I was the woman he seek shelter from his dying marriage.
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Rachel POV
Derek is in the hospital.
I read his message again and again to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.
Rachel: As in literally in the building itself?
Derek: As in me wearing the hospital robe, lying on the hospital bed.
Derek send me a photo of him with infuse on his hand, the hospital robe and the hospital bed.
What? I muttered to myself, like why does it seems like I am the last one to know. The news did not report any accident concerning him.
Rachel: What happened? You are freaking me out!
Rachel: Which hospital? Can I see you?
I kind of feel pathetic with myself. I have to ask permission to meet my boyfriend. If this goes on, I might even have to make appointment with his secretary to have sex with him.
Derek: I am going to be discharged soon. Just something minor, babe. I'll see you soon after this.
I am rather upset about the fact that he never told me the first second he was admitted. Well, at this moment, I didn't want to pick an argument with him when he is still being infused by needles and stuff.
I simply let it go.
I can't stand all the negative thoughts that my brain is playing in my mind, I decided to ask Dolores and Corbin out for a super early dinner, its not like I would feel better because I can tell them about my President slash Boyfriend. But I need human companion.
Plus, since he will be discharged soon, it shows that he has recovered from whichever disease he kept from me.
I questioned myself, about why I am feeling upset about the fact that he kept things from me, where I should be worrying about his health. What is wrong with me?
I'm feeling even more lonely than before, like there is an invisible wall in between Derek and I. I wasn't free to roam about in his life, let alone his time. His marriage with Grace itself posses a risk to me.
Every single time, I was reminded of the ring he wore. Even when we had sex, I felt his ring. It always served as a reminder, that I would never fully have Derek to myself.
---
'If you don't mind, I asked Captain Linton to join us.' Dolores informed me, her eyes were filled with mischief.
I sip my Ice Lemon Tea through the black straw, gawking at Dolores like what the hell what that for?
'He was asking about you, last week.' She shrugged. 'Did something not happened with him during your vacation?' She cock her head slightly.
'They went for vacation together? That escalated quickly.' Corbin shoot a look at me after he heard what Dolores said, before that, he was pretty much pasting his eyes on his phone screen, playing Angry Birds.
The drawback of being in a relationship with Derek is that, I can't share my Juliet-and-Romeo level of love towards Derek with my other friends. This is way too case sensitive, and if any news shall leak out, it will be Earth shattering.
'You are both single, give him a chance, Rachel, he is handsome, young and his salary is higher than you, what is stopping you?' Dolores shrug like I was being unfair to Tony, and I wasn't smart enough to fall for the money category. I forgive her for saying that because she is having her second glass of Mojito, clearly the alcohol is doing a little bit of talking for her.
'Next time, we shall change our group chat's name to Gold Digger in Action.' I gave a sarcastic remark at Dolores. Did she forgot that Brandon Woods is my dad? When the four million dollar is being wired to my bank account, I can even consider an early retirement.
Dolores throw me a sideway glance. At that moment, I realized Tony was walking towards us.
He wore a simple jeans, with a dark blue sweatshirt, which sculpted his toned body, I wouldn't say he is muscular, but he definitely took care of his body well. He took off his sunglasses when he reaches our table.
I requested for us to be seated outside the restaurant, I wanted to have a little Paris feel, where you sip fragrant coffee and eat buttery croissant. Not that I love coffee, but the aroma of coffee is definitely enchanting. The cafe is located just two blocks away from the White House. I guess I just miss Derek too much to have chose this location.
'Sorry, I am caught up with the parking, can't find a parking lot around here.' Tony greeted us and took a seat in front of me, because obviously that's the only seat left and obviously Dolores made the plan.
'We are just about to make an order, because Corbin did not really need to eat, he just need to fuel his body with radiation that will damage his eyes.' Dolores purse a smile, especially at Corbin. Finally he realized it, put the phone away and drift back to human world.
'Captain Linton.' Corbin greeted.
'Tony, please.' Tony took a look at me briefly after he replied Corbin. I had a feeling that he wanted to ask what happened after I left L.A. I felt really bad for him, but I told him before not to pin too much hope on me.
Dolores who seems like Mrs Bennet from Pride and Prejudice, she can't wait to marry me off to Tony Linton. 'Have you two enjoyed the vacation? Tony said you went for Korean meal together?' Dolores act as if she doesn't know a single thing about my hang out with Tony few weeks ago.
'Yes, and we went to meet my, how should I call it,' I snapped my fingers to search for the word.
'Other family?' Tony helped me.
'Yes! My other family in L.A.' I look at him, my eyes kind of hinted the word thank you at him.
'What about your dad?' Dolores asked.
'I went to meet him after I left L.A.' I looked back at Tony, hoping that I gave him a proper explanation for my sudden departure.
'I see.' He nodded and set his eyes to the menu.
'Okay, I am really hungry right now that I could eat a horse, what should we order?' Corbin took the menu and perused it.
I ordered a plate of medium well burger with fries and some salad along with it. I remember Tony told me that he practically gave up burger for his mother's kimchi. I sort of enjoy the trip with him, minus the awkwardness.
