AFTER being dragged by Tristan to his friend's house who was apparently, his tattoo artist, I suddenly started to quiver in fear. I wanted to get a tattoo earlier, but then I forgot that they had to use needles when putting it. Of course, like most people, I was scared of needles. Aside from the fact that it'll hurt like hell, I'm sure I'll see my own blood dripping while the tattoo is being painted. Crap!

"H-hey... uh... can't I do this some other time?" I stuttered, as I squeezed Tristan's arm beside me.

He looked at me with a frown. "But you said you want to get one. Are you perhaps..."

"Yes, I'm afraid of needles, you dimwit." I admitted.

He chuckled. "Then why were you so eager earlier?"

"I forgot about the needles part of it." I confessed, still squeezing his arm.

"Hey!" He tried to shove my hands away, but I gripped him tighter. "You said you wanted to conquer my fear before when you dragged me to the rollercoaster. Now is your time."

I looked at him. "But that's... that's... different." I bit my lip, trying so hard not to cry infront of him.

"Hey dude, I don't think she can do it." His friend named Johnny told him.

"Chastity, are you gonna do it or not?" Ms. Kylie asked me. I shook my head at her. "Then, let's get home now. Your mom called us, Tristan."

He sighed. "We're already here. I'll just do it then. Wait for me a bit."

I dropped my hands from gripping him, as he went inside with his friend to add another tattoo on his body. I sighed in relief, as I sat on the living room with Ms. Kylie and Rica. I wondered what kind of tattoo he would place again.

****

IT was past 8 when we reached back their house. His mom was relieved when she saw us. I didn't see a new tattoo in his hands so I kept on wondering where the hell it was. I asked him on our way back, but he never answered me so I just let it off.

The next day, I didn't see Tristan during breakfast. His mom told me that she heard him coughing in his room all night and that I should go check him since she would be going to work. I was hesitant to go to his room, but I needed to so I did. I knocked on his door a few times, but there was no answer. "Tristan, it's me."

After a minute, the door opened revealing him with a pale look on his face. "What do you want?" He asked, coughing.

I stared at him and saw that he wasn't looking like his normal self. "Are you..." I paused, moving my hand on his forehead. "You're warm."

He brushed my hand away. "I'm not." He said, turning his back and proceeding back to his bed.

I followed him inside without even his permission. "Tristan, you're sick. Have you taken paracetamol?"

He shook his head with his eyes closed. I moved closer to him on his bed. "I should call your mom." I was about to exit his room, but then, he caught my hand.

"Chastity!" He spoke in a low voice. "Don't tell her. She'll just..." He coughed again. "...worry over me."

"Then, what do you want me to do? Watch you burning like that with fever?"

He heaved a sigh. "Just... stay."

I was taken aback when he said this, but I did it anyway. I gave him an analgesic after asking his grandma where their medicine kit was. I continued to monitor his temperature. It was still 38.6°C. "Hey, how are you feeling?" I asked him, while damping the small towel on his face.

"W-where did you... learn to do this?" He asked.

"From my mom." I answered, wetting the towel on the water of basin on the bedside table. "So, are you feeling better?"

He forced a smile. "As long as you're here, then I am. I should get sick more often then."

I slapped him lightly on his arm. "You can still say those things at this time?"

He reached for my hands and held it tight. "Chastity, I like you so much."

I wasn't able to speak or move after that. Did he really just say that? Or was I just imagining it? Ugh. I shook my head. He really was driving me nuts. Thankfully, he fell asleep after that again so I didn't have to feel awkward facing him.

I didn't know how many hours have gone by. I just found myself sleeping with my head resting on Tristan's arm. My face was so close to his. But he was still sleeping as well. I was supposed to move, but my eyes continued to stare at him. He looked so peaceful and innocent asleep. He didn't look like a devil at all, especially with his old hair back.

Just then, his eyes slowly opened. We both stared at each other for a while. I didn't know why I just froze at that time. He leaned closer towards me and for a moment, I thought I'd faint. My heart started to beat faster than normal, just like what I felt that last time I was with Jasper. But this time, it was different.

His face was only an inch away from mine, when suddenly the door swung open. "Tristan, dear, are you-"It was his mom, who stopped speaking after realizing what was happening.

We both moved from our posts. I quickly stood up from my seat and exited the room, hoping that they didn't notice my cheeks burning in flame (or rather, from humiliation). I swear if humiliation could kill, I would be a goner by now.

