A/N: Okay guys, here's a new chapter. Sorry for the late update. I've been busy and I wanted to finish writing this story. Few more chapter left.

I'll have an announcement by the end of the story, and no, it's not about a sequel. ;D

Anyways, Enjoy and Happy Reading!

----

Twenty Three

When I’ve finally cleared my head and calm down, I opened the door with a smile. I’m not that heartless to get to business when he just returned. I know it was inevitable, but it doesn’t hurt to prolong the moment a little.

“Welcome back. How was your trip?” I asked as I closed the door after he walked in.

“It was very tiresome. My boss kept me on my toes the whole time.” He replied with a smirk, glancing back at me once as he walked towards the living room.

He made himself at home as he crushed down the couch and putting his bag down on the floor beside him. I eyed him for a moment, raising my eyebrow questionably at his actions. He looked so comfortable, like he had forgotten about our last conversation. If he pretended that he did, I’m not going to bring it up until he did.

“How did your weekend go?” he asked as he undone his tie.

“It went well. The girls and I had gone to the beach, filling your stead.” I replied gleefully and crushed down beside him. “Do you want anything to eat?” I asked after, out of courtesy.

“Did you make anything?” He countered as he eyed me sternly for a moment and smiled.

“I did. I made myself some dinner.” I replied and stood up, turning down towards him in challenge. “How do you like my cooking?” I asked.

“I love your cooking. What did you make?” He answered in defense and asked with interest.

“Okay. I didn’t cook. I ordered some Chinese food and I have some leftovers.” I admitted in defeat and turned around, walking towards the kitchen.

“That sounds marvelous.” He stated, chuckling in delight.

“You know I can cook, right?” I asked aloud in mock challenge.

“I know. But, only the breakfast kind, you’re limited to that area of expertise.” He remarked in mock tease, chuckling still.

I reheated the leftovers and set the dining table. I sat with him as he eat, drinking a glass of wine, my second round for the night – which he doesn’t know. We talked about my weekend since he doesn’t give me a hint that he wanted to talk about his. I skipped on the part with the serious talk I had with the girls and focus on the fun parts of that day.

As we both laugh after I told him about my girl’s day out, and our shenanigans, I thought about when he would brought it up. How am I going to start? How am I going to explain it to him without sounding selfish and inconsiderate? I know that it was going to happen sooner or later, and the wait is starting to kill me.

“Andre…” I started my voice low as I started at him sternly.

He stopped chuckling and drank in one gulp his glass of wine. Then, I knew, he was now ready to talk about our last conversation.

“Before you say anything, Ally, I just wanted you to know that I really want us to work. I really do.” I interjected, his eyes bore into mine with sincerity.

I gave him a curt nod, my lips in a grim line. How am I going to say this?

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes for a moment as I gather my courage. And then, I opened them, looking at his pale blue eyes with as much sincerity as I could convey.

“I can’t anymore do this with you, Andre. I’m so sorry.” I said softly.

“So, you’ve made your decision.” He stated after a few beat of silence. “Are you going to get back with Logan?” He added.

“What? No. I’m not a hypocrite. I am not that kind of person, Andre. If you think of me as such, then you made this decision less painful than I though.” I replied angrily, feeling hurt by his words.

“No… I don’t mean it that way… I don’t think of you as a hypocrite…” I stuttered frantically in defense. “I only wanted to know if you were going to take actions with Logan’s confession.” He added calmly.

I eyed him for a moment, trying to see through his façade. He looked sincere with his words. “I’m sorry for my outburst.” I replied and paused for a second. “And, no. I’m not going to run into his arms. I’m not that kind of person.”

“But, you still have feeling for him, right?” he asked, his eyebrows crushed together in confusion.

“I do.” I replied softly with a sad smile. “I know you’re confused, but you’ll understand someday when you love someone this long without realizing it.” I added with a strained laugh.

