????LIVING WITH
THE
BAD BOY ????
( Hearts Collision… )
CHAPTER 80&81
By, Ca-ssie B.
IN A HOSPITAL***
Ariel was wide awake, staring at her phone. The leaked video was already deleted and only a few could be seen talking about the incident.
She sighed before dropping her hand beside her. There was a knock on the door and a nurse entered, holding a tray in her hands.
“Good morning, Miss” the nurse flashed a smile as she moved closer to Ariel.
“Here’s your breakfast. Your Mom dropped it before she left,” The nurse informed.
Ariel was a little bit surprised. Her Mom came over and didn’t bother to show her face?
“She doesn’t want to disturb you,” the nurse said as though she clearly read her thoughts.
“Oh,” Ariel mouthed and glanced at the tray in front of her.
“She said I should ensure you eat the food, you need to regain your lost energy back,” the nurse said.
“I don’t have an appetite,” Ariel’s voice came out hoarsely.
“Is it because of the news?” The nurse asked before smiling gently.
“You’re lucky Miss, and a strong woman too. A lot of women had experienced the scandals and suicide was the only option they thought of.”
“You shouldn’t be thinking about it, rather you should get to your feet and learn from your mistakes. You should make things right and give people reasons not to dwell on your past anymore. And the first above all is to ensure you eat your food, so as to get your strength back.” The nurse smiled after she was done talking to Ariel.
“Why… Why are you telling me this?” Ariel stuttered, staring at her in nothing but surprise in her eyes.
“I thought everyone hated me,” she whispered.
“Point of correction, not everyone. And why am I doing this?” The nurse’s eyes were suddenly filled with sadness.
“Because I wasn’t there for her when she was in trial… My best friend,” she stared at Ariel.
“The same thing you’re experiencing right now, happened to her. I wasn’t there for her, I was part of those who looked down on her. And, she killed herself at the end. It was my fault and I’ll keep saying that, had it been I was there for her, she’d still be alive by now,” she sniffed.
“Miss, you’re still hale and hearty, you still have the time to make things right, it’s not too late” she concluded with a smile.
“It wasn’t your fault. My parents were both disappointed in me too, no one would take that easily. Thank you so much for your words… I find that encouraging,” Ariel smiled softly.
“So, are you gonna eat now?”
“Yes, I will,” Ariel chuckled while the nurse smiled happily.
Ariel scooped a spoon of beef stew in her mouth and someone entered at that moment. She wasn’t surprised when it turned out to be Tony.
“I’ll excuse you both,” the nurse smiled briefly and then left.
“How are you?” Tony asked as he went closer.
Ariel ignored him and continued eating her meal, she didn’t even glance at him a bit.
“I’m glad to see you’re eating your meal,” Tony chuckled, trying his best to gain her attention.
“Why are you here? I clearly told you not to show your face any longer,” Ariel finally said.
“I just wanted to check up on you, that’s all” Tony smiled nervously. After confessing himself to her parents the previous days, her mother caused a fuss and after a lot of apologies, he was finally forgiven. The fact that he apologized for his actions and cleared the misunderstanding made it easier for him to be forgiven.
“Why? You never cared, so why now?” Ariel rolled her eyes.
“You’ve never supported my engagement with Axel, you’re always against me thinking about it. As if that wasn’t enough, you even went ahead and exposed me to the world. Are you satisfied now? I can’t even show my face to his parents anymore!”
“It’s all your fault!” Tony suddenly shouted.
“What?”
“You’ve been toying with my feelings all this while! You’re getting engaged in just a few days’ time and yet you keep messing with me! You made it ha-rd for me to get over you and the only thing I could do was to keep sleeping with you!”
“I tried Ariel, I tried to support it but it’s just ain’t working. And I don’t think I can take this anymore, I love you. I do so much but I know I’m not worth your feelings after everything I’ve done. We’re just fuc-k buddies after all,” he muttered.
“Keep doing well, Ariel. I hope you meet the right one for you in future,” he smiled before turning.
“Are you seriously leaving after everything?” Her next word stopped him.
“You ruined me… Yes, but you fixed me back. I’m changing my ways all because of you, I want to live my life as a lady with dignity from you and that’s all because of you! Are you gonna leave after everything?”
Tony turned to her and exhaled de-eply.
“Even if I leave, it doesn’t change anything, we aren’t even anything to each other” he said.
“But you love me,” Ariel mumbled in a low tone.
“I didn’t even know, I..” she bit her li-ps.
“I’m sorry, for toying with your feelings even if it was unintentional,” she muttered.
“And… Let’s start all over again, Tony. As a couple this time around, I want to fix things right”
Tony couldn’t believe his ears. He was awestruck. Was he hearing things already??
“Is that fine?” She flashed a smile at him.
****
THE BRAUN MANSION***
Mrs. Braun was struck dumb as she stared at the phone in her hand. Her mouth was wide open, her round eyes bulging out in shock.
“He… He left,” her voice trembled as tears started gushing out of her eyes.
“He….” She choked on her tears as it fell uncontrollably. Her legs wobbled and she fell to the ground, clutching her chest tightly.
“No!!! No!!” She chanted as she hit her chest in grief.
“You can’t leave me baby, you can’t… Three years is like forever,” she continued sobbing.
Mr. Braun who was just descending the staircase rushed to her when he saw her on the floor.
“Honey! What’s wrong, are you okay?” His face held total concern written on it. He has been trying Axel’s number to no avail.
“He left, he…” Mrs. Braun continued crying.
“Who? What do you mean?” Mr. Braun asked cluelessly.
His eyes went to the phone in her hand and he took it from her slowly.
