I stood there, my mind racing with a mix of fear and confusion. It felt as though the world had suddenly shifted, and I found myself caught in a web of uncertainty. I had made a decision to change myself for the better, to become a more compassionate and kind person. But now, it seemed that my life was spiraling out of control.
Dizziness washed over me, leaving me feeling disoriented and vulnerable. Was this the price I had to pay for trying to better myself? I couldn't help but wonder if this was how my life was destined to be - a mere puppet under her control. She had somehow gained power over me, and I feared the consequences of even the slightest mistake or disobedience. She could even go after the caretakers at the orphanage, and their families too.
The weight of her influence was suffocating. I couldn't shake the thought that she held the lives of innocent people in her hands. She had mentioned being a drug dealer, and with that came money and power. It seemed she was here to recruit individuals to carry out her illicit activities, and now, I found myself trapped in her grasp.
I wiped my tears and slowly made my way towards the door of my room. With a heavy heart, I opened it and closed it behind me, seeking solace in the comfort of my own space. As I entered my room, I let out a deep sigh, reminding myself to stay calm and composed. Anyway what happened, happened I have to think about my next move or I will lose something else again.
Just as I settled onto my bed, the door creaked open , revealing Alice standing there in her pajamas, she closed the door, walked towards me and took a seat beside the bed, her presence instantly bringing a sense of warmth and comfort. Without hesitation, she gently lifted my head and cradled it in her lap, her touch soothing and tender. I looked up at her, surprised by her gesture, and met her gaze as she began to stroke my hair with delicate fingers.
Concern etched on her face, Alice asked, "What's wrong? You look pale. Did something happen?"
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But the sincerity in her eyes compelled me to be honest. "Nothing," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
Seeing through my facade, Alice continued to gaze at me intently. "Don't lie to me," she urged softly. "Tell me, what were you thinking about all this time that you were so focused, forgetting to join us and eat your dinner?"
Jeez, I forgot about dinner, I mustered the courage to ask her a question that had been haunting me. "Alice, I want... an honest answer. What do you even see in a guy like me?"
Her expression softened, and she replied, "I think someone has made you believe that you're a bad person, or perhaps you think of yourself that way."
I took a deep breath, gathering my courage to open up to her. "I am asking a genuine question here," I replied, my voice wavering slightly.
I continued "I am so rude, reckless and arrogant, I feel like I am a terrible person."
As she drew nearer, her luscious locks cascaded down, caressing my cheek with their gentle touch. I felt her sweet breath upon my mouth, and the world around us seemed to fade away. In that moment, nothing else mattered but the warmth of her lips upon mine. It was a kiss that spoke volumes, a tender embrace that conveyed a promise of unwavering support and unconditional love. As our lips met, a wave of passion surged through me, filling me with a sense of security and comfort that I had never known before. It was a moment, a moment that I would cherish forever.
After a few seconds, she broke the kiss, her eyes searching mine for any sign of doubt. With a voice filled with conviction, she spoke, "No matter what anyone else says about you, no matter what you happen to think of yourself, I love you with all my heart. I mean it. Just being around you fills my heart with so much joy. I am crazy about you. I want to be with you all the time. I want to hold your hand all the time. I want to be in your arms all the time. You could sit here and come up with the 100 things you hate it about yourself. I will just reply with 2,000 things that I love about you. Got it?"
After hearing that I started crying immediately, I gently got up from her lap, wrapping my arms around her in a tight embrace. She reciprocated, her hands moving soothingly on my back, offering comfort and solace. We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, finding solace in each other's arms, as if the world outside ceased to exist.
Finally, we broke off the embrace, and she wiped away my tears with her sleeves, her touch gentle and caring. "Gosh, you are such a cry baby," she teased, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. But her words held a deeper meaning, a reassurance that vulnerability was not a weakness, but a testament to the strength of our connection.
She then gently cupped my face once more and tenderly stroked my cheeks. "It's okay," she reassured me, "after all, you are my precious baby. I will take care of you."
She continued, "You know I never told you this before but I want to tell you I know we both don't have parents." Her voice trembled with a hint of sadness as she continued, "I watched other kids with their parents, and I always hated why I didn't have parents and why I had this stupid fever that never goes away. I wanted to enjoy life too, like normal people do. I cursed God for making me the unluckiest girl in the world. I hated my own life. I felt like, 'Why do I have this stupid life?"
But then, something changed, her tone shifted. "But then I started to think my life is beautiful," she said, her voice filled with newfound hope. "And I started to love being alive. Do you know why?" She paused, her eyes glistening with tears. "It's because you're with me. You give my life meaning."
She gently caressed my cheek with her warm touch and whispered, "You are the one who has made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. You have brought an incredible light into my life, and I truly mean that. I have always felt like there were missing pieces in my life, such as the joy being with parents having fun and experiencing other things that I never had the chance to. However, after falling deeply in love with you, I finally feel like I have found my missing piece. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for completing my life."
