Chapter Thirty

"I don't have an appetite, Dad. Just leave it there, I'll eat later."

After going to the comfort room, I sat on my bed. It's been minutes since Dad got her and brought me some food. As usual, it was green vegetables again. It's not that I don't eat veggies. Heck, I just got bored of the taste of it.

Vegetables are boring. I want to eat some meat too but Dad said, it's better for me to eat those than eat meat. So exaggerating.

"Helly, you should eat on time! Look at your weight, you look thinner and thinner!"

I secretly rolled my eyes and sighed in annoyance. I said I don't want to eat it. "Dad, I'm okay," I said emotionlessly.

"No, you're not okay! You need to be strong, Helly. Stop the stubbornness and eat that."

He sat on the couch beside the table and I just ran my gaze toward him and I know, I am in defeat. He massaged his forehead, a sign that he was frustrated about how to let me eat those kinds of foods. I think I don't have any choice.

"What will you do if I won't eat?" I jokingly asked and raised my brows.

"I'll throw an engagement party for you and Ethann."

I gulped. Look who's guilt-tripping now. He really knows that I don't want to marry that asshole. I want to be nice to him but I can't. He is so very annoying!

At that moment, I just ate it. I looked like a loser little child who was being scolded by her parents. That's why she doesn't have any choice but to do everything that her parents want her to do.

When he said I am slowly losing weight, he was right. It's been months now and here I am, still bedridden. Though, I am not totally bedridden because I can still stand on my own feet. I can still walk. It's just I have to stay here in the meantime so that I won't feel alone.

For the past months, many things have happened to me. Shannie and Yulla did visit me here after going to school. They said my other admirers at Suneast probably miss me because they always ask me about my whereabouts. Who wouldn't be curious though? My family hid me for months.

I enjoyed it so much. I didn't see Dawn after we talked on the rooftop. The thought of him marrying someone else is still bugging me. Yes, he assured me that he won't marry that girl whoever she is but that arrangement is for their business. It will help them to be more successful. I don't want to be a hindrance.

Sometimes, I can't help but to wonder. Does he still love me? I appreciated everything that I have now. Ethann was being kind to me again and didn't dare to irritate me. That was good though. In this boring room, he is the one who helps me lessen my boredom. He is still studying and at the same time, handling our case. It was still unsolved. I believe that Hadleys are not the culprits. I want to know who is the person behind this all.

The last time Ethann told me that he's got to arrest the Hadleys since he already know their whereabouts, he failed. Maybe the Hadleys run away out of the country and only heaven knows where they go.

I am, secretly felt happy for them for running away if they really did. However, despite the happiness I feel, the world will stay cruel. One morning, Daddy casually went to my room and that was the time when I asked him if I could go with Shannie and Yulla. We were planning to have a date at the seaside but he disagreed.

"You are not allowed to go out anymore. Look at you, you look so pale and weak now! You lost your weight, your skin was pale and—goodness. Those red spots are a pain in the ass. You should stay here and wait for this to be over."

I bit my lip. I look so weak now. I was not that fat before but also not that thin. But now, I am really losing weight. But of course, I am still gorgeous.

"But Dad, don't make this hard for me! As long as I am still breathing I need to cherish my remaining years, Dad!" I can't help my tears but let them escape. My heart was like it was being ripped.

"I understand but, you know, we are not totally safe. Yes, we are bombarded with a lot of bodyguards but those bodyguards can't bring back our lives if ever!"

I managed to nod but I knew that deep inside, I badly wanted to explain my side clearly to him but he seemed too determined about it.

"Dad, I know you want me to be safe, but I also need to go out. I need to see the world. I want to forget everything even just for an hour."

"Don't be so dramatic. Don't go out, period."

And that were the last words he left and slammed the door shut.

My Dad seemed frustrated about how to handle me and how to make me understand things. Yes, I am aware of all of that but I just want to live like a normal person too. Like, going out with friends, going to my boyfriend. Study normally and be pissed at our terror biology teacher. That was my life before and I can't do all of those anymore.

"Don't worry Eummie babyboo, we're just always here for you. We promise to do everything so you won't feel bored and feel so alone! Like, we can do things here such as movie marathons, truth or dare, and such!" Shannie exclaimed.

"Hmm, she was right, Helly. You need to understand your Dad. You need to follow his rules. He's just scared to lose you.” That was Yulla.

One morning, they were here again. I am happy though. I really miss them every minute. I just want to spend a day with them and hug them for the whole time.

"And besides, your case is almost over, right? Then after that, we will be able to do everything we want!" Shannie smiled at her thoughts.

I sighed. Yes, the chaos is almost over but there's one thing that keeps on worrying me.

"However, when that time comes, I'm not sure if I am still here with you." That was supposedly just on my mind but I guess, I voiced it out.

