Me Before You
Chapter 13

"Hey, Joshua!" greet Ferdinand by phone, when his phone with Joshua is connected. "How are you, buddy?"

Joshua Spencer did not immediately answer, he first got off his bed while rubbing both eyes. The man walked to the window and opened the window to get some fresh air in the morning.

"Good service." she replied briefly and sounded hoarse.

"You just woke up?" chirps Ferdinand fast.

"Hm." then Joshua yawned. "I stayed up late working on a new story" he said.

"What!?" ferdinand exclaimed at the end, making Joshua keep his phone away from the ear. "Joshua Spencer finally recovered from writer block" the man said.

Joshua only smiled briefly, then he recalled the incident last night. When Monica says indirectly she wants Joshua to be here even longer. Joshua wanted to grant Monica's request, but he knew he couldn't do anything more. He's been asking for a long holiday. And he had no more offers for Adrian.

At first Joshua wanted to make Monica remember her past, but after she began to remember the same school days, plus the story of Angela about Monica, made Joshua undo the intention to help Monica. He was worried that Moncia would not be able to smile like she is now and enjoy her time as freely as now. Joshua was afraid Monica would completely blame herself for what happened to Alex.

Sometimes Joshua also felt anxious that the girl suddenly complained of dizziness.

Whether it's just worry or pity. But Joshua clearly felt that he had to make Monica happy. Monica is one of her fans.

"Josh?" Joshua was a little jolted, when Ferdinand came back to call his name, it turned out that he was a little dreamy. "I heard your request was granted. So how's your relationship with Monica, Monica?" tympan Ferdinand.

Joshua smiled faintly. "Nothing special. We're just friends."

"Keeping together is bound to be close, right?"

Joshua remained silent. Ferdinand's right. But for now, Joshua feels his closeness to Monica is just a friend. If you say friends, why would Joshua willing to do a lot of things for Monica? If he did have pity or worry for the girl, why would his heart reject that excuse?

But hearing Monica's request yesterday, for some reason the blood in Joshua suddenly rippled and his breath choked. The request was as if Monica had given her a signal that she needed Joshua. Just like a few years ago.

There was nothing different between Joshua and now, the man could not comply with Monica's request to stay, even though Joshua wanted to.

Joshua asked, Why in this world does everything need a reason? Even to stay and survive must need a reason. And to this day, Joshua has yet to find a reason why he has to hold on to stay any longer.

"I'm sure you've got feelings for him." said Ferdinand at the end, causing Joshua to flinch.

Could it? Sounds a little weird, but...

"You may not realize it yet" Ferdinand said again, as if he knew what Joshua was thinking.

Is correct. Could be that's true. Is it possible that Joshua Spencer might be interested in Monica? Suddenly his heart was beating. Oh... What else is this?

"We're just talking about something else" Joshua said, trying to avoid any possibility beyond his logic.

"All right." answered Ferdinand. "I want you to meet someone, he's a fan of yours" Ferdinand continued.

Joshua frowned. "Who?"

"Someone I just met." Joshua did not know that Ferdinand was smiling broadly.

"Your boyfriend?" guess Joshua.

"Maybe."

Joshua frowned again. "Maybe?" reworked.

"Maybe yes, maybe not." Ferdinand replied doubtfully. "We're new and it could be that after I meet him with you, we're going out" she said.

"you mean? You guys made a deal, did you?"

"Yeah." replied Ferdinad, shrugging both shoulders. "May help me to date him."

"What can I help you with?" ask Joshua.

"You should go back and do the fan meeting. You should know how enthusiastic he is." said the man. "You can also take Monica" Ferdinand said.

"He doesn't know about it."

"What!?" exclaimed Ferdinand. "How can you not tell him?"

"I can't tell him now. Even if I tell you, maybe he's not allowed to go by his parents."

"Why is that?"

"His mother wouldn't let him go into town, for some reason."

"Why?"

"The story is long and it has to do with my past as well. I thought I told you that" Joshua said.

