OPPOSITE ATTRACTION - Part 2 Episode 15

Clara’s POV

I feel lips on my forehead. A gentle kiss lingering for a few seconds before vanishing.

I hum and open my eyes with a smile feeling peaceful.

The smile on my face turns into a shy grin as I see the person in front of me.

The person that’s guilty of making my heart race.

Dalton. He is looking down at me with a small smile. Oh my!

“Good morning, Cara Mia,” he says and before I can respond he vanishes into thin air.

I wake up gasping for air. My fingers run through my hair and I breathe for air.

My mind is still reeling the shock of what I just dreamt about. Dalton?

I look beside me and find the bed empty. He was sleeping here yesterday night.

Did he leave already? My heart feels empty and heavy.

How can he leave just like that? Does last night mean nothing to him?

I mean, it’s not like we had sex, but… It was something!

He came looking for me! He… looked at me with that look in his eyes!

I know there is something! But, he just left?!

This is what I am worried about. Pulling me to him one minute and pushing me away the other.

It’s like he doesn’t care for my feelings. It’s like he is running away from me.

I had so many things to ask him today when he wakes up.

Why did he come here yesterday? Why did he keep calling me even when I was right in front of him?

Is he really related to my past like I think he is?

I intended to bring the truth out today no matter what, but seems like that’s not going to happen today.

I am not going to let him treat me like this! Picking up the phone on my night stand, I dial his number.

As the phone rings, my heart starts beating fast. Why? He picks up the call on the third ring.

“Yes, Ms. Edwards.” He sounds very professional.

Ms. Edwards?! I wasn’t Ms. Edwards last night, was I? I was Clara.

Now we are back at it again? Anger courses through my body and fills me. I am not some doll that he can treat me as he pleases.

“Oh, stop it!” There was silence on the other side. “I was not Ms. Edwards last night, when you came knocking on my door!”

“Ms. Edwards-”

“I said stop it!” I nearly scream and tears are beginning to fill my eyes.

I feel this ache in my heart and it’s because of him.

“You can’t keep playing with me like this! You have no right to!” I pause for a moment.

He can’t! “Why did you come to my house last night?

I want to know the truth.” There! I said it! “I know, you know that I like you.

I also know how stupid it might sound since you are my boss and I might seem like a stupid to you-”

“You are not stupid. It’s not stupid to like someone, whoever it is,” he says cutting me while I speak.

“Then do you think of me as a fool?”

“What?”

Tears start pooling in my eyes. “You heard me.”

“Clara,” he whispers. Oh God! It hurts even more when he calls me with my name!

God! It hurts when he calls me Ms. Edwards, it hurts when he calls me Clara! Fu*k!

This is so… so… Urgh! I want to tell him to not call me that too. “I don’t think of you as a fool.” Sincerity drips in his tone.

“Then why do you treat me like one? Why come to my house and give me hopes and leave the next morning without even as much a goodbye?!

Why are you playing with me?! Does that make you happy?!”

“I am not playing with you. I have not such intentions.”

“You can’t treat me like this! I know you like me. I know you do!” I say with conformity.

“I saw it in your eyes last night!” I nearly whisper. “You looked happy.”

We just stay silent for a moment.

“You can’t deny that. Because… Because I felt it. I felt something between us.” Tears start falling down my cheeks. A muffle leaves my mouth.

“Are you crying?” Concern evident in his voice. See! He is worried about me.

“Yes, so what?!”

“Cara, pl-” I cut him off.

“Is Cara your ex-girlfriend?”

“What?!” He asks after a pause as if he is surprised by my question.

“You keep calling me that. I even asked you before, but you never reply. I want to know. After last night, I need to know!”

“I understand that you have questions and you need answers.” I do! “Give me some time Clara.

On the first day of New Year, after coming back from the Business trip, I will explain everything. Everything.” He emphasizes on ‘everything.’

I frown. What is this now?

“And you were right. I was happy to see you last night.

More than happy. You don’t know how much.” I stay silent.

His words are stirring a whole different kind of emotions in my stomach.

My mind immediately goes to the moment he held me as I slept in his arms.

Though I fell asleep beside him accidentally, I woke somewhere in the middle of the night, wrapped tightly in his arms.

Not that I complained. It felt warm and… and comfortable.

“Wait for me.” His voice brings me back. I nod my head even though I know that he couldn’t see me.

“I will.” A small reply escapes my mouth. With that I cut the call. I put my head in my hands. This hurts so much!

It’s okay. I have to wait for another six days. That’s it and he will tell me everything.

Taking a deep breath in, I let it out and sit up straight. Six more days!+

Getting out of the bed, I freshen up and walk downstairs to have my breakfast.

