Chapter 3
Damn. When will the commercials end?
"Hello everyone. I'm Sandra Chan here."
Thank god.
"Before the break, Mr. Phoenix promised to tell us what the secret is. Now here he is, and we're not letting him get away, folks!" She turned to him. "Well, sir? Aren't you going to tell us now?"
"Not until Asuka gets here." Edo said.
"Asuka?" I blurted out. I stood from my seat. Asuka's involved with this… secret?
"So Ms. Tenjoin knows the secret as well?" the reporter assumed.
Edo chuckled. "Um… no. But she has to be here. She's part of it."
Part of it? I thought. But he just said she didn't know- wait a minute…
"And it's not really a secret… it's more of… a motive." Edo corrected.
I clenched my fists tightly. "Phoenix, you bastard!" I exclaimed. I glared at him. "If this is what I think it is…"
"There she is!" the reporter declared. The camera shifted from her and Edo to the person who just arrived.
Her elegant blonde hair was tied in a half pony behind her. She wore a tight-fitted long-sleeved blue shirt that clung perfectly on her tall lean frame. Her skinny jeans emphasized her delectable body. She was just as beautiful as I last saw her. What a fool I was to let someone like that get away.
"Edo? What's going on? What's the emergency?" Asuka asked him.
"There's no emergency. I just wanted you to come here as soon as possible. Did I get you worried?"
"A little." She admitted. "So… Why am I here?"
"…Because-"
He stopped. It seemed like he was finding the right words to say.
"-I wanted to ask you something." He finished.
Phoenix's eyes glanced at the camera for a split second. He forced a laugh. "Wow. This is harder than I thought it would be!"
Asuka held his hands. "Edo, just tell me. What is it?" she said softly.
Phoenix looked straight in her eyes. He smiled. "I love you."
Asuka looked confused. Phoenix continued. "I know we've been together for almost five years now… but those five years just aren't enough." He pulled her closer. He paused for a moment. "I want more of you. I want to be with you forever. So… with that being said…"
He let go of her hand. Asuka gasped as Edo pulled out a small box from his pocket. I looked away.
"God damn it." I mumbled. Did he really have to do everything I failed to do? I looked back at them. Phoenix was now down on his knees as he presented the ring resting in the small box.
"Oh my god!" Asuka shouted. The diamond ring shone brightly. I sighed. Go ahead, Phoenix. Go ask her.
"Asuka Tenjoin, will you marry me?"
"Oh, Edo! It's so beautiful!" Asuka exclaimed, her eyes fixed on the ring. C'mon, Asuka. Don't be fooled by his filthy money. Don't say it. Don't tell him what he wants to hear. Tell him what I want to hear. She stared at him intently. His eyes seemed so sincere. To me, it was as if he was just trying to deceive her. That god damn bastard thinks he could get away with anything just because he's rich and famous. He has everything he wants.
C'mon, Asuka. Don't give him what he wants for a change! Let him feel defeat. Let him feel the pain of a loss. He never felt that. He never felt suffering. He never felt what I felt when I lost everything. When he stole my life from me… my career, my fame, my chance to success…
And most importantly… You…
I watched Asuka closely, waiting for her reply to Phoenix's question. Asuka finally did something. She lifted her right hand, touched his face gently, closed her eyes, puckered up, and gave him a kiss. It was the gentlest, sweetest kiss I've ever seen. God, how I hate it.
When the kiss ended, they opened their eyes and looked at each other. There was silence. Was I really watching a live show? For a while there, it felt like I was watching a soap opera. Finally, Phoenix spoke. "… Is that a yes?"
"Of course it's a yes, you lucky bastard!" I exclaimed, resisting the urge of throwing something at the TV.
"Edo, I'll never refuse an offer like that in a million years!" Asuka said. She hugged him tightly. "Oh my gosh… I just can't believe you actually did that… Oh, Edo… you're just so full of surprises…"
"'Too much surprises' is more like it." I grumbled. I took the remote and switched off the TV. I've had enough of this. I think it's time I go for a walk.
