Chapter 55 - The Secret Is Out.

With Ava's wide eyes staring at him, James realized that she had no idea what he was talking about. He wanted to smack his face.; If Ava had already forgotten about the incident, that was good. Then he didn't need to apologize anymore. But it was too late now. If she didn't remember it, she probably will now.

However, he needed to make sure. "You don't remember what happened, do you?" He asked; his eyes were huge because of his shock.

"No, I don't remember anything that you need to apologize for. I think it's better you don't remind me either. I'm not exactly a forgiving person; we should leave it at that." She responded thoughtfully while one of her hands was playing with the sand on the ground.

James was unsure of what to do next after hearing what she said. If she really forgot about what happened many years ago, then that was good. At least, he could move on without feeling guilty. All these years, he had done his best to avoid meeting her, afraid that she still hated him. But now that it came out of her mouth that she didn't remember a thing, then it was all good. Was it?

For some odd reason, he didn't want their conversation to end. He was so comfortable sitting there next to his little sister; he racked his brain for something to talk about.

Meanwhile, Ava continued playing with the sand, not looking up. Deep inside of her, she wanted to ask James some questions, but she couldn't find the courage to do so.

Just as she was ready to ask, James beat her to it.

"Do you know how to play video games?"

Her head snapped up towards his face; it was precisely the same question she wanted to ask him.

===

Now that she thought about it, his voice sounded familiar. But then she could be wrong. She was almost a hundred percent sure that Ashton was the big brother she played video games with all these years.

She decided to answer him before she chickened out and forgets to ask.

"Yes, I do! But I stopped playing already. Please don't ask me why. How about you? There must be a reason why you're asking me; it probably means that you play. Am I right?" The way she was talking and looking at him was as if she was accusing him of something instead of merely asking.

James thought it was time to come clean and find out if Ava was the little sister he played video games with all these years.

"Yes, I love to play video games, and I have been playing with someone that I call 'little sister' in video games for many years. I just have the feeling that you and that little sister are one person. Is it really you?" A smile was forming on his lips as he asked the question.

Ava's eyes also brightened and a huge smile formed on her face, "Oh, my God!!! It's you! Big brother! It's really you!" She then gave James a very tight embrace out of her excitement.

James was stunned for a moment before he returned the tight embrace and ruffled her hair simultaneously.

"Wow! You sure are grown up now. When we started playing, you were only about what, 5 or 6 years old? And I was 8 or 9 years old. That was a long time ago..." He slowly released her so he could properly look at her. Now that he saw her in another light, he felt warmth towards her… --To him, she was Ava, the little sister, not the Ava that he had turned down as his future bride…

===

Pisces saw what happened, so she quickly went towards them. But, once she reached them, she stood there like a mother hen, glaring at James.

"Ahem! I think it's time for us to go back, Ms. Ava. Your parents might arrive any moment if they haven't yet." She announced, still glaring at James.

From a distance, she saw them hugging, but she had no idea why. From her point of view, she saw how happy they were, but she didn't know the reason for this sudden change.

Her charge was still a teenager, she assumed that James was courting her, and she had accepted him. If that was the case, she needed to separate the two before someone else saw them.

James was disappointed by the sudden interruption, and he didn't want Ava to leave. Ava wanted to stay and continue their conversation, but with Pisces glaring at James, she didn't think that would be an option. She didn't want him to get into trouble.

So, she decided to get up and bid him goodbye. Now that she knew who big brother was, she'd play video games again; then, they could talk more.

As Ava and Pisces were leaving, James suddenly went after them, "Ava, can I ask you for your number?" He hesitantly asked, unsure if it was the right thing to do. He thought to himself that if Ava agreed to give him her number, then great. But, if she chose not to, then it's still alright too.

"Sure! Give me your phone." Her hand was stretched out, waiting for him to hand his phone.

He was stunned for a moment that she was so willing to give out her number just like that. He quickly unlocked it and handed her his phone.

After a moment, "There! It's all done! I will also add you on WeChat too; I hope you don't mind." Ava said, her eyes were shining brightly as she handed him back the phone.

As he got his phone back, James couldn't help but look at her since they were very close to each other. In a couple more years, she would make a lot of young men chase after her. The chubby little girl that he saw before was long gone, replaced by a pretty young girl.

His father was not kidding when he said back then that she would turn out to be a beautiful young woman when she grew up. Sadness enveloped his young heart for the mistake he had made....