Walking down, I see a bouquet of light pink roses on the table.

Mom and Micheal are sitting on either side of the table silently. Why are they so silent?

“Good morning, Mom!” I greet her. She looks up and gives me a smile.

“Good morning! Come have breakfast.”

Going to the bouquet, I sniff the flowers. They smell fresh and nice.

The bouquets are sent by the mysterious man every Sunday.

I still don’t know who he is. I sigh internally. Another mystery to solve in my life!

But I am surprised to see it today, since it’s not the Sunday. I see a card on the top.

Pulling it out, I eagerly open it to read what’s in there.

Your happiness is all that matters to me.

-The Soulless Man

My brows furrow in confusion. I have seen this handwriting somewhere.

“Who dropped this bouquet today?” I ask Micheal.

“Some delivery guy. Why?” He asks.

I run up the stairs to my room and pull out the drawer of my night stand.

Taking out the cards that I have received from the other bouquets, I put them all together with today’s card.

They are all signed as The Soulless Man. But the writing in them and today’s card is different.

This handwriting is similar to that of… Dalton’s. The S in the Soulless, only Dalton writes the S like that.

I take my phone and go through few of the pictures of Dalton notes that I have taken for office purpose.

Comparing them, I see how it’s the same writing.

Suddenly my heart is beating faster than I can imagine.

Fu*k! What is happening?! My hand goes to my chest.

The other one goes to my head. If Dalton is the guy sending me the bouquets, that means he surely knows me from before.

He must have known me from the years of memory I forgot!

Then does that mean all the visions that I am seeing are of Dalton and me?

If is it true, why would he not tell me?! What the hell is happening?!

My train of thoughts are cut off by my phone ringing.

I see the caller ID and it’s Nick. Picking up, I put the phone near my ear. I am still processing what’s happening.

“Hello!”

“Hey, Clara! Merry Christmas!”

“H-Hey!” I nearly stutter. My mind wandering and thinking about what I just found out.

“Why so gloomy, chum?! Still did not get out of the bed?”

I don’t answer. It’s like I can’t think of anything else.

“Hello?!” He calls out.

“Yes.”

“Okay. I got news for you. A mind bowing one. You might be shocked.”

I am already in shock.

“I brother found out the owner of the cell phone number you gave me.”

My heart drops again. I have a weird feeling about this. “Who is it?”

“I will tell you, but you owe me one.”

“Okay. Tell me who it is.”

“It’s our CEO, Dalton Raul Bryant

That’s it. Somewhere in me, I knew it. Why do I have his number on my phone?!

Why did I save it as MD? What does it mean? Fu*k!

Why are you in every page of my life Dalton?! “Boy!

I didn’t know his middle name is Raul. It’s so hot! He sounds like royalty, right?” He continues speaking.

“Um yeah. Thank you… Nick.”

“You are welcome. Maybe it must be his personal number and he accidentally called you from it.”

Then why is it saved on my phone? “I owe you one. I will call you later. Bye!”

“Bye!”

I cut the call and sit back. My mind just can’t process all this. All of this feels so messed up.

Dalton is the one sending me flowers, even before he came as the CEO to the company.

I have Dalton’s number saved on my phone. What is all this?

Why is this happening? It is obvious he knows me from my past then why didn’t he come out and tell me straight out?! What is he hiding?

“What is happening, Dalton?!” I whisper to no one and to myself.

Dalton’s POV

“Make sure everything is set by the time I come back.” I tell William.

“Congratulations on cracking this deal.”

“Thank you and send the presentation and scanned copy of the file immediately.

The contract will be signed tomorrow. If you don’t have the scanned copy, you can get it from my house. You know the code to get in.”

“I will send it by morning.”

“I can’t wait till morning. Send it in three hours.”

“Okay.” He replies and I cut the call.

Right now I am in Venice, in the same house where it all started, where our relationship started.

I lay on the bed and think about her. Pulling out my phone, I look at the pictures.

She took many selfies of us together. I was never a fan of pictures, but for her I tried to smile in some.

There are pictures of me kissing her, pictures of her trying to push me away, pictures of her blushing and some pictures of only her which I took while she was cooking, sleeping and reading.

Being in this house brings back all the memories,

how we decided to be together, how I slept with my head in her lap,

how she held me when I was weak and how we fell more in love than we already have been.

Oh, Clara! Cara Mia!

I remember talking to my grandfather yesterday.

He too doesn’t support my decision to walk away from Clara.

He likes her like his own kid. Who doesn’t? She is just so full of life!

When she called me the day after Christmas, when the morning after I left her house,

her broken voice made me want to hit myself. She is suffering because of me.

