Burning Passion

CHAPTER 311: BLOSSOMING FRIENDSHIP

* * *

Three days have passed, but Harry hasn't come back yet. She knew that it would not too soon, but she could not wait to talk with him again.

The other day, Jerome Shang called the Li Villa to talk with Nelson. But since the latter goes back to China, it was Dona who answered the call. 

They learned Mely's condition is getting better, but they need to stay in Hawaii for at least a month before the doctor permits Mely to take a long trip. 

Dona badly wanted to see Mely as her entire life she thought of her as an older sister. And the reason Mely was in the hospital right now because they tried to separate Steven from Nina.

Jerome shared, they were quarreling with Steven when their son protested not to go back to China. Instead, he insisted on seeing Nina talk with her. 

Hearing about it, Nina felt bad because she is part of the reason everything is happening now. Even though she wished to see the woman, however, she didn't want to see Steven again. 

To think over, everything started when they became a couple. Both of their family had conflicts when she wished to end the arranged marriage the elders agreed on. 

Feeling bothered about it, Nina went to the University filled with questions in her head. 

She was in the library when Vanessa and Emily approached her to ask about Harry. She guessed they were doing it for Kristina. 

"Nina, do you know where Harry and Steven are? We haven't seen them for almost a week."

She realized Harry didn't contact her present girlfriend to explain why he has to leave New Jersey so soon. 

But the situation is sensitive because it also involved her in the issue, the Shang facing at the moment. Besides, she should share nothing with them when Kristina is going to learn about it.

So then, she ponders whether to tell them about what happened. But she could not tell any information to other people, although they were Harry and Steven's friends. She was not in the position to explain anything.

Pushing a smile, she uttered, "What I know… Aunt Mely needs a general check-up, and she needs to stay in the hospital for a few days." 

She could not find any other excuses, and it's the best alibi she came up with. Gladly, the girls believed in her. Satisfied with her response, they didn't ask further. 

Jessica, who observed silently the entire time, she felt bad about how her miss kept lying like this. She was just freed from an unhealthy relationship, but now she was pressured to cover the truth and answer when their friends are curious why the twins suddenly disappear. 

In the afternoon, it was the boys who asked Nina. As they witnessed how the two families are close, they thought that Nina knew the reason Steven and Harry didn't come to school anymore. Like what she replied to the girls, Nina gave the same answer to the boys.

And it was exhausting to keep a secret like this… 

~ ~ ~ 

Nina and Jessica went home after their class ended for the day. Dona and Annie were setting the table when they arrived. Instantly they noticed that Nina seemed troubled with something. The two women shared a glance—without exchanging words, they both agreed to talk to Nina after dinner. 

They were having dinner halfway, Annie announced. "Let's have tea after a meal!" 

However, Nina didn't respond, nor she heard what Annie had said. The three women exchanged glances at each other. Both Dona and Annie looked at Jessica with questioning stares, and the girl conveyed them meaningful gazes. It means something happens at school. 

"Jessica, help me by being over the teacups in the living room after supper." 

"Yes, Mrs. Grant!" 

Annie purposely said it loud not only to invite Jessica to the kitchen for a talk. But also for Nina to come back to her senses. And finally, she spoke. 

"Do you need my help, Aunt Annie?" 

The woman smiled. She replied to her niece. "Don't worry, dear. Jessica and I will prepare the tea. You can escort your mother to the living room." 

"Okay, Aunt Annie." 

Still, they could see that Nina was listless. She just nodded and lowered her gaze back to her plate after she talked briefly.

After supper, Jessica followed Annie to the kitchen to prepare the teapot and the teacups. 

"Jessica… Do you know what is bothering Nina? Did something happen at school?" 

Jessica paused whatever she's doing to face the woman. Share replied, "Mrs. Grant, Miss Nina often asked about the young masters, and it has forced her to lie to their friends. She could not tell them what's going on." 

