''Hey, I told you this, five years ago, right? If you want to see me dead so much, then you first of all have to kill all the bitterness in you. But, I don't blame you. You just lost your husband and must be feeling SAD. LONELY AND HURT!!''
Everyone word of Solace hurt Natalie to the core and it was evident in her facial expression.
Natalie clasped her hands together under the table to calm her nerves as she listened to Mrs. Solace.
Every word she always said had a way of burrowing into her heart. Her heart hurt each time by her words, but today it hurt even more because as she was looking past her mother, the one person she didn't want to see walked in and looked back at her with an interesting gaze before going to the counter.
''Natalie, I called you to see how you are holding on. After all, we still have a mother-daughter relationship even if you deny it. Let's go, Mimi!'' Solace stood up.
''Yes, mom!'' Mimi stood up and they suddenly heard someone mentioning Mikael Sun's name.
''That's Mikael Sun!'' The female voice shouted, making everyone to turn to Mikael Sun's direction.
Mimi and Solace stopped to look at him.
''Mom, that's Mikael Sun!'' Mimi said excitedly. She couldn't hide her admiration for him.
''Behave, you are also a celebrity!'' Solace Song warned her.
Natalie stood up and took her bag before saying to the mother and daughter pair. ''Your expresso is on me. I hope that we won't have another opportunity to see each other again, after all, it makes us uncomfortable.''
Natalie held the strap of her bag tightly as she walked towards the counter. When she got to Mikael's side at the counter, she placed a few bills on the counter as payment before walking out. He only looked at her and didn't try to stop her.
A lot of people started gathering around him to take pictures while some wanted an autograph.
''Mom, should I tell him that you are here?'' Mimi asked her mother curiously.
''No, don't do such silly things. Let's get out of here quietly." Solace had taken notice of how Mikael looked at Natalie and it made her unsettled.
Mimi pouted her lips as she walked behind her mother, but as they reached the entrance, another person recognised them.
''It's Solace Song and Mimi Song!''
Mikael looked at the two and nodded his head politely at Solace. As they were both surrounded by people, they had little chance to interact but Mikael felt that the woman's face was familiar.
Looking at the chaos inside the café, Natalie sighed and walked away. She didn't want to have anything doing with those people inside. Left to her alone, she wouldn't want to cross paths with them either.
To her, every one of them contributed to her trauma which was beginning to act up again.
…..
T-Villa.
Natalie opened the fridge to find that she had finished eating all the boiled eggs that Thomas had bought for her. She sighed and picked the fresh ones, and went to the sink. She washed them and placed them all in a saucepan and set on the cylinder, turning the gas on.
Natalie picked up her phone and went to sit at the dining table. She was about to play some video games when she saw Xia's call.
''Hello, Xia!''
''Nat, my darling sugar, how are you doing?''
''Did you just facetime me?'' Natalie looked at the phone surprised. She had answered the call casually without checking until she saw Xia's face on her screen.
''Oh, you didn't know? Where is your mind, girl?''
''Nowhere in particular!''
''How are you coping?''
''I'm alive so I guess I'm still kicking it.''
''Good, you just need to stay alive until this big sister comes back.''
''Yeah, right!!''
''Tell me, what's going on, you look like you just lost weight in the last two months that I left you.''
''Where should I start first? A lot has happened in the last two months''
''Just start from anywhere!''
''My brother in law thinks I have a hand in my late husband's death and I met those 'two' today.''
''What? Is he crazy? Since when did you become a magician to get on a plane to cause it to crash?''
''He was just venting because he can't live with his own regrets, I'm over it.''
''Tell me, has he tried to hurt you? Like physically assault you?''
''No, he wouldn't go that far.''
''So, what are you going to do? I mean how do you plan on dealing with him?''
''I have nothing to fear. Heaven knows I am as clean as a porcelain. Besides, he seemed shocked by Thomas' death. I will just take it as a child throwing a tantrum.'' Natalie opened a pack of coconut slices and started munching on it.
''I wished I was there with you. You must be feeling lonely?''
''I don't even have the time to be lonely. I met with that person and her step daughter today.''
''Your mother and Mimi green tea bitch? Why did you meet them? Are you okay after meeting them?'' Xia asked worriedly as she tried to catch every expression of Natalie over the screen.
''Relax, I'm fine. It was a meeting I couldn't avoid anyways.''
''What did they want? I thought they didn't want to communicate with you anymore?''
''They wanted to see how I was handling the loss of my husband.'' Natalie chuckled.
''Why don't I believe that? Mimi must have instigated the meeting. I bet she wanted to rob it in your face.''
''I know, but I also robbed it in their face. I paid for their coffee.''
''Go girl. I'm proud of you!''
''But, there is a little problem'' Natalie turned off the fire before going to the hall to sit.
''What problem is it?''
''My brother in law saw us, my mom, Mimi and I, together at the café. I don't know whether he followed me there or it was just a coincidence.''
''Girl, it was no coincidence. I bet he was following you the whole time. Is he a stalker now?'' Xia shook her head.
''I really don't want to have another 'talk' with him concerning my meeting with those two!''
''Looks like I have to work on my transfer fast and return to you. Everyone thinks they can bully you just because I am not by your side.''
''I'm sorry, you are doing all this for me.''
''What are you saying? I'm doing this for me too. I promised your dad that I will take care of you for life.'' Xia said making Natalie to laugh.
''That being said, would you like to marry this sexy reporter, Natalie Jun?'' She winged and Natalie cringed.
''I can see that you are bored with your life.''
''Can't you even take a joke? I'm trying to make you laugh.''
''Your jokes are not laugh worthy.''
''I can't wait to get away from W and return to District Z. Working here is already hell enough, now, I have to deal with my boss' son who wants me to go out with him.''
''Is he still asking you out on a date?''
''Yes, he claims he is serious.''
''Maybe you should go out with him, once.''
''And have people talk about how I seduced the boss' son? No. I am enjoying my single life and don't want to ruin my career that I worked so hard to build. Anyways, I have to go and cover a news tomorrow so I need to make arrangement.''
''Alright, thanks for calling. Take care of yourself.''
''You too, bye!''
Natalie ended the call and smiled.
.....
Sun Family House.
Mikael's room.
Mikael walked paced about the bedroom speaking on phone with someone.
''I've sent you a picture of a woman in your email. I want every information down to the last detail about her, how she met my brother, her friends, every single thing she is up to in the last five years to now. Also, find out what kind of relationship she has with the people from the Song family.'' He hung up and looked at the giant mirror in the room and muttered, ''Natalia Jun. I will find out just who you are. I don't believe that you are that innocent.''
…..
C-Chains Estates.
Looking at the mess she created, Natalie lifted her hands in the air, finally giving up as she murmured, ''I really need to enrol into a cooking class. I can't believe I'm so zero % in cooking.'' She turned to the fridge and removed one of the sealed white plastic bags containing two peeled boiled eggs each. ''This will be able to keep me up till I find something to eat later.''
Natalie placed the other egg inside her bag and took out her room to make a call. She was going to call the cleaning agency for help because she was so turned off by the mess she made herself.
''Hello, is this Oriental Housekeeping Services? Yes, I'd like to make a reservation. Okay, I will send you the address, thank you!''