Love is Blind

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Ace drove as fast as it was legal to reach the Coffee Bean that was near his sister’s workplace. She was sitting at a table in the corner, holding her cup nervously. At times, she wrung her hands only to heave a sigh. He approached her slowly, observing her as if hoping to gain some clue as to her mysterious phone call.

“Hey,” he slid into his seat.

She turned to him, tears brimming on her eyes. “Big brother, I’ve done something terrible.” She started crying softly. Ace was nervous and weary of women crying his presence for the second time that day.

“What did you do?” he finally asked when she sniffed and wiped her nose.

“I,” she hiccuped, “I’m pregnant.”

His ears roared. Ace stared at his younger sister in shock, unsure what to do. Before his fury took over, he asked, “Whose baby?” it came out as a statement, on the borders of being a threat.

“Promise me, you won’t hurt him.” She pleaded with him. Not trusting himself to speak, he nodded, anything for his sister. “He’s here,” she turned to the man sitting a few tables away from them. Ace snapped towards him and saw a young man smiling tentatively at him.

“Are you going to get married?” was Ace’s words when he finally calmed himself.

Amber stopped her sobbing, “Can we?” she whispered in a hopeful voice. Ace grunted in response. She smiled for the first time since he arrived at the cafe and sipped her cup happily.

“You can’t drink coffee or tea, it’s bad for the baby,” Ace said gruffly. Amber threw her arms around him in happiness, nearly toppling the small table over. “Hey, careful!” he yelped as he grabbed the cup.

“Thank you, big brother!” She cried in happiness.

“Will you stop crying and introduce me to the father of the child?” Ace took out a packet of tissue and handed it to her. She took it and waved at the bewildered father of her child over. He quickly walked over and stood there unsure of what to do next while Amber composed herself.

“Wilbur, this is my big brother, Ace. Big brother, Wilbur,” she did the introductions. They exchanged a few words as Amber and Wilbur had to get back to work, Ace’s finally warning rang out clear to Wilbur, he was to take good care of Amber and their unborn child.

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His mobile phone rang shaking him out of sleep, “Yes?” not bothering with the formalities, Ace was irritated that his sleep was disturbed, the news from the caller however, shook him out of his irritation. “I’ll be right over.” Grabbing his T-shirt and hastily wearing it, he ran out of the flat. The sun was just peeking over the horizon when he reached the hospital.

“Trish?” he walked towards a huddled figure in the chair. “Is Mysti...” he left the sentence unsaid. Without answering, Trish pointed to the operation theatre. They sat on the sofa in unison.

“I’m scared, Ace.” Trish finally spoke after a few hours as Mysti was still in the operating theatre. She dabbed at her eyes with the tissue and continued, “There had been other times and, and she had always been fine.” She wanted to believe that it was nothing serious and Mysti would return home soon. “Ace, she is my only kin left. Her parents in the car crash was devastating until I learnt that she was still alive, Ace. Alive.” She sobbed loudly. “I can’t bear to lose any of my family now. My sister always loved her,” she cried softly.

“She’ll be fine, Trish. The doctors are very good here.” Ace tried his best to keep his tone neutral even though he was scared by the sudden turn of events. Just then, Trish’s mobile phone rang. She answered it and he heard bits and pieces of the conversation.