I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
117. Truth

"I hope this doesn't affect anything because what I'm about to say is related to the four of us coincidentally being in the same circle,"

Jesica took a deep breath. His gaze met with Ariel, showing a great regret.

"Honestly, that evil thought wasn't a fake, when you were with Bram, I was attracted to him at the time, too,"

"I was in a relationship with Joel at the time, rather still with him,"

"I feel like I'm at my lowest because I feel like I've betrayed you, and I want to quit,"

"Until the moment I knew that Mr. Evrad had sanctioned your relationship with the intention of making you a pawn in his business, it made me discourage my intention to step down,"

"I set a trap that trapped me inside. And it makes me hurt you," Jesica looked at Ariel.

"At the same time I hurt you, Jo, too,"

Jesica turns to Joel and is bowed.

"That's not justified whatever the reason, I know that, but letting you into Mr. Evrad's grasp really makes me unable to keep quiet. It'll just repeat your past life" Jesica said.

"Wait a minute, what do you mean by repeating the past?" ariel asked to straighten up her body.

Jesica smiled wryly, feeling heavy to tell the truth.

"The little girl who was separated from her parents and you always protected her when a grown man beat you both up. You're even trying to get that little girl back with her parents even if it's spending all the money you've made working in a burger shop,"

"I can understand if you forget about that, because before that you took a blow to your head until you were treated for a few days,"

Jesica's statement silenced those who could only listen. To put out a single word to interrupt, they could not find the right word.

"How do you know about all that?" ariel asked after managing to master her shock.

"That little girl, that girl, is right in front of you, Ariel" Jesica said.

"WHAT,,???" ariel was surprised.

"Both of my parents found me thanks to the photos you shared, and they took me while I was asleep in the hospital to look after you,"

"I woke up when they took me to another city. As hard as I forced them to come back to see you, they didn't let me go. They're just giving me money as a token of gratitude and asking your boss to deliver a message that I'm back with my parents,"

A pause of silence lasted for a few moments, until Jesica continued the story.

"As long as I was there, I kept thinking of ways I could be wherever I wanted and do whatever I wanted,"

"And the only way is for me to take over my parents' company and set up my own company,"

"When I did it and came back, you were no longer there. Your house even turned into a nightclub,"

"And the one who founded the nightclub is the same one who always hit you,, sir Evrad,"

"Hey, what do you mean?" bram gripped Jesica's shoulder.

"You're not the only one who's surprised by that fact here" jolted Jesica over Bram's hand.

"I can tell you this after I've been in contact with you, do you think I'm saying something like this for no reason? Do you think I'm stupid?" cecar Jesica stared intently at Bram's eyes making him shut up.

"How do you think I'll react when I hear this when Ariel is also in touch with you?"

"The only way I think about it is that I have to be in the same world to fight it, the business world and think the same as it seems so that I can catch it,"

"To catch a criminal, I also have to think like a criminal. But, it's on you, '" regretted Jesica looking at Ariel.

"After I could see you again, and I was happy about it, shortly after, you met Bram,"

"I swear never knowing about Bram before, I myself was very surprised when I found out Bram was the son of Mr. Evrad. I found out after you've been in a relationship for a few years. Until I had no choice but to play with fire in consequence of you hating me,"

"Make Mr. Evrad go crazy when he finds out your name is crawling up in the music world. And I can't if I have to wait any longer,"

"That's why I acted like I had been her puppet for a few months, and I got the result. Best result, I got additional evidence from Bram,"

Ariel could not say a word to respond to Jesica's statement. How Jesica had sacrificed so much for her.

Now, he also realized, he's not the only one who got hurt here. But they all felt the same hurt.

"At first I thought I could solve this quickly, but I didn't expect five years wasn't even enough. And when Mr. Evrad says I should get you, I can no longer be so careful and choose to take risks,"

"Without guessing, help came from both directions, and it really got the matter done,"

Jesica let out a long breath, he lifted his gaze and looked at Ariel who still seemed to have difficulty digesting what he had just heard.

"I'm sorry, Ariel. I was guilty, I realized it from the beginning and kept doing it. Regardless of the reason, I still make mistakes, I will accept it if you hate me and I promise I will not bother you anymore" Jesica said.

"When I saw that woman pushing you, and at the same time I couldn't do anything, I realized one thing that I didn't want to lose my best friend a second time_or maybe a third time," jesica said sincerely.

