Pulling Your Heartstrings✔

Chapter thirty

Chapter 30
Tife took another long deep breath for the tenth time in sixteen minutes. I didn't mean to count it all. I couldn't help it. We couldn't do anything, but to sit by the shore and watch the waters move. It seemed to intrigue and put him at ease, which was fine by me.

I could feel the satisfaction he felt by being here, but apparently Imade couldn't, the moment she stepped by the beach. "Are you just going to sit down and stare? Why would you ruin such a perfect day doing THAT?"

Tife chuckled. His jolly mood seemed to be back. "No one's asking you to join in."

"Of course I'm joining in. I'm all dolled up for it." I grinned as she spoke. She was wearing a pale topaz two piece swim suit, showing off her curvy figure and long legs.

Victor's hands were draped around her waist, as his eyebrows wagged. "I certainly love this swim suit on you."

Her lips curled up seductively. "I bet you'd love it more if I took it off."

Tife's eyes widened. "Take your gazes on each other far away from the rest of civilization. It's annoying to watch. That's my little sister, you punk."

Imade laughed. "Don't be a baby. You don't see me complaining when I catch you staring at my best friend intensely."

Victor's face became guarded. "I didn't know you had a thing for Nara."

Tife's head whipped around. Annoyance blazing in his eyes. "If I did, do you have a problem with that?"

Victor smirked slightly. Only shaking his head. I wasn't in the mood for any alpha male bullshit between them, so I chose to change the subject. "Are you two going to just keep on standing or—"

Imade cut in, dragging her feet to a seat. "Oh no, I'm here for a tan." She paused to shake her head at me. "I still don't get why you're all dressed, instead of wearing a swimsuit at least."

I teased. "I don't need one. Some of us already have that natural glow."

Grinning wildly, she said. "You're lucky that I'm on a terribly good mood."

I knew she'd have to be on a good mood, since she was showing off her body without caring. She used to be so sensitive about that. Her weight. Her scars on her arm. Everything. A part of me felt worried. Was her confidence rising because of Victor? What would happen if she knew the truth and lost him? This was really driving me nuts and I was afraid to admit that I didn't know what to do.

I caught her arm and dragged her away for a private conversation. I didn't care that I left Tife all alone with that bastard. I was trusting Tife not to do anything drastic. "I need a moment with you. "

"I'm listening, but you're digging into my arms." I quickly let go of her hand, when I realized my mistake.

I mumbled my apology, then said. "I'm happy that you're regaining your confidence, if I don't think I'd be comfortable if it's because of Victor."

Imade glared. "Why? Do you hate him that much."

Yes. Yes. I hated him that much, but it was also because— "It's not healthy to tie something so important like this to your feelings. Your self confidence has to come from within. Not because a guy tells you how it doesn't matter how you look. What happens if he leaves? A part of you would always wonder if it's because of how you look, and I don't want you to hold onto that."

Imade rolled her eyes. "You worry too much. Vic's not going to hurt me. He loves me. Flaws and all. I finally opened up to him on everything about me, and he didn't mind. He told me that he's sticking around. He doesn't judge my mistakes. He doesn't look at me the way mom and dad does. No one had been that understanding to me like that, so of course I'd be confident. I know you're concerned, but you need to back off. It's getting a little too much for me to bear."

I stared at her warily. I've never seen her get so defensive about anyone like this. Not even me. How deep did her feelings run, when it came to Victor? He already earned her complete trust. She didn't even mind that her father didn't even like him or all the crazy stunts I set up for him to fall into. None of it mattered. Was I already too late?

Imade smiled. "Don't put too much thought into it. Let's  play a game of volleyball."

"I'm terrible at volleyball. Remember the 2005 incident."

Imade burst into heaps of laughter. "How could I forget? I invited you to be a member of our town's summer under -16 volleyball team and you made it so unforgettable."

"Your rich stuck up school friends didn't already like me, so they worked really hard to make my time hellish."

Imade cocked her head. "I had no idea they were like that. They were  cool with me."

"Must I remind you that you were the rich kid and I was the middle classed scamp?"

Her stance stiffened. "Did they call you that?"

"I'm not trying to tattletale on something that happened  over a decade later, but those girls weren't the nicest to me. They were your friends. I didn't think it was fair to antagonize the situation."

Imade shrugged. "There's no use now. A good number of them fled from me after the whole suicide incident. I only talk to a few. All I had left was you."

I squeezed her hand softly. "Just remember that I'd never leave you. You're my best friend. Everything I've ever done is to protect you."

Imade laughed. "Look at you sounding like a wise old man. I hear you. Thank you, anyway. For sticking around. For protecting me as you said."

My phone rang, before I could give her a comforting reply. I checked the ID. Yvonne. My eyes widened. This was it. The answers I needed. I turned to Imade. "Excuse me for a second. It's my secretary. It's about work."

Imade nodded. "No problem. I'll just go back to Vic anyway."

I returned the nod and made sure she had gone back to the others. Once I was sure, I picked up the call. "Any news?"

Yvonne's voice responded. "I know who  Aline is."