"If it wasn't for her, he would have never believed in love."
❣
I would like to ask you if you could go with me today. As my date
Bellona whacks her head to get rid of that sentence that infested her thoughts.
Some thoughts are like a leech, they just don't go away no matter what. And for the overthinking person, who Bellona is, surviving with her I-am-fucking-imaginative-brain is no more than a curse.
After hurling the words that she has a boyfriend, Bellona practically sprinted out of her own office, leaving him alone. What was she supposed to do? It was awkward. She doesn't even know his name. Not that she would like to know. But yes, she is curious about him and this trinket is merely the size of a peanut which she can ignore effortlessly (that's what she thinks)
Why in the realm did he ask me out of nowhere?
And men say women are hard to understand.
"Hey, bitch," her best friend swings her arm over her shoulder, almost knocking Bellona to the ground.
"Hey, Lexi."
Lexi notices her best friend's absentmindedness and her brows cresses in a frown, "Why so dull? Oh did you get scolded a lot for that acid incident? Interns are spewing glees for your act so cheer up."
"No, Chief told me to write an apology report since the man was not harmed a lot. Thank goodness that the acid was diluted. But, a guy asked me out," Bellona tell her, loosely braiding her long hair. Her tone comes off like I don't care but both the girls knew she cares. It isn't normal for a guy to ask Bellona out. She has always been self-conscious about herself, about her chubby cheeks and her appearance. She tried diet plans thinking she is fat (she isn't, just cute and chubby) but nothing worked. So when the man with Ocean eyes asked her out, she couldn't help but think he was just playing around. Living in the real world, she knows that affording a fantasy dream is way out of the league. Giving herself false hopes of a prince charming would ride on a unicorn (or is it a horse, just whatever) would come and get her, is the last thing she wants to do. Currently, she is just delighted about her dating life, she doesn't wish for more...
It doesn't take too long for Lexi to bombard Bellona with questions, "What! What's his name? Who is he? Is he handsome? Is he hot? Is he a doctor?"
Bellona's gaze wanders over Lexi's hair and a sigh eludes from her lips. Her best friend again dyed her tresses. Lexi has forever been a wild woman and the magma-red hair settled in a messy bun just complimented the flames of the blaze in her eyes. Lexi is like a fashion diva of the hospital, she gracefully carried her 5'4 frame and her bubbly outlook. A set of dazzling, white teeth gleams as she blows gently on her translucent fingernails. She has a sugary voice, which Bellona adores the most. It's not high pitch nails-screeching-on-chalk-board voice. But a soft delicate and soothing tone. Lexi always wanted to be a singer but a Korean drama (Dr. Romantic) inspired her to be a doctor.
"I don't know his name. But he is a soldier," Bellona responds whilst texting her mother.
"Why don't you know his name, idiot?"
"I never got a chance to ask. Anyway, I denied him as I already have a boyfriend."
"A boyfriend who didn't even call you for three days," Lexi reminds her, and her fingers making a soft thudding sound on the screen halts. Lexi never beats around the bush, she expresses what she feels straight away and that ability of hers is more productive when she wants to express her displeasure for Chase.
"Chase is busy. He is the CEO of an event management company. And not just any event management company but one of the best in our country," Bellona defends him even though Lexi is right. Is he that busy that he couldn't call her? Or text her?
"Okay okay. I don't ship you two."
"So don't I," both the women turn their heads and look at their third partner in crime, Logan, who grins flashing his teeth.
"I just don't know why you both don't like him?" Bellona rolls her eyes as they stroll to Logan's car. Lexi gives her a look saying, you know exactly why. But Bellona honestly doesn't know.
"We just think you deserve better."
"It was our night, but sadly you have to go to him," Logan murmurs, steering.
"We probably can't have our night, Lexi has the night shift."
"Yes. I am going home cause periods hit me. I will shower and come back to work," Lexi heaves a sigh, "Guys, I wanna say something."
"What? Just don't tell us that you are pregnant," Logan laughs at his own stupid words earning and smack from Lexi.
"Hey! I am driving!" he grunts, rubbing his head. Ignoring him, Lexi speaks, "I saw a heavenly handsome man today!"
"Who is he?" Bellona asks, her excitement slowly climbs a tree. Their profession doesn't grant them time to unwind and buzz in leisure. Whenever they have some time in their hands, they make sure to utilize it by doing everything they want to do.
