In His Arms

Chapter 23: Persuading (Eli's POV)

"I'll see you soon. The sooner the better. Because that only means I get to punch you." I tried to end this conversation quickly. "Remember, break her heart, I'll break your face. Ciao." Not only because there was nothing left to say, but because I have no right to talk about it at all. "Wait. One last favor." Baekhyun halted me when I was on my way out of the restaurant. "What is it tweedle dumb?" I hissed. "Can you tell her to meet me up tonight in our place? Like OUR house." He said. I rolled my eyes, annoyed by how he already felt comfortable at asking my some favors. "6 o'clock tonight will be good." Baekhyun added. I didn't say a word for I don't even know if I can do that. I just walked away. "One more thing." He said. "Gosh Baekhyun! Can't you atleast it all at once?" I whined. The thing that got me more irritated is the fact that he smiled at me. What now? He thinks we're already close? That we're already ok with each other? "Thank you so much." He said. I closed my eyes and quickly raised my chin up then set it down as a remark of assent. Finally, I was able to exit the restaurant and get in my car.

After I put my seatbelt on, I gave myself a moment to let everything that just happened sink in. I chuckled sarcastically to myself as I realized what I have done. I'm really about to let them go. There's just one more thing left to finish everything, to hand them over to Baekhyun. But how? I realized I got myself in to trouble. How am I supposed to explain this to Kendra? Last night, we fought about this issue. And obviously, she wouldn't be happy if I tell her I already spilled the beans to Baekhyun. "Shit." I cursed silently to myself as I tried to find a solution to this. Kendra will probably go berzerk on me if I won't be careful on explaining. Should I bribe her then? Food sounds amazing. But what if that doesn't work? Aish. I'm screwed. Better just tell her through a phone call then? Come to think of it, even if she goes mad, she won't be able to hurt me physically. Yeah, she won't be able to harm me but she'll definitely curse the fvck out of me. She'll probably wish that I'm dead or something. And just imagine what Bea will become if I won't show up to them. Specially if Kendra still insists on keeping her away from Baekhyun... poor girl.. There's really no other choice then. I really have to tell it directly and personally to Kendra, I have to persuade her about Beatrice meeting her real father. I have to make this work out for them.

I stopped the car to buy something for Bea. It's more like of a routine to buy her something when events will suddenly turn bad. I just want to confort her like how I always wanted to. And this might be the last chance that I can give her something like this. I don't want to miss this opportunity. Not that I'm chickening out to what I am already determined to do, I also bought something for Kendra. You know... something like a bribe to calm her down. Just incase she goes berzerk. After stopping by the shop, I called my manager. "Hey, what's up Eli?" He talked on the other side of the line. "Hey. Can you please book me a flight tomorrow." I asked. "Huh? To where? And why?" He asked confused. I sighed heavily for I don't know why, too. "Just to give myself a time for my own." I smiled half heartedly. "I see." He agreed, knowing I am not ok. "So, where do you want to go?" He asked. "Anywhere. Somewhere far. Somewhere peaceful. Somewhere she doesn't know." I answered. "Ok. I'll just let you know when I already did." He said. "Thank you hyung." I said then ended the call.

The time finally came, it's time togo home and tell her. I would lie if I said I'm not nervous. Damn right, I'm hella nervous. I just hope she's not in a bad mood. And I just hope she'll make it through this, they'll make it through this. All I wanted is for them to live happily and I just hope I'm not doing the wrobg decision. I hope this will make everything right already. I twisted the key to turn the engine off. That was so fast, I'm already home. Even time thinks I really have to let them go already. I got out of the car and took the things I bought for them. I stood still for a while as I looked at the front door. "Please be easy this time, please." I prayed that everything will go smoothly. When I had enough courage, I opened the door and went in. It was very quiet. Don't tell me they already left. I placed the stuff down on the floor when I suddenly heard a voice. "Eli?" She asked. I instantly lifted my face to see who it is, and it was her. Kendra was peeking from the wall that separates the living room and dining room. "Kendra?" I asked as she immediately run towards me. She hugged me tightly, her ears pressed on my chest. Gently, my left hand returned the embrace. "What's wrong?" I asked. Kendra didn't respond. She was quiet, very quiet. "Hey, what's the problem?" I asked with a comforting voice. Suddenly, she broke free from my arm and she brushed her fingertip below her eyes. "It's nothing." She struggled inhaling air.

Obviously, it wasn't nothing at all. She cried, I can say she cried. Her eyes were a little bit swollen and her breathing isn't normal. "Hey what happened?" I asked again, now with a more worried tone. I watched her wipe her face more, she looks really stressed out. "Nothing. I.." she paused. "I just thought you already left us." She said. I suddenly felt concerned. "Hey. Why would you think that.. way?" I lost energy just by asking her. How can she predict what was I gonna do? Seeing her like this suddenly felt uneasy. "Because we fought last night and you left early this morning. I was so worried Eli." She confessed. "And I got even more worried when Bea asked where you were. I didn't know what to tell her." Kendra's voice started to crack. "Last night, you told me she wants to meet her father. What else did you talk about?" She asked. I tucked my lips for I know where this is heading to. "Kendra, we have to talk about something. Why don't we take a seat and talk things over?" I offered and guided her to sit on the couch.

"Where's Bea? Did you eat yet? It's already pass one." I said. "We ate breakfast." She answered. "How about lunch?" I asked and she shook her head from left to right. "Should we eat first?" I asked worried about their condition. "No, she's asleep. The nanny left as well, too." Her answer caused me to sigh heavily. "So tell me, what else did you talk about last night?" She asked. "Just that. Just about meeting her father." I said. "But why?" She asked. "Nothing. I just wanted to know if she wants to meet her father." I said. "You're lying, aren't you?" She asked and I just smiled. "You know me so well." I held her hand. "Kendra, I think it's time for you to reconcile." I said. She smirked. "How do you want me to react about that?" She asked weakly. "Kendra, I'm serious. Earlier, I met up with Baekhyun." I confessed. Instantly, she looked at me with eyes so deep. "You did what? Why?" She asked with an aggressive tone. I suddenly chickened out. Seeing her change from weak to aggressive made me feel nervous. I feel like backing down and not telling her anything yet. "I uh. I.." I paused as I thought of something to cover it up. "I reconciled with him." That's right, that's what I did, right? No. I didn't really reconciled with him. I'm still not cool with him. "You? Him? Reconciling? Is this a joke or what?" She refused to believe.

I suddenly felt the pressure of persuading her to believe my white lie. "It's true. We even shared coffee together." I said. "Well that's odd. What was your motive exactly?" She asked. "Nothing. Just wanted to know more things about him. Asked him a few questions." I said. "Questions? What questions?" She asked. "Well, that's already between the both of us you know. It was a man-on-man talk." I said, trying to act cool. "You didn't tell him about Bea, right?" She asked. I gulped to her question. Holy shit, I'm about to be busted and I'm screwed. I slowly shook my head to tell her no. "Then good. I thought... nevermind." She said then smiled. Wtf, I knew she wouldn't like it. How am I supposed to deal with this then? "Are you hungry?" She already diverted the topic. "Huh? No. Uh, I mean yes. Well, I mean no.." I was so messed up. She chuckled, she sounded lively already. "I'll make lunch then." She stood up but I managed to grab her wrist. "Why?" She asked as she looked down on me. "6 pm tonight, in your house." I gulped my nervousness down. "He wants to meet you.. Baekhyun wants to meet you." I said. If I can't tell her that he already knows the truth, well atleast Baekhyun could tell it for me.