WHEN YOU'RE CLOSER

CHAPTER 18

"Mina!" I called out when we entered her house. I was with Thomas when we went to his grandmother. 

I saw her walking down the stairs. She smiles when she's walking towards us. "I missed both of you! I thought you won't visit me anymore." She said, slightly pouting. 

"Mina is sulking," I teased. "Thomas got that from you, I can't deny. I missed you, by the way." I hugged her tightly, so she did. 

"I can't help but think you love Aster more than me." Thomas pouted on the side. "Who's your real grandson again?" 

"Are you picking a fight, Thomas?" I asked with a grimace. 

"No, I'm not. I just want to remind Mina who am I in her life." 

"Stop being petty," I rolled my eyes. "I'm the one who she loves more. Just accept the truth, okay? Truth hurts sometimes."

Thomas couldn't help but scoffed. "I can't win with you two." He accepts his defeat. 

"How's married life, you two?" Mina asked. She then looked at me, "Aster, don't hesitate to tell me if he's being hard on you. I'll give him a beating." 

"I am being a good husband, Mina," said Thomas, pouting. 

"I doubt it," Mina muttered, teasing him more. 

"He might cry, Mina," I added. 

"You're right. Knowing how crybaby he is." Mina agreed which made both of us laugh. 

Mina was the first person Thomas introduced me to when he was still courting me. Mina will be the person who witnessed our relationship and how we ended up married. We received nothing but her guidance and acceptance. And the first person we revealed that we are married was Mina. 

"Anyway, can you help me move my things? I am quite having some renovations upstairs and I need a hand to help me move some of it. I'm old to carry those by myself." 

"Now I know why you are so happy seeing us here." Thomas rolled his eyes which made me chuckle. He can't stop being sulky. 

"If you don't want to help me, then don't." Mina hissed. "Get out of here. Aster, come here, and let's just eat." 

"I haven't said that I won't help you," Thomas muttered while pouting. 

Mina smiled. "Okay, then!" 

Thomas just shook his head and got upstairs while Mina and I went to the kitchen to cook something. It's almost dinner, that's why. 

"I thought Thomas won't marry anyone, honestly." Mina started talking while she was busy cooking. "I mean, he's open to telling me about that before. I know you know that he doesn't have a complete family to begin with. He's torn between choosing his father or his mother. But then, he chose to stay with me. I was happy about that. However, I can't help myself think that he deserves to have a family who would be there for him. He told me before that he won't marry someone who he's not sure with, Aster." 

"He told me that, Mina. I'm happy to know that he is sure about me. And to tell you, I am also sure of him." I smiled genuinely. 

"And I can't ask for more, Aster. That's why when he introduced me to you, I was so grateful. Finally, after years of taking care of him, he introduced me to someone he cherished. Thank you for being his strength. Thank you for loving my Thomas. Thank you for making Thomas feel he is loved." She said, slightly teary-eyed. 

I can't help but hug her tightly. "Thank you for accepting me, Mina. Thank you for raising a wonderful man. Because of you, I have a wonderful husband."

"What's with all the drama here? I thought you were cooking. Why are you hugging each other?" Thomas barges in. 

Mina and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes. "Shut up." We said in unison. 

Thomas raised both his hands to show defeat. He zipped his mouth and just set the table where we will eat. 

"Your parents were still contacting me, Thomas. When will you focus on your own company?" I heard Mina asking Thomas. I excused myself for a while to go to the restroom and I heard them talking just now. 

He was about to answer but he saw me arriving, so he didn't do so. I ignored that and they didn't talk about it anymore. 

If only I hadn't ignored that before, maybe we would not be in this situation right now. 

"Is... Is that what you and Mina have been talking about months ago?" I asked straightly. 

He nods. "I don't have any reason to handle that company." 

"And so are my parents' company. It's not your obligation, Thomas. Why would you do something that..." I exhaled deeply, couldn't continue. "You are my husband, Thomas. You are not supposed to do all that work." 

"I am earning managing the company, Aster." He slowly said. 

"You can earn without that company, Thomas. Everyone could hire you! Everyone could easily promote you, Thomas!" I exclaimed, getting more emotional.

"If I go, they'll disturb you. I don't want that, Aster. I want you to be free to them." 

"I don't need you to do that. I never asked you to do that for me. Not once. And why? Because I don't want you to face it because of me. I don't want to see you suffering because of me. Do you get me, Thomas?" I firmly said. 

"I can't..." he whispered. 

"And why?" I asked, yet I found no answer. "Why, Thomas? Answer me!" 

"I... I am in debt. And they'll file a suit against me." He bitterly said. 

"For what?" 

"I failed. I didn't get the deal right, Aster. And... I got some people hurt because of the deal. They wanted me to take responsibility for that." He admitted. 

My jaw dropped as my body fell to the couch. "H-how? I... I mean, you could fight, Thomas. You... you said you have family who owns a firm. They could help you, Thomas." I nod, trying to make a point. 

He shook his head. "I can't get them into it. I am at fault, Aster. It's all my fault. From every angle, I know that I'm at fault. Those people who are involved because of me, are hurt right now, Aster. And... two people were in a... coma. If only I did my job right, Aster. If only..." 

I hugged him tightly as much as possible. "No..." 

He cried, "I am sorry for failing you. I am sorry for this mess. I am very sorry. If I just stopped them. You know... I was the one who sent them to get the land we should buy and get the contract. But... those people scammed us. They beat everyone at the scene." 

"And how is that your fault?" I angrily asked. 

"They are on the run, those people who beat them. They are nowhere to be found, Aster. I am the one who should take responsibility since I am the one handling the company. And... your parents wanted me to admit all those and take responsibility. For your company to get through this."