Chapter 23

"Emilynn!" Andrew came over to her desk singing her name.

"Yes, Andrew," Emilyn turned around in her chair with a smile. "What can I assist you with anything?"

"Are you free tonight? Let's go to a karaoke bar."

"Karaoke? Do I have to sing?" She asked. "You know I can't really sing and don't sing in public."

"Come on, Emilyn. I know you can sing. Andrew said. "And if you don't want to sing is fine, I won't force you."

I thought about it for a while, "Fine."

"Yes." He claps his hand.

"Where are you going? Can I come too?" Savannah said.

"Oh my god, where did you come from?" Andrew places his hand on his chest.

"I sat behind Emilyn." She said.

"Sorry I didn't see you there. But you can come, more the merrier."He said. "Come on ladies, pack your things. What are you waiting for?"

Emilyn shakes her head at Andrew and packs up her things. While packing up her things, her phone rang, "Hello." She answers. "Yeah, this is she." Emilyn listen to the person's voice as the person explains the details. Slowly, Emilyn smile, turn into a frown, and tears threatening to fall. "Okay, please do. Thank you." She ends the call.

"What's wrong? Who's was that?" Andrew asks noticing the change of mood.

"Sorry, I don't think I can make it." Emilyn turn around and gave him a forced smile. "I got to go, see you guys tomorrow. Have fun." She said and quickly left the office. Pressing the elevator button repetitively, the elevator finally came. She got in and tears start to trickle down her cheek non-stop.

Soon, the elevator stops on the ground floor. Emilynwipe away her tears and walk out with her head down. She can't go home. " How am I going to tell the news to grandma?" Emilyn thought.  She saw the park across the street and decided to sit there until I know what she should do next.

Somewhere at the side, a familiar eye follows Emilyn as she makes her way to the park. He watches her and finds that something isn't right, so he follows her into the park. He spots her at the park bench with her head down. Slowly, he approaches her and sat down next to her. But she didn't notice anyone sitting right next to her.

"Lovely weather isn't it?" He said but Emilyn didn't answer. "So, why are you here?" He asked.

"I'm sorry, sir," Emilyn said without looking up. "Can you please sit somewhere else? I'm not in the talking mood right now."

"That's too bad, but I am." He said

Emilyn looks up at the stranger, "Christopher? What are you doing here?"

She finally looks up, "I saw you and decide to follow you. I felt that some things were not right." Christopher told her. "What's wrong?" He looks deeply into her eyes and saw red. He grabs her chin softly and asked, "What happen? Did someone do anything to you?"

"No." Emilyn turn away, making Christopher grip slip away from her chin.

"Emilyn, what's wrong," Christopher asked again but with a slight raise to his voice.

"I don't what to talk about it." She sigh. "If you want to sit here, please don't ask any more questions. If you still want to pester me, then please leave." Emilyn stares at her lap while swings her legs back and forth.

"Okay, I'll just accompany you here." But, receives no reply but saw a nod from her. "Do you want to play our game?" Emilyn shook her head no. "It will help to distract you from thinking whatever you are thinking now." Emilyn looks up at Christopher blankly and looks back down on her lap.

Christopher sigh, this is his first time seeing her like this, and he hated it. Christopher felt his heartbreak. "Why don't I asked the question and you just have to shake or nod your head?" Emilyn looks up at him with dry tears on her cheek, red nose, and red swollen eyes and hesitantly nods her head.

Christopher smiles, "Finally, she agrees to something." He thought.

"Okay, here is the first question. Would you rather have 1 wish granted today or 3 wishes granted in 3 years from now?" Emilyn tilts her head and put up 2 fingers. Christopher smiles at her answer and continues, "Have you tried sneaking out from school before?"Emilyn shakes her head.

"Okay, next question. Do you play any sports?" Emilyn nods. "What is it?" trying to get her to talk, but she still didn't answer. "Is fine, you can tell me next time. Next question, are you glad that you bump into me?" She nods. Her answer makes Christopher smile and warm.

"Hey, do you want to get out of here?" Christopher asked. "Come on, it will be fun." He persuades her.

"Okay." A small voice sounded in his ear. Christopher looks down at her and takes her hand in his, which makes her stand up unwillingly.