“Then, tell me why, Ally?” He asked, grabbing my wrist in desperation.

I don’t know how I could explain it to him. How I was afraid to take a risk of getting back with someone who had already broken my heart. How can I tell him without making Logan look like my no good, recent, ex-boyfriend?

“You couldn’t possibly understand, Andre.” I stated softly, refusing to answer his question.

Andre knew I wasn’t going to tell him. I knew he wouldn’t pry me with anymore information as he let’s go of my wrist. My mind was set, and my heart was silently breaking. He curtly nods his head in reply to my words and slowly stood up from his seat.

“Andre…” I called softly but stopped as he held his palm to me.

“I’m fine, Ally. Don’t worry about me.” He interjected his back to me. “Thank you for dinner. I think I’ll head back now. I’m tired.” He adds as he walked towards his things by the couch.

“Okay.” I replied silently as I stood and walked behind him, a foot apart.

As I silently walked him out of my apartment, guilt slowly weighed down on me. I felt guilty for dragging him with me, for giving him a chance that he never really got. I felt the lowest as realize what I had done to live in this moment. I never knew love can be this complicated. And, I thought I knew it well.

For the rest of the night, I curled myself in bed as I allowed my tears to fall. Do I have this right to cry about something which is my fault? I’m just a person. I make my fair share of mistakes, and I hope one day I wouldn’t face the same mistake again.

The next few days, I kept my emotions reeled in. I wasn’t that devastated as I’ve already cried about it a few nights ago. I was able to move one forward, but it didn’t feel like living. It felt like there was something missing within me. Though it was so, I wasn’t ready to take that step yet. I need time to heal first. I don’t want to make another decision that I might regret and hurt someone in the end.

Two weeks had passed, and I haven’t crossed paths with either Andre or Logan. For Andre’s reason, I knew he is immersing himself with work; but Logan, he might still be avoiding me because of our last confrontation.

As I got out of my apartment a little late than usual, I bumped into Rayne in the hallway. But, that wasn’t what made me stop rather than rush out, it was the men who were moving in and out of Logan’s apartment.

“Hey. Rayne, do you know what’s going on at Logan’s?” I asked her after giving her a brief greeting.

“Oh! He didn’t tell you? He’s moving.” She replied, looking slight confused at my lack of knowledge.

“Moving?!” I asked, taken off guard by her answer.

“Yeah. I thought you knew. They’ve been moving stuff for a few days now.” She explained.

Then, it clicked. That was why I never saw Logan lately, he moved away. Why didn’t he say anything? I don’t know what to think anymore. I thanked Rayne and separated ways with her as we got down the lobby.

I couldn’t rap my head around the information I just got. He’s moving away. And, I haven’t told him anything, I haven’t given him my side of the story. It felt like a slap in my face. For the most of the day, I wasn’t able to pay attention to my surroundings. I’ve bumped into a few people in the hallway and I tripped on the way to my office. I wasn’t in my work zone. I’ve literally zoned out.

“Ms. Coleman… Allison… Ally…” Kate snapped her finger in front of me, reeling me back to the present.

“Oh. Kate. I’m sorry. Is there something you need?” I asked as I shake my head to clear my mind.

“Are you okay? You look slightly pale.” She asked, and she studied my face with worry.

“I’m fine.” I replied with a smile. “So, do you have something for me?” I added, back into business.

“Oh. I’ve got a call from your brother from the hospital. Annette’s had been admitted. He said she had fallen from the stair, or something, and that she sprained her ankles… I couldn’t catch up since he was talking too fast.” She said in slight confusion as she read the note on her hands.

“What?” I asked, feeling sober for the first time in days. I grabbed my purse and stash my things in. “Call him that I’m coming. I’m taking an early live today for an emergency.” I added in a rush as I stood up and half run to the door.

“Already done it.” Kate replied sternly and followed me out.

“Thank you.” I called as I ran towards the elevator.

