"Helo?" A woman answers her phone call.
"Feliz, where are you? The man you suppose to meet is on the way. Dad already arrive here with Uncle Liam. We're waiting for both of you."
"Ok dad, I will arrive in 10 minutes."
"Good, make sure to arrive safely."
"Alright." The call ended. Feliz then sighs. In a bus, she hit the stop button as she arrives her destination. She walks out from the bus, then goes straight to the busy road. It took 10 minutes to arrive at the restaurant, as she need to pass a couple of stores at the sideways. Just as she walks in front, a man suddenly walks out from a florist store. Feliz stops her step. Both almost bump into each other. The man realized his mistake.
"I'm sorry." the man apologized. Feliz only nod her head. The man then continues to walk ahead. Feliz see that the man bought a bouquet of roses in his hand. Seeing that, a feeling of nauseas and dizziness hit her. She tries to ignore that feeling as she walks toward the restaurant. As she arrives, she goes towards the counter desk.
"Excuse me, can I have a glass of water. I need to take my medication."
"Sure, just a second." A moment later, a waiter arrives.
"Here you go, miss."
"Thank you." Feliz thanked him, then take her medication.
"Is there anything else I can help you miss?" the waiter asks.
"Yes, I'm here for Mr Tan and Mr Liam reservation." Feliz told him.
"Oh yes, please follow me."
Feliz then follow the waiter walks toward the table that had been reserve. Finally saw her father, her father and Uncle Liam turn and smile toward her. She thanks the waiter. As she walks toward the table, she notices the man beside Uncle Liam. He must be the person that her father intended for her. She arrives beside her father. As she and the man look at each other, both stunned.
"You finally here. Let me introduces, this is my daughter Feliz Tan. And this fellow man is Linden Park, Uncle Liam's nephew." Feliz's dad Mr Tan introduced.
"I'm sorry about before." The man in front her apologized. Both her dad and Uncle Liam look at him. Confused. Feliz understood that the man recognized her from before, she shook her head. "No harm done, apology is unnecessary." She exclaims.
"You two already met?" Uncle Liam ask. "Yes, I was walking out from a florist store that I almost bump into her." the man explains.
"Oh…It's like fate." Mr Tan exclaim. He looks happy to hear about it.
"Indeed, a fate." Uncle Liam agrees, then both him and Mr Tan laugh. Feliz and the man didn't seem to be joyful about it.
"Miss Feliz, this is for you. I hope you like it." The man presents her the bouquet of roses very formally. Feliz looks at it, then took it. "Thank you, Mr Linden." Feliz too, reply formally. She put it beside her. Seeing both exchanges, Mr Tan and Uncle Liam feel pleased. Both the elders then order foods. As Mr Tan and Uncle Liam try to liven up the atmosphere, their sometimes exchanges questions toward Feliz and Linden. While both elders talk, Feliz and Linden would only listen silently.
Finally, they finish their dinner. Mr Tan and Uncle Liam then get up to leave. "Both of you take your time, to talk and know each other. Uncle Liam and I will leave." Mr Tan said.
"Feliz, Linden, uncle will go first. Linden, take care of Mr Tan's daughter." Uncle Liam order.
"Yes, uncle. Mr Tan don't worry."
Mr Tan then nod his head toward Linden. He looks at Feliz, worried. Both Uncle Liam and Mr Tan left, leaving both her and Linden alone. Feeling thirsty, Linden grabs his glass to drink the water.
As Linden is drinking water, Feliz starts to talk.
"I heard a lot from Uncle Liam about you. Sometimes, my dad talked about you too." Feliz exclaimed.
Linden slowly put his glass down.
"What did you hear about?" he asks.
"That you are 35 years old. A CEO to one of the biggest communication company. You are an orphan at the age 6 and been living under your uncle roof."
Linden only nods his head.
"You also had a 7 years old son."
"Yes, I do." He answers.
"Divorcee or out of wedlock?" Feliz straightforwardly question.
Linden look at her coldly, without answering.
"My dad and Uncle Liam didn't tell me anything, both prefer I ask you myself." Feliz explains, didn't feel intimidate toward Linden coldness at all.
Hearing that, Linden then look down to his glass on his hand.
"Out of wedlock. From a past relationships. That…that woman…who give birth to my son ran away. Since then, my son is my responsibility."
"How sure you are that his biological mother wouldn't come back and ask for a marriage?" Feliz presume.
Linden frown slightly. Then looks back at her.
"It will never happen. If it's possible, that chances had already long passes, for 19 years that pass is not a short time." Linden exclaim coldly.