He read the message Axel sent to her and something immediately hit it de-eply in his chest… Pain.
“I can’t cope without seeing my son for three years! I want to see him! I want to hold my son in my arms!” Mrs. Braun continued crying.
“It’s okay,” Mr. Braun held her to himself, stro-king her hair gently.
Mrs. Braun at that moment stayed meekly in his arms as her tears continued falling. She didn’t have the strength to fight him, rather she continued weeping
Even though he was trying his best to console his wife, he was shattered. His son left even before he had the chance to ask for his forgiveness.
As fate would have it, he just finished unfreezing his account, he came downstairs to inform his wife when he saw her in tears.
“I’m sorry son, for being a bad father,” he wrote inwardly. He was acting strong all outside but de-ep down, his mind was in a total turmoil.
****
BROWN’S RESIDENCE~12PM**
“Aunt!!!” Paisley screamed when Mrs. Brown opened the door. She quickly rushed to Mrs. Brown arms, a happy smile leaving her li-ps.
“I missed you,” she pouts.
“More than you did,” Mrs. Brown chuckled. They separated from the hug and she raised a brow when she saw unfamiliar faces behind Paisley’s back.
“Who are they?” Mrs. Brown asked.
“My friends and Melanie’s,” Paisley giggled.
“Good day ma’am, I’m Aaron,”
“Aiden,”
“I’m Lauren, Melanie’s best friend,” Lauren smiled.
“Point of correction, I’m her best friend,” Paisley rolled her eyes.
Mrs. Brown chuckled.
“I’m Ace… Paisley’s boyfriend,” Ace introduced.
Mrs. Brown threw a surprise gaze at Paisley.
“You have a boyfriend already? Aww, I’m so glad to hear this. I’m glad you’re finally over that scu-mbag. He should thank his stars that I never set my eyes on him and I swear, he’d regret ever toying with your feelings. How could he date the two of you at once?” Mrs. Brown scoffed.
The guys all turned their gaze to Ace who was already fidgeting silently.
“I’m glad to know you’ve moved on,” Mrs. Brown smiled.
“Erm… Aunt,” Paisley chuckled nervously.
“Actually, he’s the same guy. I mean…”
“What?” Mrs. Brown screamed. She didn’t even give Paisley the chance to explain herself before descending on Ace, giving him the beatings of his life.
“Mom! Mom!! Mom!!!” Ace screamed while the other guys laughed. It was a hilarious scene to watch.
“How dare you!! After everything, you still had the chance to come back???” Mrs. Brown screamed. She suddenly opened her mouth and the next thing that was heard was….
“Arghhhh!!!” An agonizing scream left Ace’s li-ps when he felt her sharp teeth on his skin.
She just fuc-k ing bit him!!!
“Aunt!!!” Paisley screamed.
****
Ace sat on the chair with his head bowed. Mrs. Brown was still glaring at him angrily.
“How could you Paisley? After everything he did to you?!!” Mrs. Brown threw the question to Paisley.
“I love you. I tried to stay away but I really do love him,” Paisley lowered her head to the floor.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I was an idiot then,” Ace started.
“Thank God you know,” Mrs. Brown cut him off.
“I was senseless, a foolish goat,” Ace continued talking.
“Thank your stars you’re aware about that,” Mrs. Brown interrupted again.
Ace cleared his throat before he continued talking.
“I’m sorry, Mom. But I really do love Paisley, I do so much. I’m sorry for everything I did to Melanie, I regret it so much and I promise to make things right by loving Paisley till the end of her life,” he said.
Mrs. Brown stared at him and heaved a sigh.
“Just hope you do and then you meet yourself in hell,” she threatened with blazing eyes.
“She’s so fierce, mehn” Aaron whispered to Aiden who chuckled in return.
“I don’t joke with my daughters, you should know that,” she added.
“By the way ma’am, where’s Melanie? We’re worried about her,” Lauren said.
“She refused to come outside since she woke up. She’s currently in her room” Mrs. Brown said.
“You should check up on her, Paisley,” she added.
“I should. Let’s go, Lauren” Paisley said. Lauren followed her and they both went up to Melanie’s room.
“Do you guys need anything?” Mrs. Brown asked.
“No, Mom. We’re fine,” Ace answered.
“You dare not be fine,” Mrs. Brown eyed Ace.
****
With tear filled eyes, Melanie watched the photos she took with Axel on their numerous dates. They were at the beach and she was putting on a bikini, their arms were both around each other with Axel’s li-ps on her cheek.
“I miss you,” she whispered. She bent her head as her tears fell from her eyes.
“I miss you so much,” she continued crying.
Paisley and Lauren entered at that moment. They rushed to her when they saw her in tears.
“Annie!”
“Lanie!” The chorus at once.
Paisley immediately pulled the crying Melanie to her arms and began rocking her like a baby.
“It’ll be fine, don’t cry too much please,” she whispered.
“He left. I didn’t even see him off, I…”
“I miss him,” Melanie wailed loudly.
“Stop crying please, I might just join you two,” Lauren said.
Paisley continued rocking Melanie while Lauren patted her hair.
Soon, Melanie’s tears died down and Paisley cleaned her tears.
“Stop crying, hun. We’re here for you, okay?”
“Axel will come back, it’s just for the best please” Lauren said.
“It’s hard,” Melanie mumbled in tears.
Even though she perfectly knew everything was for the best, she still couldn’t bring herself to accept the fact that she won’t be able to see the love of her life for three years. It’s a very ha-rd thing to do but one thing she was sure of was that… No matter what, she’d wait for him, even if it takes ten years.
****
★ THREE YEARS LATER ★