Chapter 120 - Boys Don't Cry

Hearing John, Arabella tripped the glass of her wine and it directly fell on the table with the wine scattered on the white cloth.

“Are you okay?” Damien’s voice was worried while picking up the glass.

“Uh...Yeah... Sorry. Don’t mind me. I am just a little clumsy sometimes.” Arabella let go of a smile but a fake one just to pacify the audience but her voice was staggering due to her shock.

How could she smile hearing Capital Z?

What a small world!

“Do you know someone in capital Z?” John looked at Arabella with a wide smile.

“No!” Arabella was almost shouting that made everyone stunned. “Sorry… I mean… I didn’t know anyone there.” She lied. There’s no point in bringing up her past to everyone. She already buried her dark past and there's no need to dig it out.

“Aunt Lira, are you going to leave us? Isn’t that country too far from our place? Can we visit you there?” Adam had sensed something different in his mom so he’s up for rescuing her.

“Sure, Adam. You are welcome to visit me and uncle John anytime.” Lira replied without any clue that Arabella was already so uneasy with the topic.

“That’s great to hear. Then I’m not gonna miss you so bad, Aunt Lira.” Adam with a rosy chubby face blinked at his aunt.

“When is your flight?” Damien asked again looking at Lira. It seemed his question was always for her and only her to answer.

“We fly tomorrow.” Lira smiled at Damien showing him what she said to him the other time. What they had was nothing. There’s no backing out and now, her decision was already fixed.

Damien didn’t reply but his deep eyes looked at her. Lira was a bit curious about what Damien’s thinking but she didn’t want to dwell with it anymore. She was going to live without him.

The dinner went well. Arabella was a little upset about losing Lira but she was happy for her. She could not lock Lira beside her forever. What made her upset the most was she could not even see her anymore as she never wanted to visit Capital Z again.

Not now. Not ever.

With a heavy heart, Lira packed all her things while her tears uncontrollably flowing down her cheeks. She didn’t expect her life would take a leap out of a sudden as she never thought of betraying her boss. It pained her so much thinking about what she had done. Even though she didn’t want to leave the family, she had to. Leave them as far away as she can.

Then a knocked on her door sounded. Lira quickly wiped her tears away and stood up to open the door.

With a sad face, Arabella was standing behind Lira’s door.

When the door opened, Arabella dashed inside and hugged Lira so tight.

Lira hugged her too. They seemed to know what they wanted to say to each other just by hugging. Then they both cried hugging. It was a sad scene for the two who had been together for so long and now they had to separate ways.

Lira was not just her assistant but also her friend, a sister, and a family.

“I’m gonna miss you.” Arabella said while crying on Lira’s back.

“Me too. Please always be happy with Adam, Ms. J.” Lira said with sincerity. She could not mention Damien’s name.

“I will. I wish you happiness too, Lira. Please take care always.” Arabella wiped her tears. As she was always abandoned in the past, it’s hard for her to say goodbye to the person who helped her and never left her side.

“Thank you, Ms. J.” Lira replied while her tears continuously flowing and she didn’t bother to wipe them.

Then another knocked was heard. Lira opened it and was surprised to see Adam who had no smile on his chubby face. He seemed lonely and sad too.

“Mom?” Adam was surprised to see Arabella inside his Aunt Lira’s room. He seemed expecting to see Aunt Lira alone.

“Yes. Adam. What brought you here?” Arabella smiled seeing her little kiddo’s expression. Adam was not so emotional so she was also surprised that he made an effort to see his Aunt Lira for the last time.

“Hmmm… Don’t tell me you missed me already.” To break the sadness in the air, Lira tried to joke at Adam. She actually missed already her frenemy relationship with the kid. For the last time, Lira wanted to have fun with Adam.

“Hmmmp! You wish!” The chubby cheek moved up and down when he acted annoyed. The corners of his lips twitched showing his annoyance to his Aunt Lira. He didn’t want to be teased at this time. He never wanted someone to see his weakness.

“Okay, so why are you here?” Lira didn’t want to stop teasing Adam as this is her last to play with him.

“Hmmmp! Nothing!” Adam replied with an annoyed tone but he had really something to give her but not with the presence of his mom as he knew, his mom would go crazy.

“Okay, Adam. That’s enough. Hug Aunt Lira now and wish her luck.” Arabella had always been their referee.

“Fine.” With a still annoyed tone, she came forward and hugged his Aunt Lira.

“Wherever you are going, you can’t find anyone who’s more handsome and smarter than me.” Adam muttered more liked whispering at her Aunt Lira.

Lira couldn’t help to chuckle behind him. This boy was arrogant but he was true. Lira had no doubt about what he said. She then hugged him very tightly.

“Please take care of your mom. Be brave and don’t get bully.” Lira whispered at him.

“Aunt Lira, don’t miss me too much.” Adam rolled his eyes while whispering. He was sweet but didn’t want to be recognized as he is.

