere presense.

"H-hi." I said awkwardly. I bit my lip in nervousness while waiting for him to speak.

He sighed and diverted his eyes somewhere.

"Can we talk?" He asked. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako kinakabahan at bakit tila hindi ako mapakali. Magagalit nanaman ba siya? Itataboy nanaman kaya niya ako?

"I..I'm s-sorry kung sumama ako, promise hindi ako mang gugulo." He stared at me for a minute and sighed in frustration.

"No. It's not like that. Wag mo isiping nakakagulo ka." Sagot nito.

He was calm today. Hindi malamig ang pakikitungo nito sa akin.

"T-then why are you here? Hindi ba para magalit--"

"No, Avery." I inhaled a lot of air since my name from his lips sounded so freaking good. Sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko at tila anumang oras ay sasabog ito. My mouth opened but I instantly shut it when no words seems to come out.

"I found a very beautiful garden inside this hotel, would you like to come?" He asked.

I cannot answer. I don't know what to say. I am literally loss for words. He did not wait for me to answer, he suddenly held my hand and closed the door behind me and pulled me towards somewhere.

His hand on mine felt so warm and comforting. My heart keeps on beating terribly fast, I felt like my bloods rush towards my cheek making it crimson red.

I need this.

This is all I need.