Episode 47

Ashley's POV.
I tried to open my eyes but my kids felt super heavy and they always weighed back close. I dreaded opening my eyes cause I already felt the stinging sensation from the brightness of the room.
Wherever I was was awfully quiet. Where was I? I force my eyes open,one after the other. The first thing I see are a set of two white doors on a white wall. That's when I realized I was uncomfortably lying down on a bed that felt so soft to be real with my head turned towards the side. What is this place?
I turned my head around,meeting the white ceiling. I felt the heavy duvet covering my torso. Alarmed as I saw my bra straps on my bare shoulders,I quickly pulled up the duvet and glanced over my body. I was half naked. My black dress has been pushed down to my waist,my upper body nearly naked except for my ashes bra that covered my breasts.
What the hell happened in here? My head hurts and I slowly looked up only to meet a pair of dark eyes. Ric.
He stood a few steps from the big bed, leaning against a wall side table,his arms folded across his chest. His eyes watched me intensely.
Realizing that my naked chest was in full display before him,I quickly grabbed the duvet and held it against my chest.
"Good morning"He said, picking himself off the table and taking calculated steps towards me.
"You're finally up"He said, stopping at the foot of the bed.
"What. . . . What happened?"
"You don't remember?"he has an amused smile on his lips as he asked that,his question giving me the chills.
I tried to think. I'm obviously drunk,the pains at the back of my head was evidence. I remember being at the apartment yesterday and talking with Katie. Then. . . . Then I got a call from. . . Drako. Yes, he'd called and said all sorts of things. I could suddenly remember all he said on the phone like it was happening all over again. Then I'd ran over to Ric's place. That explains how I'm with him right now,right?
"Do you finally remember?" He asked,his eyes not leaving me for a split second.
Looking back at him,I nodded "Drako called. I . . . .how did I get here?"
"We. . . Went drinking last night." His lips went into a line,like he was omitting something before continuing "you drank pretty much a handful and passed out in my car so I brought you here"
I tried to remember what had happened but the memory is foggy and I can't remember more than walking into that bar with him last night. Just when I thought I should probably forget about knowing what had happened last night that led me on this bed,I suddenly realized I was half naked and didn't remember pulling off my dress by myself. I felt myself slowly panicking.
"Relax" he said, obviously getting a hint of what was going on in my mind.
"Why am I. . . . naked?"
"I'm sorry. You really don't remember all that happened last night"
"What happened?" I felt my heart start to beat faster as his eyes watched me.
"I think I'll leave you to remember that"he laughed before turning to the bedside lamp table.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I protested.
"Hey,hey,"he points a glass of water at me "I'm really sorry about what I'm about to say but. . . I took off your dress"
"You what?!"
"I couldn't let some room service guy do that! And I really wasn't to but you looked like you were gonna die from all the sweat. You were pretty much wasted last night so I. . . I closed my eyes,sorry"
I didn't know what to say. Normally I wouldn't feel so embarrassed about stuffs like this as I did now but I couldn't help it. I slowly take the water from him and the pills he gave me. I swallowed it and drank the water.
"Get ready,"He said and I looked up at him "We're going to see your father"
The moment he said,I thought he was joking and I just watched him, because I didn't know what to say but when he didn't laugh or stuffs like that,I realized he wasn't joking at all.
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. That's what Drako wants right? I'll go to California with you"
"Ric,this. . . . "
"I'm serious, Ashley. Let's go see your father"
I wanted to see through him to see if he really means that. But the longer I watched his eyes the more I realized how much he really means every word he said. I have him a small smile which he returned before backing away.
"I'll let you get dressed. Take your time,it's a private flight. I'll. . . . Order for a dress for you"
"Thank you" I told him before he disappeared from the room.
The moment he disappeared,the thought of him undressing me came to my mind again. Ric undressed me. I found myself blushing. Why the hell am.i doing that? Him undressing me doesn't mean he's attracted to or interested in me. What the hell am I even thinking?
I quickly called Katie to tell her what had happened. She freaked out as expected when I told her I was at a hotel with Ric. She went on and on about how I should've slept with him. Katie is unspeakable. After informing her about my leaving for California,I bade her goodbye and went straight into the bathroom. Shortly after,I walked out to meet a yellow gown laid out on the bed,a brown shoe box set beside it.
I walked over to check the dress out. It was a beautiful shirt dress with a choking necklace. I dressed up quickly enough to find Ric standing at the adjoining room's balcony at the right side. He's dressed in a deep ink blue suits with a matching suit pants. He turns around the moment I walked into the wide room. His lips lifts into a smile instantly.