When I got out of the building, I whistled and hail a taxi. As I got in, my phone vibrated with a text from Kate. It was the name of the hospital that Annette was checked in. It was the same hospital that I was in a few months ago, the same hospital that I vowed to never go back. After I gave the driver the name of the hospital, it just dawn on me the one thing why I didn’t want to go back. Logan works there.

I didn’t let those thoughts get to me. Right now, my priority is my best friend. I hope she and the baby is fine. Yet, at the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but think of him. When the taxi driver parks the car in front of the hospital’s lobby, I gave him the money without asking for the change and stormed in.

“Excuse me? Annette Coleman, my sister-in-law. She had just recently admitted. Do you know where she is?” I asked the nurse in the reception desk.

“Coleman. Yes. She is room 4 on the third floor.” She replied calmly with a smile.

“Thank you.” I said sternly, feeling slight offend that she smiled. Maybe, she was just being friendly. This is a stressful environment.

I half ran in the hall and double tapped the elevator button with impatience. When it opened, I tapped my foot as I watched the digital number on the side go up to my floor. I felt relieve when I reach it and half ran again to her room. It wasn’t hard to find it since I saw Tristan pacing outside the room, his face thick with worry.

“Hey. How is she?” I asked him, taping his shoulder’s lightly since he hasn’t seen me approach him. “Kate told me she had a sprained ankle.” I added softly as he faced me.

I rarely see my brother cry, but this weren’t just any tears. His red eyes and tear-stained cheeks, his puffed, plumed lips, his slightly messy hair; this was a look of a man in anguish. Not needing any more words, I pulled him into an embrace.

“Oh my god, Ally… She was… she was just lying there… I don’t know how long she was… she was lying there…” He stated in between sobs, his voice thick and horse from his cry.

“Do not worry. You got there in time. You save her.” I stated soothingly as I patted him back, still holding him in an embrace.

“I… I thought she was…” He continued and paused, chocked up by the word he couldn’t say.

I hugged him harder after that and didn’t say a word anymore. I just allowed him that moment to cry all his pain and fears away. After a few moments, I slowly dragged him towards a couch by the reception desk in the floor. He was hesitant to move at first, but I assure him that we weren’t going any further from her.

It became a waiting game after that. Time seemed to slow down for both of us. Then, I remembered that day when I got into an accident. This must be how they’ve felt when I was in bed unconscious. Though they smiled and joked around when I woke up, this was what they felt as they waited for me.

“Tristan?” a familiar voice asked as I figure stood in front of me.  I was looking down at the grey carpet, staring into nothingness.

“Logan. How is she?” Tristan stood up and asked, his voice still horse.

In that moment, I finally looked up. For two weeks, I haven’t seen him. Why do we have to meet again in these circumstances?

“She has a slight concussion in the head. It’s not major that might cause damages to the brain, but it was a hard blow. She would be a sleep for a few hours. I promise you, she and the baby are alright.” Logan replied calmly, keeping direct eye contact with Tristan.

Tristan stared at him for a moment before letting out a huge breath of relief. “Thank you.”He said softly with sincerity.

Logan glanced at me once before he walked away. I didn’t stop and ask him the question that has been eating me for days. And, from the way he hesitantly turned around, I understood why he didn’t say anything to me. This wasn’t about us at the moment, for that, he has my respect.

After we were given the go sign to go in Annette’s room, we stayed beside her unconscious body for most of the afternoon. I finally excuse myself and gave them privacy as I went out to get dinner. I knew Tristan wanted to be alone with her, but he was also afraid that he might break down again without me assuring him. So, I waited until he was resting beside her in a chair, his face rest on his arm by the bed as his other holds Annette’s hand.

When I looked at the moment, I knew these two are the very essence of love. A love I had always wanted and neglected to have, and forgot to fight. Then, I knew, I need to see him. This doesn’t have to wait anymore minute, second, of the day. I finally understood why he came to me that night.