Babysitter Cougar [COMPLETE]

Chapter 12 page 2 - The Nightcap

We settled at a small local cafe in Damansara Uptown for a couple of teh tarik (hot sweetened milk tea beverages) while discussing one of the stall's quotes of the day that's been displayed on the menu board: 'Every choice you make makes you.'

Aleks attentively listens to my reminiscing of bad choices in the past that caused my current downturn. And one of it involves Hardy. Both Hardy and I used to ride on the same school bus before St. Paul Boys School and Star Hill Girls School shared the same route to our district, before my school moved out of the city centre.

When Jocelyn was merely to satisfy my lust for male alternatives in an all-girl institution, Hardy was my dream guy. I fell for his perfect face and his humble, charismatic personalities. I'd occasionally pour my hearts out over a series of love notes and letters, signed with Maheera's name as my pseudonym and gather the courage to hand it over to him.

We got close ever since and he made me the happiest person on earth that whatever oppressions that anchor me into the depths of despair were lifted. I often rhapsodised about Hardy to Saint and it disgusted him to the brim. But when he confessed that he catches feelings for Maheera instead of me, my world tremored into desolation.

"You ought to tell him the truth. Now you made him believe that he's marrying the person who wrote those letters," Aleks points out. "He lives by your words in it."

"How's that impacting his life?" I am puzzled. "Those letters were meant to capture his attention. He should focus on whatever that comes after."

"That's when you're wrong. Those letters moved him," he argues. "My mom's not the best role model for his development in this cultural setting. Your notes have somewhat helped him cope with the loss of his mom and he fell for that."

My mind is blown away by this piece of information. I never know how simple notes can really affect one's life. "I created my own blunder and God knows what other blunders I might create if he finds out she didn't write it."

"Come on, don't beat yourself up. It's just a mix up, they'll get over it," Aleks advises. "But why didn't you sign it in your own capacity in the first place?"

"I feared rejection. I've been rejected all my life you have no idea how painful it is if I get another disapproval from him," I explain. "So, the only way for me to get close to him is to make myself a go-between."

"And damaging your chance for marriage bliss?" he scoffs at my explanation. "Why don't you clear things up with him after?"

"That'll upset him even more knowing that I lied, wouldn't it?"

Hearing this, Aleks raises his arm and starts swatting his hand vigorously above my head as though something is hovering. "You've got too much bullshit and insecurities shrouding your head. I'm helping you clear them out."

I giggle hard at his funny gesture. "Well, I think Hardy's already in love with Maheera from the beginning and still wants her no matter what. Just look at her, she's gorgeous. I'm nothing compared to her. She had Tory Burch, Dior and Burberry in her closet while I can only afford Primark and Marks & Spencer. She'd have men crawling for her in line."

"I don't think all men are into her. She's not something worth crawling for," he disagrees. "Yes, she's undeniably stylish with great fashion sense but she's not beautiful. She even looks older than you with her gauntness and hollow-cheeks. Do you want to know the definition of true beauty? I'm looking at her right now. So, stop protecting her like she's your baby sister."

"Okay, enough about me let's talk about you," I blush at his subtle flirtatious move while bitching about my sister doesn't help to overcome my sorrow state. "What's you next plan? Any career prospects."

"Come on, I'm still 22. I got a whole lot of life ahead of me!" he spreads his both arms apart into a few stretches.

I observe Aleks' face intently, my eyes tracing on the intricate lines on his forehead, around his turquoise eyes and his high cheekbones, sharp nose and defined lips that form a charming young Benedict Cumberbatch dupe. He looks more mature than his age but who am I to judge? People have different stages of body growth respectively.

Photo source : Food Panda Magazine (milk tea);
Larygo.tumblr.com (Benedict Cumberbatch)