I felt Shannie beside me and hugged me there. She leaned her head on my shoulder. Between the two of them, she is the sweetest.

"Shhh, stay away from the negativities. By the way, does Dawn already know about this?"

That, I was planning to tell him finally but we haven't seen each other for a month already. "N-No... I'm scared." I looked down and bit my lower lip.

"He needs to know all of these. He is your boyfriend." Yulla also sat beside me. I am between them.

"Oh yeah, maybe at our next meeting I'm going to tell him."

Heck, I still don't know how to tell him about this. And then, he will be hopeless on his promise. It will be hard to stick to it as it is a bit impossible for us to get married.

"Oh, that's nice. Umm, we need to go, by the way, it's our finals. Goodbye Eummie baby boo! I love you!" Shannie glanced at her wristwatch and stood up. Before going out, she left a flying kiss for me. I smiled genuinely.

"Don't be sad, we will pass this exam for you," Yulla patted my head and kissed me on my right cheek.

I am overwhelmed. Yulla was not that sweet before but she acts like a mother to me and Shannie.

"Oh, your friends were here?"

My attention darted at Ethann. He immediately appeared on the scene and I guess, he saw my best friends walking out of the hospital. Perhaps in the hallway? Maybe.

"Best of friends, Ethann," I said emotionlessly.

"Yeah, I know, I know. By the way, how was your feeling?" After his chuckle, he then went to me and ran his eyes toward me. Examining my real situation.

"Somehow fine. Why? It's your finals so you shouldn't be here! Take that exam!" I hissed when I remembered it. Shannie said they are going to have their final exam so what is he doing here?

"I just got here to visit you actually. I heard your Daddy has been so frustrated and very worried about you."

I rolled my eyes. Doesn't have any plans on taking finals huh?

"Uh, yeah it's normal to be worried."

Heck, I don't care anymore if he won't pass that exam. He is so hardheaded. I will just let him. He is wasting a day that can make his future complete. Goodness, he is a pain in the ass.

"And that's the reason why I am here. Helly, I can't accept the fact that your sickness is getting worse. I'm afraid that I might lose you anytime now."

I secretly winced. What the heck? There he goes again...

"Come on Ethann, I still have five years. That is already long enough!" I said.

"Hmm, uh you want to go out with me? I promise, we won't go somewhere far," he said with a ghost of amusement in his eyes.

As if I will go out with you. No way.

"Ethann, Dad said I shouldn't go out. I am not allowed to."

"Fine, let's escape then."

I gulped. I glared at him and my brows furrowed. "What?! Are you kidding me? No!"

"Come on Helly, I know you also want this, don't you?"

He is creeping me out. Especially when he went closer to me to the point that anytime, he might kiss me. Oh my goodness, I think I'm gonna vomit with that thought.

I rolled my eyes again. "Where are we going?"

"Secret." he smiled. My brows furrowed again.

"Ugh! Just tell me where! I will invite Shannie and Yulla!" That idea just popped up in my mind out of nowhere. It is more enjoyable if they will be with us!

"Helly!"

My smile disappeared when I saw Daddy go to me and he was gasping for air. Seems so worried. My forehead was knotted and so worried too.

"Oh, my—D-Dad! What's happening?" I asked in curiosity. He then grabbed me from the bed and I almost sank down to the floor.

My eyes widened when I knew it. The trembling of my knees was evident and my chest was pounding so bad. Daddy is showering Ethann his death glare. Did he think that I'm snogging Ethann??

I turned my gaze to Ethann but he is just emotionless but I can see it from here. He swallowed hard.

"D-Dad..." I tried to hold his arms and look at me—turn his head to me but he didn't. From behind, all I could see is how dad's jaws tightened and clenched while Ethann stare at him in with full curiosity since he was lifting his eyebrow. The tension built in the whole room was enough to make me feel suffocated as the heaviness of my chest is evident as I could barely breathe. It was pounding so hard and I admit, I am scared of what will be happening next.

However, Ethann let out a chuckle. “Come on, Timothy. We're not doing anything. I was just talking to your daughter—”

“Don't you dare talk to her again, asshole!” Without wasting a moment, Dad let go of my hand and went to Ethann instead. He held his collars tightly which made me gasp hard as my hands fell on my mouth. Ethann winced so hard and I know, it hurts him.

“Dad! Dad—no!” I tried to grab his arms but he was so strong that when he pushed me away from behind, I almost fell to the floor.

“Dad, please, no! Let go of him!” Then again, I tried to hold his arms and grip them tightly so I could push him away from Ethann and stop choking him. “Dad, please I'm begging you!” I cried and it seems like that echoed to the whole room. Dad's hands on Ethann's collar didn't loosen but instead, he pulled him as he opens the door and let go of him by pushing him out of the door.

"You traitor, stay away from my daughter!"

He pointed to Ethann, then he slams the door so hard that I was almost thrown from my feet.