Across boundaries (1D series - Book two)

Across boundaries >> XXII <<

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Across boundaries  

Across boundaries >> XXII <<   

Knock knock knock.

"Allie?" Chester stepped in hesitantly.

It had been a month since I last saw him. He was out to Paris for a conference and I to Tokyo. Even though we had been back a week again, we did not attempt to seek each other out. You could say that we were deliberately avoiding each other. So I wondered why he was here today.

"Chester..." I looked up from my computer. "Please come in." Well, that was a polite gesture.

He walked in awkwardly and I saw that he had lost a little weight judging from the sharpness of his jaw line.

"Are you busy?" he asked, standing opposite me.

"Not really..." I looked up at him.

"Can we talk?"

There was no way I could keep on going avoiding this. Be it now or never.

"Yes, let me switch off my comp first."

He waited patiently for me to pack up.

"Tea?" I asked casually.

"Why not?" he let out a strained smile.

We made our way to the tea room in silence, except for the pattering of feet where his shoes hit the polished floor board.

"I'm sorry," that was the first thing he said.

"Whatever for?"

"I..."

"Are you serious about what you said the other day, Chester?" I asked.

He nodded slowly, "Yes."

"Since when?"

He looked at me puzzled.

"Since when did you start liking me?"

He looked down to his shoes, keeping his head low.

"I don't recall you saying anything about it before."

"No..."

"So why now?" I demanded.

"I..."

"Because of Niall?"

"Because you wanted to annul the betrothal." He looked at me in the eyes.

"That's because it was something that should have been done ages again," I pointed out.

"I'm sorry..." he said softly.

"Chester," I said calmly. "You should be well aware that you have always been a big brother to me."

"I know..."

"I'm sorry about all of these..." I said sincerely. "But I really like Niall very much."

"Is he going to marry you?"

"It is too early to be discussing that," I answered.

"But it is essential."

"Yes, I know."

"I'm sorry.... I'm not rushing you or anything... but..."

"I prefer to wait for another year before we discuss it."

He nodded, "Meanwhile..." He paused and took a deep breath. "Will you give me a chance?"

I blinked for a couple of seconds before I shook my head, "I'm sorry Chester. It is too late for that."