There's One Thing I Like About Him

Chapter 19

Trisha

As soon as I heard his confession, I sprang to my feet, unable to endure the moment any longer. I muttered a quick excuse and hurried to the nearest restroom, seeking refuge from the stifling tension. Why did he confess out of nowhere? The question echoed in my mind, amplifying the confusion and turmoil swirling inside me. My heart raced as I leaned against the cold sink, trying to steady my breathing. Was it a mistake to get involved with him? Or was this unexpected confession a sign of something deeper, something I hadn't yet grasped? The uncertainty left me feeling disoriented and anxious, grappling with emotions I wasn't prepared to confront. Snap out of it, Trish. You like Ethan, remember? You still do, right?

But it's been three months—more than that, actually. I still haven't heard from him. Not even Cliff is telling me his whereabouts. Is he still alive? Is his family keeping a secret from us? Gosh, I don't even know what to think right now.

I can feel my heart racing. Cliff's confession had hit me like a wave, and it only made things more complicated—especially knowing he and Ethan were best friends. What was I supposed to do with that? Cliff, of all people, confessing his feelings while Ethan had been in a coma for months? It felt wrong, but it also made sense in a twisted way. Cliff had been by my side constantly, offering support through Ethan's hospitalization. He was always there, patient and steady, filling the void Ethan had left behind. But now that I knew how he really felt, everything felt different, like the ground had shifted beneath my feet.

Why now? Why confess when Ethan was still lying there, his fate uncertain? Was this guilt, desperation, or had Cliff always felt this way? And did I even want to know the answer?

As I went back to my seat, Cliff was nowhere to be found. My eyes scanned the room, but there was no trace of him. Had I been too overwhelmed? Did he regret confessing to me? His sudden disappearance left me even more unsettled, as if the weight of his words was hanging in the air, unanswered. I didn't know what to make of it, or what I'd say if I saw him again. But one thing was certain—I couldn't ignore this any longer.

But in the stillness of the café, I realized something unexpected. As confusing as it was, as guilty as I felt for even thinking it, I think I like him too.

I sighed, pulling out my phone and mindlessly scrolling through messages. Before I knew it, I found myself staring at a text from an unknown number that had just come in: "Had to run some errands. See you later." Simple, straightforward, as if nothing had happened. But a chill ran through me as I stared at the words. Was it Cliff? How did he get my number?

I went back to my seat, unsure why I suddenly opened Facegram. To my shock, an article appeared on my screen. The headline read: "Only Son of Alverto's Inc. and A-Tech Group of Companies Wakes Up from a Three-Month Coma."

I covered my mouth with my hand, unable to believe what I was seeing. Was this true? Was this the reason Cliff had run away? Was he going back to Ethan? Why didn't he tell me? So many unanswered questions were running through my head. First, the confession. Second, my uncertain feelings toward him. And now, Ethan has woken up from a coma. What more could there be?

I immediately contacted Alexa, asking her to meet me outside the A-Tech building. Surely the entire staff had already seen the article, but I needed to stay calm. After all, I wasn't even his girlfriend to be this frantic.

Outside the A-Tech building, the city buzzed with the usual hum of activity, but it felt oddly distant as I waited for Alexa. My mind was racing, tangled in a web of confusion and worry.

When Alexa arrived, her face was a mix of curiosity and concern. "Hey, what's going on? You sounded frantic in your message."

I handed her my phone, showing her the article. "Ethan's awake. The article just came out."

Alexa scanned the screen, her eyes widening. "Oh my God, Trish. This is huge. But why didn't anyone tell us? Why is there so much secrecy?"

I shook my head, feeling more lost than ever. "That's what I need to figure out. I tried to call Cliff, but he's not answering. I think he might have gone back to see Ethan."

Alexa nodded, her face thoughtful. "Okay, let's think this through. If Ethan is awake, there's a good chance his family is trying to keep things under wraps until they have a handle on everything. Maybe they didn't want to stir up more drama, especially with the hospital stay being so high-profile."

"Yeah, but what about Cliff's confession?" I asked, my voice shaking. "It felt like a cruel twist of fate, especially now that Ethan's back. Does this mean I have to choose between them?"

"He what???" I could see the surprise and confusion in Alexa's eyes. I covered my mouth, realizing she didn't know about Cliff's sudden confession. "He did what?" she repeated.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Cliff confessed he has feelings for me," I said quietly. "I thought we were just going to discuss the project, but our conversation went deeper and deeper until he admitted his feelings."

"Wow! I mean, that's great news, right? He's single anyway," Alexa joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Are you kidding? I liked Ethan, remember?" I shot back, feeling defensive.

"Hey!" Alexa exclaimed, playfully covering my mouth with her finger. "You mean 'liked,' with a 'd' at the end. That's past tense, which means your feelings for him must have faded already."

"Alexa!" I protested, feeling my cheeks flush.

"Okay, okay," Alexa said, her tone softening. "Try to calm down, girlie. Geez, I was just kidding. Don't take it too seriously, or you'll end up with wrinkles." She laughed. I shot her a death glare. She really couldn't keep her mouth shut.

"So, what are we going to do now?" she asked, reverting to serious mode. I was silent for a few minutes, trying to think of a plan. Should I book a flight to the US?

"No, you shouldn't do that," she said, as if she could read my mind.