She's My Sleeping Pill

“The subscriber could not be reached – ”

“The subscriber could – ”

Tristan looked checked the number on the screen and knew that he was dialing the right number but she wasn’t picking up any of his calls. [Did she block my number? How come she’s not answering my calls? Is she really planning to leave me?] He was getting nervous with his thoughts but he remained impassive while driving his car to her house. He wanted to see her. He needed to talk to her. Earlier, when he traced her location, he found out that she was at home. He had no idea that she intentionally left her phone in her bedroom.

At Justin’s home, Elena was sitting in front of Cayenne and Stefan. She fiddled with her fingers and looked down on the table like it was the most interesting thing in the world. She couldn’t meet their eyes. She was embarrassed and worried at the same time.

After a moment of silent, Stefan finally spoke. “Is this your final decision? I don’t really want to let you go because you are very capable and a great asset to my business. However, I cannot keep you as well if your heart is no longer with us.”

Elena nodded her head hesitantly which didn’t escape Stefan’s observation. “Be firm. Is this your final decision? I will grant your resignation right away if this is really what you want.”

.....

“If I apply again boss, will you not hire me? You said it yourself; I am capable.”

“Yes, you are. Sadly, I don’t want to keep someone who can be easily persuaded with emotions. I want professionals.”

“Stefan.” Cayenne muttered while hinting him not to be so harsh to Elena. After all, she had been his employee for several years. “Elena, if this is about Tristan, wouldn’t it be better if you talk to him one last time. He truly loves you. It’s not about you being sister with his ex. It’s not about you being similar to her. He loves you for who you are and not someone else. I can’t tell you why I’m so confident about this but if you listen to him, I am sure he will tell your everything.”

“My mother – ”

“Your mother will learn to accept it.” Cayenne retorted instantly. “You have to brave and face this adversary with him. If you give up on him, how will he have the will to fight? You must face your mother with him.”

Stefan looked at his wife who sounded like a love counselor. It was really ironic to hear these words coming from her since she almost gave up on him, too.

Elena fell silent after hearing these words. She was really ready to give up on him and just be single for the rest of her life. She wanted to choose her mother over him but her heart has been shattered to pieces before she could even do it. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. She needed him.

“Boss, can you give me a day?”

“Yes, he will.” Cayenne answered for Stefan which made him shake his head. She’s too compassionate for others. “We will always wait for you.”

Around 9:00 in the evening, Elena went home and to her astonishment, she found Tristan sitting on the hood of his car in front of her home. He was looking up into the sky, watching the stars that littered the vault of heaven. She wanted to run into his arms and stay there but she knew that there was something more important that she needed to do.

Tristan heard someone’s car stopped not far from him and when he looked around, Elena was getting out of the car. He jumped down from his vehicle and watched her approach him slowly. She didn’t look happy and that was something he expected.

As soon as she got close to him, Tristan spoke immediately – afraid that he’d miss the chance again. “Can we talk. I need to tell you something really important.”

“I have something to tell you, too. Shall we talk inside?”

“Okay. It’s better If she knows the truth as well.”

Elena was nervous with what she was doing but this is her only chance. If this wouldn’t be resolved, she will have to quit and stop affecting her work.

The moment they entered her home, they were greeted with her mom’s swollen eyes. Elena panicked and ran towards her mom. Her resolve was starting to get shaken once again and she looked apologetically at Tristan. She wanted to be strong for him but her mother needed her, too.

“I’m sorry.”

Elena and Tristan were stunned with what they heard but none of them said anything. They thought it would be better to let her mother vent whatever it was that she was feeling. Elena sat beside her mother and Tristan chose to sit on the couch opposite them.

“I know that I’m being selfish but, you understood me, right? You know that I was only doing it for your welfare, right?”

Elena held her mother’s hand and smiled faintly. She wanted to agree but she couldn’t. She wanted to fight for her happiness. “Mom, I’m sorry. I know that you are thinking things for me. I know you would always think of my best interest. However – ”

“I know. You don’t have to say it. I agree for you to be with him.”

Tristan’s eyes widened and he straightened is back as he looked at the mother-daughter pair. He thought he was hearing things but Elena clarified it with her mother because she thought she was just daydreaming.

Before she could even voice out her thoughts and defy her mother, her mom already agreed to her. It was really surprising and her happiness was blooming from the bottom of her heart. Her tears pooled in her eyes as she pulled her mother for a hug. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“I really want to share this happiness with you two but, I have something to tell you. I promised to keep this a secret however, it will cause another fight between me and Lena if she learns this from someone else.”

“Is this about my sister again? We talked about – ”

“What sister?” Elena’s mother shifted her gaze between her daughter and Tristan and she could tell that the two were keeping something from her. “Tell me the truth or I will kick you both out of this house. You can never set foot in this house ever again.”

Tristan gulped nervously and looked at Elena nervously. What she knew was something different from what he was about to tell them. And it worried him even more.

“Your sister is not dead.” Elena and her mother looked at him like he was someone who has grown some horns. They were both speechless so, he continued to speak before they could start to throw questions at him. He told them how she faked her death to escape her father and the marriage that was arranged for both of them. He also told them that she’s living a happy life now.

After telling them everything, Elena and her mother were still speechless. He couldn’t tell what thoughts were running in their head but he could tell from their faces that they weren’t thinking of something good.

“I’m sorry for not letting you know soon.”

“When did you know about this?”

Tristan admitted everything to Elena, afraid that she’d make a big deal out of it and anger her again. “If it wasn’t for Stefan, I wouldn’t even know that she’s alive. He accidentally met her earlier. I just investigated it few hours ago and I met her before coming here.”

“Can you give me a minute to think? I really need to think things through.”

“Are we breaking up?”