Chapter nine

"Our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change." – Martin Luther King ..

ASHLEY'S P.O.V

    "Dear diary, Every challenge, every adversity, contains within it the seeds of opportunity and growth. I'll take that challenge. It's a dead hand against a living will. Never sit back and wait for a opportunity to find you, get up and search for one, it exists find it!" As my dad would always say. And I found an opportunity to get back on my feet after I thought I won't. After my divorce, I thought I had lost everything I ever had. I couldn't eat nor sleep for weeks, I tried every means possible not to think about the divorce. I even resorted to alcohol which almost had the best of me. "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal, Never give in and never give up. You deserve better. Life is full of challenges that cannot be avoided. Face them, fight them, know that overcoming them is possible.In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.Be encouraged by these challenge quotes. We all face challenges and obstacles in life.

   I had once dreamt of being Barbie because she always gets whatever she wants. I thought life was just like the movies I do watch. I once tried to jump down from a high table one certain day right after I'd just finished watching superman. I thought I had powers too, I put on my little suit my Dad had bought for me that other day, put on my princess shoes, wore my tiara and climbed onto the table, and wummm I jumped. I let out a big scream. My dad who was at the backyard rushed in quickly to check up on me. He scolded me but later on made me to stop crying. That was one unforgettable event of my .... childhood because the tiny scar was still there by the left elbow, imprinted as a remembrance of the mistake I did as a child.

   Diary, it's been close to three months I met Ace, there's just someone about him I can't seem to understand. I thought celebrities was overbearing, rude, proud, selfish, and spoiled. But, he was nothing like that. He was a whole different person , Charming, considerate, kind, selfless, down to earth, was what he can be described as. Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get as I never knew I was going to have someone like Ace asides Ciara.

   After he had left my house the other day, I grabbed my phone as I sat down on the chair. Feeling bored, I browsed about him and was dumbstruck at how famous he was. I suddenly felt special, having been his friend. I couldn't go to the library that day cause I strictly instructed by Ace not to,....It isn't like he can command me...but I didn't know why I just listened to him. Does he have that much effect on me? I don't think so, but I'm afraid he'll soon be cause I seem to be opening up to him slowly. I even told him about my divorce, something I find hard to say. Only Ciara know how painful it is for me to remember it talk more of telling it to someone I just got to know few weeks ago"

I dropped my pen and kept my diary back. Today was Saturday, it was laundry day and I've got lots of laundry to do. I brought out the clothes I was going to wash and kept them besides the washing machine. I went to bring the detergents but saw none. I forgot I had run out of one. I quickly grabbed my purse and went out to get one. I was halfway coming back after I had gotten the detergents when I heard two girls taking

"Omg.... Ace and Tasha were spotted together at a coffee shop" one of the girls said

"Could be back together? it's been six years now since there breakup, do you think they'd get back together now?" the other asked

"a paparazzi caught them together, so it ought to be true...I wish they get back together" the first girl said

"the two top-notch A list singers in a relationship won't that make the headlines for months? ... fans are going to go crazy" the other girl said. I was quite surprised on hearing that. I quickly got home , kept the detergents on the table and picked up my phone which I didn't go out with and saw ten missed calls from Ace. I wanted to call me back but unfortunately, I had a flat battery. With much hesitation, I continued my laundry.

I was through with my laundry and was about to spread them when I heard a knock on door. I peeped through the hole and saw it was Ace so I had to open the door.

"Are you angry?" was the first thing he asked

"No I'm not...And what should I?... come on in" I said as he entered and I closed the door. We stood by the dining.

"didn't you read today's headlines?" he asked

"I....didn't...but I overheard something going on between you and a female co star or something" I said trying to remember what she had heard. "I didn't go out with my phone so I missed your calls" I said with an apologizing face

"Thank goodness.... I thought you were angry and didn't want to take my calls anymore" he said and I let out a laugh

"wait...was that the reason you came here?" I asked and he nodded. "why will I be angry? it's your life and it has absolutely nothing to do with me...you should enjoy your life" I said and his mood changed

"You....you...mean you don't feel jealous or...or ...maybe ...I don't know...sad?" he asked

" jealous?...why? we aren't dating, I don't love you, and whereas I'm older than you, I don't date younger boys " I said

"is age the problem?" he asked as I became more confused at his sudden behaviour

"problem?...which problem? " I asked

"is it why you don't love me?" and that statement caught me off guard. Wait!! does Ace love me?

"love you?... you're are like ten years younger than me.... I...how can I love you?....I don't date younger boys and....And...you... love me?" I asked, not wanting to hear the reply

"yes...I love you" and damn I heard it. It rang a bell to my ears, a very loud one, I never expected Ace to fall in love with me and...He's here saying he is?

"but I don't love you...We we...like...I....you...God what is going on" I said scratching my hair with my left hand as I paced to and fro in the sitting room.

"I had loved you since I first saw you at the library but I couldn't muster up any courage to tell you. I love you more than words can express, I love you more than I did yesterday but much as tomorrow, I love you more every second. I want to share your every laughter and sadness with you. I didn't expect you to fall in love with me so easily, I knew I was up for a bigger challenge and I was more than ready for it cause what is life without challenges? I love you Bernice, and I don't want this sudden confession to create a draft between us, if it's for the age gap, give me three months ...just three months to prove my love to you and after this three months and you still don't fall in love with me then I'll stop disturbing you, just let me in a bit and I'll prove myself" Ace said without stopping for a bit to catch a breath.

I stood transfixed to the spot at I wasn't sure if what I was going to say or do. Ace loves ? I still was in shock. should I really take up this challenge and see if really Ace can make my heart skip a beat once again, to see if he can be the light I was hoping for, to know if he can make me catch butterflies. What if I fall in love with him and die? what if after so many memories with him, then I'll leave him alone in this world? what if he finds out that my days on Earth are number, would he still love me as he says he does? What if.... that's enough of what if... I also love challenges so I'm up for it

"just three months and if you fail, then we go out separate ways.... Ace Hunters, I give you three months to make me love you"