Chapter 11 — Heartbeat

“ARE you sure your uncle will tell us about your childhood that your mother doesn’t want to share with you?” Justin asked Audrey while they’re on their way to her Uncle Edward’s clinic.

Audrey pressed her lips together. She wasn’t sure too if her uncle will tell her about it. She heard them a couple of times before talking about her father, and her mom seems to be against what Uncle Edward was saying to her. Audrey doesn’t know why her mother was getting upset every time she’s asking about her dad. It was as if she’s hiding something for her, but what is it? And she doesn’t want her to know it?

“I hope so,” she replied with a sigh. “Uncle Edward knew my dad, and I’m sure he knows what happened and the reason why my mom doesn’t want to tell it to me.”

Audrey stopped the cab in front of the building where her Aunt Maria’s clinic was also located. She scratched her head and turned to Justin. The man looked at her questioningly.

“Why? `Something wrong?” he asked worriedly.

Audrey felt tickles around her heart. Every time Justin showed concern to her, she felt like floating in the air surrounded by stars and clouds. “I forgot that my Aunt Maria’s and Uncle Edward’s clinic were located in the same building.”

“Oh, isn’t it a good thing?” he asked in a knotted forehead.

Audrey sighed. “I don’t want Aunt Maria to see me talking to Uncle Edward. She’s my mom’s best friend, and I’m sure that she will tell my mom that I am here.”

The crease between Justin’s brows deepened. He was confused; Audrey can see that. “I don’t understand,” he said, scratching the corner of his brow. “Are you not allowed to speak with your uncle? I mean, he’s your uncle, and I think it’s just normal to visit him sometimes, right?”

Audrey pressed her lips together. She shut her eyes and heaved a sigh before opening her eyes again. The sun is shining brightly on her face. “My story is a bit complicated than you think,” she said and apologetically smiled at him. “I’m sorry if I dragged you here, Justin.”

“No, it’s fine, Audrey,” he said and smiled brightly at her. Justin was like a sun shining brightly at the dark corners of her life. “Ad, you didn’t drag me here. It was me that offered to come with you here.”

She smiled shyly. “Thanks, Justin. I will do my best to be not a nuisance to you,” she said and pointed at the building. “Uncle Edward’s clinic is on the 3rd floor.”

Justin nodded. “Shall we go now?”

“Yes,” she said and lead the way. While at the elevator, Audrey told her relationship with her uncle. “He wasn’t my biological uncle. We’re not really related. According to my mom, Uncle Edward was their family psychologist. He was also my godfather on my baptism.”

“Oh, I thought he was your dad’s brother,” he said. “But why does your mother don’t want you to speak with him?”

Audrey shrugged her shoulders. “Uncle Edward never mentioned anything about my dad when he’s visiting me at home. He never visited me at school or go out with me; I think my mom does not allow him to do that. And I don’t know why.”

The elevator opened on the 3rd floor. Before stepping out, Audrey looked sideways in the hallway to check for familiar faces.

“Don’t tell me that their clinics were also located on the same floor?” Justin asked as he followed her, walking cautiously in the hallway.

“Well, you got it right,” she said with a chuckle. “I don’t know which room number, but I’m sure there’s signage on the door.”

She checked every door in the hallway and found her Aunt’s clinic first. It suddenly opened, startled Audrey clung to Justin’s arms and buried her face to his chest. She dragged him towards the end of the hallway and hid in the corner. She unwarily pinned Justin on the wall while her face was still buried on his chest.

Audrey can hear his heart beating loudly. His breathing was starting to heavy that she can already feel his breath fanning on top of her head. They heard footsteps coming, and Justin wrapped his arm around her and pulled her even closer. Now, it was her heart’s turn to beat wildly.

“Kids these days are so aggressive,” they heard the woman from their side commented disgustingly.

When the footsteps were gone, Justin loosened his arms to her. She pulled free from him and looked up. She didn’t expect that he was also looking at her. As their gaze met, Audrey’s chest hammered wildly.

“T-They’re gone?” she stuttered and franticly looked away. “No one’s around. I think we should go now—” Justin caught her hand and pulled her closer again. Audrey was shocked by what he did. She looked at him questioningly. “W-why?”

Justin smiled. “Your hands are cold,” he said and massaged her hand. “You should relax first.”

Audrey blinked twice and lowered her gaze to their intertwined hands. “Oh, maybe because of shock,” she laughed. “I felt like I was in a suspense movie when the door suddenly opened.”

Justin laughed. “Yeah, and you ran as if we were chased by a killer in the movie.”

Heat rose in her cheeks. “That was so embarrassing. I just promised earlier that I wouldn’t be a nuisance but look what I did.”

The man reached to pinch her cheeks. “I really like you, Audrey.”

Audrey gasped. She looked up at him with parted lips. “Y-you like me?”

Justin knotted his forehead. “Of course, we won’t be friends if I don’t like you.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Why? You don’t like me?”

Audrey bit her lip. For a second, she thought Justin just confessed to her. But she assumed wrong…again. “No—I mean, yes. Yes, I like you, Justin.”

“Audrey?”

They both looked back at who called her. Audrey gasped and pulled her hand from Justin. “Please, don’t tell my mom.”