"I don't know, but he was handsome"
"Maybe you will see him again," Logan says, "We will help you." but none of the girls notice how his jaw clenches, how his voice dropped an octave, how his eyes glint with sadness. Lexi is just a best friend, Logan ascertains his heart.
"I love you guys," she kisses Logan on his cheek and he grins. At least she is smiling, so he is fine with it.
Logan and Lexi drop Bellona near the convenience store then hustle to their way not before expressing how much they loathe the idea of her hanging out with her boyfriend.
The weather is cold and it's almost twilight. With the soft rustling of the wind, the faint sound of dry leaves moving on the concrete path, her hefty footsteps carry her to the empty streets where moonlights sprinkled. She hikes up to the luxurious store, the door automatically parted. The aroma of coffee enveloped Bellona and her eyes dart in search of one person who means the whole world to her.
"Welcome to the Crytal," her mom, Ariel, voluntarily greets. The woman in her 40s noticed her daughter and a million-dollar smile sweeps on her lips, "I was waiting for you."
"Hey, Mom," the chubby girl walks towards the lady with exhausted steps.
"Had a long day?" Ariel asks and requests a staff for a mug of tea. The store her mother owns is also integrated with a mini cafe at the alcove. Ariel was in dilemma regarding the shop or cafe so Bellona suggested she to established both.
"No. Just an eventful day," Bellona plop on a chair, softly messaging the back of her neck with her fingertips.
"Oh, sorry Bella but I have to meet my friend. I have something important to discuss, can I trust you with the store?"
"Do you have an option?"
"Unfortunately no. I am warning you, no pulling pranks on customers," she says with an alarming tone. Last time when Bellona supervised the shop, almost twelve customers complaint regarding her fake snake prank on them.
In her defense, Bellona said- I was just making their shopping interesting. Some adrenaline rush won't kill them.
Okay, maybe the snake prank was a little too much. So like a nice girl, her mom raised her to be, Bellona apologized to each customer in the tete-a-tete. Since then, her mom never left the mart in her daughter's scrutiny.
"Understood, Ma'am" Bellona bow down, bringing the cup of tea to her lips.
Ariel smiles and ambles upstairs where they arranged two spare rooms just in case if they need them. Bellona owes her beauty to her mother, the lady is so beautiful that she looks much like her daughter's sister. Her hair is a spectacular fall of the pitch-black lake and her dark eyes set is shiny and sharp, combine well with her sugary pink lips and angelic personality. She had Bellona when she was just seventeen years old. The thought of what could have happened if she had resolved on abortion is far away from Bellona's imagination. She made her exist in this world and her dad didn't leave her mother alone during that arduous time. But, then they separated just a few months ago and Bellona shifted to Marseille from Paris.
It broke Bellona's heart, knowing that her cute little family shattered. Her mom was completely devastated but as the strong woman she is, she pulled herself together. Bellona didn't cry when they divorced. When her dad threw the divorce papers on her mother's face, she didn't shed a single tear and just resided strong. She wants to be the person her mother could lean on when the times get tough. And she became one, her mother shed her pain in her daughter's arms, used her shoulder to cry, and let her comfort her. But what about the pain Bellona held up? She enshrines it deep inside her, behind her smile, behind her glistening golden pools.
She agreed to not cry for her father. It is easy. It is very easy. (She kept assuring herself)
"See you soon and don't get in trouble," her mother pats her head before walking out of the store.
Bellona commences working on her thesis. General surgeons do have their homework, like making these long thesis, then clarifying them to the interns in symposia. It's tiring, but gotta work.
Subsequently, as decided, she leaves to get ready. Meeting her boyfriend's parents so she needs to clean herself well.
❣
"Big brother!"
His hippopotamus sister (according to Kaiser) jumps on her dear brother as soon as he steps into his house. Kaiser let out a laugh and hug her tightly. He missed his sister's whining voice, tight hugs, annoying attitude. The homely scent, the cozy feeling, the warmth of love crash into him like a truck of happiness.
"Let him breathe at least Emma," a soft voice says and Kaiser's face lits up when his mother emerges from the kitchen, garnish in flour (probably making him his favorite plum cake) A black apron was tied around her waist and a million-dollar smile prance on her lips. The young man places Emma down on her feet and strides to his mom. Tears brim her eyes as she clasps her in her embrace. The happiness that her prayers paid off, she was right in front of her safe and alive made her laugh and cry at the same time.
