Chapter 130

Chapter 130
Aiden rubbed the back of his neck, he had completely lost his passion for life. Hundreds of times he tried to call Nina and tell her that nothing happened between him and Cindy. He was indeed drunk that night and Cindy took him home, but because it was too late, he asked Cindy to stay the night and nothing ever happened between the two of them.
"I'm really sorry, Aiden! It's because of me, you and Nina-"
"Did something happen to us?" asked Aiden. He was reluctant to meet Cindy's eyes because it worried him.
"No! Nothing happened!"
"I need you to be honest with me! If something does happen, you can tell it! You don't have to cover it up!"
"Nothing happened, Aiden! Apart from us kissing-" Cindy said. Suddenly her face flushed red and she just looked down in shame.
"Did I touch you?" asked Aiden. This was the thing he was most afraid of, he had never been drunk before so he was afraid of doing something he wasn't aware of.
Cindy remained motionless, her head filled with memories of that night when she and Aiden kissed, but Aiden actually said Nina's name. Even though she already knew Aiden's true feelings, somehow she couldn't hide her jealousy.
Aiden is a very good man and the woman he loves is a very lucky woman. He also knows that Nina is a good woman. However, her little heart said that she was the one who understood Aiden better. He knows Aiden since childhood, he knows his strengths and weaknesses and even though he is happy when Aiden is happy. However, she is still a woman, she wants to be loved by the man she loves.
"You kept saying Nina's name. You were crying and you looked really angry. I was just sitting beside your bed, looking at you who was so hurt. You said that you couldn't forgive her, but you also said that you couldn't live without her. You looked so missed him and hoped that he would come and explain to you that he didn't do anything because you were the only one for him."
"I said that?"
"Yes, you said it!"
"I can't believe I did something wrong. That night he got in trouble. He cried and I got mad at him. I know what happened, he told me. How could I know? What do I do now? I-"
"Meet him, Aiden!"
"What?"
"You love him a lot, don't you? Just meet him and explain to him that nothing happened between us!"
"He won't believe it!"
"You won't know until you try! Tell him you love him, that he's all you want!" Cindy's voice was hoarse and shaky. He looked like he was going to cry. That made Aiden start to suspect one thing even though he hoped his suspicions weren't true.
"Can I ask you one thing?"
"Yes?"
"But I want you to answer honestly!"
"W-what-"
"Do you love me?" asked Aiden. Cindy was silent, Aiden's question made her heart beat very fast.
"I-I, I don't-"
"You fell in love with me?" Once again, Aiden tries to confirm Cindy's feelings. Even though he knew he shouldn't have done this. But somehow he could feel it.
Cindy wanted to cry, but this cafe was not the right place for her. He played with his fingers to get rid of his nervousness. He wanted to tell Aiden that he was so in love with him. He wanted to tell Aiden that he was the only man who always came into his sweet dreams.
"N-no! I don't have that kind of feeling at all, Aiden. We've been friends since childhood, so how could I-"
"You're right? Sorry, for being overconfident. But to be honest it makes me relieved because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings anymore. I've hurt Samantha's feelings, I also can't repair my relationship with Renata. That's why I don't want to hurt your feelings either, you is a very good woman, you are my precious friend, therefore-"
"I understand, Aiden! You don't need to worry about me, I'm fine! You better repair your relationship with Nina before it's too late, before she gets further away from you!"
"You're right! Alright, it's time for him to get home from work, I want to see him. How about I walk you home?"
"It's okay! You can go! I'll be here in a minute!"
"Really? All right, see you then?" Aiden said as he left the cafe.
Cindy felt a suffocating silence after Aiden left. Her tears flowed down her cheeks. She really couldn't tell Aiden that she loved him very much, even though she really wanted to. He just didn't want to disappoint Aiden.
"I love you, Aiden. I love you."

"I'm waiting in the car across from the tv station. Come, I'm waiting for you."
Nina didn't know what to do after reading Aiden's message. Since yesterday he thought that the relationship between him and Aiden was over. Even though Aiden had tried to call him dozens of times, he still tried to ignore it.
She was determined to return to her original goal of coming to this country to fulfill her big dream and not to find a man. However, her relationship with Aiden made her start knitting new dreams and all of those dreams were shattered in an instant.
"Nina, you want to go home now? Why don't you come with us to the bar?" she asked. Nina glanced at Depney who was busy talking to Gavin.
"Sorry, Jean! I don't think I can! I-"
"Captain Gavin is coming too!"
"Captain Gavin?"
"Actually this is to celebrate the success of our program. Mr. Kevin is holding this event and he wants all the crew to participate!"
"B-but-"
"If he doesn't want to, you don't have to force him, Jean! After all, he's not a crew member, he's just an intern!" Bella started chirping and it looked like she was ready to give a direct hit.
"Bella's right, Jean! I'm only an intern. I've only been here three months, so I don't need to get too involved in every activity!"
"Who said you shouldn't get involved?" Asked Depney who joined the conversation and immediately interrupted.
Depney came in with his hands on his hips, a look of irritation on his face that he had just heard some disturbing talk.
"Nina, you should join us!" he said.
