Chapter 152 - While In Chinatown

"Andrew, please."

Andrew released her when she used all her force to break free from him. She was so bothered when she saw him a few minutes ago but now that he was hugging her, she felt uncomfortable. As if she has contracted a contagious disease she was too afraid to get infected with.

"Cherry, why? If only you knew how much I lamented for your loss. I almost gave up my life," confessed Andrew tearfully but Cherry couldn't understand why she felt a sense of contempt towards him.

"Andrew, your regret was only in realizing that you lost both me and my mom but you no longer valued me as you did before you knew her."

"No..." 

"Yes," Cherry didn't allow her to finish, "but even if I am wrong, I could never accept anyone who will do such shamelessness on me!"

"I know," he replied, his eyes remained fixed downward. 

"So, Andrew, I have to go. There's no longer something to talk about," she sneered at him before she took a step away but Andrew held her arm and stopped her.

"I hope you can still forgive me and wish me well," he paused as he looked up to see her reaction," I know I don't deserve your kindness but I need a peace of mind. The guilt stayed with me and kept me from moving on."

Cherry was almost tempted to laugh at what he said but there was a hint of sincerity in the way he looked at her. Perhaps, she thought, he still had a conscience. Perhaps, he was not as evil as she thought.

"It's all in the past,  Andrew. I almost can't recall anything about it anymore," she replied in a nonchalant expression, leaving Andrew staring at her back, tongue-tied. He knew it was an exaggeration but he also understood that Cherry only wanted to show him that he held no value for her in the past. It hurt but he could not blame her.

Meanwhile, in Allie and Ajie's room, a loud knocking was heard. The two looked at each other, wondering who could it be. Ajie stood up and looked through the peephole and found Andrew standing with a disturbed look. He opened the door and invited him in.

"Adrian, I would just like to ask. How long did you know that Cherry is alive? Why did you keep it from me?" said Andrew in a loud voice, making Allie worried and a bit scared.

Ajie, who had no idea what happened in the theatre, raised his brows in confusion. He then realized that maybe, the two crossed their paths somewhere. "Why, you two have met again?"

"Adrian, please stop making me look like a fool. You must have known the whole truth a long time ago but you just kept it from me."

Understanding Adrian's reaction, Allie intervened. "Hayri pulled me and Cherry to the theatre a while ago and that's how they met again."

Ajie held Allie's gaze for a while before he looked back at Andrew and gave out a faint smile. "Andrew, I thought time has changed you but you proved me wrong. Why do you always think I have something to do in any of your failures?"

Andrew perhaps realized his mistake, he softened his look and apologized. "I didn't mean it that way. It's just that it seemed this is not the first time you also met again."

Ajie took a deep breath before he went ahead. "Yes, it's not the first but my second this year. It just so happened that Allie met her while she was in another country."

"How come she's alive?" Andrew asked.

"We have not discussed it yet," Ajie answered, trying hard to appear as honest as he could muster.

"Cherry never disclosed anything about her past," said Allie, helping Ajie affirm his claim.

Andrew no longer said anything. He strode towards the door and went out with sagging shoulders. The two looked at each other, silently communicating their thoughts about Andrew for a moment and then burst out laughing afterward.  Seized by their emotion at the moment, Ajie pulled her close and pressed his lips against hers, taunting her for a passionate kiss. Allie parted hers to welcome him and in the next moment, they found themselves in a heated encounter in their bed.

All throughout the cruise, including the drops off to some places on their route towards Japan, there were a couple of times where Ryan Tan joined meals with the whole family and there they discussed business. Ryan was so persistent about it that it did not take them long to close the deal. Rough Seas Marine Supplies and Equipment would venture out to a new market in the Arab world, specifically the United Arab Emirates. However, instead of getting overjoyed over the leap in the business world, Allie was a bit apprehensive. These countries were known for their skyrocketing breakthrough in science and technology and therefore would not need their products and services. But Ryan was very good at winning their hearts and soon her apprehensions were all gone. He did not only develop friendship among youngsters like Ajie and Allie or Hayri and Jane but also won the approval of the whole family especially the elderlies. Even Chloe gave her trust in him.

During their first stop in Yokohama, they went directly to its famous Chinatown were a large number of Chinese stores and restaurants could be found in the colorful streets along the five gate entrances. They visited the Kanteibyo temple which was dedicated to its Chinese god of good business and prosperity. While walking along one of the streets to find a good restaurant that offered the best of the country's cuisine, Ryan was taking Chloey on a horsey-game, lifting her upon his shoulders. 

"Ryan, you'll get sore later. Chloe is heavy," Jane warned him as both were laughing their hearts out. Chloe often squealed in delight every time Ryan bounced her off on his shoulders and the latter also laughed in amusement at her shrill hiss of joy.

"It's not true, auntie! Uncle Ryan is so big and tall," protested Chloe who might be wishing. her bliss would not be ending soon.

"Yeah but Chloe is also a giant girl!" argued Jane, feeling sorry already for Ryan who may have been enduring his ordeal just so he wouldn't spoil the child's happiness.

Chloe was about to protest when she saw a stall selling colorful toys. She slid down from his shoulder and ran toward the stall. The rest of the adults were also busy talking while waiting.

"Baby, here are other toys you can choose from," said the man in an enthusiastic voice.

Chloe followed and was then hooked up in choosing toys while the rest were listening to the man who was too quick to make demonstrations of one product to another. Little did they know that while their attention was grabbed by the disguise of product demonstration, someone enticed Chloe to look at the toys in another stall until she got too far away.