32 Let me be selfish

Abi woke up bright and early, feeling full of life as she got ready for the day. After she said her goodbyes to her family, she headed out to visit Kelly.

She had been to the Yang residence quite a few times and the servants already were familiar with her so she was immediately brought to Kelly's room.

"How's your ankle?"

"It's fine. I'm recovering fast, Abi. Mom's just exaggerating."

"I see. That's great. Uhm… Kelly, I have something to tell you…" Abi said hesitantly as she looked down on the floor instead of meeting Kelly's eyes.

Kelly creased her brows.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I'm… I'm going to live with Alexander Qin."

Kelly choked.

"W-what?! What the hell, Abi! What are you saying?"

"I'm sorry for telling you just now."

"Abi, look… why… why? Why do you need to live with him?!"

"Alex requires his girlfriends to live with him."

"Oh my god!! What nonsense is that?! Did he mistake dating as marriage?!"

"Kelly… I know it's outrageous. I know why you're worried. But this is my choice. I am going to live with him for a month."

Kelly was speechless. She didn't know what to say. She knew Abi never joked about these things and she knew her friend was deadly serious and determined from the sound of her voice. But no matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn't comprehend why. She held Abi's hands and knelt before her, with worry clearly written on her face.

"Abi, listen to me. I don't know why you suddenly decided this but this is too sudden. D-did Alexander Qin do something to force you?"

Abi shook her head and then her face became severe. Abi knew she had no choice now but to tell her friend about her illness. She had hidden this from her for years because she didn't want her friend to look at her with pity, like everyone else. She wanted Kelly to treat her just the same and she didn't want her friend to worry about her. But now, she had no choice but to tell her.

"Kelly… I'm sorry that I hid this from you for many years. I… I tried many times to tell you but I was a coward. I've been a coward until I met Alexander Qin. When I met him, I suddenly became daring. It was as if I became braver since that night I encountered him. I was afraid to tell you because I don't want you to worry about me. And I didn't want you to treat me differently once you found out about my condition."

"Abi… what are you saying? What condition?"

"Kelly… I'm sick. I was diagnosed with the same illness that killed my mother. And… and my time is running out."

"Abi… you're lying. H-how could that be? You're healthy and…" she bit her lips. She suddenly remembered all those times when Abi had to go and visit the hospital. This was a total bombshell being dropped on her lap right then.

"I'm sorry for hiding this from you, Kelly… please forgive me."

Kelly was silent for a while and she felt like the sky was falling down. Kelly's tears started to fall like rain. She couldn't believe that her friend had kept this life changing news from her! She was in turmoil. She didn't know how to feel or react at the thought that she could be losing her best friend soon. She was utterly devastated. Why? Why did it have to be Abi? There are so many bad people out there. Why did it have to be her? This nice angel? Was it really true that… that nice people were always the first to…

After a while, Kelly was able to calm down. She was still hurt that Abi didn't tell her earlier but knowing the kind of girl her friend was, she knew that her reason was pure and she was just thinking about her.

"So this is why you're suddenly determined to experience the things you never experienced before?"

Abi nodded and Kelly felt like crying again. Abi was the nicest girl she had ever met. She was that dazzling girl who shone like the sun and could infect everyone around her with her enthusiasm and kindness. And yet, this girl was actually sick and running out of time? Kelly couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"And… because you want to experience everything, you agreed with everything that Alexander Qin said?"

"The truth is, Alexander kept refusing me. He tried to scare me away many times, telling me that he wasn't the one for me but… Kelly, he's the only man I have ever wanted. I want to experience how it feels to fall in love. That is my only wish before I… I know I sound crazy but this is my choice, Kelly. Don't worry, I know Alexander won't hurt me… physically."

"You know you'll get hurt… emotionally?"

"Mm… I at least know that falling in love isn't just sunshine and unicorns. But I still want to experience it," she smiled and Kelly felt her heart clench. What should she do for this girl? She knew she could only do one thing – support her.

"Fine… so I presume you told your family that you'll be living with me for a month?"

She nodded.

"Sigh… I don't know what to feel right now, Abi. You're messing with my emotions."

"I know. I'm sorry…"

"So? When will you go to Alexander Qin's?"

"Now."

Kelly choked. "Abi!" she wailed.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to waste any more of the little time I have left."

Kelly was speechless.

"I'm sorry. Please let me be selfish and unreasonable just for a month, okay?"

Kelly could only bite her lips. No one ever made her so emotional like this. It was painful but she knew this girl had been suffering so much for many years.

"Fine… you know I can't resist you. You just have to promise me one thing. Please make sure to take care of yourself, okay?"

"I will, don't worry. I'll call you lots and actually, I still would go to work and am planning on going back home on weekends."

"As you should!"

"Mm. I'll come visit you in the morning before I go to work."

"Oh, my Abi… I… just take care, that's all I can say."

"I will. But can you do me another favor? Can you please not tell anyone about me being sick? I don't want anyone else to know, okay? Promise me."

Kelly agreed and after a long hugging and coaxing session, the two finally parted.

Of course, the first thing Kelly did once the taxi left was to call the damned prince to make sure that Alexander Qin was not going to harm her best friend while she lived in his house.