The Trap Of Ace

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 6 – The amber rays colored the horizon, manifesting a crown of crimson and pink above the setting sun. Lines of birds flew alongside across the sky in the direction of their shelter; melodic twittering of them felt like a announcement of the darkness to befall.

I took in a deep breath, filling my lungs with the cool evening air.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Dad said, sitting on the car hood beside me.

I nodded, a smile curved onto my lips. “Yes, very. Thank you for bringing me here, Dad. It’s been so long I’d last visited. I really missed our sunrises and sunsets.”

We used to come to this medow at least once a week. Well, at least me, Dad and Tobias. Mom and Tess was too lazy to join every time. It was like a tradition for us. The tradition my grandfather started with Dad. But after my shifting to NY, I couldn’t join Dad and Tobias anymore.

“Me too, princess. Without you, our visits here didn’t have the same meaning.” His tone filled with nostalgia.

“Yeah, that idiot had all the fun for himself,” I joked, mentioning my brother. He couldn’t join us due to an important meeting this evening. “But I’m happy that you came here with me this time. It’s my turn today to have all the fun.” I grinned.

Chuckling, he shook his head. “Nah, our time here became pretty boring as even Achilles stopped joining us after you left for you highschool.”

My smile slipped at the mention of his name.

He used to accompany us regularly to watch the sunrises and sunsets. But after his father’s d***h, his visits became less, until it stopped totally. I still remember my extra enthusiasm for the ride here even at four in the morning to see him. Meeting him was more important for me than watching anything else.

I heard Dad heaving a sigh. “Sometimes we’ve to let go of the past to live our present, Emerald. Because until you live your present, you won’t be able to accept your future.”

I knew what he was trying to say. Though my family hadn’t said anything, but I knew everyone’d sensed my distance with Ace even after so many years. But I couldn’t explain anything to them even if I wanted. They didn’t know the whole truth, so they couldn’t understand.

“But what if it’s too difficult to let go of the past?”

His blue gaze locked with mine. “Nothing is impossible, sweetheart. Sometimes we indulge ourselves so deep in our pain that we can’t see anything past that. All you’ve to do is, open your heart a little more, be a little more greater, and let go of the grudges. Don’t let the past hold you from your happiness of present.”

I put my head on his shoulder, saying nothing. Could I do it? Could I be that brave to let go of everything and move on? I haven’t been able to in years.

The buzz of my phone cut my thoughts.

“Who is it?”

I put my phone back. “Casie. She and Beth wants us to have dinner together at our regular.”

Nodding his head, his gaze turned back to the chromatic horizon.

After spending some more time talking and refreshing memories, we headed back to home. Once dropping him off, I turned the car around and drove to Nova’d Diner, where the girls were waiting for me.

But all the way, the only thing that consumed my mind was, Dad’s words. I knew he was right. I couldn’t let go of the past because I held grudges. Grudges against my sister, grudges against Ace, grudges against myself.

I could understand the reason I blamed Tess and myself, for being so naive. But Ace, he didn’t deserve my hatred. He’d never promised to take care of my heart that I’d blamed him to break it. But the heart couldn’t see anything else than its ache.

And it knew, it’d to hurt others if it wanted to prevent another ache. After talking to Tess last night, I decided to give us another chance. Maybe it was time to let go. Even if it was just a tiny step, but it was something. I couldn’t just hold over something that happened years ago.

And maybe, it wasn’t all I thought it was. Last night’s conversation flashed in my mind.

“Did you love him?”

Her eyes didn’t flicker as she answered, “No.”

“Then why did you do it? Why did you do it even after knowing that you’d be hurting me by doing that?” I asked, my voice was desperate.

A look of sorrow had covered her features. “I didn’t want to hurt you, Em. I’d never hurt my little sister like that, no matter how much we were different from each other.”

“Then why?”

She’d casted me a look of apology. “I’m sorry, Em. I can’t tell you why. But you will know, soon.”

told me to think over her request and left, leaving me alone and

hiding? I

***

decided to forgive her?” asked Casie, raising a

the fork into

problems with your sister, Em. Life is too short to hold grudges forever. I agree

good in your stupid books. They’re not that brilliant in real

her a look of reprimand, causing her to

sister if she’d done something like that to me. Thank G*d, I don’t have

says.” She wiggled in her seat. “Uh, now that you forgave

right now with you guys, will you?” There was nothing to forgive Ace in the first place, but trying to

granted at all,” Casie

followed her gaze to

gasp from Beth.

a woman in her twenty something sat around the table. She sat right beside him, too close to

laughed delicately placing a hand on his shoulder. And he too reciprocated with a soft smile he only displayed

on her hand on his shoulder. Turning around, I gulped

thought he didn’t have any barbie in his life.”

Beth hissed, throwing me

“I’m sorry, Em. I didn’t mean to… we

whom he brought here. We’re here to enjoy our dinner, and we will just do that.” I casted

“You sure?” Beth whispered.

in my mouth, not wanting to give them any attention. But it was

and Casie sent draggers at them with their

that leech, and here I thought his sending

up, Cass?” Beth glared and then looked at me. “She could be just a friend. And after what he did and said at the race track, it proves

don’t think so, look at them. They look too cosy to be just friends,” remarked

not that I’m his girlfriend or something. And whatever he did yesterday, it didn’t mean anything. So let’s just forget

seemed to lose my appetite. Even if

hand patting hers. And my treacherous eyes stung, heart squeezed

announcing the

look away when his eyes met mine. Surprise flashed into them, and then something else that I couldn’t decipher. Seeing his lack of attention, she followed his gaze. Her eyes widened slightly as she untangled her herself from him once she noticed the direction of my stare. But he remained as

care for you or he’d any soft corner for you anyway. Everything he said

a sudden,

my purse. Casie and Beth went to follow me

When they went to protest, I shook my head. “Don’t. I will see you

purse in a vice grip.

to go

as I stepped out of the exit, a shoulder bumped into

pleasant… are you alright?” Caleb held my shoulder, his face morphed into concern. The

an answer, I moved away and walked into

called out behind me, but I didn’t pay

cold wind. Goosebumps rose across my arms as

any sense. But it did bother me. It did bother me to see him with that girl even

a b***h! And that’s what frustrated me. I didn’t

parked where I left it. The valet must’ve parked it in the parking lot. So ignoring the rain

get over him? What’d it take for my heart to heal the wound

slipped from my eye, the pouring rain washed it away. I hope

cover them with my hands. A shout of my name came with a screech of tires

some curses driving away when my gaze remained

He shaking me by my shoulders got me out of my shock. Stormy grey eyes blazed

done with his lady love that he came