Chapter 4 Feelings of Regret

"You annoying bully! You just wanna know about other people's business," said Jhon rather harshly.

Jhon was very upset that Andrew was still bothering him. Not only at the hospital, but even at his house, the rude young man was still bothering him.

Andrew looked briefly at Jhon. Then, he barged in to have a look around his cousin's house. Just in case he found something strange and suspicious there. Especially after knowing that Ameera hurriedly left Jhon's house. Ish! How nosy of him.

Andrew went to Jhon's room. He was very curious. Sure enough. Just as he had expected. Apparently they had spent the night together, thought Jhon knowingly.

"What's your relationship with your junior?" asked Andrew. Her tone immediately changed and was rather casual. It wasn't like when he was at the hospital where he had to speak in a formal style. Because Jhon was Andrew's boss at work.

"Ah, did you guys sleep together? Didn't you?" Andrew accused firmly.

Jhon turned to him with an annoyed look in his eyes. "You came here just to find out about that?" he sneered. "It's a waste of time then."

"Not really," Andrew denied.

"So what? What's the problem for you now?" Jhon showed his annoyance even more.

"I'm curious, what did you do with her all night?" Andrew became even more curious.

"None of your business!" snapped Jhon. Andrew smiled rather sarcastically in response.

After leaving Jhon's room, Andrew sat in the living room, on the long grey sofa while pressing the TV remote.

This weekend, Andrew says he has nothing to do and no plans to travel. So, he would spend the whole day with his beloved cousin, Jhon.

"No! Go away!" Jhon rejected him firmly. After knowing Andrew's true intentions. He still had other activities that were more useful. Compared to having to accompany Andrew all day at his house.

"I still have something to do. So, you leave right now!" Jhon shooed him away while pointing at the exit.

"Oh my! How mean is my cousin," Andrew chuckled.

"You'd better get out of here, Andrew. Your presence is never expected in this house. Understand?" Jhon scolded again.

"Patience, Bro, I came here with good intentions. To stay in touch with my family. If you're not my family, I'd be too lazy to visit this house," Andrew said reasonably. He was defending himself.

Jhon didn't really respond to Andrew's statement. He walked into the kitchen and made his own coffee. As he brewed the coffee, he suddenly remembered the incident yesterday afternoon. When Ameera accidentally spilled hot coffee on his trousers.

"Stupid girl!" muttered Jhon. He smiled to himself at the thought as he stirred the coffee with the small spoon in his coffee cup.

"Who's the stupid girl?" Andrew appeared behind Jhon and startled him suddenly. Jhon almost spilled his coffee on Andrew.

"Get out of my way!" Jhon ordered. Andrew didn't care. He was still hounding Jhon with silly questions, curious about his junior.

"Is that stupid girl you're talking about... Ameera?" asked Andrew, teasing his cousin. Jhon didn't answer his question. He didn't care.

Jhon immediately avoided Andrew's question. He didn't feel obliged to answer it. Just ignore it then, he thought. It's not important at all.

"So, you like her?" Andrew guessed. His question almost made Jhon spit hot coffee in front of his face.

"Don't be crazy, Andrew. I'm drinking hot coffee and you keep babbling like a child. You're such a brat, being a person," Jhon fumed.

"Calm down! You don't have to be that angry with me. I asked you nicely," Andrew argued. "No need to be so angry," he added.

In fact, from the bottom of his heart, Andrew deliberately wanted to provoke Jhon. To get important information about how close his cousin was with his junior Ameera.

"If you don't like each other, then why did you sleep together last night? Is that right? Was I wrong to ask you that?" Andrew had been thinking about that for a while.

"I do like her. But, as my junior. Nothing more," Jhon replied.

"Are you sure you don't have a crush on her?" Andrew narrowed his eyes. He couldn't believe what Jhon was saying.

Ah, how could that be. Jhon only liked Ameera as his junior. Jhon's statement was very unconvincing. In fact, Andrew was even more curious about the continuation of the romance between Jhon and Ameera.

***

"Where are you now?" asked Lucy when she reached her on the phone.

Ameera was still sleeping in her bed. She looked so tired after coming home. Answering the phone from her best friend still sounded reluctant.

"What's wrong? I'm still sleepy," Ameera replied with a long yawn. She managed to convince Lucy that she was sleeping in her room.

"I called this morning, you know. But someone answered instead. I was afraid something would happen to you, Ameera," Lucy informed her.

Instantly, Ameera widened her eyes. Lucy said someone answered her phone? Who? Could it be Jhon, Ameera thought. She was a little frightened by Lucy's confession.

"Ameera, have you had a boyfriend lately? How come you didn't tell me?" protested Lucy on the other end.

"A boyfriend?" Ameera jumped in surprise. "I... I don't have a boyfriend," she denied.

"Then who is that guy? A ghost?" Lucy confirmed. Ameera's answer made her hesitate now.

"It's no one. Do I even have time to date? Meanwhile, my work at the hospital is just as hectic and tiring as this." Ameera reasoned and managed to conceal it from Lucy.

"Are you sure?"

"Sure! Anyway, just trust me. I don't have a boyfriend yet," Ameera assured her best friend once again. This time, Lucy believed her.

Ameera quickly got up from her bed. Then, she looked at herself in the mirror. She looked a mess. Her appearance was still very messy especially with what happened last night. Oh my! Her current appearance was gloomy and ugly. It was chaotic. Hopefully her future would not be as gloomy as her current make-up.

"Thank goodness. I thought you had a boyfriend and were too lazy to talk to me anymore," Lucy complained.

Ameera smiled somewhat forcedly. "Yeah, no, I'm still your best friend," Ameera reassured Lucy. Until her best friend was again comforted by her words.

"But, that one... I really heard it clearly, you know. It was a man who answered your phone. I thought it was your boyfriend. Because as far as I know, your brother is out of town, right? And there's no way your brother would be in bed with you," Lucy explained in detail.

Again, Ameera displayed a forced smile in front of the mirror. It was because Lucy was interrogating her activities in detail.

"Oh, maybe that's... my voice in disguise. You know that I like to joke around," Ameera denied again. She was trying to make a joke even though it didn't sound very funny.

Not funny at all. But, it couldn't be helped. It was Ameera's last resort to deny it. Otherwise, it could be serious. Lucy might start to suspect her.

Lucy must not know that Ameera spent the night with their senior, Jhon. Also, don't let it be known that the two young people had an illicit relationship outside of marriage. Oh my! That was a fatal mistake Ameera had made. She and Jhon were in a trance last night. Now, she regretted it so much.

"Ameera, I want us to meet now. Let's have lunch together! At a normal café. After that we'll hang out at the mall," Lucy said enthusiastically.

"Why, are you upset?" guessed Ameera. Lucy was silent for a long time. Ameera had guessed it then.

Ameera knew that her best friend was often in trouble with Jhon, her senior. She knew exactly what Lucy would say. All of Lucy's grievances and concerns were not far from Jhon.

"I'll wait for you at 1pm. I'll meet you there," Lucy said. He hung up first.

"1 o'clock?" Ameera widened her eyes in shock. It was already 12.45 pm. How sudden was the appointment? Ameera had to hurry now.