❁ The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you. ❁

“ Nori, Honey. ”

“ Mr. Williamson, why are you here, again? I told you to go away. ”

“ Honey, I'm sorry. For not being a father you deserved. I should've told you what you meant to me. But I reckon, it's too late. ”

“ Why didn't you tell me this when it wasn't late? ”

“ I miss you, Nori. Please come and meet me. ” he mumbles in my ear and starts to fade away in the dark.

“ Where are you going? I want to talk with you. ”

“ Mr. Williamson! Stop. ”

“ Daddy, stay. Please. I want to talk. ”

Another morning, another dream. What is up? Why am I getting such dreams? And why does Mr. Williamson keep saying he wants to meet me?

After thinking for a few seconds, I recall I had similar dreams last year as well, that too in the same month, December.

Should I go to Manchester and meet him?

But why would he want to see me. I have embarrassed him enough. It's better if he thinks I'm dead for good.

“ Look, this is the first and last time I'm here to ask you to come down for breakfas-- ” Hans just walks in invading my privacy. I look like a scary witch with my messy hairs and teary eyes.

“ I know you have the potential to look much scarier but, is everything alright? ” he walks over to the bed while I wipe my swear with some tissues.

“ Why do you care? ”

“ I don't. But I still kind of do. So you're gonna tell me? ”

Sometimes, I guess it's fine share what's bothering you. Or else I might go insane if I overthink about everything.

“ Do you have Mr. Williamson's contact number? The number I had doesn't work anymore. ” Last year, when I was having similar dreams, I tried calling him. But they'd said the number no longer exists.

I could also google that, but there wouldn't be his official number. If I call in his office, obviously they will not transfer the call directly to the owner until I reveal my identity. If Hans had his number, I can easily talk to him. But what will I say?

“ Umm no. I don't. Why do you suddenly want his number? ”

“ I've been having these dreams, where he says he wants to meet me and stuff like that. Like he wants to tell me something. ” I look at Hans looking at me with a concern face.

“ Nora, I need to tell you something. ” he takes a sigh and holds my hands in him. I get weird uneasy feeling in my heart everytime he calls me Nora.

“ Go on. ”

He tries to open his mouth but seems like he can't find the right words. “ Umm, I think, it's better if I just show you. ”

What is it?

“ But before that, we're leaving for a place in two hours. So go change, have your breakfast first. ” he softly pats on my cheeks and leaves the room.

Why is he suddenly Hans Polite Anderson?

***

“ Where are we going? And why are we walking? Isn't Hans Nicholas Anderson too proud to be walking on streets? ” I ask. He hasn't told me where are we going. I'm just following him like a clown.

“ It's better to have a nice walk sometimes. ” a sweet alluring smile marks its way upto his bright face. I keep walking while he stops in front of a church.

“ What's up? ”

“ We've reached our destination. ”

Is he insane? Why would he bring me to a church? He knows it very well that I don't believe in God. I used to, once. But what he did to my mother shattered all my faith in him.

“ Hans, you know me too well to having to dare bring me here. ” with my tightly clenched jaws, I hiss.

“ Yes, I know you enough. And that is why I brought you here. ” he smiles. What is like inside his head? No I'm really curious. “ I don't know the reason but I know you have so many grudges against him. You need to clear your mind, love. ”

“ It's my life, and I know it very well what I need to do and what not. You can't force me. You said you won't force me anymore. ” I blurt in amazement.

He has never talked with me about this. Never. Why is he suddenly acting like this?

“ No one's forcing you, love. I'm just asking you to confront what you've been avoiding since only you know how many years. ”

I don't know what to say, or how to react. “ You can stop me if you want to. ” he slips his hand in mine and drags me inside. And I don't know why I don't stop him.

I want to. But I don't.

As we stand on the aisle of the church, I look up at him, “ What you want me to do now? Cry? Scream? Be dramatic? ”

“ No, just sit quietly. Let your silence convey all your emotions, grudges, wishes, hopes to the Almighty. He's listening. ” he takes a seat in the last row, leaving one for me beside him.

Not knowing why, I follow as he says.

“ No matter what you say. You can't force me to built my faith in something, when I don't want to. ” I whisper maintaining the church etiquettes.

