I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
116. Fact

Ariel fell to her feet as she lost her strength and could not support her own body, leaving the bedroom door open.

"What was that noise? Are you okay sa-ja?"

Joel was stunned for a moment when he saw Ariel fall down. Not because he did not want to help immediately, but how Ariel's situation at that time made him have to be able to control his feelings.

"Why should you get out of bed? Your body is still weak" said Joel while helping Ariel sit back and correct the position of the jacket on Ariel's body.

"I'm soaked in sea water, it'll just dirty your clothes and bed" Ariel said.

"That's a trivial thing, Ariel. Why do you have to think about that simple thing? You don't have to think about it, okay?" greet Joel.

"Just put it on, then lie down and go to sleep" said Joel.

Joel turned his body around, no longer going out leaving Ariel alone.

"Wear it now, I'm not going out, and again I can't see you in this position" Joel said.

Ariel let out a long sigh, but obeyed Joel's request. His hand lowered the jacket he was wearing, then replaced it with a sweeter that Joel gave him.

"I'm done" said Ariel.

Joel turned around and could not help but laugh as Ariel raised both of her hands while looking at Joel with raised eyebrows.

"Now what? Did I lose both hands or something else?" ask Ariel.

The sweeter that Ariel wore was too big for her small body. The sweeter arm is even longer than his own.

"At least it'll keep you warm" Joel greeted after his laughter subsided.

"I can't do anything either because it's a sweeter with my size" Joel chuckled softly.

Joel raises Ariel's leg up on the bed, covering her body with a blanket.

"Rest!" joel rubbed Ariel's head.

"I don't want to sleep" said Ariel.

"But you need it" said Joel.

"But I don't want to see that dream anymore" Ariel replied.

"Dreams?" reload Joel frowned.

Ariel nodded slowly. Joel's outstretched hand grabbed Ariel's hand, squeezing it gently and lovingly.

"Will you tell me?" please Joel.

"At least, if it feels like a burden to you, share that burden with me, you don't have to bear the burden yourself" Joel said gently.

Ariel was silent for a moment before taking a deep breath before saying.

"I dreamt back to my past" said Ariel.

"The time when I was nine, and it reminded me of the reason why I never wanted to learn or know anything about swimming,"

Joel listened without interrupting as Ariel paused for a moment to take a breath.

"At that time there was a grown man who always came to my house just to snatch the money I made from work, that man also always carried a stick in his hand,"

"Whenever he wanted it, he used the stick to hit me if he didn't get the money and put me in the pool,"

The silence lasted for a few moments.

"I hardly remember that until today, but somehow the dream came. The way how the guy pulled and threw me into the pool_,,,"

Joel leaned over and clasped Ariel tightly.

"Don't go on, that's enough. I'm sorry," whispered Joel to Ariel.

"Do you know? I also dreamt that you said sorry repeatedly," Ariel chuckled softly.

"I also saw you crying" he added.

"Oh shut up,!" greet Joel.

"Don't remind me that part again. I'm really scared of losing you. I'm sorry I didn't act like an adult, and I just stuck to myself to forget about you" Joel said.

"I didn't put my jealousy right, I just kept worrying that you were leaving me,"

"Sorry,,,"

Joel continued to say with a deep tone of regret. What Joel said made Ariel think of Mr. Evrad. And he realized it had to be talked about right now. Slowly Ariel pushed Joel away.

"I, I don't know if I can stay with you" Ariel said.

"What do you mean?" welcome Joel to surprise.

"I'm sorry to have said such harsh words to you, I'm sorry that I didn't believe you in the first place, what should I do for you to forgive me?" joel asked, holding Ariel's hand.

"I still want this relationship back" Joel said expectantly.

"I'll do anything, whatever you want I'll do_,,,"

"Sshhh,,,"

"Give me time to settle my affairs with Mr. Evrad" said Ariel, smiling gently, but smiling sadly at the same time.

"All the news has been spread, how will it be if I stay with you? Your reputation as a doctor you've built up over the years will be blurred in seconds, and I don't want that to happen" Ariel said.

"I don't care, everyone is free to comment anything, the most important thing for me is that I can stay with you" Joel said.

"But I care, Joel. More than very caring" Ariel replied.

Joel was drowned, not knowing how to accept what Ariel had just said.

"Part together, and give me time to settle my affairs with Mr. Evrad," said Ariel.

"Not necessary,"

Jesica's voice suddenly sounded interrupting the two of them. He stood in the doorway with his hands folded and a mischievous smile on his face looked at Ariel and Joel alternately. Behind Jesica is Bram with his face down.

"You don't have to deal with that shitty guy anymore, it's done" Jesica said.

"You mean?" ariel was confused.

"I've silenced the media. Well, thanks to Bram as well actually," Jesica raised her shoulders as if unwillingly for saying help from Bram.

"With all the evidence Bram has gathered it makes it easier to move it out of the business world" Jesica said.

"Hey, he's still my father" Bram said.

"And you call it old shitty," replied Jesica.

Bram was silent for a moment, feeling cornered.

"Mr Evrad has been blacklisted, and he won't be able to bother you anymore, hopefully his son won't either" Jesica gave a quick glance at Bram.

"Tell me what you want to say instead of just giving me satire" Bram said.

"I'm impressed you realize that I'm insinuating you" Jesica replied.

"You,,," Bram sizzled.

"Look who's back to his annoying attitude" Bram sneered.

"Ahh, thank you, you're so good to remember my attitude" said Jesica. "That touched me" he added.

"Ugh,,,,"

Bram grunted irritably unable to chimed in on Jesica's words, while Ariel and Joel looked at each other then let out a long sigh while putting their palms on their heads and chuckling softly.

"Uhm, Jessi, can you tell me how you do it?" ask Ariel.

Jesica turned her pandagan and faced Ariel. He began to step closer where Ariel sat leaning on the bed with Joel beside her.

"Remember when we met at a bistrot not far from the studio?" ask Jesica.

Ariel nodded slowly.

"Thanks to you not saying anything to me and not showing your dislike when you see me, it makes it easier to get close to Mr. Evrad,"

"I need to pretend to be her doll so that I can freely enter her. And the same thing Bram did to get all the evidence of what illegal things were done"

"Of course it's a little difficult because I also have to keep the company that Bram manages, because the way he uses is clean,"

"And you know what? There's one foreign server that helped delete all your personal information, but I failed to investigate who it was,"

Jesica's explanation succeeded in making Joel stunned. Many questions came to his mind, but it was hard to express them all.

"Why did you go that far, Jessi?" ask Ariel.

"Since when,,?"

"How,,,?"

The same is true for Ariel and Bram. Various questions came to their minds, staring at Jesica who wanted to ask for answers but also could not issue a single question.

"Hahhh,,," said Jesica.

Jesica let out a long sigh realizing it was time for her to tell the truth.

"Well, I'll say everything because it's done" Jesica said.

Jesica pulled up a chair not far from the bed, while Bram sat on the edge of the bed behind Joel.

"I hope, this doesn't affect anything because what I'm going to say, the four of us are in the same circle" Jesica said.

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To be Continued...