Chapter 15

The night was still young and, amongst all the other people in the club, these two decided to call it a night. Marissa and Alex were tired, so they walked home as they took Ronny and John’s car to go to the club.

Marissa had both her arms crossed, trying to protect herself from the cold, which didn’t go unnoticed by Alex, so he immediately removed his jacket and placed it on Marissa’s shoulder.

“I am fine. I am not feeling that cold.” Marissa told him.

“Well, the important point is that you are feeling cold. And what kind of a guy will I be if I let my friend suffer in this cold weather?” Alex nudged her.

“Not a very good one. But what about you? Aren’t you feeling cold?” She asked him with concern.

“No. Don’t worry, I am fine.” He reassured her.

Both of them were walking in silence when Alex decided to break it by asking her, “What are you thinking about?” He had both his hands in his jeans

pocket.

“Don’t you think this is strange?” Marissa asked him.

“What is strange?” Alex asked in confusion.

“We both are walking together.” She stated.

“What’s so strange about it?” Alex asked her again.

“Who would have thought that, out of all the people in the world, we would walk together? I never thought I would ever see a day where you would give

me your jacket, let alone take care of me when I wouldn’t be able to walk.” She explained to him.

“Yes, me too. I just wish things had been different back then. Only if I had given our marriage a chance, then maybe today we would have been happily

married. Who knows, we might also have a kid or two.” Alex told her.

“What’s done is done. It doesn’t matter now.”

“Maybe if my parents were alive, then I would have been different from what I am now,” Alex confessed, which made Marissa confused.

“I don’t understand. Your parents... I talked with them last week.” But Alex cleared up her dilemma.

“I am adopted, Marissa.” His statement made Marissa stop on her track. “My parents died when I was seven in a car crash. Jenny and Linda’s parents

were my parents best friends and my godparents, so they took me in, or you could better phrase it, they adopted me. Initially, I couldn’t accept the fact

that my parents had left me. I felt as if Leo and Brinda (adoptive parents) were trying to replace my parents, so I always used to trouble them. Gradually, I

got used to the idea of them being with me, but somewhere along the lines, I always felt alone when we used to have family dinners. Whenever things

didn’t go according to me, or they denied my wish for my good upbringing, I always used to feel that they did so purposely because I was not their blood

child.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Marissa told him truthfully.

“That’s okay. You know, Leo and Brinda are the best parents anyone could ask for. When I made them meet Daphne, they didn’t like her. At first, they

saw it was just a fling, but when they realized that I was serious about her, that’s when they made me meet you. I hated them for that. But after I found

Daphne’s truth, I just saw all the mistakes I made in life. Maybe it is a good thing that my parents are not here with me. They would have been so

disappointed in me.” Alex confessed.

“They would have loved you. You know, few people have the courage to accept their mistakes. You were a kid back then. Not everything is your fault.

Don’t blame yourself for it. Be glad that, even while going, your parents gave you the best gift. They gave you another family.” Marissa placed her hands

on his shoulders.

“You really are something else, Marissa. I am lucky to have you in my life.”

“And I am glad to cross my path with you.”

With that, they reached their home. Before Alex could leave, Marissa stopped him.

“Alex, wait.” She took the spare keys from the side table and gave them to him.

Alex was surprised but glad because it was progressing. “Thanks again for forgiving me. This time I won’t return the keys to you.” He winked at her.

“I don’t expect you to.” With that, Alex left.

Both of them were feeling warm and content. Alex was glad to share this piece of truth with her. He felt content, and Marissa was honoured to know

about Alex’s past life.

The next day, Marissa got up early and went to the institute. After class, instead of Alex, it was Linda who came to pick up Brook.

“Hey, Marissa. Why are you frowning? Not happy to see me?” Linda teased her.

“No, not at all. I was expecting Alex.” Marissa told her with a smile. Linda didn’t miss the glint in her friend’s eyes when she mentioned Alex’s name.

“Alex didn’t tell you that he is sick?” Linda asked her.

“No, he didn’t,” Marissa told her. “Is he okay?” She asked her, concern clearly written all over her face.