As I look on the holy idol of Jesus Christ, I want to be calm inside out but all the memories, pain, complaints, questions come flooded in the back of my mind.

I close my eyes.

Hello, God. Hans has offically lost him mind. But let me tell you I'm gonna to stick to my words. I said I will never talk you again. And I will not.

There's no point talking to you. You never listened to me.

In fact, I know you don't even remember me.

How ironic, I'm the same naive little girl who used to come to you and beg for her mother's life. But it's okay. Now I understand, I was never one of your favorite children. Fair enough.

You know what, I don't want to dig what's buried in the soil of past. I just want to say, like if you really exist somewhere, and if you're listening to me right now...

Keep my father healthy and strong.

And I'm not saying this to show that I'm a so called good daughter, because I'm not. I've never played a single role of a good daughter. But lately I've been having weird dreams of him where he looks senile and sad. He says he wants to see me.

I mean he traded me in a bloody contract, and I'm the one praying for him. But okay. I still love him. He's my father.

Also, people say when someone dies, you take their souls with you. I couldn't say this to you on Mom's funeral because I was mad enough on you. I still very much am.

But, take care of her. Please.

I think now I'm getting greedy now but let me just say it all at once. I know Hans and I are mismatched. We were never meant to be.

Last night, he told me he will no longer be bothering me. Yes, right before he beat the hell out of Seth the Psychopath and played in snow with me. Ironic, I know. He said will leave permanently from my life and will never show his face again.

God, only I'm the witness who knows how have I spent past years without him. He tortures me, blackmails me and everything possible on earth to annoy me. But he gives me challenges to wake up everyday and get off my bed.

I'm confused, very confused. I know he's bad for me but I also love him. I don't want to lose him again, even though he was never mine.

I wish, someday, he'll come to me and say while truly meaning it, “ Can we just forget whatever happened in the past? I've realised that I love you. Will you be mine? ”

Amen.

“ Amen. ” Hans' voice echoes and I flinch open my eyes. “ May all your wishes come true. ” he adds.

“ If only you let. ” without throwing any look on him, I walk past the main door, him following me. “ Does that mean you wished me in your prayer? ” he teases from behind.

“ Hilarious, but no. I didn't wish anything. I was just sitting quietly thinking ' Hans Nicholas Anderson is the most foolish person existing on earth ' ”I smirk and he clenches his jaws in anger.

I think I went a little too far. Despite of his anger issues, he has been trying to be polite towards me and I'm the one showing too much attitude.

Should I apologize?

“ Hey, wanna have some hot chocolate. This time I'll pay. ” I ask in my cute puppy voice. To which his lips moves a few millimeters upwards.

“ If only I let you. ” he says and grabs my hand once again.

This time, I have no intention to stop you.

***

We reach Hans' house. I'm in a very good mood after ages. I feel like my shoulders that were carrying burden weighing tons are finally free.

Stepping foot inside the main building, my eyes catch a semi decorated Hall with variety of real flowers. Then I see Andrew's face.

“ Andrew, what is this? ” Hans questions and Andrew, who was previously talking to some stranger guy, walks towards us.

“ What do you mean ' what is this '? Don't you remember today's date? ” Andrews speaks out of suprise.

“ Is something special today? ” I ask.

“ Don't you know? Hans' biggest rival died on this same date. ” he tells and I wince at Hans in disgust. “ You celebrate someone's death? Disgusting! ”

“ He wasn't just any rival, he was his biggest enemy, I think he was a very famous businessma-- ”

“ Andrew, why don't you focus on what you were doing before we came. ” Hans cuts him off like he doesn't want me to know the details. Neither do I care. But today only, I started to think good of him, and today he shattered that attempt.

“ Nora, listen to me, I-I-- ”

“ Enjoy your enemy's death party. I'm going to terrace. I don't wanna be a part of this sin. ” saying this, I storm out of his vicinity.

❤❤❤

Hey, you pie of cuteness ٩( ᐛ )و

❁ Do you believe in God?

❁ Who do you think whose death anniversary they're celebrating?

❁ Honestly, I liked Hans in this chapter

(~￣³￣)~

❁ Also, I swear this chapter is being posted on a Friday.

May God listen to all your prayers, and they come true. But let's face it, your crush liking you back is an exceptional case.