Chapter 13

Athy's p. O. V.

When I opened my eyes again.. It's already the next day.. I looked around and saw lucas  entered the  room his eyes fixed on his mobile.. When he glanced at me.. He leaned closer and put his hand on my forehead to check my temperature.. It may have raised few degrees now due to our  proximity

"you are alive again.. Morning babe" he smiled at me..

"hmm.. Morning.."

I mumbled with a smile.. Whenever he smile I also smile. It's just that his smile is so pretty and contagious

" are you OK..?"

he asked sitting Beside me.. I nodded a yes and looked around  for my mobile. When I found it. I tuned it on and look at the screen, I blinked my eyes and put it back down .. I Sat there dazed and confused.. Then I heard lucas giggling and I realised

"you were the one  who set that photo as my wallpaper..? I thought it wasn't my phone for a moment.." I said and he was still  giggling..

" pfft... I just  wanted to see your reaction but it's so cute. You just  put  your mobile down and Sat silently.. Pffthaha.. "

he said and laughed.. I glared at  him and he finally stopped laughing. I held out my hand to him and he  stared  at me confused.

" what..? "he asked

" give me yours.. "I said and he  gave me his Still giggling this  jerk..

I gave  it back to him and he stared at his phone then at me...

" it's a punishment.. You should keep this wallpaper until I change it myself .. OK..? "

I said and he giggled nodding a yes.

" you are so childish.. Then you should also keep it.. Until I change it myself " he said and we both giggled..

Sometimes we act like five years old but we don't care.. We get on  sync when it comes to our own antics

" oh.. Granny is calling.. "I said  smiling. She must have reached home.

" talk to her.. I will be back.. "

he said walking out. He is at it again.. Acting grumpy to his grandparents.. I attended the call and talked to them.. Granny talked about how she showed the  photo and everyone said I was beautiful.. She sounded so  proud.. Then I got reminded and stared at  my hand... The diamond ring which he put on my finger  is shining brightly .. My heart skipped  a beat.. But I know it shouldn't not..when I finished talking with her I went down and he was in the backyard punching his sandbag..

Cabel  once told me they were  trained in martial arts and lucas really liked boxing and learned that as hobby.. When the first time I saw him set up his sand bag and punching it shirtless I gawked at him .. Cause his body is like  a Greek God statue .

He was surprisingly consistent on his workout and boxing.. Other wise his lazyass won't  move away from his gadgets all day long...

I walked towards him thinking about every detail of his goddamn body  that I didn't focus on my way.. Lucas suddenly pulled me towards him and and his other  hand on his sand bag.. I flinched and turned back... What the hell athy..?! I  almost  got hit by the sandbag.. If it's not for  lucas , I would have  got hit and  fleed  over to emily  aunt's backyard..

"oh my God.! Thank you.."

I said turning to the  front and my breath hitched.. He was close to me... So close.  We are inch apart.. And I can feel His heavy breathing on  me.. It's hot.. His tshirt was drenched in sweat  showing his chiseled chest.. his arms..  his veins which are  Desperate to come out of  his skin. He is hot.. too hot..stop it athy.. You are becoming a pervert... When I was fighting with my perverted self he talked..

"Sia .. Are you sleep walking or what..?  You almost got knocked out"

he said with his every breathe heavy.  I gulped down my perverted thoughts and looked up at him.. His fierce red eyes and sweat dripping from his dark night locks.. God..!! Why this human is freaking hot.?

"so.. Sorry.. I didn't notice.. And thank  you."

I said  no I stuttered and he let his other hand which is holding the sandbag down.. It swinged back  and I moved closer to him closing my eyes ..

"pfft.. Don't worry sia.. It won't hit you." he said moving me beside.. I sighed in relief.

"so what's up..?"

he asked while removing his gloves  and I can't take my eyes off from that sexy veins.. Come to your senses athy..

" well.. This.." I showed him my hand.. I needed some Moment to recover   my hitched breathe

" you should take it back.. I feel guilty.. "I said and he stared at me confused..

" guilty of what..? "he asked titling his head.

"  granny wanted to give this to your future wife.. So take it back. You should give it to.. 

When I was about to take it off he folded my finger and wrapped  his hand above mine.. I looked up at him and  the look in his eyes was.. Something I don't know...I have never seen  that look in his eyes before

"no need.. I won't have any wife in future, So have this.. I wouldn't have even put this on any girl  if it's not you..keep it or throw it.. But it's yours... "

he said in a blank tone and walked past me.. He kinda looked pissed . I stood  there dazed.

