186 It Is Time For You To Choose Yours

"Where could she be?" Alissa asked as she and Timothy were driving along the night.

"Let's go home for now," Timothy replied seeing as Alissa was already tired and the night was already deep.

"But-"

"No more buts, Hayley is old enough to take care of herself. Look at you now, you just came from an event and you are already running around searching for her," Timothy reprimanded.

Alissa lowered her head.

Timothy sighed before stopping at the side of the road, he reached out and cupped her face.

"Alissa, are you trying to blame yourself with this again?" he asked with his brows furrowed.

Alissa shifted her eyes looking away from him.

"Are you going to make Amber worry even more? She already is feeling bad about what happened between her and Hayley, do you want to add more to that?" he asked once again.

"Then what am I supposed to think? Everything started when I selfishly decided to do another job," she retorted looking back at him.

"That is your freedom, just how many times must you be told that?" he answered with gritted teeth.

"I don't know what to think anymore!!"

"Then don't. No one will stop you if you stop thinking about other people. No one will blame you or even criticize you if you think about yourself once in a while," he pressed unto her cheeks as he said this.

Alissa stared at him as tears flow from her eyes.

"It is part of your freedom, part of our freedom to think of ourselves first before others. Amber already said, let's grow up. Stop thinking about favors and just let everything go. Hayley chose this path and Amber chose hers, it is time for you to choose yours."

Alissa grabbed his coat and started crying even more, Timothy pulled her into a hug, "It is fine, just as you have said before that Amber should be selfish once in a while, you should to."

"Hmm," Alissa nodded as she cried her heart out.

That night it was not only Amber but even Alissa cried their hearts out. All the pent up frustrations and feeling bad towards the three of them were released on that same night.

Meanwhile, on the side of the town.

"So you believe her? Why would I do that to you Hayley? I love you so much to even try and steal your designs," Mark said with his pained tone.

"I don't know what to believe anymore!!" Hayley was frustrated.

She went into another hotel not wanting anyone to check on her.

The pain in her heart after slapping Amber was still there, together with it was guilt.

Amber's eyes were clear, not even an ounce of bad thoughts in trying to pull her apart from the person she love.

Mark's voice was so pained as if she really did mistrust him the wrong way.

"You choose then, whether to believe her or me. But I am telling you, you have to choose wisely or it would be the end for the both of us," Mark said before hanging up.

She was trembling and is lost of what it is that she should do.

Amber only showed her the copies of the designs she made but left some words for her to think about. She didn't show any evidence about Mark using it to his advantage.

With anger inside her she stormed out of the hotel and went to the nearest bar.

Mark was the person she loved and trusted, Amber was the one who helped her during their darkest times.

She didn't know what to do and what to believe, she didn't know whether to get mad at Amber or at Mark.

To make it worse, she could no longer contact him as if he really was hurt.

Glasses after glasses she finished, her eyes were already spinning but she still want to drink.

As she raised her current glass, another hand stopped her.

"That's enough, you wasting yourself here won't help you with anything," was what the man said.

"Who are you?" she asked, squinting her eyes as she tried to focus her vision.

The man pulled the glass from her hand, "I am a friend of a friend and seeing how wasted you are, you surely wouldn't remember this."

"Huh? What the hell are you talking about?" she asked as she tried to stand up.

The man was tall and his clothes were obviously with a brand, his fashion was top notch as well. But she couldn't see what he looks like at all.

"I'm saying that you should just rest and think when you are sober."

Hayley laughed as she swayed, the man was able to support her.

"I was sober a while ago but I still don't know what is right or wrong," she was pointing at him as she said this still laughing.

"I don't mean being sober with the alcohol, I am also talking about being sober with your frustrations and anger," he said as he paid for the drinks.

"How should I do that? I no longer even know who I am..." was her last words before she fainted.

He shook his head before carrying her bringing her to the car, after making sure that she is seated comfortably he made a call.

"I have her."

"Good, make sure she is safe back in her hotel."

"On your side?" he asked.

"Don't worry, it will definitely be fine."

"I understand, I'll bring this woman back to her hotel then."

"I'll leave that task to you for now, see what steps more she will take."

"Got it, I owe the other after all."

He looked at Hayley after hanging up.

"You really are lucky, to have met such a wonderful person."

*****

Amber had fallen asleep in Ashton's arms after crying so much.

He sighed and carried her to her bed, but just as he was about to take her arms off him, she frowned and hugged him tighter.

"I won't leave don't worry. Just let me help clean you up."

After saying this, he was able to free from her.

He went to his luggage to get a change of clothes, after changing he took a damp towel and helped her wipe her face that is full of tear stains.

He did it gently in order not to wake her up.

Just as he finished and was about to return the towel to the bathroom, he felt a tug on his shirt.

Looking down, Amber was gripping into it.

He shook his head, "I told you I won't leave you."

He could only place the towel on the bedside table before lying down beside her.

She was already wearing comfortable clothes so he no longer needs to change her and this is to his relief.

The moment he lies down beside her, Amber wrapped her arms around him and moved close to him.

He looked at her with doting eyes as he hugged her back and caressed her hair.

"Sleep tight now, you will have more strenuous days ahead," he whispered planting a soft kiss on top of her head before closing his eyes.

Despite knowing this, he wouldn't stop her but instead just support her. He will always run to her side whenever she needs him.

For after all, no one can entirely stop their significant other from getting hurt. They can only show that they are there for them.

He fell asleep the instant he closed his eyes so for he was truly tired for the day he just came out from a battle when he travelled to Kuiper.

The past few weeks, no matter how tired he was, he still has difficulty in sleeping.

Maybe it was because he felt at ease right now knowing that both of them are safe.

*****

Timothy parked his car and turned off the engine before looking at his side.

Alissa fell asleep halfway their drive.

He didn't have the heart to wake her up. He could only bring her to his place again.

After tucking her in bed, he went to his living room pondering whether to call Ashton or not.

'I'll just call tomorrow. I can say that he must be here already. No need to worry about Amber.'

Despite knowing this fact, Timothy still felt worried about Amber's mental state.

He chuckled, walking to his kitchen for a cup of coffee, 'She really is someone else. Somehow she has become someone I worry about.'

He still haven't realized that not once in the past did he worry for any woman close to his friends, whether they are their sister or cousin.

Amber was a first and she was not even blood related to any of his friends.

'No, another has appeared as well. I somehow ended up worrying for the both of them. Only, I can feel that the worry was different for the two of them,' he added in his mind, looking outside of his apartment.

He only has one problem right now, to accept his emotions now or not.