"You look beautiful in that dress" he commented.
"Thanks. And thanks for the dress"
"Are you ready? Don't worry about breakfast, we'll eat on the plane"
I nodded speechlessly "yeah"
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Ric's driver drove us to this airport where we boarded the mini plane. I walked in before Ric who walked behind me,to meet a blond air hostess who greeted me with a curtsey. I nodded back.
"We have breakfast at the back ma'am,"she said,falling beside me to escort me to the back.
"I'll take it from here,Mia,"Ric said from behind us "thank you"
Mia nods before walking away. Ric gave me a smile before grabbing my hand and walking me to a demarcated side,like a room or inn. .
On a table in the middle sat in display assorted meals. The aroma stung my nostrils immediately. These was all too much. I looked back to see Ric who was trying to sit on the booth.
"Don't look at me,I'm hungry too"He replied teasingly, causing me to laugh.
I sat opposite him, watching him fill his plate with nearly all the food samples on the table. I've never seen this part of him before. So free,so open,so relaxed.
I filled a plate for myself and constantly glanced at him under my eyelashes.
Soon I was into my own thoughts. What would my father's reaction be when he sees me? It's been. . . . . Years. Since college. Would he be happy to see me? Not like any oth these was my fault.
After eating breakfast,I started feeling sick. Flights ain't my thing and I think Ric noticed that because he pointed to a room at the back.
"You can sleep at the back. It's still five hours before we get there"
I gave him an appreciative smile before retiring to the room. I needed to sleep. The room was in fact spacious,bearing a large bed and a few other things. The moment I laid down,sleep took over me.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I woke up feeling much better. I was still on the same bed thanks goodness. I stepped off the bed and tip toed towards the curtains. I peeped through the curtains and saw Ric's head. He's still seated on the same spot where I'd left him earlier. Quietly,I exited the room and walked over to him.
"You're up" he said,his eyes not leaving me until I sat in front of him.
"Yeah. Where are we now?"
"California. In a couple of minutes we'll be landing"
I wanted to breathe really badly,the room suddenly felt so small for me. I let out a breathe,rubbed my hands against each other anxiously. I'm gonna see my father. But I'm not here for him right? Of course you are,my inner voice chanted.
"Ashley, relax"Ric said and I looked at him "everything's gonna be alright. I've got a car waiting for us. If you don't feel like going home right now we could stay at a hotel first and . . . . "
"It's fine,"I gave him a smile "I wanna go home"
He nods. Somehow I was feeling much calmer.
When we went off the plane,a range rover was waiting. I hadn't taken anything so I had no luggage to carry. I gave the driver the address to my house before he left the airport. I sat at the back with Ric,fearing the worst to come. I couldn't help the eerie feeling inside me that kept questioning me,asking me what I'd do if my father rejects me,if he scolded me. My whole efforts and worry would be for nothing. But each time I turned around and saw Ric sitting so close to me,I think 'it can't get any worse'. He's gonna be here.
The car cornered into our street,my old neighborhood. The place I used to live. The place so many things happened. Once my old house came into view,I shut my eyes uncomfortably. Yes,I'm home. Where it all happened.
The car pulls up in front of the house and I stepped out before Ric did.
The house hasn't lost it's touch it had when mom was still around. The flower beds on the window lace still looked like they got enough water everyday. The lawn seemed well mowed and the light shone brightly from the inside, through the window blinders. On the porch remained the same old wooded bench that's been there since I was a little girl. The air nearly seemed the same as I remember,only there's a little bit of difference.
Sadness.
"You got this" he whispered to me and I gave him a firm nod before walking up the short steps to the porch. Once I'm facing the door,I started to muster all the courage inside of me.
I pushed the beeper and the door locks started to click. The door pulled open and I came face to face with my father.
His blue eyes now seeming black in the dark stared at me,like he'd seen a ghost. I gulped hard, awkwardly fidgeting with my fingers. He looks much older than the last time I saw him,many years ago. His skin is now wrinkled,his eyes tired as they held mine. His checkered office dress looks stained by what looked like a brown coloring coffee drink,his hair having more noticeably deeper grey coloring all over it.
"Ashley?"
His voice has gotten considerably old too,I barely recognized it. But I manage a smile which he never returned as he continued to watch me like I was some ghost. I shifted uncomfortably, feeling Ric's eyes watching us from the driveway.