Emilyn pulls back his hand and makes him stop to look over his shoulder, "What's wrong?"

"Where are we going?" She asked, not looking at Christopher.

"We are going on a date." Emilyn looks up at Christopher and furrows her eyebrows. "Don't worry, I just push the original date that we plan to today. I just want to cheer you up. Okay?" He asked softly. She nods and Christopher tucks on her hands to bring her to his car.

***

"Here we are," Christopher said. Emilyn looks out the window and stares at it. Christopher sigh and got out to open the door for her. "Let's go," He said and put out his hand for her to hold. Emilyn took it and Christopher brought her inside the restaurant. Pulling out the chair for her and sat her down, "Order anything you want, is my treat."

There are no responses from her at all, but she flips through the menu. Christopher gave her a couple of minutes before asking her, "Are you ready to order now?" Emilyn nods her head. Christopher signal for the waiter to take their order and Emilyn just points at what she wants not uttering a single word.

Christopher sigh, thinking of any method he can get her to speak again, "I'm going to continue our game from before." Christopher looks at Emilyn for a response, but she's looking down on the table drawing circles with her finger. "Emilyn," Hecall her softly. She looks up with the only emotion that she has on her which is sadness. "Are you ready to talk about it now? Keeping it in is not going to help you, I'll be here to listen and help."

"Can...we play the questions?" She asked. Christopher let out a breath, at least she said something.

"Okay." Christopher gave her a small smile. "Would you rather have no fingers or no elbows?" He starts. She put up 2 fingers. "If you can only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?" He waited for her reply. "Can I guess?"

She nods.

"Is it pizza?" She nods with a little smile on her face.

"Next..." Christopher said but was interrupted by a small voice. "Can I ask some questions too?"

"Of course, go ahead."

"Uhmm... would you rather save the life of someone that you're close/love or 5 random strangers," Emilyn asked softly and Christopher has to lean in closer to hear the question.

"I think I would rather save someone I know. Because I am selfish, I don't want to lose someone that I love." Christopher told her. "My turn, If I give you $100 what would you do spent on?"

"I'll donate it to someone who needs it." She answers without hesitation. Christopher smile at her answer, he knew she's going to say that.

"Would you trade your sibling to be an only child?"

"Never, not in a million years. Even though they annoy me a lot, but I still love them." She gave me a smile. It is the first actual smile Christopher has seen today. "Are you feeling better?"

"A little." She answers. The food came and we ate in silence. Christopher also ordered some desserts for her, pushing them towards her. Emilyn tilts her head and looks at Christopher questioning what he was doing.

"I order this for you, it will help to cheer you up."

"Thank you." She said and continue eating her food.

They finish eating and head out. Getting into the car Christopher asked her, "Do you want to go home now?" She shook her head. "Okay? So where do you want to go?" Emilyn didn't reply, so Christopher decides to take a slow drive around town until he reaches her house.

The drive was slow and silent, he doesn't want to question her anymore, seeing that she is tired. Emilyn slept after 5 minutes of pulling out of the restaurant. Stopping at her apartment, Christopher waited until she wakes up. Christopher place his suit jacket over her just in case she gets cold, he looks at her and frown. Christopher wonders what makes her this sad.

***

"You are awake," Christopher said when he saw her fidget in the seat.

"Where am I?" Emilyn asks groggily.

"You are in my car and we have stopped in front of your apartment," Christopher told her.

"No, no." She starts shaking her head. "I don't want to go home."

"Hey, is okay." Christopher calms her down. "We can go somewhere else, okay?" She nods and finally calms down in the seat. Christopher starts the car back up and drive. "Emilyn, why don't you want to go back home? Is someone bothering you in the apartment?" He asked. "Please tell me."

"No one is bothering me, is just that..." She sigh.

"You can tell me."

After a long pause, she finally said. "I got a call this afternoon, is from the hospital." Christopher immediately knows what it is about. "They call saying that I'm not a suitable match for my grandma." Tears start pouring out of her eyes.

"I'm so sorry," Christopher said trying to comfort her while driving. "But there's another method to help her."

"I know, but that will take months and it cost a lot."

"I can help."

"No!" She said abruptly. "You don't need to help me, I can cover it. Slowly, but I'm sure it will cover." She wipes the tears that fall with the back of her hand.

