32 Let me be selfish (1/2)

Abi woke up bright and early, feeling full of life as she got ready for the day. After she said her goodbyes to her family, she headed out to visit Kelly.

She had been to the Yang residence quite a few times and the servants already were familiar with her so she was immediately brought to Kelly's room.

”How's your ankle?”

”It's fine. I'm recovering fast, Abi. Mom's just exaggerating.”

”I see. That's great. Uhm… Kelly, I have something to tell you…” Abi said hesitantly as she looked down on the floor instead of meeting Kelly's eyes.

Kelly creased her brows.

”Hmm? What is it?”

”I'm… I'm going to live with Alexander Qin.”

Kelly choked.

”W-what?! What the hell, Abi! What are you saying?”

”I'm sorry for telling you just now.”

”Abi, look… why… why? Why do you need to live with him?!”

”Alex requires his girlfriends to live with him.”

”Oh my god!! What nonsense is that?! Did he mistake dating as marriage?!”

”Kelly… I know it's outrageous. I know why you're worried. But this is my choice. I am going to live with him for a month.”

Kelly was speechless. She didn't know what to say. She knew Abi never joked about these things and she knew her friend was deadly serious and determined from the sound of her voice. But no matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn't comprehend why. She held Abi's hands and knelt before her, with worry clearly written on her face.

”Abi, listen to me. I don't know why you suddenly decided this but this is too sudden. D-did Alexander Qin do something to force you?”

Abi shook her head and then her face became severe. Abi knew she had no choice now but to tell her friend about her illness. She had hidden this from her for years because she didn't want her friend to look at her with pity, like everyone else. She wanted Kelly to treat her just the same and she didn't want her friend to worry about her. But now, she had no choice but to tell her.

”Kelly… I'm sorry that I hid this from you for many years. I… I tried many times to tell you but I was a coward. I've been a coward until I met Alexander Qin. When I met him, I suddenly became daring. It was as if I became braver since that night I encountered him. I was afraid to tell you because I don't want you to worry about me. And I didn't want you to treat me differently once you found out about my condition.”

”Abi… what are you saying? What condition?”

”Kelly… I'm sick. I was diagnosed with the same illness that killed my mother. And… and my time is running out.”

”Abi… you're lying. H-how could that be? You're healthy and…” she bit her lips. She suddenly remembered all those times when Abi had to go and visit the hospital. This was a total bombshell being dropped on her lap right then.

”I'm sorry for hiding this from you, Kelly… please forgive me.”

Kelly was silent for a while and she felt like the sky was falling down. Kelly's tears started to fall like rain. She couldn't believe that her friend had kept this life changing news from her! She was in turmoil. She didn't know how to feel or react at the thought that she could be losing her best friend soon. She was utterly devastated. Why? Why did it have to be Abi? There are so many bad people out there. Why did it have to be her? This nice angel? Was it really true that… that nice people were always the first to…

After a while, Kelly was able to calm down. She was still hurt that Abi didn't tell her earlier but knowing the kind of girl her friend was, she knew that her reason was pure and she was just thinking about her.