I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
77. Misunderstand

Joel came home early in the morning, his face looking tired and his eyes twitching withstanding the overwhelming drowsiness. His search ended in a dead end and he actually spent time in the suburbs struggling with his laptop.

Joel traced all the information a man Ariel had ever mentioned to her. How it works and any information that might be useful. To find out the possibility of the man involved in the incident Ariel consuming the drug.

Resting for a while at home, Joel went back out to work until he realized five days had passed, and he found nothing, in fact, often he calls Ariel who continues to contact him and give answers that are not in accordance with what happened.

Like this time, he returned home early in the morning, Joel fell asleep on the sofa until the sun rose. As soon as he woke up from his sleep, he immediately cleansed himself, hoping that his body would become fresher after bathing.

"If I say this to Bram, he will certainly help me, and he is much more reliable when looking for information than I am. But, it's hard if I ask for her help while she still has feelings for, Ariel,"

Joel muttered to himself, then sighed softly. He had just taken a shower and was drying his hair, when suddenly someone was pushing through the door.

"Did the kids go back to playing and something happened?" muttered Joel walked towards the door in a body state that was only wrapped in a towel.

"Who_,,, Ehh, Hey, what are you doing, huh,? Christina, get your hands off,"

Joel was surprised when Christina suddenly hugged him and pushed her body in.

"Get your hands off!" joel's orders attempt to release Christina's hand which is running around her waist.

"No," Christina answered, shaking her head.

"I know I made a mistake, I'm sorry about that, but please don't stay away from me and hate me" wailed Christina starting to cry.

"We can talk, but let go of your hand first" Joel said.

Somehow Joel actually felt very uncomfortable when Christina clung to him, even just sitting side by side just felt strange to him.

"But you're not going to throw me out, are you?" please Christina.

"Okay, I'm not going to kick you out, but get your hands off me" Joel said.

Slowly, Christina loosened her embrace, then looked at Joel's hazel bead that still felt piercing.

"Say! What do you need to come here?" joel asked as much as possible not to show his emotions.

"I apologize to you," Christina replied lowered her head.

"It's not me who should get an apology from you," Joel replied flatly.

"But I'm still guilty of you" Christina replied. "I also promise to apologize to Ariel if that's what you want" he added.

"What else do you want to say?" ask Joel again.

"Do you forgive me or not?" christina asked giving a sad look.

"What do you think?" reply Joel coldly.

"Would you apologize to her and return to being nice to me?" please Christina.

"Come on," Joel answered, raising his shoulder.

Realizing she was not yet dressed, she made herself even more uncomfortable with Christina. Unlike Christina who actually enjoyed it, Joel stepped back.

"Ah,, a moment," said Joel, turning around, intending to go to his room to put on clothes, but Christina blocked his wrist, making Joel turn to ask to release his hand, but with a quick gesture Christina kissed Joel's lips.

In the other corner, as they were talking, from the other direction Ariel seemed to be walking with light steps towards Joel's house.

One hand carries a box with cake, while the other hand carries a black paper bag containing a gift that he will give Joel on his birthday.

Ariel smiled broadly when she saw Joel's door was half open, indicating the owner was there. He immediately sped up his pace and opened the door, intending to give chase.

However, before Ariel opened her voice, she actually got a surprise first after pushing the door open wider. Joel and Christina kiss in front of her eyes.

Ariel widened her eyes, right then and there her eyes were poignant, and without her noticing, a clear grain escaped her eyes, soaking both of her cheeks. The two items that he carried in both of his hands just slipped apart, until it made a voice that shocked the two of them.

'BRRUUKKKK,,,,!!!'

"A-Ariel,," Joel sizzled.

Ariel stepped back, smiling bitterly staring at the nanar towards Joel who looked panicked because he caught Joel making out with Christina.

"Hahh, it seems like I came at the wrong place and time. I shouldn't have come and disturbed you guys" Ariel said in a trembling voice.

"Wait, Ariel! It's not what you think," greeted Joel frantically, moving closer to Ariel.

"Stop,,! Stay where you are" said Ariel as she extended one hand forward.

"Give me time to explain, Ariel, please," Joel said.

"STOP,,,!" ariel Sentak. "I said stay where you are" he added.

His tears continued to flow without being able to prevent it. Raising his face, Ariel stared intently at Joel who could not dwell in front of him.

Taking a deep breath, Ariel smiled bitterly, tried to hold back her tears then looked at Christina for a moment, and returned to Joel.

"I'm sorry, I've been bothering you, you can continue after this, I'm sorry" Ariel said.

Ariel turned her body and stepped out. However, Joel again held him back by clutching his wrist.

