The Trap Of Ace novel

I glanced at my wrist.

Nine-thirty.

"Ma'am, please turn off your cell phone. The plane is about to take off," said the flight attendant in her angelic voice.

"Yeah, just a minute." I threw her an apologetic look.

Nodding her head, she walked away.

"Mom, I need to hang up now. The crews have already warned me for the second time."

"Alright, alright! I will let you go now. You're coming to me in some hours anyway. We will be waiting outside the airport when you'll land!" Excitement dripped from her voice. A sudden homesickness filled my mind. It's been two years since I met them.

"And keep that boy at an arm's length," Dad called out in the background.

Shaking my head, I let out a chuckle. "Alright guys! I will see you at the airport."

"Love you, honey!" They intuned together.

"Love you too!"

Sighing, I looked out of the window. Another plane took off the runway, flying high in the sky. It'd always fascinated me. Though I always struggled with myself not to flip during the taking offs.

A figure slumped beside me, making me turn my head. Letting out a huff, he settled against the seat.

"How's your stomach now?" I asked, seeing the perspiration on his forehead and flushed cheeks.

"Not good. I shouldn't have eaten the leftover macaroni last night. God! I swear! I won't ever touch leftovers again." He groaned.

Poor guy! Even in this crisis, he had agreed to come with me to my home.

"I'm so sorry, Warner. You have to travel with me in this state. You should've stayed back, you know?"

He flashed me a boyish smile. "Don't be. It was my decision to tag along even after knowing my condition this morning."

"But it was me who asked you to come with me," I said, guilt crashed on me.

"Don't be silly. I can do anything for you. And this is just a slightly uncomfortable journey. And it will go away just in a day. I've already taken medicines." He grasped my hand, entwining our fingers.

I smiled, a grateful one.

"I love you," he said, looking at my eyes.

The smile threatened to fall, but I managed to keep it on and squeezed his hand in return. The announcement of the flight attendant for every passenger to fasten their seat belts, saved me from another awkward situation.

We've been dating for six months now. And known each other since I joined college. We were good friends from the beginning. After my several failures at keeping up on dating a guy for more than a week, I gave up on kindling any kind of relationship with anyone. And when Warner one day asked me out at a friend's get-together, I couldn't put him down.

He was everything a girl would want in an ideal boyfriend. Handsome, intelligent, humble, honest. And most importantly, he knew me so well. After all, we've been friends for three years now. So when he'd asked me to be his girlfriend, I had said yes.

But even if he'd confessed his feelings for thousands of times before me, I couldn't just bring myself to reciprocate. It's not that I didn't like him, I did. He was a great guy. Maybe it'd take some more time for me to feel that deep for him. And I was waiting for that day.

"Ma'am, would you like some coffee?" The air hostess' voice broke my trance.

"Do you have tea?"

***

After a long four and a half hours later when we finally landed in California, I found my parents right where they told me they would be. Holding a placard that said 'welcome home', Mom met me with her more than usual enthusiastic hug, where Dad had a satisfacted look in his eyes now that I finally came home. Though it was just for two weeks until I would go back.

he took the world of worry for me on his shoulders. They both did. It wasn't easy for me to stay that

time to heal myself. So the distance was necessary. As soon as the memories of that night started to flood in, I shut off my mind, burying them at the pit of my brain. Just like I did for the last

I've moved on.

home, little mouse!" The moment I stepped into the threshold, I was tackled

brother. "You just

like ages since I irritated you," he

though he visited me often

keep your stupid ass away from me, I'm warning

marathon to washrooms in every ten minutes. He seemed at the verge of fainting at any moment. He was extremely embarrassed when he had to run for

impress my

And Dad

had said once on the phone. I didn't know why, but

see you, man!" Tobias gave him a

you too." Suddenly his expression twisted like someone had punched him in the gut. "Uh, if

right and then straight up, the first door. You will find the

a 'thank you', he ran

I sighed.

this. Though Warner didn't

boy," mom murmured, subtly sending Dad a look of reprimand which he proudly ignored and padded inside. Shaking her head, she looked at me. "Honey, why don't you go to your room and freshen

a nod from me, she followed Dad. Definitely to give

up the stairs. "So? You're determined to keep this

fond of my boyfriend. But when Dad was blatant about it, he

is a good guy, Tobias. And the best thing is, he is

will keep him because he is a good guy

"Isn't it enough?"

shrugged. "What about feelings? I don't see you look at him the way you used to look

I think it's enough for me to stay in a relationship

I couldn't decipher. Then he smiled. "If that's what makes you happy,

lips curled up. "Thanks for

haven't met

right. She was a successful model now.

delicious dishes made by Mom were the speciality. If I missed all these

plate of apple-pies before me, I gaped

her

slapped his hand away. "Don't you

that's not fair! I also

she wants. You had them these years all by yourself, now it's her turn," Dad

making us all laugh. Mom's eyes twinkled watching us banter like old

did

my lips. It was a thin golden chain, decorated with glittering emeralds and sparkling tiny diamonds, shaped

my graduation day," I replied. I still remember that day. Mom and Dad couldn't join because their flight got cancelled due to bad weather. No one from my family could attend. With a sunken mood when I

it, I just couldn't resist it. I fell in love with

"Who?"

know. There wasn't any name on

It can be risky. And who would give you

the one

is Tom?" Mom looked at

"No one, Mom. A guy from my college who

He must've taken seriously my

Dad shrieked at the same time.

didn't even consider informing us?" Dad

on his chair at my glare. He had to open his big mouth right