"That means before you meet, you already know each other?"

"That's how it is." Joshua smeabri sighed.

"Hurry up and tell him. I'm sure he'll be very happy, you want to see him smile, right?"

Back, Joshua's throat was choked, unable to make a sound. Why for that one question, he had to hold his voice. Should Joshua tell Monica who he is?

Ah, right too. It's Christmas soon. Joshua forgot about it.

What should he give Monica?

Joshua sighed then smiled briefly. "I'll think about it."

...-οΟο-...

Monica Frances seemed to wipe the sweat on her forehead occasionally fanning her hands in front of her face. He had only been a few minutes in the middle of the garden, but his skin felt like it was burning. Especially now that he was in the middle of the vineyard accompanied by the blazing sun in the summer.

Unable to stand the heat of the air, Monica chose to go towards the inn, precisely in the direction of the shadow that arose from the inn. He also put the tools he brought, then chose to lie on the grass covered by shadows. Oh, he just felt the cold of the air. It seems like today's air temperature is rising than it was yesterday.

Although now she was in the shade, Monica still fanned her hands in front of her face occasionally wiping the sweat that flowed up to her chin.

Just a few seconds after Monica lay down, someone suddenly lay down next to her. The girl turned her head and found Joshua Spencer looking at her with a smile. I don't know why Monica's cheeks immediately warmed up after looking directly at Joshua.

"Want a break in the inn?" bargain Joshua.

"No. I'm just here."

"Want me a drink?"

"Don't bother." then Monica straightened her body, positioning herself sitting with her legs crossed. Joshua followed. "Why out?"

"I was going for a walk, but after seeing you, I undo the intention."

"Why?"

"Just want to."

Monica nodded, whether she understood or how.

"Where's anggela?" ask Joshua again.

"In the barn with dad. They're checking the wine."

"So you're alone in the garden?"

Monica shook her head. "My mom's watering the vines there." Monica pointed to one of the garden rooms where her mother was.

"Oh." said Joshua. "By the way it went out, why was the air so hot, huh?" timpal Joshua's.

"Right, even this is hotter than yesterday" Monica said. "I'm so worried about the grapes in the garden."

Joshua Spencer reached into his pants pocket, a second later he pulled out the phone and looked at the main screen of his phone. "Have it hot, it's 32 degrees."

"Correct?"

Joshua directly pointed his phone in front of Monica's face, without speaking.

"The world is now so uncertain." the girl muttered after looking at Joshua's phone screen.

"Yes." Joshua replied briefly while putting his phone back in his pants pocket, then he looked up at the sky above.

"I hope after this the rain comes" Monica said with a straight-forward look.

"If it rains, you can't move in the garden." murmured Joshua who was now staring at Monica.

"One time only. I want to enjoy the rain in the summer."

"Weather count cannot be requested."

"I knew. That's why I said I hope."

Joshua laughed briefly, while Monica smiled faintly.

"Just like I was expecting you to stay" Monica muttered involuntarily, but unfortunately was heard by Joshua and made the man change his facial expression.

"If I could I would do it." Monica who had originally spread her gaze in the other direction, immediately turned her head to look at Joshua confused. "I heard what you said." said the man, who made Monica grow.

"I-I didn't..."

"It's okay, I get it." Joshua interrupted quickly. "It's all because we're used to being together. Moreover, we've spent a lot of time together and I think that after I leave, everything will return to how it was."

"No!" Monica immediately raised her protest. "It won't be easy. I mean, making things look like they didn't happen is hard."

"You can do it, Monica." the man took Monica's hand, then stroked her. "Don't expect me too much. People like me don't deserve to be expected."

Monica immediately pulled her hand forcefully, then immediately stood up and patted the back of her slightly dirty body as a result of lying down earlier. "I want to continue helping my mother." then the girl left and did not heed Joshua's call.

Joshua was still in his place and noticed Monica slowly disappearing behind the vine.

Is Monica angry with Joshua?

...---...