“I doubt it. He has got a fever and a cold. Alex has given us a strict warning about not meeting him. He hates it when we try to take care of him when he

is ill, but that’s still not going to stop us.”

“I will check up on him when I reach home,” Marissa told her friend.

After an hour in her class, she rushed back home and prepared a bowl of chicken soup. Marissa was feeling strange. She couldn’t understand why she felt

this kind of concern for Alex, maybe because he took care of her when she sprained her ankle. That must be it. With that, she went towards Alex’s condo

and rang the doorbell.

When Alex opened the door before he could say anything, Marissa scolded him.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you were sick?”

“It is not that important.” He stated.

“Look at you, Alex. It seems that you will fall at any second,” Marissa told him worriedly.

She then grabbed his hand and took him to his room, and made him lie down.

“Did you eat anything?” She asked him with concern.

Alex knew better than to lie, so he told her the truth. “Honestly, not much. I feel too tired to get up and make something to eat.”

“Good thing that I bought some soup for you.” She stated and brought the soup towards him. She helped him sit and served the soup to him.

“It wasn’t necessary,” Alex told her.

“This is the least I could do after you took care of me. Plus, if it weren’t for you giving me a jacket, you wouldn’t have fallen ill.” Marissa told him

glumly.

“Don’t fret about it, Marissa. This looks delicious.” He told her.

After a few sips, he pushed the soup away.

“Alex, you hardly ate anything. Have some more.”

“I don’t feel like having anymore.”

Marissa took the spoon and fed him herself. Alex was surprised to see this kind of concern on Marissa’s face.

He never thought Marissa cared so much for him, especially after how he had behaved in the past.

For the next four days, Marissa made it her personal duty to take care of him. From the time he got up in the morning till night. She was just a call away.

“Alex, what do you think you are doing?” Marissa asked him sternly.

“Folding my shirts.” He stated as if it’s the most common thing to do.

“You are still not fine. I will do it for you. Give it to me.” She snatched away the shirt which Alex was folding and began doing it herself.

“Marissa, you don’t need to do my work. I can manage it.” Alex tried to tell her, but she was not having it.

“Yes, I can see that. Says the guy who had a 102-degree fever last night.” She glared at him.

“And thanks to you, I am perfectly fine now. As it is, you have taken care of me more than required. I feel guilty about staying up all night trying to bring

my fever down with a wet cloth.” Alec scratched his neck embarrassingly.

“It’s nothing, Alex. You are my friend. It’s what friends do. Not having a fever doesn’t give you an excuse for working. You still haven’t recovered.” She

told him while keeping his clothes in the cupboard. Before she could close the door, the box fell, and an old ring fell from it.

Marissa bent down and picked it up. When Alex saw it, he had a distant look in his eyes.

“That’s my mom’s ring. My grandmother gave it to her when she married my dad. Brinda once told me that mom mentioned that in the future, she would

want to give it to her daughter-in-law.” Alex told her.

“This ring is so beautiful. Your future wife will be lucky to receive such a precious gift.” Marissa told him with a smile.

“I doubt it. It’s not as shiny as before. Plus, it’s very simple and not extravagant.”

“Sometimes simple things are the most beautiful things in life. And with a bit of polish, this ring will be as good as new.”

“What if she didn’t like it?” Alex asked her.

“Then she doesn’t deserve you. You gave this to Daphne?” Marissa asked him hesitantly.

“No, I didn’t mean to. Like you, she came across this ring in my drawer in the old flat, and her reaction was not so appealing.”

“Leave Daphne. The important thing is that you love this ring. It’s your mother’s and the person you decide to spend your life with will also love this ring.

She will cherish it forever.”

Marissa gently placed the ring back in the box and kept it properly in the cupboard.

That was the moment when Alex realized what exactly he was feeling for Marissa. The love he had for Daphne was nothing like what he had felt for

Marissa. He liked the idea of loving Daphne, but in reality, he loves Marissa, and this time he would not repeat his mistake.

He is never going to let her go away from him.