THIRTY TWO

So many things were running through Ashley's mind as she made her way to the trailer and that hindered her from noticing the figure that trailed her interestingly.

"Ashley Steve..." She jolted.
"What on earth are thinking of that you did not even notice me?"

Turning fully to face him, a quizzing look over took the bothered one it had on before. "What are you doing outside?" Her eyes going on to roam his surroundings, she asked with more interest, "Why have you set a table?"

Dave sat back into the plastic chair, "We are having dinner outside today."

"Oh wow." Ashley walked closer to where he was seated. As her eyes roamed the setup even more, she inhaled a sweet smelling substance that brought a smile to her face and immediately she had her seat opposite Dave, she asked, "Did you really cook?"

"I told you I would cook for you, didn't I? Considering the drama you might have encountered today, it just seemed right to treat you to my awesomely made meal."

"You always flatter yourself," Ashley teased.

He grinned back. "Who else would flatter me truthfully if not I and I alone?"

With a more happy heart, Ashley nodded in agreement to what he said. "So, what has your awesome skills prepared for me?"

"Omurice."

"Uh?"

"Omurice." He leaned forward to open the big flask seated in the middle of the table. "It is a Korean dish I got to try during a visit there. I enjoyed it to the extent that I had to learn how to make it. So..." he helped her to a serving of the dish whose covering seemed like an omelette. "I want you to enjoy this amazing meal."

"Is that ketchup?"

"Yes." He shifted even more enthusiastically. "Pick up a fork and dig in."

As she treated her buds to a taste, Ashley's eyes widened at the truthfully amazing taste. "Oh wow. This is really amazing. Did you really cook this?"

"That's what I just said, right? So..." his amused look turned suddenly serious. "How did it go? What happened there?"

"Oh well," she began to pick at her food as she recalled the day. "Let's just say my biological mother didn't have it easy."

"How? Was she not financial buoyant?"

"She always was. She didn't have it easy because of her father. She said he had my father killed and that scared her to the point that she had to leave me and live a separate life."

Ashley had no idea tears had already rolled down her eyes till she finished talking and shoved another bite into her mouth.

It was as though she was beginning to flow in between two worlds. She, at that moment wanted to run to somewhere secluded and cry her heart out. But at the same time, she wanted to act fine.
Ashley wanted to appear strong. So, she just sat there and took more bites, her hand randomly wiping off tears.

Dave had still not said anything.

"I went to visit my mother," she said to kill the silence.

"Why?"

She shrugged. "Because."
A sigh escaped her. "I guess I wanted to be close for a second to the woman I really knew as my mother."

He nodded his head. "I see."

"She is getting married soon."

"Who?"

"My mother."

"Your... your mother? Which of...?" Ashley smashed the invitation card she had stylishly taken earlier. As he opened the hard paper, his eyes widened even more.

"Do you think I should attend the wedding?"

His head sharply came up. "And why would you want to do that?"

"I dunno... I guess since it is my mother getting married, I could..."

His palm shut her up. "I will stop you right there Ashley Steve. I get that you have managed to forgive your mother and all, but that doesn't mean you are ready to expose yourself to something this huge. Going to that wedding means you just torturing yourself."

"But..."

"Listen to me Ashley, don't rush to find happiness or else you would find yourself slipping into a very, very huge black hole. Don't get high on happiness. If you do, you won't enjoy it."

"So, you are advising me to not go."

"Yes."

"I just... I guess... I guess I am worried about my mother."

"Why's that?"

Her hands clasped, she rested her elbows on the table. "She is getting married to that man... that man that left me. He..." Ashley sat back as she pushed her anger away. "I don't want her making a mistake. I just want to make sure she is fine."

"She is a grown woman Ashley, I am sure she knows what she is doing."

"I know... I know she is probably doing fine. I know she is probably very happy with him..."

"Ashley, you do remember that she got involved with your ex right?"

"I am trying not to hold that against her. Humans are selfish, I like it or not. We are all selfish when it comes to attaining something that makes us happy. So... I..."

"You really want to attend the wedding, don't you?"

"I guess."

"If that's what will get your mind off the issue, I have no problem then."

Ashley cringed as a thought raced through her head. "I just sounded silly right? Wanting to attend the wedding, defending my mother's actions, I just sound crazy right?"

Dave smirked. "You always sound crazy Ashley."

"I do?" She frowned.

Dave chuckled, "Just continue eating your food."

"I do not always sound crazy," she finally replied, her lips scrunched as she saw the goofy look Dave gave her.

"Just eat."
Trying to put up an attitude, Ashley grudgingly picked her fork and poked her food. "Are you going to eat or not?"

She continued to poke the food in silence.

"Ashley."She did not reply "Are you kidding me now?"
Her head tilted to the side as she enhanced her silliness. "Ashley, I am taking to you."

Her lips formed a pout and she was replied with a swift lip lock. As she tried to pull away, Dave shifted even closer to intensify the kiss.

"Ashley..." He murmured against her lips as his hand slid through her face.

"Yeah?" And he pulled away. "Wh- what?"

"Weren't you ignoring me? I have my ways of getting you to reply me."

"Oh you are so unbelievable." She threw a bite into her mouth even more grudgingly.

"I know." And his smile was all it took to dissolve the knots tied up inside her all day.