I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
21. Open

Leave your mark with your comments, suggestions and criticisms to create a better flow.~~~

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Ariel's presence at Joe's house that afternoon, made Joel unceasingly smile.

Ariel was rubbing dishes with soap in the sink and began rinsing with running water while Joel continued his activity of scrubbing with soap.

Those who stood side by side made Joel very easily steal a glance at Ariel who was standing next to him.

Joel who has a higher posture than Ariel, makes it more comfortable to look at Ariel's face from where she stands.

Suddenly a mischievous smile grew on his lips. Ariel rinsed the dishes that Joel had scrubbed using soap in running water as Joel quickly poked Ariel's nose with a hand full of foam.

"Aahh,, Joelll," Ariel's cry snapped back her head and found her hood had been rubbed from Joel's hand.

"Awas, yes," Ariel sighed and splashed the still running water in her hand at Joel who immediately ducked down.

"Hey, you're cheating" cried Ariel as the water did not hit Joel.

"I was just dodging at the time the tep_,,,"

Ariel cuts off Joel's words by splashing the next water and hitting his face.

"Arielll," Joel protested but only in reply to the light laughter that I had left his mouth.

"You're the one who started it" Ariel argued sticking out her tongue.

Joel smiled with anxiety and started attacking Ariel again with a hand full of soap foam. However, before Joel managed to do it again, Ariel first splashed water on his face and blurred. Avoiding Joel's attacks while giggling .

"Where are you running?" joel is after Ariel.

The chase finally cannot be avoided. Joel continues to chase Ariel, while Ariel continues to dodge by sticking out her tongue.

"Su-dah cu-kup Joel. I'm tired" said Ariel.

"A a, can't" Joel replied with a grin on his face.

Ariel was trapped and stepped back towards the balcony. His face was clear and asked Joel to stop playing. However, Joel still continued to advance and tried to reach Ariel.

When Ariel stepped back, accidentally stumbled to make her fall.

"Arielll,," cried Joel.

In quick motion, Joel manages to reach Ariel and protect her head from impact as she falls.

They fell down along with Joel above Ariel and hands under his head. They look each other in the eye.

"Basic sloppy," snorted Joel.

Ariel opened up to welcome Joel's curse, to make Joel laugh.

Joel shifted his body and lay down next to Ariel after slowly pulling his hand. They lay on the floor of the balcony and looked at the sky that began to shine orange.

"It seems like spending time with you really doesn't feel like it, I don't even realize it's afternoon now" Ariel said.

"I feel the same way too" said Joel.

Ariel looked followed by Joel. They looked at each other for a while and threw smiles at each other.

Whether they realize it or not, the relationship between them becomes closer. Joel got up and held his body with both hands, staring at Ariel who was still lying down.

"Want to see the sunset with a different atmosphere?" bargain Joel.

"You mean beach?" ask Ariel.

"Half right," replied Joel smiling mysteriously.

"Then?" Ariel frowned.

"Follow it and see for yourself, and you will understand" Joel replied.

"Alright," Ariel replied.

Joel held out his tag, helping Ariel get up and stand up. They then step out of Joel's house and walk in the opposite direction to when Ariel came.

However Joel seemed to understand Ariel's predicament without saying it and immediately reached out to help. Ariel immediately accepted it with pleasure.

"How come your physique is this strong, Joel?" ariel asked gasping for breath as she reached the top of the rocky cliff.

Ariel leaned over and supported her body with two hands on her knees while adjusting her breath that was still panting.

"you reckon? Why do I love surfing so much? It was a sport where I had to strengthen my legs and keep my body balanced on board, Ariel," Joel said.

"Thank God I didn't do it" Ariel let out a loud sigh and held up her band and was blown away afterwards.

Ariel opened her mouth to see a beauty she had never seen. In the place where he was standing right now, Ariel felt like she was flying. Above the ocean, the blowing wind was waving her hair, and the sun that was beginning to sink was emitting a beautiful orange glow.

Waving palm trees add to the beauty that surrounds the place.

"Isn't that the road I've been on?" ariel asked, pointing at the path in the shade of the palm tree.

"Yes," Joel replied.

"What do you think?" ask Joel.

"I'm willing to stay here for whatever it is, I really won't get bored if I see this every day. You're very lucky Joel" Ariel said.

"You're even allowed to stay here if you want" Joel said.

"Ha ha. Very funny. Thank you for the offer," Ariel pouted her tongue.

Ariel stared at the sunset. Still remain fascinated with the beauty of the orange-colored nature that stretches wide in front of him. In his heart he never stopped being grateful how lucky he was to meet Joel.

His heart wavered again, Ariel shook her head. Self-awareness of this cannot go any further. But deep down, he also refused at the same time.

"Thank you for showing this to me, Joel, and I'm also very grateful that you're open to me. I really appreciate it" said Ariel still looking at the sunset.

"I'm an open book if it's you asking, Ariel," Joel said.

"I don't think you did it" said Ariel.

"Why do you think that?" ask Joel.

"Because you're not open at all if it's Charlie-related" Ariel said.

Ariel turned around and smiled at the change in expression in Joel and continued before Jole spoke.

"I'm not gonna push you, Joel. And I'll stop asking about that, too. I understand very well what privacy is" Ariel said.

"Just like you don't want to talk about Bram?" ask Joel.

"Take it like that. But I don't even care if I want to tell you about Bram. It's just that I always lose my own control if I want to know what Bram did to me" Ariel said.

"Then why would you want to go back to be friends with him if you feel uncomfortable?" ask Joel carefully.

"I actually have a simple reason, I decided to stay friends with him because I also want to make peace with myself" explained Ariel.

"You mean?" joel asked, frowning.

"Hating it just keeps me remembering it, and it sucks. But when I decided to befriend him, the sense of tightness diminished. But I no longer love him. I only care about him as a friend. And it also made me a little relieved and the tightness was a little reduced. Although sometimes I was angry and upset with him, it was completely different from what I had felt before" said Ariel.

"So you want to say that you've really let go of how you feel about her" asked Joel.

"Right," greeted Ariel.

Ariel's revelation made Joel's heart relieved. Either way his heart felt very happy to hear Ariel say that.

Joel grabbed Ariel's hand and grabbed her tightly. Gently squeezed his fingers and then dipped them.

"Regardless of all the things he's done to you, and whatever story you've been with him, I swear I won't do that to you, Ariel. And I won't push you either" Joel said with a gentle smile.

Ariel was stunned, returning Joel's gaze to her with all the love and affection she had. However, his heart was always doubtful and wondering.

'Do I love him?' inner Ariel.

They come back down before the sky is completely dark, and Ariel decides to go home after promising Joel one thing the day after that he will come to the hospital to deliver the entrance ticket to the music studio as promised.

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