Ariel was still staring at Jesica's bead. He doesn't know what to say in a situation like this. A second later, Ariel gave a warm smile, feeling it was the best thing she could do to ease Jesica's guilt and twist her body to face him.

"I forgave you a long time ago, do you still not understand, Jessi?" greet Ariel.

"And after you told me all that, it became a stronger reason that I should have forgiven you. If I had known from the beginning, I would have forgiven you sooner, I wouldn't have even thought of hating you" Ariel said.

Jesica approached and hugged Ariel tightly. The thing that used to be the habit of the two of them and had stretched, now re-established, even became a stronger bond than before.

"I'm sorry for you too, Jo. It's really embarrassing when I have to keep bothering you just to test you whether you're worthy of her or not" Jesica said, shuddering. "You're more than a proper word for Ariel" he added.

"Stay, I'm guilty of you. And please don't get me wrong, it doesn't mean I made you a stepping stone or whatever you call it, but what I did to you in the past has nothing to do with Ariel. I'm the one who's too lousy to take care of my own heart" Jesica said.

"I forgave you when you gave your jacket to Ariel and ignored yourself. It made me realize you weren't as bad as I thought, and maybe Ariel's guess was true" Joel replied.

"Ah yes, one more person," said Jesica turned to look at Bram.

"I didn't even mean it" said Bram.

"Good," replied Jesica.

"Can I join you, ladies and gentlemen?"

Charlie interrupts them by standing on the doorstep with Ken beside him. Folded both hands and smiled broadly.

"It was like seeing a drama in a movie theater" Charlie said.

"We go out" replied Jesica.

"There's one patient who needs rest here" he continued.

"Not a bad idea, considering they need to talk after a few days of fighting," teased Bram.

"Arrangled?" reset Charlie.

"Who?" ask Charlie.

Joel and Ariel look at each other, reluctant to say anything that would make Charlie even more tempting.

"All right, we're talking outside. I still need to ask you something related to today" Charlie said.

Charlie turned his gaze to Ariel and said again.

"Sorry, Ariel. I can't just let go of him, but he's proven guilty anyway. And the mistake was not just this time," Charlie said.

"I understand, sorry for weighing you down," greeted Ariel listlessly.

"Hey, what do you mean? You're not burdening anyone. If you want me to feel better, then take a break" Charlie smiled as he blinked.

Charlie turns around and leaves with Ken, followed by Bram and Jesica. Before closing the door, Jesica turned back to Ariel, then to Joel.

"Just tell me if I need to lock the door from the outside, I'll do it with pleasure" Jesica said, winking her eyes.

"JESICA,,,!!!" wrath Joel while throwing a pillow, but close faster.

"Is Jesica really this kind of person? He's a lot different than the Jesica I know" Joel said.

"As far as I know, he likes to act at will" replied Ariel.

Joel turned back to face Ariel, rubbing her nape awkwardly.

"Uhm, do you want anything?" ask Joel.

Ariel nodded softly, "No,"

"Eat or drink something_,,,?"

"Joel,," cut Ariel.

"Hm, Yes? Is there something you want?" greet Joel.

"Thank you" said Ariel.

"For?" joel asked, frowning.

"Thank you for saving me" said Ariel.

"Please don't say that," Joel replied back to sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I'm the only one who should thank you for staying here, right now, and with me" Joel said.

"And, please take back the words you said earlier, I want our relationship to return to its original state" Joel said.

"You don't have to deal with that person anymore" he added.

There was a long pause of silence between them, growing anxiety in Joel's mind, until when Ariel nodded her head, a sigh of relief and a smile of happiness could not be hidden from her face, making Joel spontaneously hold Ariel tightly.

...>>>>>>>--<<<<<<<<...

###A few months later...

I don't know since when, the friendship between the four of them got stronger. They get together more often on weekends and evenings. Charlie and Ken also seem to get closer as time goes on. Ken no longer even shies away when it comes to meeting his family and can say with pride that he has a great brother by his side.

In a cafe, some couples are enjoying coffee to accompany their afternoon or just warm their bodies. One of them, Ariel stopped sitting while reading a book, until a waiter interrupted his activities to put down his order.

"Excuse me, please order it," the waiter gave his signature friendly smile.

"Thank you" Ariel smiled back.

The servant simply nodded and left immediately. Ariel glanced at her watch and exhaled afterwards. His hand opened the book again, and began to read.

"Excuse me,,"

Once again someone interrupted her, leaving Ariel with no choice but to raise her face.

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To be Continued...