A Bit of Your Love

Chapter 5

Asher's eyes blinked slowly as he listened to every problem she poured on. There's nothing about it that can be labeled as a happy moment. Surprisingly, he understood the feeling of being trampled on and being stuck where you have no escape.

The rain became lighter than just now, it made them enjoyed the cool wind that came to join their heartfelt conversation.

"So... Do you know the person who made your family like this?" His hand was gripping the umbrella handle, lowering his lenient stare on Ayrea's cherry lips.

Hesitant to give him an aswer, Asher seemed to know that Ayrea actually knew the culprit. But he's not someone who would use force, so he dropped the question. "You see, I said that I won't be judging. But I need to say that the person is actually in the wrong. Doing it out of jealousy, is a bad habit of humans. There's nothing to gain if you just drag down the successful people and you're finally above them. That's a total cowardly move and they should be ashamed of it."

Ayrea was appreciating the whole advice from her senior. To think that he's not only a good listener but also a good advisor. "Thank you, you're comforting me, Senior Asher." Then Asher replied with a pleased smile. "By the way, we're here for a while now. Isn't it cold?" She pointed at their feet that were already drenched in the rain since the umbrella only covered their upper, but the lower parts being revealed to the water drops.

"Coldness is something I can't bear alone. But if there are two of us, I slightly enjoy it." Responds Asher while smiling.

Only in that cold weather that everything went frozen, but her face was hot and red after listening to Asher talking. Maybe that guy didn't know it, but to Ayrea, he's so gentle and quite a talker.

"Here, I'm afraid I might be busy that I don't have time to visit your brother. So I can only do this much for him."

Ayrea looked at the plastic bag he's been holding since they met in front of the hospital. She's wondering if Asher just got back from buying something. "You know, you don't have to feel burden about it. It's not like you're acquainted to him anyway." She giggled as she took the plastic bag fulled with apples.

"Well, it's not that hard to spread kindness. I heard from my sister that apples are good for those who's being food poisoning. Take them as a gift." He left a little smile for her. "You can take the umbrella." Then he immediately ran without Ayrea could get to call for him back.

"Gosh... I can't even say thanks..." Complains her, looking down at the fresh apples. Even now, she still could feel her face turned hot. With her heart couldn't stay still, she recognized the feelings.

Zara stared at the umbrella that's being hanging on the bed footboard. "I don't think we have an umbrella like this at home. Did you buy it somewhere, Ayrea?" She caressed the material of its outer canopy.

"Ah, Senior Asher gave it to me after giving these apples." Says Ayrea while focusing on peeling the apple.

"What? Who is this senior, hm? Your boyfriend?" She came closer to her daughter so she can nudge Ayrea with her elbow. Raising both of her eyebrows, Zara low-key hoping that it's true.

"No, he's not..."

The hesitance in her answer with a soft flush on her cheeks made Zara squinted her eyes, doubting her daughter.

"If I find you're lying, I will deduct your allowance for this month."

"Huh?! No fair! It's true he's not my boyfriend, mom. It's just..." Even though Ayrea seemed to be telling the truth, in the end of the sentence she cowered back.

"There's so much reluctance in your answer. I will not pester you anymore. Still, if you ever have a person you want to stay with, make sure to tell him about our poor state. To see if he's willing to accept you or not. I do this for your own good, not to be deceived by people so easily. Remember." Zara stroked Ayrea's hair before leaving the ward room.

*

"It's sweet. Where did you buy it?"

She looked at Haizen and then at the door. "My senior bought it for you since he's afraid there might be not enough time for him to visit you."

"A senior? Since when are you friend with someone older than you? Boy or girl?"

"... He's not a boy. He's a man."

Haizen froze for a second, looking at her sister tried so hard to cover her red face. "Well, well. Who is this man? Does he know your feelings?" He chewed the apple.

Ayrea was a bit hesitate to shake her head, thinking if it's okay to let her brother know about she fell for someone older than her. "Of course he doesn't know, it's better that way. Otherwise, he will end up avoiding me or starting to hate me."

Haizen noticed the gloom expression of his sister. "How come you're thinking so negatively? I'm happy that you get to move one from Brian. Once again, falling in love is hard and now you know it. Do you understand now why I don't fall in love? Love is scary." He lowered his eyes on the empty plate he's been holding on his lap. "Don't think about it too much, can you please give me the knife and the apple?"

"Why? I will peel it for you." She took the knife and the apple to peel it herself instead of giving them to Haizen. She knew how much her brother hated to rely on people.

Clack!

The two of them turned silent as Noah came in.

"What? Don't tell me that I'm not invited here??" He put a bouquet of sunflowers on the side table before landing a friendly kiss on Haizen's head. "Good to see you so lively."

Ayrea gave Noah a double side eyes, doubting that guy might end up doing something to her brother. "That looks gay to me."

"How dare you say that to our friendship, cheeky girl!" He pinched Ayrea's cheek. But that girl wouldn't be doing nothing, she pulled his hair till they were warned by a nurse to keep their voices down. While Haizen only sighed, but he eventually smiled as he thought that Ayrea could still smile though she had love problems.

"By the way, did you recognize the one who gives you the coffee back then? There's even a note, right? And I don't know what the content is." Noah glanced at Haizen who's also looking at him, but he's totally ignoring his question and looked at the clock.

"Ayrea, you should go home. It's late already. Noah, can you send my sister home?"

"Huh? You're avoiding my question again."

"So, we're not friends? I will send my sister by myself then." Haizen proceeded to get up from the bed, but Noah pushed him down to bed. Feeling concerned, Ayrea was afraid that her brother might collapse again.

"Fine, I will come back later." He left the room, while Ayrea was only waiting to say goodbye to her brother.

"Ayrea, don't offend that guy too much. He's a man too. Sorry that I can't be the one to send you." He bid her a goodbye smile but bitter.

"Don't worry, I will text you if I get home safely." She finally left.

The content of the note was 'Take the coffee or your sister will be dropped out of the college.' He was so frightened by the threat, he burned the paper and threw it away. Not enough of his family being poor by force, people now targeted his sister's life. Could it be that his identity was revealed already?

"Why didn't you tell me about this? I can do something about it, you know?" Noah twitched his eyebrows, stressing out with Haizen who kept bottling up to himself.

"The threat might be empty, but also not. I'm a powerless person who can't rely on anyone. Too weak to become your exclusive secretary, what a laughable dream." He scoffed at himself, pinching his head as he almost fell into depression. And Noah understood that gesture as it slowly turned into Haizen's habit.

"Stop torturing yourself. You don't deserve all those things. I am here but you don't seem to see me. Are you blind or am I just veiled to you?" His gaze was honest but Haizen still failed to recognized it.

"But why do you care so much about me? The contract between us didn't state that we should take care of each other. Am I too delusional?"

"True, there's nothing like taking care of each other in the contract. But friendship doesn't need a contract. And that is between you and I."