****

WHEN evening came, I didn't enter his room anymore. I still felt humiliated at the fact that his mom saw that. Ugh. I don't even wanna remember it. I just heard from his mom during dinner that his fever already died down which was a relief. I proceeded to their terrace upstairs to get away from the 2 staffs filming his mom and grandma in the living room.

Minutes later, I heard footsteps behind me. When I turned around, I saw Tristan approaching. He sat next to me on the vacant seat. "Why are you here?" I asked him.

"You didn't show up in my room after that..."He paused, looking at me. "...I just want to see you."

"Tristan, I don't really know what you're getting at." I said, standing up, but then he caught my hand again, stopping me.

"Chastity, why do you have to make this hard for the both of us?" He suddenly asked.

I creased my brows at him in confusion. "What? I am making this hard? Tristan, I don't understand this at all."

"Are you really this naive? Or are you just trying to avoid the situation?" He continued to shoot me questions which baffled my mind.

I swallowed hard. I didn't know what to say to him.

"I already told you I like you, Chastity. And I know... deep inside, you feel the same thing for me as well."

"W-what?" I asked, stutteringly.

"Are you scared that someone actually came to like you? Or are you more scared at the fact that you've realized you came to like me back, too?"

"I... I don't know what you're saying."

He stood up from his seat to face me. Slowly, he lifted both my hands and placed it over his chest. "Can you feel my heart?" He asked me.

It was beating fast like he just ran in a marathon. I wasn't able to speak. Then, he lifted my chin up with his other hand so that I could see his face. He was looking at me intently.

"My heart... it's beating again because of you. Please don't let it die again, Chastity... because I swear this heart will only beat for you from now on."

I gulped down. "Is that... what you told Ahra when you came to like her?" I managed to ask.

He suddenly dropped my hands. "W-what... are you talking about?"

"Tristan, I know that you're still hung up on Ahra. Please don't use me or someone else to cover up your feelings."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

I smiled at him. "I'm right, am I? I'm not the one making this hard. You are, Tristan. I think you still love her."

I wasn't supposed to say those things to him, but they just came out. I left him after that. But I regretted saying those to him. I knew I was being rude. I wasn't even in the position to tell him off or advise him, but I had to do it; even if it meant that he'd avoid me for the rest of our stay there... or even for the rest of the show.

****

AFTER that whole 5 days, we finally had to say goodbye to his family. I felt bad that we had to leave. I grew attached to his mom, his grandma and his brother because they made me feel like I was a part of them. I wasn't able to control my tears the moment we stepped inside the van. Ms. Kylie and Ms. Rica tried to comfort me. Strangely though, I wanted Tristan to comfort me. But he never talked to me after what I said to him that evening.

I was more than glad when we reached back the villa. The first person who came to welcome me back was Jasper. He never failed to show up at the right time. I quickly hugged him the moment we arrived inside. I didn't care anymore if there were staffs or cameramen watching and filming us. I just wanted to feel that familiar hug I was longing for.

"How have you been, Chas? I've missed you." Jasper said, smiling. Ah, I've missed seeing him too.

I smiled back at him. "Where's Sab?"

"Probably hanging out with Jiro. They're officially a couple now." He announced, making me smile even more.

"I'm happy for them." I muttered.

"Hey, what's the matter? I know something is up, Chas. Tell me." He suddenly said. This guy really knows me better than I know myself.

"It's nothing." I lied.

"Chastity, I am not going to stop bugging you unless you tell me." He said and it was true. He never really stopped asking me about it that whole day so that left me with no choice but to tell him.

We were at the backyard when I told him about how Tristan confessed and how I told him those things. Luckily, that devil wasn't in the pool area that time, only Jasper and I.

"So you think he's just lying to you?" Jasper asked me.

I nodded.

"How did you know?"

"I just... feel it. I don't know." I shrugged at him.

"He's an arse. If I find out that he's just really using you, I'm gonna strangle him until he loses his breath." Jasper said, clenching his hand in a fist. "I don't care if I get kicked out of the show."

"I'm telling you right now that he really is just using Chastity." Someone suddenly said from behind us. It was Skye.

"What did you say?" Jasper said, standing up.

"Tristan joined here because he wanted to help our family. In short, he is just pretending to like you to gain the audience's sympathy for him to win in this show." Skye added.

****

A/N: Update is here! What do you all think about what Skye said to Chastity? Do you think Tristan was just pretending? This chap has so many ChasTan moments and I was fangirling while writing it. haha I hope you like it. Comment down your thoughts. I'd love to read them. ;) Oh and please do vote if you have time. Thank you so much! <3

~stayGOLD