Chapter 8: Just a kiss for her but not for him

From Evan my eyes move down straight to the phone stand where the phone is kept with the circular light, letting out a loud breath I turn to my right at Riley, who is seated next to me on the sofa, Evan is standing behind the coffee table staring at us, we stay silent for a while till the count down for the live is done and there the camera is on, the comments keep popping on the left side of the screen. I sit there faking a smile at the screen cooperating with him but neither of his words are getting into my head, the chattering on my right stops when the comments keep sliding Are you both really together? They don't look good together? How can we believe that he is really into her? Is he playing again? Is she a victim as well? What about Mira? Mira? Who's that? Seems like he has some kind of history I guess My eye balls slide to the right corner of my eyes to take a glance at him, he stays still staring at the screen with an unreadable expression, I look down noticing his intertwined hands tighten where his nerves are popped out, the skin over his knuckles turning white. Biting my lower lip, I look straight at Evan; he throws himself on the sofa and buries his face in his hand. Why are they upset because people are questioning? Is this how a life of an idol is? So restricted and prejudiced! The unstoppable comments keep popping out the vibration and notification of the messages clearly to be heard in the silent environment. They are faking it. They are not together I haven't seen him around her She is not living with him We are not fools He has never changed Prove us that you both are in love I don't see the spark His scandal never stops They look uninterested Kiss! Yeah, kiss and show us that your together Riley is a pervert How much did he pay her? This is nonsense, if they are not interested, they can just stop watching instead of hurting someone, even though that there are some people supporting him the hatred continued popping. I close my eyes taking a deep breath in, letting it out I turn to the right to see him in the same state, turning my body I run my hand to the back of his neck. he looks at me astonished as well as surprised not understanding what I'm doing. to be honest I have no idea why I'm doing this. Is it because I pity him or is it because I just couldn't take in their words anymore. a kiss to prove love, a kiss doesn't always prove how you feel. I agree that we don't look like couple and yeah, I myself cannot digest the fact that I'm in a fake relationship with someone who is childish and grumpy yet they, the people out there have no right to judge his life. they are right that we are fake but what if its real. I look into his eyes for a while my heart understands what he feels right, the judgement of people can break your heart and I have been through that as well. I move my head closer; a slight smile makes its way on my lips when I see his lip's part with astonishment, he stays still unmoving. I move my head closer capturing his lips in a second running my fingers through his hair pressing harder making it look passionate but inside I felt none. I pull back and bend over my knees looking at the phone arching a brow amusingly, curling in my lips I move forward, the left corner of my lip twitches up to smirk when I read the words on the screen. Just a kiss is enough to fool the fools. She kissed him So cool Damn, they look cute She took the lead Oh my god, she looks handsome Is Riley being shy? That was unexpected! Is he blushing? Aw, he is cute I steal a glance at him, my eyes observing his behaviour, his heated-up cheeks spread a light red blush "Your ears are red," I say dryly pointing at his ear. Is he really blushing? He stays silent for a while and cups his cheeks suddenly, he looks down at me with his eyes widened, he looks at me for a few seconds while I stare at him puzzled, not understanding what's behind that face of his. "My goodness, you are really blushing," I sneer in a low voice as I curl in my lips holding the laughter. "I..." he stops when my phone rings, looking away I pull out the phone from my trousers' pocket, its Mr. Mintz. I'm sure why he is calling me now, Mr. Mintz might have got the news. "I've got something to do," I stand ignoring the camera, stepping aside I look at Evan who shows me a thumb up with a wide smile on his face "Make sure that he doesn't go anywhere," I request passing him a smile, picking up the call I walk downstairs. "Was that you" Mr. Mintz questions the very next second the call is answered "Can you meet me now, I'll send you my address" he hangs up before I utter a word. Looking around I step in the house as I got no answer by knocking the door many times as well, he never picked any calls. I stop by the shelf when I notice the photo frames, bending a little low I take a closer look at the little boy by the beach, my view following the order in which the frames are hung, he looks cute, I smile when I see the photo of him and Mr. Mintz together, I step closer again looking at the third frame, it's a family photo. Is that his mother? she is beautiful...he surely never takes after his mother. What? Is that Riley? I take a look closer at the certificate