Christopher sigh, "Okay, but if you need anything just call me, text me. I'm willing to help."

"Thank you." She sniffs.

"Is this why you don't want to go back home? You don't want to face your grandma telling her the news." Christopher asked.

"yes," she answers weakly. "I don't know how to break the news to her."

"You know sometimes you just have to tell her, instead of keeping it to yourself." Christopher stops the car at the gas station.

"Why did you stop here?" Emilyn asked.

"Wait here, I'm going to buy something really quick." She nods and he gets out of the car. "Here." after a minute, Christopher came back into the car. He passes her a tissue packet and a water bottle.

"Thanks." Emilyn took it.

"Are you ready to head back now? Is late and your grandma must be worried." Christopher asked her.

"Okay." She nod. Christopher put on his seatbelt and reverse the car. We reach back to her apartment in a few minutes. Emilyn looks out at the apartment and looks back down on her lap again, wringing her hands.

"Hey." Christopher places his hands on hers. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Emilyn looks at Christopher and thought for a while, "I don't want to trouble you."

"No trouble at all." Christopher gave her a smile. "Let's go."He got out of the car and head towards Emilyn side.

"You ready?" Christopher opens her car door and put out his hand for her to take it again.

Emilyn looks down at the jacket that Christopher place for her, "I'm sorry I got it slightly damp."

"Is fine," Christopher took it from her and throw it in the back seat. "Let's go." He put out his hand for her once more. Emilyn nods and places her small hands on mine. They got to the elevator, waiting for it to reach her floor. Christopher turns to look at Emilyn and saw her biting her lip and picking on her fingers.

"Hey," Christopher grab her hand. "Is going to be fine, I'll be there with you." Christopher gave her a nod. The elevator reaches Emilyn's floor and they walk out hand in hand.  Emilyn took out her keys, trembling to turn the key.

"Here, let me." Christopher took it from her and put the key in and twist it.

"Emilyn, where have you been." Grandma Lou scolds when Christopher open the door. "Where were you? You never text me that you are coming home late. Do you know how worried I am?" Grandma Lou did not realize that Christopher is standing right next to Emilyn.

"I'm sorry, grandma." Emilyn put her head down.

"Christopher?" Grandma Lou finally notices. She looks down at their hands intertwined and back at them. Emilyn notices the look her grandma gave and let go of Christopher's hand. Christopher felt empty when she let go of his hand, but this is not the right time for it.

"Hi, grandma Lou. I brought her out for dinner." Christopher told her. "We also went on a scenic night drive and that's why I brought her back late. I'm sorry is my fault." He apologizes.

"Don't blame it on yourself, is Emilyn's fault she should have texted me." Grandma Lou frowns. "At least you are back now." She sigh. "Go take a shower and head to bed." She told Emilyn. "Thanks for bringing her back." Grandma Lou said. Emilyn still didn't say anything, but just hangs her head down.

Christopher nudges Emilyn and she looks up at him. Christopher cocked his head to the side telling her to say something, but no response or movement. So he has to do something about it, "Forgive me." Christopher said under his breath. "Emilyn have something to tell you." Emilyn looks up at Christopher and frowns.

"What is it?" Grandma Lou asks but Emilyn just stares ahead.

"Emilyn, if you don't tell her. I'm going to tell her." Christopher threatens.

"What is it?" Grandma Lou said.

"I-I-I." Emilyn stutters and can barely form a sentence or a word.

"I'll tell her," Christopher told Emilyn. "Emilyn, receive a call today is from the hospital." He starts "They told her that her liver doesn't match yours."

"Oh." Grandma Lou said softly. "Come here." She gesture for Emilyn to come towards her. Emilyn moves slowly but reaches her grandma. Her grandma pulls her into a hug. "My sweet baby girl, you shouldn't worry yourself over this." She comforts her. "There is always another way."

"I know." Emilyn voice wobbled.

"Christopher, do you mind giving us a minute?" Her grandma asked Christopher while still holding a sobbing Emilyn.

"Sure, no problem," Christopher said and left to go to the kitchen.

A/N: Hey, hey my reader. Have you guys waited so long for this chapter, I'm sorry for the wait. Here is another chapter for you guys, hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I do. To be honest, this chapter is a little sad.

Anyways, see you guys next time.