Realizing her foolishness, she laughed. Then, she stood up and hugged Giselle tightly and said,
"Somehow, there are some things not really meant for us no matter how we want it. "
"I'm so sorry, Jia," Giselle said tearfully and sincerely, making Jia sob again.
" Gis..! " A male's voice cut in.
The two women looked up and saw Anthon hovering above them. Giselle hurriedly sprang up to her feet and hugged Anthon. "It's good to see you both again." she happily exclaimed, turning to glance at Jia.
"Thanks for coming over, Gis. And it's good to see you again after many years. How are you?" asked Anthon after all of them took their seats.
"I'm fine. I, eventually, got married to a businessman, so we traveled a lot. It so happened that when you called, we were in Singapore."
"I must have a bit of good luck! " Anthon laughed while casting a glance at Jia, who was slowly sipping her coffee absent-mindedly.
Giselle followed his eyes that fell upon the cup of coffee she was holding. Anthon must have understood her way of drowning her stress with coffee.
"Enough!" Jia snapped back to her senses when Anthon pulled out the straw in her mouth as well as the cup and put it away. Then he bent down and gave her a sweet hug and a kiss on her head.
At this point, Giselle laughed. She couldn't contain the thrill that was swelling in her chest. She wished she could somehow make it up for them even if the damage had been done.
"Coffee drunkard, I must leave you two. I would visit Alex before I would fly back to Singapore. Be sure to invite me to your wedding."
Jia nodded as she stood up to kiss her best friend goodbye. "See you soon. Thanks again."
As Giselle disappeared from the door, she sat back silently. Her mind couldn't seem to grasp all the truth that came like slaps. Who was to be blamed after all? They all had their loopholes. Her heart then felt heavier than she could carry, and the sore it sent was too deep to define.
"How's your talk with her?" Anthon broke the silence.
She did not reply right away. Her mind was too dull, and her heart numb.
"Take me home, please. I am tired."
"Okay. " He immediately stood up and extended a hand to help her stand up.
She staggered the moment they walked out of the cafe. So, Anthon wrapped her closely in his arms until she was seated in the car.
As soon as they arrived, Jian's nanny ushered them in after greeting them. She noticed that she was weak and pale.
"Sir, why don't you help her upstairs?"
Anthon squinted his eyes, wondering how the nanny could offer her luck. Yet, he bent down and lifted Jia in his arms, taking her upstairs. Once in bed, he tucked her up under the covers and sat down quietly beside her, caressing her hair.
"Anthon, my heart is too tired. Thanks for today. I'll go to sleep."
"Alright. Goodnight. I'll leave when you're asleep. And I hope that tonight all your questions are answered."
Anthon then bent down to put a smack on her lips, but after a wink of an eye, he changed his mind. He pressed his lips on hers, but when their lips touched, he got carried away and kissed her hungrily. That night, Anthon left after hitting the record of having the longest and the most passionate kiss he ever experienced!