"I see. No wonder she looked troubled. With the attitude my niece has, she will blame herself even if it's not her fault." 

"I think so too, Mrs. Grant." 

"Okay. How about when she and Harry met at the airport? Did you hear what they've talked about?" 

Jessica bowed. She then shared what she heard at the airport. "Master Harry promised to talk with Miss Nina once he comes back." 

"Oh. That must be what she's thinking lately. No wonder she's not with herself. Alright! Let's go!" 

In the living room, Dona cannot take her eyes away from her daughter. She was trying to talk with her earlier, but she's looking for an opportunity that they were alone. She could still see that Nina is unsettled.

"Honey, what is bothering you lately?" 

Together, seated on the same sofa, Nina turned her head in her mother's direction.

"Mama, I badly wanted to see Mama Mely." 

Shocked by what she heard, Dona grew anxious. She understood her daughter, as even to her, she also badly wanted to visit Mely too. However, it's not the right time yet, when Steven was there as well. 

"Honey, just be patient. Don't worry. What brother Jerome told me, he will bring back sister Mely here in New Jersey once she is allowed to travel." 

Nina instantly felt panic. "Mama, Steven is coming back?" 

Dona reaches for her daughter's hand and squeezes them, trying to comfort Nina. "Don't worry, honey. They are trying to figure out how they could send Steven to China." 

"Really? Is that true, Mama? I thought I'm going to see him again, Mama…" said Nina. 

And Dona could see the fear exhibited in her daughter's eyes. "Honey…" 

She wanted to say comforting words to her daughter, but she isn't sure what perfect words to relieve her worries. "Nina, we are always here as your family. So, there's nothing you should be afraid of and hide nothing from us. We will try to understand you. And we will protect you. Okay?" 

"Understood, Mama. Thank you…" Nina throws her arms around her mother's waist, she rests her head on the shoulder.

Dona embraces her daughter while combing her hair. She's praying that Nelson fixes the problem in the company for him to come back. She and her husband need to talk and make a better decision for their daughter. 

Maybe Nina should go back to China, and Steven stayed here in the US? Because back in Zen City, they could hire bodyguards to watch Nina 24/7 wherever she went. 

Staying here without Nelson, Dona doesn't feel any security at all. She will only feel at ease when they go back home. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

The next day, Nina headed to her next class when she saw Kristina cooking out from the building where Dean Collins took office. Actually, Kristina is crying.

They have never been close, but they are both friendly to each other even though they feel awkward sometimes. 

"Kristina? What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"Nina…" 

It surprised Kristina that Nina approached her and asked the reason she cried. 

Kristina badly wanted to talk to her friends. But the first person she saw was the last person she thought of for her troubles. They weren't that close, but since she met Nina and getting to know her better, she found her to be a wonderful person. She always believes that it was the reason both Steven and Harry loved her. Although in Harry's case, he is hiding his true feelings.

Tears flooded her eyes; Kristina cried on Nina's shoulder. She found herself telling her the bad news she received from Switzerland. 

"My father got into an accident and in a critical situation. I need to go home to accompany my mother. I'm worried about both of them... Nina, can you tell Harry why I am leaving?" 

Nina was speechless. She only nodded as a response. She's weighing what comforting words she must tell Kristina to make her feel better. 

"When is your flight, by the way?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"Tomorrow morning… I just came to school to notify Dean Collins that I need to go home. I was under the school's scholarship program. If ever, I wanted to continue my course in Medicine." 

"Hm, okay. That's great. Medicine is a good course." Nina couldn't say any words. She's not good at comforting someone because she was the one who has always been pampered. "Do you need a ride? I could drive you to the airport." 

"Really? I mean, that's too embarrassing. Sam was in California for a Convention, so I have to take a bus for Newark City." 

"It's alright! Jessica will be with us. We drove the car alternately." 

"Thank you." 

"You're welcome." 

Why does a blossoming friendship happen when they are separating ways?