A Bit of Your Love

Chapter 4

Her gaze was strong enough to pull people closer to her, that's why Ayrea had a hard time to escape those eyes.

"You're still here?" Eziara shifted her eyes to Ayrea who stood next to her little brother. "So you're not gay?"

Ayrea caught on of what Eziara tried to poke about Asher. 'Maybe Senior Asher is too introverted and doesn't get together with any girl that his sister thought that her brother likes men. What a funny misunderstanding.' She slipped out a small giggle and quickly smacked her lips for being rude in front of a surgeon.

A smirk was played on her face, Eziara looked at Asher. "She's a good kid. You have a good taste." She tapped on Asher's shoulder before leaving.

"Ah, Senior Asher. Why didn't you correct her that we're not like what she thinks of?"

Asher was sweating a bit. "You want me to... Fix her impression of us?"

"Of course, we're not in that kind of relationship. She might feel like being deceived if she finds out the truth."

"No, she's not that petty..."

And Ayrea just noticed the light anxious expression on Asher's face. "Wait... Don't tell me the reason you don't want to correct her... Is because you're shy???" She widened both her eyes and mouth. Couldn't believe how closed Asher was. 'To think he's also introvert even to his family... Still... It's cute of him.'

"Later, I will tell her about it..." He seemed reluctant, but she just knew that Asher was actually hoping for her to take her wish back.

"It's alright, Senior Asher. I just don't want what your sister thinks of us will spread to our campus. It will affect your reputation." Feeling guilty, Ayrea finally realized that Asher wasn't an easy person to get along with. Just because she asked for help, doesn't mean that Asher only had her in his eyes. 'Hm? What is wrong with my way of thinking?'

Little did she know, a slowpaced feeling was lingering in her heart.

"My reputation is not a problem. Don't think too much, My Junior." He almost gave her a pat on the head but he immediately pulled back his hand thinking that he might cross the line. "I'll leave first. If I have time, I will visit your brother."

With that said, Asher finally left, and Ayrea was there only to watch him gone from her sight.

Clack!

"Hm? Where did you go, honey?"

She looked at Zara who brushed Haizen's soft hair. He's still asleep.

"I met with my senior in the hallway. We chatted for a bit and his sister was there too since she works as a surgeon here. Did you need something?" Her legs led her closer to her mother. "Where is dad?"

Zara let out a sigh, seemed heavy. "He wants to beg his friend again."

"Again? To work? It's not working anymore, people will listen only to the their most respected person. As long as that person doesn't take back his accusation towards dad, we will suffer as much as dad."

"I told him so. Still, he just can't bear to see Haizen is the only one to make money for us." The tears dropped on her wedding ring that was worn by her ring finger.

She remembered it very well, how much their family continued to live in such a poor state. The unfolded truth about them made the world believed such a baseless bad rumour.

An average family faced an unexpected and malicious challenge when a powerful individual, consumed by jealousy over their happiness, began systematically blocking their efforts to find work. Ayrea, along with her parents Hilbert and Zara, and her older brother Haizen, struggled as their diverse skills—Hilbert's carpentry, Zara's baking, and Haizen's tech expertise —failed to secure them any jobs. The family's only solace came from Haizen, who managed to secure work by adopting a false identity.

'Look at how cruel the world is. And there will be never a day where people would ask us if we actually did it. Since they didn't believe, why bother hoping?' She gazed at the cloudy weather through the window, only the rain could console her heart. And her stare fell on a man who looked directly at her. She didn't want to think highly of herself that people would watch her, but her thoughts changed when she saw the man's face. 'Senior Asher??'

"Mom, I will be back soon!"

*

Her legs stopped right in front of her senior, she's still catching up her breathe after rushing down just to meet Asher.

"It's going to rain soon. Why did you come down? I can go up there anyway." He put on a gentle smile. "May I fix your hair?"

As Ayrea was still exhausted, she's also stunned by the question and unconsciously nodded. That's when Asher raised his hand and tucked the strings of her hair behind the ear. He also brushed the hair back to normal.

"T- Thank you..." Hiding her slight blush, she couldn't meet his gaze. And drops came falling on them.

"The sky can sense your heart. So it let out the rain so it can hide your tears. Come on, My Junior. You have a senior to pour your problems on. Let this ordinary guy listen to your cracking heart." His hand casually but tenderly pulled Ayrea closer to him as he put up his dark blue umbrella so she can shade under it together.

Badump, badump, badump...

Ayrea noticed how her heartbeat continued to raise, but she let it be as she needed someone to comfort her. The urge to hug him couldn't be hide any longer, she desperately clung onto him, wrapping her trembling arms around his neck while soaking his shirt with her tears.

The rain was heavy, hiding the sorrow in her painful voice.

Asher patted on her back, standing in the rain with their feet drenched in cold rain, but only that time. Only that moment, Asher and Ayrea didn't care about the coldness as they felt the warmth of each other.

"Done cooling down?"

The cold mineral water touched her puffy eyes, the result made her jolted at how cold it was. She took it and cooled her eyes off.

"I'm sorry for taking your time, soaking your shirt..." She didn't show her face, knowing how ugly she was after crying. But Asher chuckled.

"Sorry means nothing to someone who enjoys their time with a certain person. So you don't need to say sorry to me."

Her heart was racing as she listened to kind words from the strict senior she knew." Am I your certain person?"

Asher replied with a soft laugh. "Nope. I just enjoy the time with you."

She dried back her heart, thinking that was stupid of her to think she was special. "Anyway, thank you for hearing me." Her gaze slid at him, strange... Asher felt something from those endearing eyes.

"Ah, but you didn't tell me anything? I only listened to you crying until I dragged you here." He patted on the next side to him on the bench they sat on at the park near the hospital. "What part of it are you thanking me for, really?"

"... Oh... Alright... Do you want to hear my story? Will you believe me if I tell you?"

He stared deeply into her sad eyes. "Will you stop telling me your story if I tell you that I don't believe in you?"

"Oh... Fool of me to be asking that..." She drooped as the second she heard that from him.

"But I will still listen anyway. Don't expect me to be a judge. However, time can prove the truth and I am willing to wait for that time."

'Why...? Why are his words always working on me?' She was almost shed a tear. 'Words that I was longing for... Why didn't I meet hin sooner...?'

"So... Please listen to the hidden truth, that people are ready to deny."