Barely Two Months

Chapter Three

AURIANNA

We got to dad's ward and Roe has been crying since we told him about dad's condition. He can't control his emotion over this situation just like mom and I.

"Roe, you have to be strong for your mom and Auri, ok?" My dad said as he held Roe's hand
"No dad, don't talk that way. You're not going anywhere, you'll survive this" I assured him

"There's nothing anyone of you can do and I don't want to trouble anyone of you. I've lived up my days to see my two children grow"
"Stop it dad, just stop it" I couldn't control the tears coming out of my eyes any longer. I looked over to my mom and she looks lost like there's no hope. I ran out of the ward to the hallway. I went down to the floor, bringing my knees to my chest and hugging my legs.

I can't let anything happen to dad, I won't be able to forgive myself if anything happens to him. My dad and I are so close, apart from us having the same physical features, he gets me.

He always try to encourage and support me in whatever decision I make. Even when I decided to sturdy decorative arts in college when him and my mom wanted me to become an engineer like him, he still supported me and convinced my mom to support me too.

Our lives has been like a roller coaster ride ever since my dad lost his job in Globe's tech and he had to work at a construction site and my mom had to use her savings to start up the flower business.

It cost me my dream of finishing college but I didn't give up because I have my family with me and nothing's gonna take that away from me.

***

It was dinner, mom, Roe and I were seated on the dinning table staring at our food. It's just not the same without dad and we weren't hungry.

I nudged Roe "Why don't you eat?"
"I'm not hungry" He replied
"But it's your fav, mac and cheese"
"I'm still not hungry" He pushed the food farther away

"Mom, tell Roe that he needs to eat" My mom just looked lost ever since we came back from the hospital
"Mom?"
"Yeah?" She finally spoke
"Are you alright?"
"Apart from your dad being in the hospital, I'm great" Her sarcasm didn't go unnoticed

"Mom, Roe, we all have to eat and gain strength in order to support dad. If we keep refusing to eat, it will only make us weaker and we won't be able to take care of dad like we're supposed to. I know you're not hungry, I'm not too but we have to eat. For dad" I said in tears and we all grabbed our forks to eat.

***

7:45 AM and I'm already walking into the restaurant. I saw Sally cleaning the tables in preparation for today
"Hey Sal"
"What are you doing here Ri?"
"Uh, I work here, duh?" I quipped

"Aren't you suppose to be at the hospital with your dad?" She asked
"My mom's already there" I took the rag from the table to clean the table but she snatched it from me
"What about your mom's shop, don't you guys need to sell?"

"Same as I need to work here. Now, give me the rag" I tried to snatch the rag back from her but I couldn't
"I'll cover your shift for you"
"You can't keep doing that"
"Don't worry about me, Mrs Lauer's son is helping me out"

"Reese?" I became stiff just hearing his name come out from my mouth
"Yeah, so you have to go, I know you guys haven't settled your ish yet"
"But I can't go, I need to work, I need the money and you can't keep covering for me"

"Don't worry, we got this. Go before he sees you. He's in the office with his mom"
Uh oh, too late
"Rianna" I like the name but coming out from his mouth makes me sick
"Reese" I snarled
"Nice to see you again"
Really? After what you did to me?

"Look, I know you're still angry with me after what I did to you and I totally deserve every hatred you have for me right now, I do"

I can still remember that day vividly like it was yesterday even though it happened a year ago. I was getting ready to go home because it was the end of my afternoon shift
"Reese has been looking for you. He's in the office" Thea said; one of my former co-workers
"Why is he looking for me" I thought to myself

I went to the office and knocked
"come in" A voice came from inside. I went in
"Reese, you called me?"
"Uh, yeah" He stood up from the chair he was sitting on and came close to me and I mean real close and I pulled back

"I love your green eyes, they are beautiful"
"Uh, thanks?"
"You know, I love almost everything about you. I don't know how you do it, but I'm falling, real hard"

"woah, let's take it easy there buddy, we don't want you getting hurt, do we?" I tried to lighten up the tensed atmosphere.
He chuckled "You act naive but you get what I'm talking about, don't you?"
"Nope, I do not. Can you hurry up with all of these, I have to be home early to help my mom with preparing dinner"

"Ok then, let's make this quick. I like you a lot Rianna" He took one step forward and I took two steps backward
"Who am I kidding, I love you" He took two steps forward and I took three steps backward. I don't know where my feet were taking me but I kept moving backwards while he kept moving forward until I hit a table and I'm not able to move again

"I tried my best to ignore this feeling, believe me I did but I just couldn't anymore. So here I am, confessing my feelings to you" He was really close to me and I had no where to go
"I'm flattered Reese. Girls look at you and wants to be with you, you are smart and handsome but I see you as my big brother and I can't be in a relationship with my boss' son. I'm sorry"

He's eyes where boring into mine "No, I'm sorry"
"For wha..." He smashed his lips on mine and kissed me forcefully. My grip on the table tightened and I was certain that I broke my nails

I tried to bring myself out of his hold but his grip on my waist was tight. He was still kissing me and trying to get his tongue into my mouth but I didn't let him.

I was able to break the kiss "Leave me alone Reese, I'll shout"
"Just kiss me back please" He begged
"No, please let me go and I promise, I won't tell anyone" But he didn't listen and tried to force me to kiss him but I refused and I screamed for help

"I don't hate you" I walked passed him to go to the locker room before Mrs Lauer came out from the office
"Aurianna, what are doing here?"
"I'm here to work Mrs Lauer or am I fired!?" I almost snapped
"Good gracious, you're not. Why would you think that?"
"Then why is everyone questioning my presence here?"

"It's just that, since your dad is hospitalized, we just thought that you need to be there with him"
"But I need to work to raise money for his treatment"
"We've sorted that out. Reese here will cover your morning and noon shift but you'll still receive your pay, no subtraction"

"Can that really happen? Did you agree to that, Reese?" I looked over to him
"Well, yeah, just wanted to let you know how sorry I am and plus, she threatened to cut my allowance" He scratched the back of his head
I gave him a quick smile "Thanks a lot Reese" I hugged him

"I have to go then. Bye guys"
"Bye" They echoed. I ran out of the restaurant to go to the subway but I heard Reese call my name so I stopped outside the restaurant

"Rianna!"
"Yes, Reese"
"I just want you to know how sorry I am and I hope you can forgive me" I've been trying to forget that day and him not being around for a while was helping me to forget but now that he's here, memories just keep rushing in

I don't hate him, I really don't. He was just like the big brother I never had and this isn't the time to hold grudge, right?
"You're forgiven Reese"
"Really? Thanks" He smiled

"You know, when I said that I love you, I meant it" Is he seriously bringing that up? I just freaking forgave him
"And when I said that I only love you as my big brother, I meant it"
"I gotta go now. See ya later" I started walking off

"Say hi to the family for me"
"I won't!" I shouted since I was a bit far from him
"Wait, what?"