Chapter 18: The Story

The real story begins as soon as Emma was alone that night.

Thinking, perceiving, understanding her own life. It was a fun game, driving Adam mad without knowing his real intentions and his real feeling. But every time she sees him red with envy each time she refused him and using Edmund's name as an excuse to her unavailability, it made her feel good. And yet she never knew what's on his mind.

Maybe... just maybe, he's in love with her. She wanted to dismiss the thought from her head every time she is reminded how perfect Adalea is and how madly in love he was with her. But maybe... just maybe, Adam missed her. Maybe Adalea wasn't so perfect after all. Maybe what he wants is in her; Emma, all along.

But isn't it too late already? Would she want to accept the man who has ruined perhaps forever her belief in happily ever after? And would she accept him after how wonderful Edmund was to her, being there for her all the way?

Maybe she should just....

Emma sighs. The night is getting late, and whatever was in her mind, it just have to wait....

*********************

Emma saw him, smiling as he opens the door, bids her good morning, swallow her whole with his gaze before he vanished behind the close door. He was still in agood mood that afternoon, presenting her with an iris before he went to lunch and bringing her a cup of her favorite shakes as he returned. She was perplexed by his tender greetings and his extremely good mood that she was curious enough to ask him after submitting a document he asked later that day.

"I just.... am." he said.
"Are you sure?" her forehead creases.
"Mhm." he said.
She nodded. Clearly he wasn't in a mood (though happy) to discuss it with her and she chose not to urge on and so she turn her back from him and started to walk out.

"Ada's not here." he suddenly said.
She stopped.
"Huh?" head turns.
"Adalea. She had to go to Japan for a PS." he explains.
"And you're happy because....?" Emma doesn't understand.

Adam didn't look up at her. He kept on smiling, his eyes intent on the content of the proposal she gave to him. 

"Because I finally understood the fact that I would not miss her." he said.
"Uhuh?" 
"I finally realized that it's okay if she's not here and it's okay if she would not return. It doesn't matter." he flips to the next page. Emma did not reply. She is thinking about how close the door is to where she stands.

"Do you like your iris?" he asked.
"Oh yeah." she said, her voice timid.
"And your shakes? I always remembered you like strawberry."
"Uhm." she nodded quietly.
"You see, I don't always forget the little details about you."

Emma didn't like where the conversation is going.     

"I want to know you again." he said finally, gazing upon the pair of mesmerizing eyes, smiling as he says those words. She gazed back at him, her forehead creasing. She hoped so much he would not say those words, but he did. And now she has to. The thing she thought about last night, now it just had to be done.

"I am resigning." she answered. His smile falters.

"What?"

"I am resigning. I will give you the letter tomorrow. Don't worry, I will help you look for a new secretary and I'll train her. Give me a month."

"Emma, why..."

"That's the only way we could be friends."

"Friends?"
"Friends."
"That's a painful word."
"That's what you said before."
"And you are punishing me for it."
"I didn't say I hate you.I just said we could be friends."
"Don't leave me then. Stay."
"I can't. Not with you around."

She didn't try to let him talk. As every words uttered, she moves further back, and finally opens the door and leave.

To be continued...