"Gosh, I am seeing you after seven months. I miss you so much Kaiser," she whispers, patting his back with her delicate hands. Kaiser feels the emotions rushing inside him, swelling in the heart. He has always been a mom's boy, that doesn't mean she controls his life or something, but his bond with her runs deeper than the ocean, deeper than space, and deeper than everything he can compare with.
"I missed you too, Mom," he let his masculinity slip his charm, and like a little boy snuggles into his mother.
After a long time, they broke the hug, and her gaze eyes all over her son's body, looking and hissing at every injury.
All the pain we feel, our mothers feel twice the amount of that.
"I am fine. All good and safe," he wipes her tears and kisses her forehead to make his presence seem real.
"Oh here's Captain Kaiser!" Another voice chirps and Kaiser's elder brother exclaims, stomping his one leg and saluting him.
"That's not the right posture," the captain points out making his brother roll his eyes. The two men share a manly hug. Kaiser is not close to his brother as close he is with his friends. Their opinions contradict which makes it harder for both to get along. They try though, they enjoy each other's company while playing squash. That's the only common interest the brothers share.
"Welcome home."
"Thanks and congratulations on your company's anniversary. I am proud of you too," Kaiser pats his back.
"Thank you. Dad is in the library, and get ready soon. Don't forget to get yourself a date for the party and yeah, I need a favor," the elder one says and receives a call, gesturing Kaiser to hold up.
"My date ditched me!" Emma mewles from across the room.
"You are just sixteen, you don't need a date!" their mother scolds her.
Emma gives Kaiser her puppy eyes that always melt him in a matter of seconds. Girls can be persuasive. So damn persuasive that Emma once convinced him to act like her dad when she was expected to call her parents. His dear sister was snagged skipping class and sleeping in the janitor's closet with an armload of snacks and a laptop. In modest words, she was getting a kick out of a mini BTS concert.
"Oh, mom. She needs one, she will be bored at the party anyway," to entice his mother for Emma. That kid just has her way with him.
"It's because of you that she is acting like a princess," the old woman shakes her head at her two kids.
"Mom! I never did!"
"Whatever. Fine, bring a date with you. But you will stay at the party, no sneaking out. And you will come back home with us."
"Fine. I will accept Christian!"
"Hey! That Christian tattoo guy is not allowed!" Mom yells chasing after her.
Back to sweet home.
The aroma of vanilla cookies lures Kaiser into the kitchen. He peeks at the cookie dough and unable to control himself, he snags a fraction and pops it in his mouth. The sweet dough almost melts on his hot tongue. He always had a sweet tooth and cakes are his favorite but still, he hates chocolate. When he opens the refrigerator in hunt of some snacks the first thing he discovers is strawberries.
He grabs the bowl of fresh strawberries and a smile stretches his lips. The deep dimples suck his cheeks as he thinks back to the soft scent, heavenly lips, galaxy eyes, and pure beauty.
Bellona.
"Whatcha doing bro?" His sister, Emma steps into the kitchen. Kaiser turns to look at her then burst into laughter.
"Are you doing an advertisement for a beggar ?" he asks her, eyeing her off a shoulder crop top and ripped jeans. The honey skin tributes her black short hair tied with some fancy hair tie. Kaiser finds her the exact resemblance of his mother, vivid brown eyes, sharp nose, thin pink lips, and the smile for which he is ready to do anything and everything he could.
The little girl scoffs, "What you know about fashion? Your boring-ass won't understand!"
Kaiser rolls his eyes, closing the refrigerator with his back, the blue orifices narrow looking at her face, "You aren't wearing make-up?"
Emma shakes her head with a pout, "Someone told me I don't look good in makeup That I look like a trash can."
Kaiser sighs. His sister has always been a victim of a bully. Kaiser even personally spoke to those queenka girls of her school and treat them to ice creams so they could accept Emma as their friend and stop disturbing her.
"Whoever told you that can shove their opinion up in their ass," Kaiser calmly states, and Emma's heart warms up. She knew as much as they tease each other it's fine, but if someone else does, then bro it's world war three. Get your ass ready to be kicked.
Her eyes drop on the bowl of strawberry and a profound frown appears on her face, "Aren't you allergic to those?"
Kaiser peers at the red fruits, "Yes. But that doesn't mean I can't like them."