"Don't touch me,!" jolt Ariel while brusquely shaking Joel's hand.

"Please, Ariel. Listen to me first, he suddenly came and acted as he pleased, it was not purely my wish" explained Joel.

"Where is possible" he argued. "He acted suddenly and it's_,,,"

"Is that the best excuse you can come up with?" cut Ariel.

"I'm sorry, I don't have enough time to hear it" Ariel said.

"And don't follow me, or meet me," Ariel firmly raised her index finger, giving an icy-cold look that Joel had just received.

"Arielll,,,!!!" exclaim Joel.

Joel immediately turned to put on his clothes quickly, trying to chase after Ariel.

"Wait, Joel," stop Christina from holding Joel's hand.

"You're deliberately making things worse with this silence of yours aren't you? Or did you do this on purpose because you knew Ariel was coming?" Joel stared intently at Christina as if he was going to kill her, making Christina shuffle and just let go of Joel's hand.

Ignoring the sculpting Christina, Joel ran as fast as possible after Ariel. I hope you still catch up to him.

Joel, who understands Ariel's habits, knows exactly where Ariel parked her car, a few meters from her house. And sure enough, Joel saw Ariel was just about to open the car door with her key.

"Ariell,,, then,,,!" exclaim Joel.

Ariel who heard Joel's voice became in a hurry to open the car door, his mind was suddenly deadlocked, the tears that kept flowing made his gaze blurry, until he dropped his car keys.

"Argh, come on," he wrote in despair.

Like in a movie that raises a coincidence scene, suddenly, Bram's car appears. Ariel ignores her car keys and runs towards Bram's car before it actually stops.

Ariel immediately opens the front door and goes up, not letting Bram get out of his car.

"What are you doing? that was dangerous," furious Bram annoyed mixed with worry.

"Go from here now!" pinta Ariel wiped her tears.

Bram was stunned for a while when he saw Ariel

"What's going on?" tanya Bram turned to look at Joel who was running.

"RUN THE CAR NOW,!" ariel jolted in between her sobs.

Bram immediately runs his car, leaving Joel gasping for breath behind his car as he fails to catch up to Ariel.

Silence enveloped the journey of Ariel and Bram. Sometimes Ariel wiped her tears that kept flowing even though she did not want to take them out. While Bram prefers silence, feeling Ariel needs a moment to regulate the emotions in his heart.

Joel just stared at Ariel's departure with Bram with a lethargic face. He immediately retrieves the car key that Ariel left behind and brings the key with him back home.

Upon arrival at home, Christina was nowhere to be seen, leaving her door wide open. Joel's eyes were fixed on the box and paper bag that Ariel left behind when she came and saw the contents.

A birthday cake doused in chocolate and sown with nuts with a short writing on it, but memorable for him even though it is now half damaged by falling.

'Birthday my Bunny'

In the paper bag a long coat along with a scarf with matching colors folded neatly inside.

"Arrghh,,,,,!" erang Joel ruffled his hair.

"Why is it like this now?" frangipani.

Joel was about to bring both items into the house when his eyes accidentally caught something under the lounge chair in front of his house.

As he picked it up, his mind immediately became deadlocked, feeling that his mistake was not just inadvertently with Christina.

"When was Ariel's hair tie here? I remember Ariel didn't visit for a few days, but why is this here?" joel murmured, but thought hard to try to remember something.

"Oh, shit," she said as Joel recalled contacting her several times and asking where she was.

"Don't tell me, when he called me, he was here. It means he knows I lied to him, but he's quiet. It's gonna be harder to explain everything,"

Joel clasped his head, feeling the problem he was facing became more complicated. He went into the house carrying a hair tie that he found along with a cake and coat that Ariel brought for him, then kept in his room.

Just as Joel was about to leave to meet Ariel, his phone rang with a message notification. One message that turns out to be from Bram makes Joel open it immediately.

[[This is just my advice, don't see him for now, tomorrow only. Let him calm his mind before he meets you. I'll try to cool things down,] @ Bram.

[[Can I see him tonight?] @Joel.

[[I don't forbid, it's just that I'm not sure he'll see you. He just needs a moment to be alone,] @Bram.

[[I understand, thank you, Bram,]] @Joel.

[[I believe you, but don't thank me in such a tone, it amused me,] @Bram.

[[I'm sorry to thank you!] @Joel.

[[So much better,]] @Bram.

[[While I don't know what's going on, I believe you,] @Bram.

Joel smiled slightly as he read the message from Bram, and he felt Bram doing this for him as well as for Ariel sincerely, making him believe in Bram and decide to meet Ariel later tonight even though his heart is restless waiting for that long time.

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