The Devil's Good Girl-Chapter 216: Missing something important

Love had always been a beautiful and mysterious thing.

People have always done things in the name of love.

Fil did her best to fit in with the people who only wanted to take advantage of her because of love, losing herself in the process. Jackson would retire early and leave everything behind for love. Kenzo kept his silence for years to protect love. And Elise would step aside and beg another woman to take her man for love.

Surely, love was a wonderful thing, but at the same time, a devastating one.

Fil consoled Elise until the latter calmed down. She didn’t need to hear more to know just how deep and true Elise’s heart was. It hurt because Elise loved a person so openly and genuinely, and it broke Fil’s heart that she had to be the cause of this pain.

"I’m sorry, Elise." Tears coated Fil’s eyes as her voice shook. "I really am."

Slowly, she released Elise and looked at her in the eye. "But I can’t do what you want me to do."

"Fil."

"I know you love Marcus and that you’d want him to be happy, even if you’re not the reason."

"I will not hold it against you!" Elise urged. "Just give him a chance."

"I can’t."

"But —"

"I’m engaged, Elise."

"Huh?" Elise looked up at Fil in surprise, wondering if she heard her correctly. "You were, what?"

Fil sighed. "I wanted to tell you that same night we went out to dinner, but then Marcus arrived. So, I didn’t. I couldn’t."

Deep lines resurfaced in between her brows as she processed this new information. When she looked up at Fil again, she blurted out, "But it’s only been three months, Fil."

"That’s what Kenzo also told me." Fil helplessly shrugged. "But I’m in love with someone else and I’m already being loved back the way I always dreamed of being loved. Moreover, even if I am not, I can’t just go out with Marcus just because you asked me to."

She reached for Elise’s hand while she looked into her eyes. "I’m sorry if I didn’t tell you about Marcus and me. I know everything I’d say at this point will sound like an excuse, but I didn’t say anything because I was scared... that you wouldn’t believe me."

"Fil, you know that wouldn’t happen." Elise frowned.

"But I also know what it feels to fall for the wrong person." A bitter smile dominated Fil’s face. "Isn’t that why you got angry at Kenzo in the first place?"

Elise pressed her lips together. It wasn’t like she was angry at Kenzo because he said what he said. A part of Elise believed Kenzo was telling his side of the truth. However, Elise did somehow convince herself that Marcus might not be perfect, but he would treat her right.

"I haven’t said this, but I have a different reason for leaving three months ago, Elise. The opportunity is one thing, but for sure, Marcus had his handful of share why I want to leave in the first place," Fil continued. "I don’t want any of them back in my life and I’m sure you wouldn’t want them either."

Elise didn’t say anything, but the reluctance in her eyes showed Fil’s words weren’t enough.

"Elise, do you still believe that Marcus would never hurt me?" asked Fil and Elise nodded after a moment. "Fine. I’ll show you why I would never date him and why you shouldn’t as well. Marcus might genuinely like me, but he also likes his freedom and life. He wants the best of both worlds."

"For now, I have to go." Fil checked her wristwatch before she flashed Elise a smile. "Elise, do you want to go with me to visit the site?"

"How about Kenzo?"

"He hadn’t been in the office and I’m afraid he can’t make it."

Elise smiled as she nodded. "If he isn’t still here, then I’ll go."

Both of them stared at each other with a smile. Although they knew this hadn’t erased anything at all, the burden weighing Elise down was lifted off her chest. Fil was also relieved that she was able to have this talk with her.

*

*

*

Fil and Elise chatted on their way down, avoiding any talk regarding what they just had to not make things awkward. There were still questions Elise wanted to ask and there were also many things Fil wanted to tell her, but they had to put it off for later.

"Fil, are you sure you’re alright?" Elise asked as they were near the office. "I heard you got into an accident yesterday."

"I’m okay."

"I got so worried yesterday and I kept thinking, I will not forgive myself if something terrible happened to the both of you."

Fil smiled in satisfaction. There might still be some distinct awkwardness from Elise, but she felt like this was better than them not talking at all. They chatted until Fil stopped by the entrance, catching Kenzo leaving Olivia’s office.

"Oh," she said. "Ken made it."

Elise blinked as she followed Kenzo’s figure. The latter seemed a little tired, but when he saw them, he quickly changed route.

"I see that you two had made up," Kenzo humored while darting his eyes between the two. "Everything’s okay now?"

"Well." Fil shrugged as she cast Elise a look. "Are we good now, Elise?"

"Mhm." Elise smacked her lips, nodding. "But now, I have to stay here because you came."

"What?" Kenzo gasped, looking at Fil in disbelief. "You asked Elise to come with you?"

"You weren’t answering your phone. I can’t just go there all by myself."

"Unbelievable!"

Elise studied Kenzo for a while and then shifted her eyes to Fil. "It’s okay. I have a lot of work, anyway. You to go on your way and Ken, keep your eyes on the road. Don’t be in an accident."

With that being said, Elise gave the two some time and went back to her desk. Fil and Kenzo followed her figure with their gaze before he cast her a look.

"Is the friendship safe now?"

"You can say that." She smiled in satisfaction. "I’ll just grab my things and we’ll go."

"Uh. Okay."

*

*

*

"You slept in?" Fil repeated, sitting in the passenger row, eyes on the driver’s seat. "That’s why you were late?"

"Yeah." Kenzo stretched his neck and then rolled his shoulders back. "It’s weird because I can’t even remember falling asleep."

"You were probably tired."

"Could be," he shrugged, refraining from telling her that despite sleeping in, he still felt tired.

"Is everything okay, Ken?" she inquired. "Did something happen to Quentin?"

"Nope. He’s fine. I left him at home."

"Then why do you look very uncomfortable?"

"I don’t know. But I think I had this weird dream last night."

"A dream?"

"Mhm. I can’t remember everything, but I knew I was very scared in that dream."

"Maybe it’s because of the accident yesterday."

This time, Kenzo chose not to respond. She might be right, he thought. But then again, there was this strange certainty in his heart he was forgetting something very important. It felt like he was missing some parts of his memory the night before, and his entire body and brain were bothering him about it to remember.