Ashley was still staring at the ceiling of Siska’s apartment. She was lying on the couch in her best friend’s living room. This place is much smaller than Ashley’s room. But the atmosphere here is very comfortable.
It’s already 2 in the morning. Still hours for the sun to rise, Ashley thought. She still didn’t know where else to go after this. Siska and Jean, who picked up Ashley few hours earlier, of course, happily accepted their best friend at their place. Even those two the ones who suggested Ashley to stay at Siska’s apartment.
The beautiful girl was lying on her back on Siska’s brown sofa. She was pensive as she recalled Jill’s hurtful words. But what hurts even more was the ring. Beautiful diamond ring with design that Ashley ever made. She remembered, at that time she was still in high school. She showed Sirius her dream ring design when she will get married.
Bubba used my design to marry someone else… Ashley mumbled. The tears that had stopped flowing were now rolling down to her cheeks.
“Ash… You’re crying again…” Jean said worriedly. She and Siska didn’t sleep all night because they were worried about their best friend. This was Ashley’s first time doing this. They were very surprised when Ashley called and asked for help to pick her up at one of the city bus stop. She was drenched and looked so tired. Moreover her eyes were red and swollen because her nonstop crying. When Ashley got into the car, Siska could see Ashley threw her cellphone out to the middle of the road.
But they need to calmed Ashley patiently and still don’t know what happened. They tried to ask what happened, but Ashley didn’t seem willing to talk about it. So they didn’t want to inquire further. Ashley is a good girl, so her friends believe that other people must be bothering her not the other way around.
Jean was watching Ashley carefully from the start, she was so worried that Ashley was a victim of violence that she ran away from home. But after she look carefully, her body seemed fine. There were no visible scars or bruises, except that she did look very tired.
“Ash… Drink this first. Come on, Let me help you…” Siska helped Ashley to sit down and handed her a glass of warm ginger juice. This was the second glass. When Ashley first came, she didn’t really want to drink it. She even hadn’t eaten anything since she left the mansion.
Shortly after Ashley gulped down the drink. She felt more relieved. Her body was much warmer. “Ash… Why are you at the bus stop alone? It’s night and it’s raining. What’s wrong with you?” Jean tried again, asking more gently. “I left the house because Bubba was seemed to be burdened by my existence there.” Ashley answered weakly. She lowered her head and held the empty glass in both hands.
Jean and Siska looked at each other confused. “How come?” Ask both of them at the same time. Ashley then told them what happened. Starting from Sirius who hadn’t contacted her in a long time to her meeting with Jill yesterday afternoon.
“Hmm… Ashley, are you really sure that Mr. Sirius thinks that way?” Siska looked doubtful. If Mr. Sirius did think Ashley was his burden. Why he felt so overprotective of Ashley?
“At first I didn’t believe it either… But after I saw the ring on the woman’s hand I was convinced. I was so shocked and sad. My heart was like being torn apart…” Ashley cried again. “Ash… Maybe there’s a story you should hear from Mr. Sirius?” Jean asked, she understood Ashley’s feelings, but she also didn’t want her best friend to be sad. If what Ashley said was true, they would take Ashley with them. Ashley was the best friend they ever had. She was so kind, they couldn’t bear to see her like this.
“Right… Hiks…” Ashley cried. “I really want to hear it straight from his mouth. Why did he give the ring to that woman. Moreover, he knows that, the ring is my dream ring that I designed myself from a long time ago… I wonder, does he really not love me? Does he really love someone else? Hiks hiks…” Ashley rubbed her face hard, until her pretty face turned red.
“Then, does he know that you are here?” Ask Jean. Ashley looked at them and smiled bitterly. “I think so. It didn’t take long for Bubba to know where I was. When I got in the car, I threw away my cell phone. Maybe he’ll use another method…”
Ashley finds out that Sirius has a tracking device on her phone. Sirius had been doing that for a long time. Although she was always guarded by bodyguards every time she left the mansion. But Sirius was always on guard. This time Ashley managed to get out of the mansion with a quite distance. She was tired from walking all the way to the bus stop in the middle of the city. Ashley didn’t even realize she had gone that far. She was too lost in her thoughts. She was hurt and sad at the thought of she was just a burden, he didn’t truly love her, it’s only because he pity her, and that he only use her body? Not to mention how that woman flashed the ring engraved with Sirius’s name.
Ashley left the house because she wanted to put her mind at ease. She wanted some fresh air, away from the mansion. As she walked in and around the mansion, it’s only reminding her that she was Sirius’s burden and Sirius took care of her just because he felt sorry for her as an poor orphan.
If Bubba really thinks that way, I’ll really just move on, Ashley thought. She didn’t want to be a burden on other people’s shoulders. Even though she loved Sirius with all her heart, but if he didn’t really love her, why would she stay there anymore? After all she had given herself to him, she had nothing left.
Ashley asked Jean and Siska for help to allow her to stay here in this short time. Siska immediately agreed. The two even suggested Ashley to stay as much as she like. Ashley smiled at the kindness of her friends.
According to Siska, this is her old apartment. Siska moved to a new apartment, so she rented out this one. The tenants just moved out a week ago, so when Ashley asked them to take her to a faraway place, this was the first thing that came to Siska’s mind. Because the location is quite far from the city center.
When Ashley had calmed down, they talked about what steps Ashley would take next. The three of them also cooked some instant food in the kitchen as they didn’t even eat anything since last night.
As Ashley was helping with the food, the doorbell rang. They immediately looked at each other. “Maybe it’s the manager of this building, he thinks someone else is renting it…” She said doubtfully. Because it was impossible for someone to visit at this hour. Besides, they didn’t make a fuss. Ashley had a hunch that she knew who was behind that door.
Siska went to open the door. Ashley and Jean returned with their cook. The small kitchen area is next to the dining room which is integrated with the living room. So they still couldn’t see directly to the front door
Ashley heard a few steps, it seemed that it was not only Siska who approached the kitchen. But there was no sound, neither Siska’s voice nor that person’s voice. Ashley remained indifferent and prepared her meal with her back face the kitchen door.
“Ash-Ashley…” Jean stuttered. “Hm,” Ashley replied lazily. She was too lazy to talk. Even though she’s calmed down, his mood isn’t getting any better.
“Here you are. Baby, let’s go home.” Ashley was startled by the sound. She turned around and saw Sirius staring at her intently.