Chapter 9 Go home

Can you help me?

"For what?" I don't understand what he meant.

"For umm..like... Kinda winning her heart over?" He said a bit hesitantly.

"Woah... Woah... Woah.. . Are you serious? I mean for her?" I asked, as I needed to know. I didn't know what kind of person he was, nor did I know anything about Anyee.

He nodded his head in agreement. He has a calm face, and I was certain he was telling the truth.

"I'm not certain if I can help you or not. I mean, you guys know each other better than me. I mean, I don't know much about her or about you properly. Please don't get me wrong. But I'm sorry, Rick." I said this. I wanted to help him. But I didn't think I would be of much help... And more importantly, I didn't know these things because I had never been in a relationship.

"It's okay , you don't have to..." he said, a layer of disappointment covering his face.

"Thank you for understanding," I said to him. He nodded.

I headed out of the elevator. When I reached my desk, I saw Anyee standing there waiting for me.

"Where were you? I thought you were with me. I literally talk to myself the whole way here."

I laughed at her.

"Don't you try to laugh away my anger. " she said, pouting.

"Sorry, don't be angry," I said, reaching for my ears.

"It's okay. Since you are nice to me, let's be friends." Her face, which was pouting at me, just now lit up once again.

"Ok. From this moment on, Anyee and Riley are friends." I take my hand towards her.

"Till the death," she said as she shook hands with me.

I laughed with her. Maybe I'm this happy after a long time. Now I have two friends. It feels good to have some more friends.

"It's good to have more friends. Right?? But I don't have any friends here. I mean, that idiot is my friend, but you know he works on another floor, and we only met at lunch." Wow,she really called Rick an idiot twice today.

"I feel the same." I smiled at her.

"Really, it looks like we're close friends now that we feel the same," she said with a lot of excitement.

"Yep. Now go to your desk, or our manager will cut out our half salary," I said, pushing her towards her desk.

It was a long day. I got so tired today.

When Anyee and I were going out, Rick joined us. Anyee looked at him and said, "Hey idiot, Riley and I are friends now. So treat her well or else I will kick your ass."

"When did I treat her badly? And we're friends too. Right Riley?? " Rick looked at me.

"Umm...I guess so," I said as I looked at Anyee.

"And you guys never told me." Anyee started pouting again. Did I mention before she looked cute?

"I don't think it was necessary." Rick teased Anyee even more.

I looked at them, and I couldn't help but smile. They looked super cute together.

"When did you guys become friends?" she looked at me.

I don't want to tease her. She was already annoyed. I looked at her and said, "Just now."

Then I turned to Rick and said, "Hey, I'm Anyee's colleague and her friend. Rilley Wilson. " I moved my hand toward Rick.

"And I'm Rick. Best friend of this stupid girl." Rick took out his hand and shook it with mine. Then he looked at Anyee. "Happy now?" he asked.

"More than happy," said Anyee as she pulled both of us into a group hug.

I feel someone's gaze on me. And from the corner of my eye, I saw a car. I know exactly who was inside the car.

"Let's go now," I said, breaking the group hug.

"Let me drive you today," Anyee said.

"No," I refused quickly. Then I regretted it.

"Why?"" Rick asked as he looked at me with confused eyes.

"I... I mean, I'll go with you tomorrow. And we'll have an ice cream chat after work. But not today. Okay?" I said.

" Tomorrow. Sure right? " Anyee said, "You rejected me yesterday also."

"Yeah,Promise . And let's go in one car tomorrow. It'll be fun," I said to them.

"But we have two." Anyee looked at her car and Rich's car.

I looked at Rick and signaled to him to grab the opportunity.

He understood and said, "Don't worry, I'll pick you up on my way to the office and drop you off on our way home."

"Cool then," said Anyee.

Rich looked at me and said, "Thank you." I mean, he was not even making a sound, but I know it was a thank-you.

"Ok, then see you guys tomorrow?" I looked at them and said.

"See you girls." Rich went into his car as well as Anyee.

I waved bye to them.

After they left, I walked towards the car. When I reached there, I opened the passenger seat and got inside.

Inside was a man around fifty. He was holding a burned cigarette in his hands. He was cold and aloof, carrying a cold aura around him. I looked at the driver in the front seat. The driver was not looking at me. Yes, I am familiar with this driver and this car. I have been in this car a lot of times before. And this driver has been driving this car.

"Dad," I said, forcing my tear back and trying to sound as if I was not affected. "Why are you here?"

"To take you home," said Dad, pushing the burned ash off of his cigarette.

"I'm not going," I said, looking away. I remembered everything that happened a few days ago when he wasn't here. I was holding back my tears. And damn,it's hard.

"Why?" he asked. "Look at me."

I looked at him.

"Even if I am having a crash at my business now, I am still able to afford my family's expenses. I can still support my family. " I knew he was hurt. I can see that in his eyes.

I quickly looked away. If I looked at him once more, I wouldn't be able to keep myself from crying. He was hurt. And I had hurt him.

"When did you return?" I tried to change the topic.

"This morning. Now let's go home," he said again.

"I want to live on my own," I said to him, but my voice was barely audible. I doubted if my voice was shaking.

I can no longer hold myself together. I need to get out of here. I unlocked the car door and was about to leave when dad said

"Now that you are grown up, you don't need us anymore." I could tell he was sad from his voice. Maybe he was crying.

I halted for a moment, but I didn't stop. I didn't know if he knew that I knew the fact, but I knew he was referring to my adoption. I opened the door and got outside. Then I moved forward without looking back. And dad didn't stop me either.

I moved as fast as I could. After the car was out of sight, I ran. I ran like a stupid little girl. When I reached the apartment, I closed the door behind me and leaned over it. I covered my mouth and finally let go of my tears.

I'm sorry, dad. I don't want to hurt you. Dad, I'm sorry for making you cry. You were the one who saved me and gave me this life. If it weren't for you guys,who knows if I would be alive this day? Dad You were the one who loved me unconditionally. Dad Your little girl is still the same. She hasn't grown in the slightest. I'm still your crying baby, and I still need you. I need you today as much as I needed you while I was unconscious in the forest.

 Dad,im sorry. I can't go home... I don't want that to happen to me again. I don't want Sarah to hate me. I don't want to see or feel that my mom never loved me. I don't want to accept all of this. I'd rather say all of this is a misunderstanding... I want all of this to be a lie. But I know this is the truth, and I can't do anything about it.

I can't go home. I don't want to be unfair to Sarah. I don't want her to share her parents; I don't want to create problems for her.

I cried for a long time. I don't know how long I've been crying. I drag my lifeless body to bed. I opened my eyes and went to bed. I was so exhausted from crying that I slept for a while.