The Smith's Legacy

Confession

Chapter 3

"I like you. Asher"

Ava said, her eyes  fixed directly on Jamie's, as they were seated inside the sports hall, munching on the Oreo biscuit Ava had brought from home. 

She had thought about it for some time  , and was convinced with her feelings for  Asher.

But Asher?

He pretended not to hear what Ava had said, then tried to deviate her mind.

"This taste real good" He said but Ava's gaze still didn't waver, "I need to get a job, so I can support my studies and also buy things like this, for myself"

But then, Ava extended her hand In reach of Asher's, which he kept on his lap with the piece of the Oreo he had just moved from the pack.

"Can I bite from this?" She asked her voice husky, but just before Asher could bring himself to respond to that. She appeared, the exact same lady. 

"Hey, I've searched everywhere for you, Asher"

 

Quietly. Ava withdrew her hand from Asher's and took  her eyes straight to the lady in disdain. Asher smiled, because that wasn't the first time to see Ava's face going so scrunched just at the sight of this lady.

"Hey lily, join us" 

Asher beckoned on her, then adjusted for Lily to sit in the space between himself and Ava.

"I'm sorry sisi, but you can't sit here" Ava said and quickly took the space, so she would still be closer to Asher.

"There" she pointed at the empty bench by the side. "You have all the space you'd be needing right there, so go on"

 All Ava could think about in these few periods was Asher. But who exactly was that lady that kept appearing in his space? Why was she everywhere? And why exactly does he look at her that way? Was they something really going on between the two?

Indeed  an unending question for Ava, but her mind was made up. She was determined to know who Lily was.

"We meet again, Leila right?" 

Ava asked as she bumped Into Lily in the library unexpectedly and walked straight to her. But Lily, whose whole attention seemed to be on the textbook she had on her desk, from the way her face was buried in it. 

Shook her head, with a bold grin on her face, as she tried keeping the textbook aside and said.

 "It's L.I.L.Y. Lily, okay?" in quite a friendly voice.

But her name shouldn't even be a problem, should it? Just don't make her assume for too long, Ava thought to herself, then shrugged it off.

"Well. You and Jamie, you two seem quite close" 

She continued as she pulled one of the empty chairs beside, closer to Lily's.

Lily nodded her head in response, not hesitating. It was just as if she had waited for that very moment to come, because the constant curiosity on Ava's face each time she sees her close to Asher, seemed to have given Lily much concern.

"Yes we are, Ava"

She responded, but Ava was floored, she could not believe Lily knew her name all the while. To think she barely pronounced her own name well.

No. That was not happening, Ava thought as she stepped back and decided to ignore Asher for the meantime.

 A week passed and it was almost heading to two when Asher noticed the miles between himself and Ava. And that got him restless.

He searched his heart wondering what exactly he did to Ava that got her so distanced. But could not place his hand on anything.

Asher had searched for Ava everywhere. The class, library but there was no sight of her. He just wanted to ask her questions and be sure he didn't hurt her with words.

 But while in the search, he got tired and decided to go home. He was walking by the cafeteria when he looked out and saw Ava seated all by herself and looking quite lost in  thought.

"Is that not Ava..?"

He asked himself then hurried to meet her. As he approach closer, he slowed his pace and took his step bit by bit until he got to where Ava was seated.

"I've stood here close to five minutes Ava" Asher said, his voice came in a sudden, which left Ava startled. 

"Tell me, what is going on? Why are you so far away? From me, our space, i mean everywhere. Ava?"

But gently. Ava raised her head and looked Asher in the face, though a little cautious with the eye contact and said.

"Maybe because i was too fast, Asher"

Too fast? What does she mean? Her eyes, they weren't getting in contact with his? Why was she avoiding his eyes? Jamie thought then pulled the chair out and quietly sat on it.

"How do you...?"

Before Asher could say the next word, Ava's voice came alive. 

"It's fine Asher. Look, I totally I understand if you choose her over me" 

She said and the tears were faster that she could not hold them back. She bawled her heart, that Asher could not stand those tears rolling for long. He extended his hand to clean them off, but Ava shoved him off.

"Just don't make me feel any of that, Asher. I should just have known I was loving the wrong person" she gasped.

That wasn't funny, No it didn't sound like it was just a joke, Wait, Ava is in love with him?

Asher thought as he drowned his eyes into Ava's heart. He could not believe it, but the sincerity was plastered all over her  tears.

"Yes Asher. I love you, but I guess I wasn't good enough"

Immediately. She stood up and wiped her face with her palms, then reached her hand to pick her backpack when Asher's hand cringed on her's .

"You love me..?" 

He asked in amaze. His voice was barely audible but Ava didn't say a word. Rather, she quietly pulled her hand and grabbed her backpack. She was just about to take a walk when Asher said.

"You do realise I'm poor? Why would you think of loving someone of this standard Ava? What can I possibly offer you?"

He asked. Maybe that was the hour Ava had waited for as she quickly dumped her backpack on the table and looked straight into Asher's eyes for the first time since he approached her.

 

"Really?" She asked. Her fingers wriggling behind her, in her lifted brow. " But you can love Lily without sacrifices? Tell me Asher" She asked. "I'm I really that horrible that you chose her instead?"

Just then Asher realised what the problem had been all the while. He smiled, reached for Ava's hand then made her sit back on her chair, and said.

"I'm sorry I didn't do this earlier Ava"