'So, have you stock up the kimchi?' I asked Tony, to filled up the emptiness because Dolores and Corbin were busy taking photos of the foods, and we are not allowed to touched them until they took a National Geography approved shot.
His expression went solemn for a moment. 'Can't find any Kimchi that is better than my mom's.' He said, propping his elbow on the table.
'How about the one at L.A?' I asked casually.
'Not bad, it's just every Kimchi taste different at every household, it's very hard to conclude whose homemade Kimchi is nicer.' He shrugged and turn his gaze away from me. I felt something wrong, like my instinct told me something is bothering him.
Is he angry with me for leaving him in that trip?
'Let the feast begin.' Queen Dolores announced.
I took the cutlery and slice my burger, but fragments of Tony's emotion inflicted my appetite somehow.
Today is not really my day at all. I chase my best friend away from my house, my boyfriend puts me last on his priority and now, even Tony Linton could turn my mood for the worst. I don't know what's with the human around me.
---
'That was nice, we should really have a food coma once in a while.' Corbin finished the last dip of avocado before he is officially done with the meal.
Food coma? I didn't even finish my food.
'You don't like the burger?' Tony asked as his eyes sends the expression of concerns.
I would love the finish everything on the plate, but today is not the day...
'I can't finished it.' I answered with a shrug.
'I'll help you finish you, if you don't mind.' Tony ask. Dolores is secretly making an exited clown face behind Tony.
'Sure, you don't mind?' I am not sure if he really means it.
'Nope.' Tony scoop the quarter of burger I can't finished onto his plate.
Corbin and Dolores looked at each other. My face blushed and I unconsciously played with my hair to distract myself. They must be thinking Tony and I should probably get married straight away.
When we are done with the meal, Tony offered to pay for us. I refused his kindness by taking my credit card as well. I am rich, like really rich, but I can't tell them because it's gonna be like I'm bragging.
'No worries, Rachel. I'll have an excuse to ask you out again next time.' Tony turn me down, gesturing my hand away and place his card on the bill.
He's is joking or is he not? I can't capture his emotion. He was acting like a moody teenager earlier, and right now, he is flirting with me.
I forgot to mention that I'm back with my boyfriend again. I never mentioned about my relationship with people like Dolores or Corbin, because they cannot keep secret to save their life. Putting things in perspective, Tony was actually the first person I mentioned about me having a boyfriend.
After the dinner, we went separate ways because Dolores have a super early flight tomorrow and Corbin is meeting his friend. That left me and Tony.
Awkward situation arise again.
'Do you need a lift home?' Tony asked. He was standing in a respectful distance away from me.
'I'm just gonna walk home.' I don't really like to go home actually, I'll be facing the wall, and the thing about Derek will attack my sanity again. Its been hours and there's no text from him as well. I thought I might just walked around the White House area like some tourist.
Tony nodded, his hand on his back. 'Can I walk with you?' He ask, suddenly.
I was dumbfounded, I never expect this to come from him. I remained on the same spot, placing my hand inside my jeans pocket, autumn is approaching and the weather is getting chilly. 'Tony?'
He just looked at me, waiting for my next sentence.
'I'm kind of back with my boyfriend again, and I thought I should let you know.'
We stand in the same spot, neither of us moving.
'Oh.' Finally, he uttered something. 'Well, I thought you would.' He slide his hand inside his pant pocket as well.
My feet took a step back, and front again. 'Are you angry with me earlier on?' I wanted to clear any misunderstanding between us, since we are working in the same place, I don't like this situation to be drag to the future.
'Did I?' He peered up, like I defamed him.
'When we talk about the Kimchi, you were aloof.' I shrugged.
'I'm sorry if I made you feel that way, Rachel.' He took a few steps back, leaned against the railing. 'Its my mom. She is not feeling very well.'
Oh God. 'What happened?' I suddenly felt ashamed for jumping into conclusion. I move closer to him, leaning on the railing as well.
Tony sigh, looking troubled. 'It might be tumor.' He said with heaviness and looked down at his grey snicker.
'I'm so sorry about that.' I look at my pumps as well. I felt sorry for him, as well as anybody who have to go through that.
'Thanks. And it felt good to actually tell somebody about it.' He nodded in agreement and look at me briefly, as if he really appreciate that I heard his trouble.
'Anytime.' I smiled weakly at him. I can't do much to make him feel better as well.
'Are you sure it's safe for you to walk home alone?' Tony pushes himself away from the railing.
'Of course.' I assure him, I don't want to further complicate our relationship. Tony never insist in sending me home eventually which I am grateful for, I waved goodbye to him and we went separate way.
If Tony never confessed his feelings for me, I would have stay for a while and have a talk about his mother. But, I guess I did the right thing that I leave.
It's complicated, everything is complicated. Even Derek is complicated, he refuse to tell me that he is in the hospital.
I am his girlfriend. Girlfriend is suppose to know his basic health and location, let alone a mistress, I wasn't just a mistress whom exchange sexual pleasure for money, I was the woman he seek shelter from his dying marriage.