Overwhelmed by her words, tears streamed down my face like a waterfall from a dam. She gently wiped away my tears with the sleeves of her shirt, offering comfort and solace. "Aww, stop crying," she whispered softly, her voice filled with tenderness.
I tried to speak, but my sobs choked my words. After a few seconds of struggling, I finally managed to utter, "Alice, I don't think I am good for you."
Alice smiled, her eyes filled with unwavering love. "That's completely fine with me," she reassured me. "Just strive to be a better person for me. It's as simple as that."
Despite my tears, a smile formed on my lips. "I will do my best," I promised her.
She spoke to me like a wise teacher, her voice filled with encouragement. "Hey, don't just do your best," she said. "You have to become a better person so we can get married. I am dead serious about this, Alvin. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Her words filled me with a sense of purpose and determination, and I couldn't help but smile brightly at her response. The blush that colored her cheeks only made her more endearing. Unable to resist, she reached out and playfully pulled my cheeks. "Aww, you look so adorable, like a teddy bear."
I calmly replied, trying to regain my composure. "Will you stop it?" She released her grip on my cheeks, her eyes sparkling with affection.
"So now, are you hungry, Do you want dinner?" she clapped and asked with twinkle in her eyes. "I can get it for you or how about I make it for you."
I shook my head. "No, you don't have to. I can get it myself and I can make dinner if I have to."
She looked frustrated. "Awww, why not? I want to make it for you. I love your cooking and I want you to enjoy my cooking too."
She then stopped and contemplate about it for a moment and continued "Well, I guess it won't be good for you... because I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end, and I think, 'Well, that's not going to happen."
We both burst out laughing, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for her sense of humor. I kissed her forehead and scooped her into my arms, and she wrapped her arms around me tightly.
"Let's go back to your room," I said, and she started to get out of my arms, but I held her firmly, suddenly she stopped.
I wonder why she stopped, I asked "Why did you suddenly stopped?"
She folded her arms and pouted, saying, "It's useless anyway, you're too strong."
I chuckled softly as I gently placed her in my bed, her eyes widening in surprise, a blush appeared on her cheeks. I lay down next to her, tucking her inside the warm blanket before settling in beside her. Looking into her eyes, I whispered, "Stay here with me tonight, okay?"
She moved closer to me, her innocent gaze meeting mine as she leaned in to give me a soft kiss on the lips. Resting her head against my chest, she slowly drifted off to sleep. I ran my fingers through her hair, feeling a sense of peace and contentment wash over me as I watched her sleep peacefully in my arms.
She took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. "Alvin, I know this might hurt you, but I need to tell you something. I might not have much time left. I could die anytime."
I felt as though the world had stopped spinning. Her words pierced through me like a sharp arrow, causing my heart to ache. I tried to maintain hcomposure, not wanting to add to her burden. With a gentle smile, I replied, "It's okay, It doesn't matter. I will still love you, no matter what."
Her eyes slowly fluttered open, revealing a mix of gratitude and love. She reached out to caress my cheek, her touch filled with tenderness. "Alvin, I love you just the way you are," she whispered softly. "You can still change some habits for me though. I may not be able to live forever, I might die early, but if I had to choose between breathing and loving you, I would use my last breath to tell you how much I love you."
I smiled and kissed her forehead, telling her to go to sleep. She nodded cutely and drifted off, leaving me to run my fingers through my hair and I got lost in thoughts about Doctor Elizabeth.
Alright, so here's what I'm thinking. I reckon she spilled the beans to Alice, telling her that her days are numbered. And that cunning doctor, she even went as far as lying to Alice about some dumb stuff just to manipulate her. Man, that woman is cunning. I shouldn't have underestimated her, but she better not underestimate me either. She had the audacity to say that I'm the palm of her hand and that's good. I'll let her think she's got me in the palm of her hand, but I will stay not one, not two or not even three, but hundred steps ahead of her, I will make sure of it.
I'm gonna do whatever Elizabeth' says. I'm gonna follow all their instructions and do everything that she will tell me to do. But, I'm also going try to bring her down while she's busy doing her own thing. I mean, whatever missions or duties she throws at me, I'll take 'em on without hesitation. I'm willing to sacrifice my own happiness for Alice, no matter what. I don't give a damn anymore. If I have to completely destroy myself for her sake, I'll do it with a smile on my face.
I sighed, Nobody can build the bridge for you to walk across the river of life, no one but you yourself alone. Sometimes, walking alone is your only choice, and I am glad that I have always walked alone without relying on anyone's help. So, I will have to build my own bridge to avoid this. I guess that's my only option.
I let out a yawn and then gazed at Alice, who looked absolutely adorable. I wrapped my arms around her tightly and drifted off to sleep. As for the matter at hand, I decided to give it some thought tomorrow.
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Q1. Any thoughts on this chapter?
Q2. What do you think about Alvin and Alice so far?