What is he saying..?  I looked at my hand.. It's a diamond ring that granny custom made.. Grandpa  said she selected  the design and custom  made it  for lucas and his  future wife.. She once asked me my ring size and altered it to mine since she thinks I am his girlfriend.. Real girlfriend.. My heart ached a bit thinking about his real girlfriend... When everything is  over.. When Lucas and I  end this act .. What will  happen after that. ?  I want to stay  as friends with him even after that.. But..  the thought of lucas introducing me his real girlfriend... Something pricked my heart... What's wrong  with me..?!!.. No.. I should give this  to her when he do that...

I thought but it still ache.. When helly gave me a bear hug... I got startled..

"helly.." I said and she grinned.. That sly  grin I know what is it..

" holyshit athy..!!  It's gorgeous... This ring really suits  you, so this is what granny gave you last night huh..?  What's this engagemet ring..? Cause I see a similar one on lucas's while passing by.."

helly asked with a smirk..i explained everything happened  to her... She reacted like she is  reading a romance novel.. Swooning over when I said lucas put that ring on me.. And she got so worried after knowing I fainted again... I don't know how to change her mood cause helly get so worried whenever it came to that thing  and  I accidentally spilled  my thoughts over this  ring...she was silent for a while then sighed.

"are you dumb athy..?  Why do you have to give it  to her..? He said it's yours.. And you also know this... Lucas isn't the type to  date.. So I doubt he will have a real girlfriend.. And if you feel  hurt means you love  him dummy.. Just confess to him and become his real girlfriend... Guys like lucas are so hard to find... You know what.. From what I observed.. he never looked at any other girl.. The only one he smiles at, care about is  you .. It's seems he just told you the truth.. There is no way lucas would find a real girlfriend... This ring is yours... Just make him your real boyfriend problem solved ...  "

she said and a  part  of my heart felt happy.. A small desire to be his real girlfriend surfaced.. But I buried it down even before it grow  over me .

"  I won't  helly.. You are right I like him But I can't start a relationship... And not at all with lucas... At my current condition.. It's not possible... If I start something with him and my condition took me somewhere else.. I can't... I don't want to lose him.. I can't  be sure and believe at myself.. I can't guarantee I will be happy... I don't even know  If I  get depressed again or not .. And if I starts  having those thoughts again  ,my future...I am barely holding on to my hope.. I can't make him involved and made his already sad life even  worse... Let's leave it like this... "

I said and she stared  at me  with a worried face... She hugged me tight and patted my back... Helly is really a blessing in my life... She was my only best friend... We know each other since five.. And she kept being my friend even after  I moved to NY for some years.. She was there when I was at my worst, she stayed with me... Like her.. I don't want to lose lucas too...

- - - - - - - - - - - - Lucas. P. O. V.

It was  fun seeing her all flustered because  we were so close and her cheeks flushed red ...its so cute... But, did she really have to ruin it  by talking about the ring..?  What.? My future wife..? Heh.. As if I would date any girl.. What did she think of me...?

It always Intrigued  me... Why she always  believe whatever I say..? Why she always stare  at me  With those cute doe  eyes in a way it  do  something to my heart.. smile at me  as bright  as sunshine.. I know  she is always like this to everyone.. But.. I really felt something different in the way she treat others and me... Was it just my delusion..? And again.. When  she asked me about the ring..

I can't even tell her that I  won't have any other girl  as my girlfriend  ... I fucking like you.. Cause I can't date her for real.. My future is uncertain, everyone's too.. But mine was more twisted than others ... I was running away from my past.. I can't have her get involved   out  of everyone in this world ...who is suffering because of  a crime  into mine  which is full of those... I am so pissed... At myself.. That I can't have her only for me..

I was so frustrated that I punched the door in anger and caby took my hand away... When did he came here..?

"stop beating up that poor door.. You will break it into pieces  at this rate.." he said letting my hand down

" if you are so frustrated.. Just wait.. Let it go.. And continue being what you are.. May be your  future will turn out as you wish.. No one know what will Happen Next you know... " caby said and smiled at me...

He don't need explanations to understand  why I was frustrated.. He always just  see right  through me  Ever since we were kids.. And he always give me the right suggestions... Although I thought his idea of fake girlfriend was  lucidrous .. He was the reason sia became my fake girlfriend..he was right.. I should let it go and just be her fake boyfriend... I let out a long sigh..

"shall we play PS..? I am so bored and we don't have much work to do.."

caby  said and I nodded a yes.. Yeah.. Let's leave things as it was..

When we were playing I got a notification ..

"caby get me my mobile.." I asked  my eyes glued to the screen..after sometime I turned to see him staring at my mobile with a wide smile..

" you look really happy in this.." he said..

"eh..?" then I  remembered it's my wallpaper..

" she too.. You two look perfect  and happy.."

he said smiling... Always a soft hearted boy he is... He was one of  the  reasons  I wanted to escape  back then .. I don't want caby to stay with those violent guys for long.. Caby is like a brother to me.. My only real  family..