which he is holding, he studied law? A lawyer? I stare at the picture of him with the black coat beside Mr. Mintz. "Sorry, I didn't hear you," I stand straight looking to my left to see Mr. Mintz walking out of the room, straight to the entrance "He studied law." he says with a smile, he gestures me to follow him and do as told. "Was he a lawyer?" I ask out of curiosity, if he had studied law and if he was a lawyer why should he be an idol. "Singing and dancing was his passion. He studied law and the photo there is his first case but he couldn't do it," he pours some drink to the empty glass on the dining table and places it in front of me, he sits opposite to me "He wanted be my assistant on his first day in court," he exhales, like reminding that day "His mother was waving at us standing by the road and then a car crashed on her," he stays silent for a while when I take sip of the drink served "He ran to her, her blood stained on his dress, his eyes welled up, he was calling for me, calling me to get in the ambulance but I...," "You had to attend to the court," I complete his sentence which makes him to look at me, all this while he was speaking by staring down at the table "I know how you feel but it's not your fault and I'm sure that your wife won't be upset at you," I state hoping that my words could console him as making others feel better is something difficult for me to do. Lisa always says that I sound dry and uninterested "He still blames me for its " he gets up and takes some plates and places it on the table "Help yourself," he smiles and sits again "Last night!" I look straight as I place the empty glass on the table, moving forward he continues "How did you...?" "I couldn't wake you up at that moment," I interrupt running my hand through my hair pushing the strands behind my ear "Here is the pen drive," taking the usb from my pocket I toss it on the table "And Harry is in a safe place, I've asked my friend to let him stay over for a few days and," "I mean about Tony," he interrupts, his eyes cold "Did you kill him?" he asks sternly. I move behind blowing out looking around running my hand through my hair "He had to die a long time back, isn't that what you wanted as well" I face him, he buries his face in his hands and slides it down slowly. "What if you are caught?" he asks softly like almost questioning himself. "There will be no clue of me in his death," "How are you sure about?" he asks instantly. " There were no security cameras around and to be more specific I did not kill him, I made one of them to kill him," "How?" he asks knitting his brows. "Got my own ways," I wink taking a bite of the sliced fruit. Dang? The door slams shut, the sound makes me turn around, I furrow my eyebrows when Riley walks towards us and stops by the table in front of Mr. Mintz, from his face I look down noticing his tight grip on the envelope. He crushes the paper and throws it on the table, those two pair of eyes glaring at his father who stands astonished. "Did you book the flight tickets?" he exclaims questioning aloud. Mr. Mintz moves his gaze to the crushed paper on the table and back at his son "Yes," he answers dryly "It's for your own good," he continues "I don't want you to be here for a few days." "So," Riley snaps "You decided behalf of me." "I have no other way; I just want you to be safe." "Dad," he calls out softly in a way of breaking down, I stay there letting them have their privacy, switching on my phone I scroll down the messages from Blake, the update about Harry. As for urgency I had no other place in mind except for Blake's place as his parents are in their hometown and he is living by himself. Apart from his shocking reaction, answering his unstoppable questions was nerve racking. He continued to question about my job post. My thoughts about him drifts away when I hear Riley, my mind paying attention to the current scene. "This was what you did when mom died," he utters lowly looking at the ground, his hands formed into fist where I can see his skin colour turning red "You just left us alone, have you ever thought of what I think?" I look at Mr. Mintz who stares at Riley, his eyes filled with tears and I could clearly see how much he regrets of his actions but others would understand if they were in his shoes. "Was that case important to you more than mom?" "Enough," Mr. Mintz yells as he sits on the chair, he buries face in his hands. The environment captures silence, my appearance seems awkward when Riley turns around and passes a glance at me, he walks out with no word spoken. I stay silent for a while giving him time to relax but before I speak, he removes his hands from his forehead and look straight. "I've filed the case," he informs tiredly, I pour him a glass of water and push it towards him. "When did you arrange it?" I ask softly waiting till he finishes the water. "In the morning," "I mean the tickets," Placing the glass on the table he exhales "A month ago as I know that one day the problem will go out of hand," "So, you've been arranging for defeat," he stays silent looking at me to find an answer "If I was in your shoes, I would order the head in prison to keep a room for those bastards or I will ready the coffin for them."