It wasn’t the first time that we broke the silence about our relationship and revealed it to someone else. Elizabeth, Kyle, as well as Ace’s father all knew that we were dating. However, this was the first time that a close colleague and friend of mine had found out. Unlike the other three that had found out before, I didn’t see any reason why Jeremy needed to help us keep our relationship a secret.
“It’s fine, Rina. Sooner or later, people will find out the truth. It’s all just a matter of time. Plus, I’m sure that you’re going through some tough times trying to keep this a secret from everyone,” Ace said empathizing.
He was right about it being hard; however, it was a burden that I didn’t mind carrying. I found myself biting on my lower lip as I found countless emotions flooding my chest and stinging the back of my eyes.
“You two can’t keep this a secret forever,” Jeremy stated coldly.
“Please don’t tell anyone!” I pleaded desperately.
For some reason, Ace had decided to let Jeremy in on our secret; however, it would be bad if Jeremy tells other people. At that point in time, the disciplinary committee and losing my job was the least of my concern. Dealing with internal conflicts and punishments was one thing but if this news were to leak outside, I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen. Once again, I realized that this involved more than just Ace and me and our future together.
“You’re asking me to keep this a secret?” Jeremy asked in disbelief.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m asking. You can’t tell this to anyone,” I replied heatedly.
“Calm down, Rina…” Ace said as he stood up from his seat.
I felt like I was going to start crying. Stress and exhaustion were getting to me all at once. All the emotions and hardship that I had been holding in threatened to spill out in the form of tears. Ace sat down next to me before he placed an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to his side.
“Jeremy, you can do what you want with what I just told you but, as you can see, this is very hard on Rina more than anyone else,” Ace said as his hand softly stroked my back.
His caring and comforting actions only made me want to cry even more than before. Ace only mentioned how hard it was on me, but I was sure that it was hard on him as well. With all the responsibilities that he had; I was certain that it must be harder on him than it was for me. On top of that, because of my careless actions, Ace now had to deal with Jeremy as well.
“You know, I don’t mind you telling the disciplinary committee or whatever. I don’t even mind losing my job at this point, to be honest. I know that dating Ace is against the rules, and I know that I’m just being selfish, but can you please just give us some time?” I asked as I dug my nails into the palms of my hands in my desperation.
If I can buy us some time, then maybe we could still save the merger. Jeremy gave me a look of utter disbelief and I wasn’t surprised that he found my request ridiculous.
“I’m sorry but Rina is getting a little emotional. I’m sure that she’s tired as well. Do you have anything else that you want to say to her right now?” Ace asked warmly.
“No…” Jeremy replied curtly.
“Then can you wait here for a minute. I want to take Rina to rest over there, then we can continue talking,” Ace said as he stood up.
Ace gently pulled me by the arms until I was standing on my feet. I knew that he was right that I was being emotional. It was partly his fault because instead of just going along with my lie, he had to go and tell Jeremy the whole truth. He should have realized just how much was at risk and how much we had to lose if this leaked out.
“Ace…” I called his name as I stared up into his brown eyes.
“It’s going to be just fine. Why don’t you just take a short nap on the bed?” Ace suggested before showing me a gentle smile.
I wanted to argue with him, but I didn’t really have the physical or mental strength for it anymore. My temples throbbed and I could feel a bad migraine coming on. A short nap on the bed didn’t sound so bad at all, although I doubt that I would be able to fall asleep. Ace took me into the meeting room where we had inserted a bed. Thinking back on when that happened, I never thought that I would be using the bed for an occasion quite like this.
…
“Rina…”
I heard someone calling my name softly close to my ear. I thought that I wouldn’t fall asleep, but it seemed like I had dozed off without knowing it.
“Ace…” I whispered his name sleepily.
It took a few seconds for reality to set in and for me to realize where I was and what had just happened prior to me falling asleep. I bolted right up into a sitting position before turning to face Ace with widened eyes.
“Is Jeremy gone? What did you two talk about?” I asked the first two questions that came to mind.
“Calm down. I finished talking to him a while ago. He left already but since you were sleeping, I thought I’d let you get a little more rest,” he said before he smiled at me.
“How did it go?” I asked in a small voice while not daring to hope.
“Just fine. There’s nothing for you to worry about. Everything will progress smoothly,” Ace replied before winking at me.
I had no idea how things could turn out like that after all that had happened. Frankly, I was so confused that my head felt like it was spinning slightly.
