"Hope you enjoyed the latte?"
The voice startled her.
"I need an answer Anna, hope you enjoyed your Latte with little boy…his name, again? Huh? Jake! Right?"
She swallowed the heavy lump in her throat, and with a nervous smile she turned to her father, trying to decline.
"I know you had a drink with Jake, Anna; but that doesn't hurt as much as knowing that you had a drink with our enemy, he is the heir of the Robert family, Anna. You need to stay away from him."
"He is your enemy Dad, not mine."
"What did you say?"
"I said he is…
Before she could complete her sentence, a hot slap landed on her cheek.
Her face went pale in an instant, she could not believe the reality.
"You hit me, dad?" she pondered, rubbing her cheek.
"And I can do it again Anna, why? Because my daughter wants to make friends with a rival, a rival!" Her dad yelled.
"Michael." Annabel called out softly.
With Annabel's voice, Michael felt a sense of relief.
"You did not have to hit her."
"I am sorry about…
Before he could finish his words, Anna walked away, holding her cheek as tears fell from her eyes.
It was so confusing; how was she at fault? Was it important to be rivals? And why did she have to be the one to continue it when the two heirs did not want to.
And on top of that, her dad raised his hands to her for the first time and all because of a personal conflict.
"Anna." Michael's voice echoed as the door cracked open.
Anna turned her face away from him.
"Anna." He called again- softly.
"Why did you hit me, dad?"
"Anna, what could I have done, at that moment, it felt as if you wanted to go against me, there was nothing I could do."
"But…
"You went to meet our rival's son, why did you go to him, huh?"
"Really? Because I went to see a friend?"
"Jake is not your friend, Anna!" Michael yelled, raising his against again.
Anna stared at him, her eyes following the movements of his hands.
"Trying to hit me again?"
His hands hung in the air, as he sighed.
"I am sorry, Anna, but I need you to understand that Jake can never be a friend."
She jumped out of bed angrily.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I am not going to repeat myself, Anna, you and any members of the Robert family should not be seen together, are we clear?"
Michael said and walked out of Anna's room.
Staring at the Door, she could not help but scoff.
It was hard to place together. Why was her father being so adamant about being enemies with the Robert Family?
If she was going to really keep her distance…then no one could tell when they would get time to talk again.
Four Years Later.
Staring at her certificate, she smiled.
Everything changed in four years.
Her college, her lifestyle, her dreams, her location, her destination and her career, but she was happy that she could keep the few friends she could have.
"Seems like someone needs a big hug." Ruby said, walking towards Anna.
"Don't tell me you're still thinking about your old acquaintance" Luvleen said, drawing Anna closer.
Anastasia rolled her eyes.
"Do you mind not saying things like that?"
"No, but I think I am actually telling…
"Can't you tell, that I don't want my mood to be poisoned by thought of someone I am trying to forget?"
Ruby folded her arms with a smirk on her face.
"Trying to forget, huh?"
"I wonder what Jake must have done to you that makes it so difficult to forget him." Angel said, holding a tray containing three cups of lemonade.
"Please, let's not talk about this, I'd appreciate if we forget Jake and The Roberts Family."
"Fine Young Miss. F.Y.I, we want to have fun on the beach, but we know how much you hate beaches so, we'll meet you here or anywhere by…
"I'll come with you." She announced.
Their eyes widened in shock – Luvleen, Ruby and Angel.
"And when did you start loving beaches, girl?" Angel inquired with a surprised tone.
"Don't know, don't care." She replied, glancing at their faces alternatively. "Can we go now?" She asked.
"Huh, yeah, I guess?" Angel responded, still surprised.
Anna sighed.
If she was being honest with herself, she knew she did not actually fancy the idea of going to a beach but she needed company- she needed company badly.
With her friends by her side, she has been able to get used to not having him around, and now that she was reminded of him, she didn't want to sulk in the thoughts of him.
The beach was almost deserted, it was buzzing with little or less activity.
Since she was not a lover of deep waters, she walked towards the forest.
The smell of fresh leaves and damp earth with a little bit of mud was present in the air.
She loved it – Nature.
Never has she ever had a reason to regret admiring nature. And sometimes, she found solace in it.
She recollected, how she was always so optimistic about breaking the enmity between the two families.
But in the end, all she did was run away.
She gave it an undeserved ending before it even began.
She was jolted back to reality by a sudden shove.
"I am so sorry; I shouldn't have done that." The lady apologized before turning away.
Looking at her face beaming with smile. Anna felt a bit jealous, after her decision four years ago, she never actually had a reason to smile so beautifully.
She had always wondered how Jake must have felt by her sudden disappearance.
"Hello, did you see a lady around here?" the voice whispered into her ears, startling her.
"What in the world is wrong with you?" she shrieked as she turned to face the person.
"I am so…
Silence suddenly pressed in; her eyes felt out of order.
She froze, and he froze too.
"Jake?" she called, slowly.
"Anna." He responded – indifferently.
She reached to hug him, but he stopped her midway.
"What do you think my girlfriend would think if she sees us hugging, I don't think she'll like me hugging a stranger."
"Stranger? Am I a stranger?"
"Jake?" the voice called.
Anna turned in the direction of the voice.
It was the lady that hit her.
"Do you know her, Jake?" the lady asked.
"No." Jake responded. "I don't know her."