Page 25 of Nothing Without You
But in order to do all of this, Adelaide needed to be distracted. Which is why while she was busy investigating with the police, I’d be doing this.
News about the press conference circulated through social media and multiple news networks. Tomorrow morning, we’d announce our marriage and the real CEO of Moonshine.
Tomorrow morning is when it all begins.
NINE
TWELVE YEARS AGO – ADELAIDE
“Happy Birthday,imo!”I wrapped my arms tightly around Eunbin whose chuckles transformed into hoarse coughs.
“Gomawo, Addie.” Kim Eunbin was my mother’s best friend from high school. I’d written her name in my notepad a thousand times along with a star right next to it—if Mom and Dad weren't available— I had to call her.
When they died in a plane accident two years ago, memories of the hospital were a blur. But I remember a slender hand resting on my shoulder and comforting words being whispered into my ear.
Eda Sousan, my mom and Eunbin’s best friend, wasn’t on the list of emergency contacts but she was a photograph in my mom’s memories. Which meant she was important. She told me Eunbin couldn’t make it and she’d be taking me with her.Never trust strangers, did run through my brain. But there was an older man with a bushy old beard that I’d seen with my dad before speaking with her.
If I hadn’t been crazed with all the sobbing, I might’ve asked them for more information. Maybe about who they were and what was next. But my parents always told me to trust my elders, so that was what I did while I let myself cry.
Eunbin showed up to the funeral that week with her husband, who first hugged Eda. He was a tall, dashing man. He was funny, kind, and often bought me raspberry flavoured gummies—I didn’t like them, but Christian did, so it was fine.
Eunbin ran to me first at the funeral, pressing gentle kisses to my forehead and keeping me close to her. Constantly whispering, “I’m here,” in my ears.
I really didn’t remember much, but I remembered the silence, the tears, and the quiet that made my abdomen clench as it forced a lock on sad emotions.
My parents were my favourite people in the whole world and in their will, they stated Eda Sousan as my guardian.
Eda changed her last name to make things easier for me. I welcomed her into my bubble of family and friendship easily. She was kind, intelligent, and devoted to taking care of me.
I trusted my parents knew she could take care of me better than anyone else, which is why I accepted it.
But whenever I hung out with Eunbin and Christian, I wished they picked her as my guardian instead.
Christian’s lanky arms brushed mine. Gooseflesh arose on my skin and my liver worked hard to break down the poisonous substance of an alienated crush.
I always looked at Christian with heart-shaped eyes whenever he wasn’t staring at me and hated every moment of it. These feelings were foreign and unappreciated.
“We were supposed to go in together!” There he began to singhappy birthdayall on his own. He was my best friend and if he ever found out I liked him, he would stop being friends with me. He had enough trouble with his crush at school, I’d give him a harder time if he knew how I felt.
Eunbin clasped her pinky to mine. I stared up, she leaned against the wall with darkened purple under eyes, but her smile was bright and…knowing.
A blush trickled up to my cheeks.
Christian’s soft voice faded out, with a quick promise of cake, he ran out of the room.
Eunbin watched me carefully. Christian looked more like her than his dad, with their sharp double-eyelids and rosy, plump lips. My soul shed a wet tear at the scarf wrapped around the top of her head.Chemotherapy was a loser and I wish I could take her pain for myself.“You should tell him, Adelaide.” The bouncy bed shot down from the weight of elbows. I leaned into her comforting presence and stole some of it for when I went back home alone. “He might feel the same.”
Eyes widened.
“I don’t like him,” I whisper-screamed. “That’s gross.”
“Are you sure?” She asked with a teasing tilt to her voice. “Or does your heart feel gooey and content from secretly staring at him all the time?”
“Imo,” I groaned.
It took eight whole seconds—I counted—to fall for Christian, but no one needed to know that. Especially not his mom.
She laughed, bright and loud, without the coughing, and without the horrible distraction of her cancer. When herlaughter dwindled down, she caressed my cheek. Sadness persecuted the happiness from her eyes. “When you feel strongly about someone, you should let them know before it’s too late. Before they start to assume that you’re okay with staying as you are.” Isolation miscarried the permanent birthing spark Eunbin lugged around. I pressed a kiss to the inside of her palm.