" do I..? "I asked and he smiled nodding a yes.

" what's the message  do you check it..? "

I asked.. Finally putting  the joystick down cause I won.. He shouted at  me for killing him and I ignored him and opened the mail.. One will think it's a spam but not me .. It took me sometime but I found who it was..

" what the...Why he want to meet  me..? "

I mumbled and cabel  stared at  me confused .. I looked around for her and she was still on the backyard..

" sia's father wants to meet me.." I whispered and his eyes wided in shock...

"don't you said he is  the director of NIS..? what if he found out we worked for mafia and wants us to get lost from his daughter's life .?" he whispered back.

"well... I already thought about this.. I don't think it's that.  If he wants that he would have did that long ago when he found out I was her boyfriend.." I said and he stared at  me confused...

"actually I talked to him this morning." I said and caby's face went pale... I told him everything happened

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Few hours ago..

When  lucas walked to the nearby departmental store because they  are running out of some groceries which athy told him to  buy with a list yesterday morning. he was busy with his grandparents going away, he can't  bought them ... So he decided to walk there, Since it's  nearby.. He  saw claude and felix .. They were on thier usual spot waiting for her...

After  that spying incident claude  always stop by their house and check out if  she was OK.. At first he used  to come at night times.. He will wait inside  the car and looked through the window. When he spot her doing something or just crossing by he will go back, sometimes in the morning when she came out for going to uni with lucas  or Sometimes  Talking with  her neighbours on the street. He always stare at her from distance  and go back.

Lucas know claude have been  coming there   everyday After the spying incident. He kinda guessed that there was something going  on between this father daughter duo but he didn't asked her what it was..

'I figured something was going on but  after she told me everything last night . Now I know.. why he isn't not meeting her directly, He is  feeling guilty. They both are feeling guilty and that fucking  guilt separated them. '

He  thought and walked past thier car like he didn't noticed  them.. But when he came back from the store  they were  still there waiting. Felix was standing outside the car  with a worried look. Lucas   stopped on his  way and stared  at them  for a while.

'May be they are waiting this long because aunt  lily told them ..? '

He thought and  started walking again. Felix saw him  and was about to get back  inside the car.. Claude was ready to close the window..

"she is sleeping. Rather than waiting here, come inside and look for yourself ."

He  said without looking back  at them nonchalantly walked past  them. Felix stared  at  him surprised.. And lucas  heard the door opening sound.. He stopped on his way and turned back to see claude coming outside in his  suit.

' what the..is he her dad or brother ..?  I don't  want to admit it.. But he is more  handsome in real  .. But total opposite of sia.. He look cold.. So cold.. That I feel shivers down my spine.. Is this what caby nag at me about ..? He say this same  thing about my gaze  but I am experiencing it myself for the first  time.. 'he thought staring at claude with a nonchalant face.

" you knew we are waiting  for her..?" felix asked standing beside claude.. Who was silently glaring daggers at him. Lucas just nodded a yes.

" she is OK.. She is sleeping now.. If you won't believe me, come and check for yourself.." he shrugged.

Felix stared at claude and he nodded a yes.

"then I will come with you.."  felix said walking forward. Lucas stared at claude

"you aren't coming sir..?"

he asked him which made felix stare at him gasping  cause no one ever talked to claude this nonchlatanly before.. Claude just glared  at  him without saying anything..

"  she won't get up any soon.. Then your wish.."

he shrugged  and turned back.. Felix can't believe his eyes cause claude walked forward.. They walked  to their house and  lucas opened it using his fingerprint.

" you installed such an  advanced  security  system and athy didn't aksed why..?"

felix asked looking at the advanced security system lucas fixed around the house..

" unlike you.. she didn't know how advanced this was."

lucas said entering the house. And let them come inside.. Claude hesitated for a moment but felix dragged him inside. He pointed upstairs and let them go first.. And he followed

When felix opened the door athy was sleeping peacefully . He let claude go inside  and he stared at  her  with pain in his eyes... He Sat beside her on the bed  and  caressed her head.. His hand trembled and his eyes were filled with guilt.. Felix looked at them with concerned face...

They came downstairs  after  some time  and lucas came out of the kitchen sipping his coffee.. With a book in his hand.. Athy 's never ending book collection  have some book which picked his interest so he read them often to give rest to his eyes from digital screen..

" then we will get going.. Take good care  of her.. "  felix said and claude just glared  at  him.

" I didn't tell her until  now.. And I won't  in the future.."

he said looking straight in his eyes like  he know what claude  is thinking  .. Felix was amused at how brazen lucas was  and claude smirked looking at him  Then they left. When lucas went upstairs after some time.. Athy was awake  and sitting on her bed dazed..