Chapter 27
"where am I?.. aaah I need water.." the woman held her head with both hands. The man pointed at the gla.s.s of water next to the bed without saying a word. She got into a sitting position and started to drink the water.
"what happened last night? how did I get here?" Miray asked as she lazily got back into the bed.
"you don't remember what you did last night?" asked the calm voice.
Miray tried to remember about the night before but her memory was blurry and she had a bad headache. "Just tell me what happened, Joe.. I haven't seen you in a while... I kind of missed you.."
Those last words made the anger that was piling up inside of Joe to vanish away, " you got into a fight at the club, if it weren't for the boys, I don't know what could have happened to you... why did you go drinking in public like that?"
Fragments of last night's events started to mend up in Miray's mind, she then remembered how she went drinking with Hazel and Jeff. "oh yes! where is Hazel??" she forced herself to get into a sitting position.
"she left with Peter and you came with me.." Joe got up from his seat and turned to the door.
"Joe.." Miray called out and Joe halted his steps.
"I am sorry.... I always make you worry for me" she looked down like a child.
Joe took a deep sigh and put his hands into his pocket, "wash up we will have lunch with little Daphne later.."
Miray couldn't hold it in anymore, "why don't you call me like before anymore. It's been a month since I saw you, if it wasn't for today,.. would have I seen you again?"
"I had somethings to take care of... it didn't mean I wasn't watching over you.. " his back was still facing her and he slowly walked out of the room.
Something just wasn't right. Miray had been so busy with work and other things, she didn't have time to think about it. 'Is he really avoiding me? or is it me?' she retried to recall the last conversation she had with Joe but her head started to hurt more. Without thinking much about it, she took a shower and changed into the clothes which were prepared for her.
During lunch Joe did not talk much and little Daphne had been happy to see her as always. The two girls stayed in and watched animation movies together all afternoon. Little Daphne fell asleep while watching the animation in Miray's arms and she decided to use this as an opportunity to talk to Joe who was sitting on the balcony smoking cigarettes.
"Joe.." Miray called out as she sat next to him. He didn't react to her call but continued to smoke. "I am sorry for acting carelessly, but Hazel came and I
"it's not about last night... it's just some business thing that I have to deal with.. " He finally gave an answer as he lit another cigarette.
"I know that whatever it is, you will figure it out... but how did you know where I was?" she leaned forwards taking in the smell of cigerrate which did not seem to bother her.
"don't act like you don't know that my boys have been following you... "
"I just wanted to be sure when you say it.. is that why you don't call me anymore?"
Joe seemed distracted by something as he slowly turned his head to her, " Miray what was with that dress last night? what did I teach you about your body?"
Miray became silent as she started to reflect on her actions. "e..er.. I.. kno.."
"what did I teach you?!!" the shout sent s.h.i.+vers into Miray's body.
"Never to use your body to get attention! I know! I also don't know what I was thinking... " she bowed down in embarra.s.sment. That dress was really shameless.
"I might not stay with you forever, you need to know how to take care of yourself.." his whole body turned to her and there was sincerity in his voice.
"What is that suppose to mean?!" the thought of leaving without Joe was too heavy for her. Even when he was not around, Miray would always feel confident in her actions knowing that he would be there with her.
"I hate to see you like this... you are a strong woman, straighten you back!"
Like a little child Miray straightened her back and tears started to row down her face. That was the moment she realised how much the man in front of her meant to her. He was her driving force, her strongest backbone. The feelings she had inside had always been interpreted as those she felt towards her father. But what was she feeling now? They could be related to the feelings she felt when Tony had left her without a word, only that she never shed a tear.
"Why are you crying?" Joe took out his handkerchief and started to wipe her tears.
"promise to never leave me.." she did not care how she sounded but a promise was all she needed.
"do I look like I am someone who runs away from his responsibility?"
"promise me!" she did not know why she was so angry.
"Miray, I am not Tony..." Joe got up from his seat and pulled her up giving her a hug. Miray cried bitterly for something she did not understand.
"it's okay, don't cry,.. or else I will tell everyone what a little baby you are.." Joe tried to comfort her and laughter was heard in between the sobs.
"Dad, why is aunt Miray crying?" Little Daphne had woken up and watched the two adults hugging each other.
"aah no, aunt Miray is not crying little Daphne, she was just happy to see dad.." Miray broke from the hug and bent to Little Daphne's height.
Little Daphne did not believe her, "don't be sad aunt Miray, let's have ice cream, I am sure you will feel better.. " she put her arms around Miray and patted her back.
"Little Daphne you are so kind, let's do that.." the two ladies left for the Kitchen while Joe sat back and continued to smoke.
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After little Daphne went to sleep, Joe took Miray home. When they reached by her house, Joe unexpectedly hugged her in the backseat.
"I am sorry if I made you feel ignored... I will try harder.." Miray hugged him back and gave him a peck on his cheek.
After she entered her house, Hazel was the first to run to her, "Miray where have you been? I was worried, I couldn't reach you... I almost called the police."
"I heard you disappeared with Joe.." Miray threw herself on the sofa and started to watch the television.
"ehhh, sorry about that... but where did you go last night?" Hazel followed.
"I was with Joe.. He took me to his place."
"how come you still haven't introduced me to this Joe? you always talk about him yet I haven't met him.." that was true, Miray was still hesitant about introducing Hazel to Joe.
"I am sure you will meet him one of these days.."
"Anyways, did you see the hot topics you are in the entertainment gossip section..." Hazel took out her phone and showed Miray the news.
"oh that,..." Miray looked at the heading and turned back to the television.
"wait.. what does that mean?.. oh that?.. so you mean it's true?.. are you sure you slept at Joe's house?" Hazel's needed to feed her curiosity.
"I did sleep at Joe's... and I am not dating Skylar, we only had a small encounter.." Her voice was so calm it made Hazel believe her.
"do you like him?"
"are you ready to tell me about Peter?" she turned her head to Hazel who became silent, "thought so, I will tell you about it when you are ready to open up.."
"whatever, I am moving in after two weeks.. I don't want to stay away from you anymore..."
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