Deceived Me

Chapter 23:

Stella went to the kitchen. She was lucky to have sweet lemon at home. Her mother sent it with her the last time she went home. She had the juicing machine so she was quickly down with it.

She rushed back and gave the drink to Alice. Alice looked better now. She has sat up and leaned against the bed. She drank slowly while Stella kept looking at her.

Finally after she was finished with the drink, Stella spoke.

" You didn't have dinner, right? I am sorry. Because of me... I'll make something for you." Saying that, Stella got up from the bed.

Alice stopped her. She held her hand. Stella looked at her in confusion.

" What's wrong?"

Alice looked at her like how a child looks at their mother. Her eyes were telling her to stay.

" Don't go."

Stella was surprised to hear her but she said.

" Alice, you just fainted. You need to eat."

" No. I just had the juice so I'll be alright. I am feeling really tired. I want to sleep. Stay with me."

Stella gave up as she couldn't resist her eyes. She laid down beside her and covered themselves with the quilt. As soon as she settled down, Alice moved around and went straight into her arms. Stella was surprised but she then she embraced her and kissed her over the hair.

She embraced her like embracing a treasure. Her deep eyes filled with immense love for Alice.

Alice woke up after a few hours. Stella was not there. She carefully got up and went out. She looked around but Stella was nowhere to be found.

Finally, she found her on the balcony of the living room. She was standing near the railing with a cigarette in her hand. She didn't know Stella smokes cigarettes. She never did before. That made her sad. She looked at her back sadly and approached her.

Stella brought up the cigarette and smoked. She was lost in her thoughts. A lot happened today. She asked for a leave from the hospital. She told them it was an emergency. It was a last-minute call but they managed it.

Suddenly, a pair of hands wrapped around her waist. Stella was startled and froze but when she realised who it was, her body relaxed. But then she saw the cigarette in her hand and her body stiffened. She wanted to throw it away but Alice already saw it.

" I didn't know you smoke." Alice said from behind.

" ...I started after you left. I am trying to quit."

Alice hugged her tighter and said.

" I don't like it when you take your health lightly. Please don't do anything to damage your health."

" I won't."

Stella put away the cigarette. Alice didn't say anything for a moment. Then suddenly she said.

" I Love You, Stella."

Stella was shocked. She didn't understand what she heard. She froze in her spot and even forgot to breath.

She slowly turned around to face Alice. Alice looked at her deeply in love and said.

" Let's be together. For real this time." She said from the deepest part of her heart.

Stella's eyes welled up as she nodded. She hugged Alice and kissed her on the forehead.

" I love you too, Alice. I love you so much... "

They went back inside. Stella made dinner for them. She made chicken corn coup along with fried egg rice. She wanted the dishes to be light and healthy.

She kept making sure that Alice was eating properly. After dinner, they sat on the sofa watching some random movie. Stella gazed at Alice deeply like she couldn't get enough of her. Alice caught her staring at her and smiled. She asked.

" What's wrong?"

" Nothing."

" Don't lie. You seems to be tense."

Stella didn't say anything to that. Alice shifted closer and put her hand on her lap as she asked again.

" Stella, talk to me. Tell me what's wrong."

Stella stared at her for a moment before she finally started talking.

" Alice, I feel scared. I feel like if things go wrong again, I won't be able to take it. But more than that, I really don't know if being together is for the better anymore."

Alice understood her concerns. She held her hand and told her.

" Stella, why don't we let lose? Just go with the flow. I realised after all this time that thinking too much, thinking about the future, we mess up our present. This time, let's just be happy together. What do you say?"

" Hmm. Sorry for being like this."

" It's okay."

They soom went to bed as it was already late. As they laid facing each other, Stella asked her.

" Are you going to the office tomorrow?"

" Yeah."

" Can't you take a leave? Your not well."

" I am fine now."

" No. You fainted. Your weak. Please for my sake."

" Okay."

Stella smiled gently and shifted closer. She kissed her on the forehead and hugged her. She asked Alice.

" Shall we go on a date tomorrow?"

Alice looked up from her embrace a little surprised.

" Don't you have to go to work?"

" No. I took a leave. Today was my last night shift so I don't have to go in the morning."

Alice smiled. Of course she would be happy to go on a date with the person she loves.