The whole point is to not hurt her, but I am the one doing it all the time.

Every Sunday, when I send the flowers, I give the message with the flowers to the delivery shop, they write it deliver it, but that morning,

as I left after sleeping in her bed, I want to write it myself, I want to tell her myself that I will erase all her pain.

I will tell her everything the day after tomorrow anyway.

I will tell her the whole truth, the year where we spent falling for each other and being in love.

The most treasured days of my life. I can’t even imagine how life will be without her.

I know that I will keep loving her. But now that I think about it, I don’t want to leave her.

My grandfather’s words come to my mind. “Let her decide, son. It’s her choice to make.

You cannot choose that for her.” I so want to believe that, but not at the cost of losing her.

Clara loves me even if she doesn’t remember me.

If I tell her the truth, she might get angry, but she will not break up with me for sure.

And if she stay with me, it is only dangerous for her.

I don’t want that. But… Is it selfish to want to live with the person you love this much?

“Fu*k!”

I curse and run my hand through my hair.

“Give it a chance son, don’t blame yourself too much.” My grandfather’s words ring in my head.

Should I though? I mean, I would definitely be happy.

The thought itself is euphoric. Clara will be in my arms again and all will be right with the world.

But how is it right for her? Oh, I want her so bad! I always do! I want her in my house, and safe in my arms.

As I lay here and look at her pictures on my phone, all I can think about is how much I love her and how much I want to tell her that.

Clara, I love you.

Looking at her picture can’t help thinking this. Is it okay for us to be together? Is it okay that I want you back?

Clara’s POV

“Yes,” I answer the phone groggily without seeing who called.

“Oh, thank God! Clara!” The voice says.

“Who is this?” I answer feeling annoyed at the person who called.

“It’s William. Are you sleeping?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

” I need some help.” I can hear the urgency in his voice.

“It’s Christmas time. Go ask Santa. I am sure he must be flying with his deers around the town.” I answer still sleepily.

“Ha ha.” He laughs sarcastically. “Please, it’s urgent.”He pleads and I sit up in my bed.

Looking at the phone, I see that it’s not even five in the morning.

“What do you need so early in the morning?”

“Not me. Mr. Bryant.” That caught my attention and all the fog of sleep that’s clouding my brain, lifts in an instant.

“What?” I am completely awake now.

“Yes. He is in Venice.” Venice? I always wanted to visit that place, but never got to.

“Okay. What do you need me for? Want me to go to Venice?” I am on a roll today.

“No. I want you to go to his house and get a file.

I will mail you the details of the file. You need to scan it before sending it to me. It’s urgent.”

“You are working during Christmas holidays?” I am not surprised though.

“I don’t even want to go there. Just get the file, please.

I would have gone to get it, but it’s an hour drive from my house.

Yours is closer to his house. He needs it in three hours.”

“Okay.” I sigh getting up.

“Thank you,” he says and I cut the call.

Getting out of the bed, I get ready to go to his house.

These past couple of days, there is only him in my mind.

He is there in every thought. I am eagerly waiting to meet him and know the answers to all of my questions.

I take Micheal’s car keys and drive up to his place.

Pulling out my phone, I get inside the lift before pushing the button to his floor. William has already send the mail regarding the file.

Going up to his floor, I tap the code on the buttons for the doors to open. Going in, I switch on the lights.

I search for the file in the living room. It’s not here.

Why would it be here? Maybe it’s in his study room.

But where is the study room? I have only been here once and I don’t know where it is.

As I take a look around his house, a sense of familiarity settles in my chest.

Taking a deep breath I open a door. It looks like a guest room.

Closing it, I go to another before opening it. It looks like a bed room too. I hear my phone ring and quickly pick it up.

“Hello!”

“Clara, where are you?” Mom’s voice is filled with concern.

“Mom, I am at Mr. Bryant house. His secretary needs a file so I came here to get it.”

“But so early in the morning?” She asks. I open another door and it looks like a home theatre. Going in, my heart feels a little heavy. It feels like I have been here before.

“But I want to watch it!” I nearly whine.

“No! I don’t like this. We will watch some other movie.” He searches to see what to watch next.

“But, it’s Captain America! Come on. Chris Evans is about to turn hot. Please!” I plead. He looks at me.8

“No way!” He says with finality. I sigh. I see what movies he is searching for.

“Oh, Thor! Let’s watch it.” He nods. I am excited. “Chris Hemsworth is like the hottest guy- Hey!” he changes the movie again. “What happened?”

“I don’t like this movie too.” He keeps searching.

