The morning rose as usual and everything was the same except one person-Neil.Today was the day his life had changed forever.The day when the woman he loved chose death rather than living with him.As always,Neil woke up at the break of dawn.But today he did not follow his routine.On other days he would exercise and go for his morning run.This day,every year,had a different routine.He would usually dress up to visit her at the grave and the rest of the day would be spent in a drunken haze.The next two days would be spent in a hungover state.Before,Alicia would be there with him so that he would not die in a drunken stupor,she would claim.And then these last two years his brother Matt had been there.He knew Matt had been sent by Alicia though he never knew how Alicia came to know about his habit.
However,this year,and on this day,he stood in the foyer ready to go to the graveyard but he had no plans to go drinking afterwards.The reason for that was Mi Rae.
For the first time,he was guilty.Not towards one person but towards two people.
In all these years he had not been attracted to a single person.He had righteously visited his first love happy that he was still true to her and hating her for being a coward.So today he felt guilty towards his past.For being a mortal and falling in l.u.s.t.
On the other hand,his guilty feeling towards Mi Rae were even more severe.He had been teasing her about kissing her but her scared and shy glances through out the dinner and in the car had made him forget everything other than the desire to kiss her.
And when he had given in to the desire,he had experieced her shy and inexperienced response.Like an innocent....He felt like a jerk!How could he kiss someone and then behave as if he was grieving for someone else.He was not a hypocrite.He glanced at the tattoo on his arm.Al had made him promise to not have it lasered and keep this as a reminder to love himself.And today he needed that reminder.
He needed to let go.
Ofcourse his thinking was flawed.He wasn"t thinking ot letting go of the past but letting go of the present.He was thinking of finding a good lawyer for Mi Rae.He tried to convince himself that he was too busy to handle her case.He had yet to resolve Hu Ge"s and Onita"s case.Then there was the upcoming merger and acquisition of a few companies by Lance Inc.He did not need the complication of being attracted to his client..
Yes..He would apologize and explain the situation to her..
With that thought,Neil got into the car and drove towards his past..On the way,he bought a bouquet of his lover"s favorite flowers.But his hands tightened on the stearing wheel as he covered the distance.The way Mi Rae had looked at him with hero wors.h.i.+p when he had entered her office.Her shy and almost stammering goosbye last night.
He parked his car on the side of the road and leaned back his head.Closing his eyes,he tried to relive those memories from the past.But his brain was just as stubborn as him.Everytime he thought of a memory,only Mi Rae"s smiling face flashed in front of his eyes.
Just then his phone rang and without much thought Neil answered,"h.e.l.lo,Mi Rae."
The person on the other end paused in shock but then smilingly taunted into the phone,"Well well well..Mi Rue!Are we waiting only for Mi Rae"s call.I can call you later,when you have spoken to your Mi Rae.."
Taking the phone off his ear,he stared at the caller Id.It said Al...Neil wanted to bang his head on the steering wheel.Out of all the people,she had to be the one he addressed as MI Rae.He was never going to hear the end of it.Deciging that offense is the best defense,Neil said, "Why are you calling me so early in the morning? Would you like to apologize for last night? The torture you put us through! Al my pal I will pay you back. You wait and watch. "
"Ha! As if you can do anything to me! With your simple brain!"
Sighing he thought, no point in arguing.He asked, "Al? What is the purpose of this call?"Though he could guess that she must have called to check on him but he still needed to hear her wacky reasons that she would come up with.But this time she had a genuine reason.
"Since you wouldn"t have read the news today so I thought I"d help you out with some information. Your Mi Rae is in trouble.It"s the top news currently."
Alicia continued to talk but it was useless.Neil had already hung up the call.
Scanning his phone for news, he almost threw away his phone when he read the news. Forgotten was the bouquet of flowers that he had bought and Neil turned back his car towards the office.So they thought they could slander his client. Let them wait and watch what he did.
Making a call,he fired instructions as soon as the call was answered.