“Of course, I will miss you so much, Adam. Be a good boy.” Lira hugged Adam tightly as her tears flowed again. She couldn’t hold it not to cry for this little fellow.

Showing his bravery, Adam held his tears with all his might. He didn’t want anyone to laugh at him if he cried.

As the saying goes, boys don’t cry.

As for him, boys should protect someone they love. They should not be fragile. They should be reliable and responsible. Not like his dad.

“Lira, don’t worry about us. Please know that you are one of my reliable and trusted friends.” Arabella announced how grateful she was to have Lira.

Upon hearing Arabella’s words, Lira released more tears. Her boss’ words were so much pleasing to hear but she was not worth it. She was not a good friend.

She betrayed her.

It was unforgivable.

Her guilt was killing her inside. The intense pain in her heart was her punishment and she had to sacrifice being away from them.

Morning came, Arabella asked Damien to send Lira to the airport as she had an important meeting in Adam’s school again.

Lira was sitting on her bed for the last time. Her eyes wandered around her room and reminisced her happy moments inside the house with Arabella and Adam. They were her family after she left the orphanage. Now, she needed to face and go on a new journey without them. Her heart was heavy and in pain just the thought of not seeing them again. Then her tears rolled down again uncontrollably until she heard the beeping sound of a car outside.

It’s Damien.

Lira stood up quickly, got her luggage, and strode out but she stopped when she saw something on the floor. With a curious expression, she squatted and got it then she ran off.

Seeing Lira coming, Damien helped her with her luggage and put it in the trunk.

“Hi.” Lira greeted him with a smile but he didn’t reply. He didn’t even glare at her.

When everything was already in the trunk, Damien quickly went back to his seat without opening her door. Lira followed without complaints.

“Here.” Inside his car, Damien finally spoke while driving. He gave her a paper bag.

Lira was a bit stunned. Is he giving her a farewell gift? She was blushed a bit.

Then she opened it to end her curiosity.

After seeing what’s inside, she tried not to be affected by it. She tried to relax her mind.

What did she expect?

A gift from him?

Funny but yes. She expected something special from him. Though how many times she denied him and resent him, she still couldn’t teach her heart. Eventually, she believed time and distance would heal everything in her.

With the things inside, she knew he was determined to erase her in his life. He wanted to get rid of the evidence about the passionate night they had shared.

Inside was her torn dress that night and her undies. She suppressed her pain and showed him that she was not affected by it. Well, it’s actually a good thing that they have the same goal.

To bury that night.

“Thanks for the time.” Lira said with her heart though she knew if not for Arabella who asked him to bring her to the airport, she wasn’t sure if Damien would give her his precious time.

Damien didn’t reply but she was sure he heard her. His eyes were focused on the road.

The airport was a bit far. Lira was already suffocated with Damien. The more she wished to arrive immediately, the more the time dragged so slow.

They arrived at the airport without Damien saying a single word to her.

He helped her with her luggage and when he was about to go back to his car, Lira hugged him very tightly.

For some reason, she couldn’t help it. She hated herself for doing it but she won’t miss this chance to hug him one last time.

Damien was stunned but he allowed her.

Without saying anything, they hugged in front of the airport.

“Thank you for everything.” Lira whispered behind him. Those were the only words her heart wanted to say to him.

Damien still didn’t reply.

“Honey, you are here. Let's go.” John sounded behind them.

Lira suddenly detached herself from Damien.

“Thank you again. We need to go.” Lira said while she gritted her teeth. She was holding her tears to fall. She had to show Damien that she was happy with her decision. With a smile, she strode away from him while hooking her arm on John’s waist.

'Goodbye Damien. What we have is very special to me but I hope I will never see you again.' With a sad heart, Lira had it in her mind.

Damien just looked at her without expression until Lira was gone from his sight.

Inside the plane, Lira let out everything. All her emotions and tears that she was holding earlier in front of Damien broke and like a river flowed unstoppably. She was sobbing like a lost puppy. John on her side looked at her while tapping her shoulder to comfort her.

“Don’t worry everything will be alright. Someday you will forget him.” John said to comfort her.

The night had come, everyone inside the plane was already sleeping except Lira. Then she remembered the small envelope she got on the floor. It seemed someone slipped it to her room using the small opening between the door and the floor.

Out of her curiosity, she got it from her pocket and opened it. She then pulled out something inside the envelope.

A letter from Adam.

‘Aunt Lira,

Just in case you need help there, you can see this person. He is my friend.

Xoxo,

Adam’

Lira was surprised and overwhelmed by Adam’s concern. Adam is really something. He didn’t show his worries but he was very concerned about her. Undoubtedly, he would grow up a good and reliable man.

At the bottom of the paper, there was a business card attached. It was crumpled and obviously shredded but glued piece by piece.

The words were still readable but the logo and some portions were ruined.

Bill Sky

CEO

Sky Corporation

Capital Z