"But I-"
"It doesn't matter if you're an intern or a crew member, you still have to come! You know? Gavin the solitary man alone is willing to spend his precious time coming to this event. So you have to come!" Depney confirmed his words and that just made Bella more upset. Nina glanced at Bella who was looking sarcastically at her. It made him think that he shouldn't be afraid of Bella's bluff. If he was scared and gave in, it would be as if he was embarrassing himself. Besides, he really didn't want to meet Aiden right now. Going to a bar with his co-workers might be an excuse to avoid Aiden.
"Okay, I'll come if it's my duty!" He said while throwing a cynical glance at Bella as a reply to his previous gaze. Realizing that Nina was replying to her bluff made Bella even more irritated. He couldn't believe Nina, who was only an intern, dared to bully a senior like him.
"That's great! We'll go together! Gavin, me and Nina are riding in the car huh?"
"You just nail your own car, four eyes!"
"Come on Gavin. Don't be like that! I didn't have a car today so be kind enough to give us a lift. We are two beauties, you are in luck Old Man!" Depney's babbling keeps bothering Gavin. But that actually makes them look close.
Depney sees Gavin as his friend, rather than his grumpy, annoying boss. When he was still the leader of the gang, Depney was saved by Gavin from a robbery. That made Depney have a very high respect for Gavin.
Seeing the closeness between Depney and Gavin made Bella even hotter. His face showed annoyance which made Nina find it funny. Nina walked to catch up with Depney and Gavin who walked far in front of her while observing Bella's sad reaction.
"You don't want to come with us Bella? I'm sure you really want to be in the same car with the Captain, don't you?"
"You'd be wrong if you thought I'd be jealous just because you and Depney got a free ride! I drive my own car and I'm sure the Captain would just think you two are a nuisance!"
"Yes, you're right! To the Captain maybe Depney and I are just troublesome people. But you know? Those men actually have high self-esteem? They don't like women who are too spoiled, but they also don't like women who too independent. So, what they want is for her to keep relying on them, but not too dependent on them at the same time!"
"You're very good at talking, aren't you? Is that how you flirt with models like Aiden and CEOs like Mr. Victor?"
"What? Flirting? Hahaha...just so you know, I never tease them at all! You know? Men prefer women who act like they are, than two-faced ones like you!"
"You-"
"See you at the bar? Don't worry, I won't try to sit next to the Captain!" Nina said as she stepped into the parking area following Depney and Gavin.
Aiden called again, maybe because he still didn't see any sign of Nina coming out the door. Nina was confused, she felt sorry for Aiden. To be honest, he really loved Aiden. He only felt hurt by Aiden's betrayal.
"Why does he keep calling me? What else could he say?" He muttered angrily. Despite trying to ignore Aiden all the time, in the end she couldn't bear to keep ignoring him.
"Hello? What's wrong?" he said curtly.
"You didn't read my message? I was waiting for you across from your office? You're home, right? Come here now!"
"I can't!"
"What? What did you say?"
"Isn't everything clear? We broke up, Aiden! So, we don't have any relationship now!"
"What do you mean? Don't decide so easily! I don't want to break up! Come here, we have to talk! I'll explain everything to you!"
"Explain what? You've even accused me of cheating, but it turns out you did it!"
"I didn't do it! I've never slept with any woman but you!"
"Oh yeah? Did you think I'd believe it? Oh my gosh, I really didn't expect you to bring a woman over to your house and you let her wear my clothes! You are really too much!"
"Look, it was my fault, I admit it! I have no memory of asking Cindy to stay over. That night I was so screwed up because you left me, I confided in her at the bar and I drank too much. Because I was too drunk, Cindy took me home. Maybe because it was too late, I asked him to stay over. But really, I didn't do anything to him, Nina! You can ask Cindy if you don't-"
"You kissed him?"
"That-"
"You kissed him?"
"Yes! I kissed him. I swear I don't remember anything!"
"Oh my God, okay I get it! Then we break even. I kissed Victor that night and that's because he forced me and you kissed Cindy. Ok? We're even now? There's nothing left to fight about, right?"
"Yeah! You're right, I'm really sorry-"
"You don't need to be sorry, Aiden! You are a very good man. You are the only man who makes me feel like the luckiest woman in the world-"
"You love me, don't you?"
"I really love you!"
"Then we'll stay together like before right?"
"I don't know! I'm not sure if we're really meant to be together!"
"What do you mean?"
"Aiden, I feel that the two of us are better suited as friends."
"What? You're starting again right? You said we broke even! Why are you now-"
"Aiden, haven't you noticed one thing? Cindy, he loves you."
"What?"
"I have to go now! Tonight I'm going with my colleagues to celebrate our program. That's why-"
"May I join? I'll sit at a separate table, as long as I can be with you, I-"
"No Aiden! I'm afraid it makes them feel uncomfortable. So-"
"Those who feel uncomfortable or is it you?"
"We'll talk later, okay?"
"I've been waiting for you for almost two hours here! You don't want to see me first? You don't miss me?"
"If I meet you it will only make me hurt even more, Aiden!"
"Why do you feel hurt? What's wrong?"
"Aiden, I'm begging you! I'm not ready to see you right now. Just give me a moment, ok?" Nina's voice trembled. He didn't know why it hurt like this. She couldn't believe that she could love Aiden so much.
Aiden, who felt even more hurt, tried to suppress his ego this time. He didn't want them to separate, he had already dreamed of their future together and he didn't want that dream to be shattered just because of his ego.
"I love you so much, I just want you to know that. I don't want anyone but you. That's why I beg you don't even think about leaving me!"