It wasn’t the first time that we broke the silence about our relationship and revealed it to someone else. Elizabeth, Kyle, as well as Ace’s father all knew that we were dating. However, this was the first time that a close colleague and friend of mine had found out. Unlike the other three that had found out before, I didn’t see any reason why Jeremy needed to help us keep our relationship a secret.
“It’s fine, Rina. Sooner or later, people will find out the truth. It’s all just a matter of time. Plus, I’m sure that you’re going through some tough times trying to keep this a secret from everyone,” Ace said empathizing.
He was right about it being hard; however, it was a burden that I didn’t mind carrying. I found myself biting on my lower lip as I found countless emotions flooding my chest and stinging the back of my eyes.
“You two can’t keep this a secret forever,” Jeremy stated coldly.
“Please don’t tell anyone!” I pleaded desperately.
For some reason, Ace had decided to let Jeremy in on our secret; however, it would be bad if Jeremy tells other people. At that point in time, the disciplinary committee and losing my job was the least of my concern. Dealing with internal conflicts and punishments was one thing but if this news were to leak outside, I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen. Once again, I realized that this involved more than just Ace and me and our future together.
“You’re asking me to keep this a secret?” Jeremy asked in disbelief.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m asking. You can’t tell this to anyone,” I replied heatedly.
“Calm down, Rina…” Ace said as he stood up from his seat.
I felt like I was going to start crying. Stress and exhaustion were getting to me all at once. All the emotions and hardship that I had been holding in threatened to spill out in the form of tears. Ace sat down next to me before he placed an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to his side.
“Jeremy, you can do what you want with what I just told you but, as you can see, this is very hard on Rina more than anyone else,” Ace said as his hand softly stroked my back.
His caring and comforting actions only made me want to cry even more than before. Ace only mentioned how hard it was on me, but I was sure that it was hard on him as well. With all the responsibilities that he had; I was certain that it must be harder on him than it was for me. On top of that, because of my careless actions, Ace now had to deal with Jeremy as well.
“You know, I don’t mind you telling the disciplinary committee or whatever. I don’t even mind losing my job at this point, to be honest. I know that dating Ace is against the rules, and I know that I’m just being selfish, but can you please just give us some time?” I asked as I dug my nails into the palms of my hands in my desperation.
If I can buy us some time, then maybe we could still save the merger. Jeremy gave me a look of utter disbelief and I wasn’t surprised that he found my request ridiculous.
“I’m sorry but Rina is getting a little emotional. I’m sure that she’s tired as well. Do you have anything else that you want to say to her right now?” Ace asked warmly.
“No…” Jeremy replied curtly.
“Then can you wait here for a minute. I want to take Rina to rest over there, then we can continue talking,” Ace said as he stood up.
Ace gently pulled me by the arms until I was standing on my feet. I knew that he was right that I was being emotional. It was partly his fault because instead of just going along with my lie, he had to go and tell Jeremy the whole truth. He should have realized just how much was at risk and how much we had to lose if this leaked out.
“Ace…” I called his name as I stared up into his brown eyes.
“It’s going to be just fine. Why don’t you just take a short nap on the bed?” Ace suggested before showing me a gentle smile.
I wanted to argue with him, but I didn’t really have the physical or mental strength for it anymore. My temples throbbed and I could feel a bad migraine coming on. A short nap on the bed didn’t sound so bad at all, although I doubt that I would be able to fall asleep. Ace took me into the meeting room where we had inserted a bed. Thinking back on when that happened, I never thought that I would be using the bed for an occasion quite like this.
…
“Rina…”
I heard someone calling my name softly close to my ear. I thought that I wouldn’t fall asleep, but it seemed like I had dozed off without knowing it.
“Ace…” I whispered his name sleepily.
It took a few seconds for reality to set in and for me to realize where I was and what had just happened prior to me falling asleep. I bolted right up into a sitting position before turning to face Ace with widened eyes.
“Is Jeremy gone? What did you two talk about?” I asked the first two questions that came to mind.
“Calm down. I finished talking to him a while ago. He left already but since you were sleeping, I thought I’d let you get a little more rest,” he said before he smiled at me.
“How did it go?” I asked in a small voice while not daring to hope.
“Just fine. There’s nothing for you to worry about. Everything will progress smoothly,” Ace replied before winking at me.
I had no idea how things could turn out like that after all that had happened. Frankly, I was so confused that my head felt like it was spinning slightly.
