Beautiful Dreamer

14. Anything For You

Ned was surprisingly quite romantic and needy. He had some form of childishness in him that Ari found admirable, yet simultaneously presented itself with many doubts. It was as if he was trying to overcompensate for something, and after a few weeks of being together, Ari confronted him about it. He had a fully booked schedule ahead of him and was doing his best to leave parts of himself with Ari. From gifts to dinner outs and mini road trips from time to time. There was no doubt he was making an admirable effort.

After repetitive cycles of the same, Ari warned him of having burnout, but as always, Ned would laugh it off and go about making plans as if it were second nature to him.

"Just weeks ago, I couldn't decide where to travel to upon my resignation, but here you are, one plan after another. Where do you get the time and energy?"

"Well, my secretaries do all the planning on work-related appointments, and since that part of me is the most strenuous one, I have spare time to scan activities for couples. If you'd like, we can go to any you recommend now that you are harbouring thoughts of joining the employment industry despite my reservations against the matter."

"I'm not going to be dependent on you. I've never had to depend on anyone except Mun."

"What about your parents or siblings?"

"I'm a foster child. I'm not close to my foster family either. On my eighteenth birthday, I left and never looked back. It wouldn't be wise either to return considering my rebelling period and puberty. I wasn't exactly an easy child to raise."

"Your reputation precedes you, though it' clear as rumors have it that you are a changed person from your former self. And speaking of your family, didn't they look for you upon your departure?"

"I heard word from mutual relations that they've been asking about my whereabouts, but they only did that to ensure I was far away. Please don't pity me though. On the contrary, I'm grateful they allowed me to realize families are as divided and broken as can be. It's only relevant when they want something from you, and if that is not the case, they find you a bother."

"Well, I beg to differ. It requires intrinsic commitment for a family to stick together. Without that effort and a sense of responsibility in fostering love, I'd say any crisis will break even the strongest of families. Perhaps that is why I've never heard any slur against me from my family despite their knowledge fo my peculiar hobbies. Well, until recently from your former secretary."

"Rey?" Ari's eyes grew wide in shock. Somehow, to hear Ned say that hurt him a little. She could take insults hurled at her, for she'd lived a life being considered a mistake, but Ned wasn't familiar with such an experience. "What did he say?"

"I become uncomfortable when his name brings some light into your eyes. I understand you may harbour feelings for him, but I'm the one in front of you right now."

"Understand me. I was shocked because I'm well conversant with his temper, and sometimes, he can say things he doesn't mean. I apologize on his behalf since I'm the one who brought him as my assistant on the trip."

"You don't have to take responsibility for his actions, neither should you make excuses for him. He is an adult, an educated one at that. I've conversed with him during our stay together, and yes, I did notice him first giving me the cold shoulder until I witnessed the one he was giving you. Perhaps I shouldn't have meddled, but he refused to utter a single word despite my efforts to coax him into telling me whatever transpired between you two."

"Well, that's a relief."

"Relief...?" Ned squinted his eyes. "I wonder why you would say that."

"You are overly sensitive these days." Ari tried to brush off the topic. "Is there anything bothering you at work? I have a lot of time to spare so if you need my help, let me know."