BECAUSE I LIKE YOU

Kai

As I exited Alvara's house, I couldn't stop smiling to myself as Christopher, my chauffeur who had been standing by the car door opened up for me. 

Climbing in, I let out a hearty laugh. I hadn't expected Alvara to give into my requirements for marriage but she had. 

She must be really eager to settle the scores with Williams. 

Since she'd just gotten divorced, I suggested our marriage should be put off until we'd gotten back everything Williams took from her. 

Till then, we would be engaged and she would have to move into my house as I possibly couldn't let her stay in that half-empty house much longer. 

She agreed without putting up a fight. 

I was still laughing when my chauffeur, Christopher climbed into the driver's seat and started the car. 

“You seem to be in a good mood, sir“ Christopher noticed. “Did your talk with my lady go well?“

“Oh, it went well alright“ 

“I'm glad to hear that. Where to now, sir? Should I take you home?“

No. Alvara would need some time alone at my place. I needed to take a detour rather than going home straight. 

“To the pub bar“ I ordered. “I should drop by there and say hi to Williams just to get on his nerves“ 

“On it, sir“ 

Soon after, we'd arrived at Dinah's pub bar. Climbing down from the car, I strolled in. 

As expected, my beloved brother was already seated by the bartender's counter drinking alone. There was an empty chair beside him so I took it. 

“Fancy meeting you here, brother. What a coincidence“ 

“What are you doing here, Kai?“ Williams asked, sipping the glass of whiskey in his hand. 

“I came to see my dear brother, of course“ 

Turning to the bartender, I requested. “A martini, shaken not stirred“ 

The bartender nods as he gets to it. A few minutes later, he returned with my order. 

Taking a sip of the martini, I let out a deep sigh. “That's good stuff. The martini tastes better today than usual. I guess it's because you and Alvara finally got divorced“ 

Williams chuckled. “So, you've heard. Did you come here to lecture me? Is that what this is?“ 

“Lecture you? I'm actually here for quite the opposite reason“ I admit. “I'm here to thank you for letting Alvara go“

“Save your breath. She still isn't going to come around to fall in love with the likes of you“ Williams advised. “I mean, you've been around her for what? 5years and she'd never noticed you. Rather, she chose and married me“ 

“You know what you should be doing instead, Kai?“ He continued. “You should be thanking me. If I never married her to spite you, she never would have acknowledged your existence“ 

I slammed my fist hard against the bar counter. 

“Enough, you piece of shit“ I growled. “I'll make you regret ever hurting Alvara in the first place“ 

“Do your worst, brother. You know I'm not just going to sit back and watch“ 

“Good. That would just make things boring“ 

Calling the bartender over, I tipped him and strolled out of the bar. 

I was fine for a while until the martini kicked it, making me trip over my footing but fortunately Christopher caught me just in time. 

“Sir, are you alright?“ He asked.

I nod. “Just a bit tipsy. Christopher, take me home“ 

He helps me to the car and drives off to my place. I hadn't noticed how dark it had become. 

Hopefully Alvara would be asleep by now. I didn't want to show up drunk in front of her. 

“We're here, sir“ Christopher announces. “Oh, there's a woman waiting in front of your front lawn, sir“ 

Peeking outside the window through one eye, I spotted Alvara wrapped in a white shawl as she stood outside. 

She looked like she was freezing. 

“That woman!“ I cursed, climbing down from the car and approaching her. “What are you doing out here in the cold?“

“I was waiting for you“ She replied. “Did you drink?“

“Yes“ I admit. “Why? You don't like the smell of alcohol?“

“It's not that. You just reminded me of Williams for a split second“ 

Fuck, Williams again. 

“Help me inside, please“ I asked. She leads me in.

Then, I distanced myself away from her as I walked over to the kitchen fridge, pulled out a bottle of water and gulped down its entire liquid in a hurry. 

Alvara whisks the empty bottle out of my hands. “Hey, slowly down or you're going to choke“ 

“I'd rather choke on water than remind you about Williams“ I admitted, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ears. “I'm sorry for coming home drunk tonight. I won't do it again“ 

“If you want to drink, Kai. You're totally free to-“ 

“I won't drink anymore“ I interrupt. “I'm not that scumbag, Williams. I'm different“ 

What was I even saying for pete's sake? I still sounded partly drunk. Fuck, I hope she wasn't disgusted by me. 

Not after I've come this far to get Alvara to be mine.

“Tell me daily the things you like and things you dislike“ I continued. “We're going to be spending the rest of our lives together so I want to get to know you and be the kind of man you approve of“ 

“Let's have this conversation some other time when you're more clear headed, Kai“ Alvara suggests. “For now, let's get you to bed“ 

She was trying to avoid having this conversation. I get it. I thought I could wait for as long as she needed. But what if she's never able to move on from Williams? 

What then becomes of me?

“I'm sober, Alvara. I really am“ I admit. “And I'm not ranting out a bunch of nonsense. I meant it when I said I want to get to know you better. I want you to like me“

She looked taken back. I should stop whatever nonsense it was that spewed out of my mouth but I couldn't control myself. 

“W-Why?“ She asked. “Why do you want that?“ 

“Because I like you, Alvara“ I admit. “Fuck, I've liked you for the past 5years“