“But, it’s Chris Hemsworth! Please. He is so hot-”

“You don’t think I am hot?” He asks suddenly. I look at him with surprise all over my face.

I just stare at him. “Tell me.” He asks, pulling my legs.

I shriek as he makes me straddle him. My nose is touching his and I blush. “Why are you cheeks pink, Cara Mia?”

“No, they are not!”

He chuckles. “So, am I not hot enough for you?”

“You are baby! I would choose you over them anytime!” I kiss his cheek.

My hands rest comfortably around his shoulder.

“You know that.” I keep kissing him, till I reach his lips.

Before I can kiss him, he kisses me, like he is claiming me. “I can’t believe you are jealous because of this.” I say between kisses.

“Who has better abs?” He asks.

“Oh you do, Babe.” He is kissing my neck. My stomach is in knots now.

“Who has better lips?”

“You do.” I moan as he keeps kissing my sweet spot.

“Who do you love?”

“I love you.” I moan louder this time and he kisses me again.

In rush, I remove his t-shirt and he removes my panties, since I am wearing only his shirt and my panties.

“I like that you smell like me.” He says as he kisses down my neck to my chest.

He kisses me where it tickles and I giggle. He does it again on purpose and I giggle again.

I gasp as he suddenly makes me lay on the couch and gets on top of me. He kisses my lips.

My legs are still around his waist. He looks so hot.

“You are mine.” He kisses me again.

I stare at the couch in shock. At was that? What is that memory?

When I have visions, I don’t usually see both of their faces, but this time… I saw them both. It was… It’s me and Dalton!

“Clara! Sweetie, are you there?” Mom’s voice brings me back. I gasp and close my dropped mouth.

“Y-Yes, Mom. I will call you later.” I cut the call and look around.

Coming out of the room, I open another door. Oh my God!

The room looks huge, with a bed in the middle against the wall.

I can’t take my eyes away from what I am seeing. What is this?!

Above the bed is a huge picture of Dalton and… and me?

Why would he have a picture of us together? As I look at it, I see how happy we look, like we are in love.

I step into the room and walk in. A heavy feeling settles in my chest.

As I look around, I find the room filled with pictures of us both.

I go to a table with a picture frame placed on it. It has me, Martin with his hand over my shoulder, Mom, Micheal, Kurt and a man who looks like he is in his early seventy’s.

He looks familiar though. There is a cake in front of us in the picture, that said, ‘Happy New Year.’

Mom and Micheal? They knew him too? Is that why she didn’t say anything when he came to our house on Christmas Eve?! They knew about us and never told me?

I look at the vanity table.

“Baby, how does this look?” I ask him as I turn to him. He is already looking at me.

“Come here.” He calls and I go to him. “You look lovely.” He kisses my cheek and holds me close.

My heart starts to hurt. Is this another memory?

I look at the bed and this time, instead of a memory, I see me and Dalton hugging and kissing.

I shake my head. What is happening?! I open my eyes and this time see me and Dalton cradling me.

“I am not going to let anything happen to you.” He says. The version of me sitting in his lap looks at him.

“Dalton, the lift stopped working. That’s it. It’s nothing more.

You don’t need to panic, Baby.” The version of me tells him holding his face lovingly.

“I love you.” He says.

“I love you too. Stop blaming yourself every time I get harmed!” She tells him.

“Argh!!” I cry out loud. “Stop! Stop it!”

What is all of this?! What is this?! Are all of these memories?!

What is happening?! Was I really in relationship with Martin like I thought?!

My head starts hurting more and I fall down on my knees clutching my head.

A sudden pain hits my head. It’s like my mind is going back in time.

A memory I didn’t know plays in front of my eyes.

I am in a coffee shop, there is only one chair left in front of a man. I go to him.

“Excuse me.” I call and the person looks at me. It’s Dalton!

“Is this seat taken?” I ask him.

“No,” he says.

I sit in front of him.

Oh my God! That’s how we met! Dalton! He became my boss later!

The trip to Venice! The old man in his picture is his grandfather, Greg! Oh Dalton! MD is… My Dalton

I remember! I remember!

I feel dark spots covering my vision. My phone rings and I pick it up.

“Clara! What happened? Why did you cut the call suddenly? Are you okay?” Mom asks.

“Mom… I… Dalton…” My voice doesn’t come out. The ache is getting strong.

“Sweetie! Can you hear me?” I can hear the panic in her voice. Then I remember how she didn’t tell me anything.

“How… could… you?”

The earth starts moving and before I know it, I feel like I am fainting.

But as I do, I look at the picture above the bed. A picture of us together.

A picture we took when we went on a holiday.

Why did you do this, Dalton?