Where is she?" Asked Smiles after settling down from her rush of emotions.
"She's fine, at home" he explains.
She nods, smiling.
"I am so happy for you" she congratulates. He smiles back at her sweetly.
"I wish to meet her…can you take me to her, or the other way round?" She asked but he shook his head in denial
"You can't," he tells her to his face. She needs not to see the person because she is the one.
She frowned in dissatisfaction, glaring at him.
"Why?" She asked, demanding a reason.
"'Cause I don't want you to meet her now… you will get to meet her the day we officially throw her a welcoming party…at least, that will be worth a surprise " he explains and she nods in understanding.
"That's great!" She said smiling. Just thinking about it made her wish she had found her own family too.
"By the way, you didn't come to work today, why?" She was curious and concerned.
"That's because I no longer work here," he tells her. She nods.
"You're with your dad?" She asked but he didn't reply. She didn't need him to say another word 'cause she was able to understand his silence.
"You've forgiven him?" She asked, he breathed out tirelessly. She nods.
"why?" She asked again, wanting to know more.
"I will forgive him if and only if my sister does," he said in an I'm-not-kidding face.
"And what if she never forgives him?" She asked with a raised brow.
"Then, I won't," he tells her straight forward, not beating around the bush.
"That's so harsh," she complains.
"I don't know you to be such," she tells him. He stares at her calmly observing her.
"Really! Then what do you know me to be?" He asked, raising a brow.
"A forgiven and cheerful person, always considering others' feelings …he's still your father you know…you should be the one talking sense into your sister's head not supporting her unforgiveness, " She tells him, hoping he's listening.
"Fine, I will see what I can do, '' he said tirelessly.
They ate their food and chatted about other things.
"I want you to do something for me," Derrick said out of the blue, halting Smiles's next step to the door.
"And what might that be?" She asked to walk out of the door he held open for her.
"promise you will do it!" He said. She twisted her brow in displeasure not liking the fact he was asking her to promise.
What if she ends up not being able to fulfill the promise?
"I can't promise…cause I am not good at keeping one but I assure you if it's within my power, I will do it" She explains hoping he understands.
He nods." I want you to leave Keane" He said, straight to her face.
She stares at him in disbelief, not believing he just said that.
"Seriously? You know I can't do that" she tells him. Well, the truth is she can but she doesn't want to.
"Why? Are you falling for him?" He asked, angered by her words.
She stayed quiet, and that only clarified his suspicions. She's falling for him, so deep that it won't be possible to drag her out unless we cut it off, which only leaves her hurt, bleeding in pain.
"Right, you've fallen for him," he said in a disappointed tone.
She didn't know what to say, what was she supposed to do? She isn't stuck that she can't feel, she has a heart, and above all, she's just a human…a pretty petty little human who is willing to do anything for love.
She was hurt by his words, of all the people that should be just her, at least not him.
"Really? Are you serious right now?" She asked but he didn't say a word. They were now standing outside the restaurant. She didn't know how to feel about it, staring at him only tears could be formed, with conflicted emotions.
"Do you think I planned on falling for him? Do you think I wished for all these? …You seem so disappointed…had it been I had options, I wouldn't have gone for this…had it been I had family, I wouldn't have been a slave to someone who doesn't feel a thing for me…had it been that stupid ex-boyfriend of mine didn't cheat on me…I won't have been here doing all these…but you know what?
I am glad all those things happened because right now, I regret nothing…not even my love for him…even if he has a girlfriend he can die for, I still have no regrets…the only thing that will forever hurt is letting him go. After all, I know I can't tell him how I truly feel inside" she cries pouring her heart out. If only he knew what she's gone through, if only he could feel her pain then judging her right now would be the last thing he'd do.
Derrick felt guilty for making her cry and seeing her like this broke his heart. He pulls her to him, comforting her.
"I'm sorry" he apologized, wiping away her tears. She could only cry, letting it all out. Even though he hurt her with his words, she still didn't feel that bad and dejected, because he was right by her side, comforting her, and telling her he was sorry. That alone warms her heart.
When she was back to normal, she bid him goodbye, running to the office. It was past lunchtime.
He watches her leave until she disappears into the building before his eyes.
How he wishes he could tell her that she is his sister, the one he's longed to see…
How he wished he was there for her all those times she spent in loneliness, crying herself to sleep.
But those are all in the past, and this is the present.
He is more than willing to be better than what he was not to her, to make her feel all the love she needed and more including their mom's love…
With one last glance at the building, he walks to his car and kicks off.