How Not To Fall In Love

Chapter 19: Dream BIG Dreams

"So Ashton is now living with you?" Vivian asked. 

Ugh. It sounded more horrible coming from other people than I thought. It's not that helping Ashton is a horrible thing, because it's not. Just the mere thought of 'living in' with a guy kind of brings other people even my own mind a not-so-good impression. I don't even want to picture myself living with him.

Ashton seems to be a decent guy, but still, I barely know him. We may have had a few encounters but it doesn't include with really getting to know him. Maybe I should get to know him even more. It wouldn't kill to know a pretty decent stranger-before-now-a-friend guy living in my apartment. "Well he's not really living living. Last night he showed up on my doorstep with Mr. Whiskers holding his bags. Then he asked if he could stay. It was pretty much vague. But I assumed a bit longer than a night since I got a feeling he's going in rocks." I say while were walking past the apartment's lobby. 

Vivian's eyes were still puffy, when she checked herself in the silver box as I did, too. Her face is a bit soggy still but she carried herself way better when we went out of the coffee shop. "I already informed him we're coming, just to let him prepare himself if ever he felt so comfortable in my place." "I bet he did." She humphed. 

"But we aren't going to talk about him." I say fervently, opening the door for her. She went inside and I followed her. Vivian placed her bag in the small divan. Ashton was lying down on the larger one, watching the news. Or I thought he was watching. 

"He's asleep." Vivian said. "Let him be. What do you want? I have orange juice and four seasons." I asked, opening the fridge. I noticed the sliced omelet placed in the Tupperware. He must've saved it up for me. "Water is fine. I can feel my nerves palpitating." She take a sit on the bar stool. I slid her glass of water. "So, what really happened in Resylvenia?" I asked, sitting beside her.

For what felt like hours, I listened to her story intently. And the whole time all I feel is guilt as well as shame. I keep on pointing my finger at her for not trusting me then questioned her being my best friend when here I am hadn't even been a best friend to her for the record. The time she set foot on Resylvenia, she was like setting foot on a warzone. Her life wasn't easy as she opened up the whole chasing-her-dream-after-college. Vivian is strong, that's what at some point made us in sync. But her journey not even halfway to her dreams crushed her that I don't even know how to comfort her. I still tried my best to not give in to the tears that sat in my almost in my tear gland. She was clueless of where to begin looking for a job. She lied that part on me before when I asked her what she's going to do in Resylvenia. She thought once she get into the place opportunities will jut flood her. And that's where her, not-so-boyfriend Jeremy came. Since the guy was obsessed with her, he helped her find a job – in modelling and advertisements. Later Jeremy asked her to be on tour with him since he is in a band. Things would have been different for Vivian if at the beginning they haven't agreed to be in 'just hooking up relationship'. She fell into his trap. He promised to keep her until Vivian can discover herself in Resylvenia. But it only ended up making her his somewhat like a maidservant on and off tours. And by the time he discovered Vivian's pregnancy he loathed her and made her leave his apartment even though he knew she had nowhere else to go. And that was why she decided to abort the child in her belly since she had no means to sustain them. Either way the child would die from hunger. Jeremy didn't want the child since it might ruin his career when he's still just making it through to become a star. The production Vivian modelled helped her. They gave her a part in an advertisement and the money she earned, she spent in buying a ticket way back home.

I realized as she was speaking how my journey went in reaching my dream. I only had a few wrinkled roads taken but I have been well enough to say for a start. I'm not really there yet. To be the famous fashion designer along with my clothing line. Prada is really one of my stepping stones. "So how is Prada?" Vivian asked. I don't want to talk about me but we are really catching up for the months we missed. The television is still on, just to make the room a bit less dramatic especially a guy is still around. I shrug. "C'mon. I know yours is a lot better than mine. Plus you have a good guy there." She nudged me, raising her brows and making ogling eyes. "He wasn't even part of the whole chasing the dream story." I retort. 

"But then Mr. Cupid brought him along adding spice in your life." She beamed. "Shut up. He might hear us. He's not that far away." I whispered. Vivian shrugged. 

"So tell me. What happened between you two in three months' time or so?" She asked. "Nothing. We became friends. And that is not an understatement. He's been there when I found out about you. And to answer your previous question, Prada is great except of course for the bosses. They're wild. But I made friends with some of them in the team." I say. 

"Oh, and I made a total disaster on my first show. The Queen disliked me from that moment on." I added, shaking my head remembering it all over again. "Really? How bad was it?" "Baddest. I interchanged the clothes of the models from what they already had dry-run and they totally looked bad in our point of view. Good thing it wasn't really in the news or something that will give a bad rep for Prada. It feels different from the fashion shows we organized in college. I mean the pressure is x100. You just don't make clothes for the sake of making clothes. On the plus side, you have bosses and audience to please." I sighed. "The people from the production were all nice especially the advertising team. We hang out every weekend after office hours. I'm supposed to have girl's night out with them tonight but you're so much better to be with." I grinned. "Oh don't flatter me. I know you missed me." "Yeah I really do. I don't do crazy stuff anymore. I'm stuck being the old boring girl. You know you're always my partner in crime." I moped. She turned her seat and leaned towards me enveloping me in her arms. I hugged her back tightly. "I miss you more than you'll ever know." She said. "Hmm." I caught Ashton's figure at the corner of my eye and I tilted my head towards him. He smiled. He always does. And it's a good kind of different thing from what I mostly observe from other guys. I pulled away and smiled at Vivian. She smiled back and I motioned my head at Ashton's direction. 

"Hi." He greeted. "I – uh, I just want to pass by to get water. Sorry to interrupt." Vivian and I thought of the same thing. I think. He's oddly cute stuttering. It was far from him being the typical guy. We both laughed but not too long enough when he was about to open his mouth witnessing the confusion on his face. "It's fine. Just do your thing." I tried to hold back my laughter. He's obviously shy. Vivian is eyeing me up and I tried not to blush around them. "How are you Ashton?" Vivian asked, making it a lot less awkward for Ashton. "I'm fine. Thanks for asking." He answered and drank.

"So how long are you planning to stay here with Lily?" Ohmigosh. I want to strangle her right now. I smiled awkwardly at Ashton, anticipating for his answer. We really haven't had that talk. "Oh um – I – I don't know yet. I – uh – haven't figured that out yet." My smile dropped slowly, but I didn't let him or Vivian notice. I know there are reasons behind from that line. Vivian faced me with suggestive look on her face and I know what she meant by it. I shrug and turned to face Ashton instead. I studied his face. He's smiling to cover up the sadness in his eyes. 

"You can stay for as long as you need to." I said meeting his gaze. I know we need to talk about it. Not just about him staying, but his reasons of staying. Maybe in this way or another I'll get to know him even more.