Again, Feliz didn't feel bother by Linden's coldness or either she didn't notice. Feliz then silently drink her water, while Linden focus only to her.
"Anything else about my personal life that you would like to know, Miss Feliz?" Linden ask, with a hint of a mockery. Likewise, Feliz seemingly didn't notice or bother Linden's mockery, only shook her head. She put her glass down.
"No, I don't." Feliz stated.
"If you had anything to ask, just ask forward." Feliz add.
Linden then looks at Feliz puzzledly. But he didn't linger in his thought for long.
"My uncle told me that you're 23, an eldest to one brother. Working as an editor book for a small publisher company."
"Yes, but I mostly work at my own apartment." Feliz nods.
"I heard that, you once enter the Act Academy. That you want to be an actress just like your mum, who is once a famous actress."
"Well, the world is too big, that my perspective of job is widen." She explains, very cleanly.
"Where do you live, Miss Feliz?" Linden asks again.
"An old apartment." Feliz reply.
"Where is that?"
"No offense, but I never tell anyone where I live. Even my family." Feliz stated.
"None taken. But may I know why?"
"I'm feel more comfortable living on my own. That's why I never tell anyone. They might want to come over. While my dad will certainly want to come over, because he always worried about me. Having my own living space. It's more peaceful." Feliz simply stated. Linden look at her. She's hard to read. Through the dinner with their elders, she appears to only wear calm face. It's hard to see any emotion in her eyes. He wonders 'what actually this woman thinking?'
"Even without family?" he asks.
"Yes." Feliz answer, without hesitation.
Hearing Feliz answer, Linden was quiet. Seemingly thinking very deep. Feliz who notice his silence, decide to talk it through.
"Mr Linden, how do you feel about this arrange meeting?"
Linden looks at Feliz, as if he is observing her.
"I'm looking for a serious relationship and never like to waste my time for something futile. As my uncle always worries for both me and my son, I had agreed to this meeting. For him to arrange this, means that he really thinks it through, and thought the intended is the right one." He stated.
Feliz then nods her head, as she's agreeing to his statement.
"Indeed, Mr Linden. It seems that we're in the same page."
"Really?" Linden's left brow lifted.
"I'm a very forward person, Mr Linden. I never like dilly-delaying. Once I decided on things, I will never waver."
"I'm 23 years old, which in a marriageable age. My father worries a lot for me. And he tried hard to convince me to go to this meeting. I understand my father worries. I don't intent to make him continue worrying. Beside I never consider marriage as a light matter." Feliz stressed.
Linden is quiet, as if he is thinking about something deeply again. Feliz notice that.
"Still…this relationship will not work if it's only one sided. I would like to hear your answer Mr Linden. And I want an honest answer." Feliz exclaims.
Linden then shook his head to look at Feliz.
"I'm sorry, Miss Feliz. But I don't think both of us are suited for each other."
Feliz didn't seem to be surprise.
"It's okay then. I understand." Feliz readying herself to leave the place.
"I know this is not my place to say this. Now, I can see why my uncle agree to this meeting. But relationship is not a scientific or statistic problem that people could solve." Linden explains.
Feliz stops her action. She shook up her head to look at Linden.
"Relationship doesn't happen, with people using their head. But their heart." Linden gesture his hand through his head then chest.
Feliz only look at him, seemingly doesn't intent to comment. Linden then looks at Feliz.
"Right now, I see you are that kind of person, Miss Feliz. You use your brain rather your heart to settle this matter." Linden then stands from his seat, looking down at Feliz.
"Probably because I'm a businessman, my uncle thought that you're suited for me. But to builds a family, I prefer someone who's more human than a perfectionist. Because someone like you tend to look at our fault and flaws." Linden stated coldly. Feliz eyes still on him. Her expression is calm. Seemingly Linden cold remarks didn't affected her.
"Let me take you home. I promise your father and Uncle Liam to take care of you tonight." Linden then walks out. Feliz silently stands from her sit then follow him out. Linden's waiting outside, as Feliz approaches him.
"My car is around the corners. Let's go."
"No, I'm fine heading back myself, Mr Linden. Thank you for the offer." Feliz decline.
Linden stop his steps then look at her.
"I already promise to take care of you. I will take you home." Linden sternly said.
"No, Mr Linden. I had to politely decline. We are nothing to each other, so sending me home is too much familiarity. I don't trust a stranger to send me back."
Hearing that, Linden agree.
"Alright then, I bid you farewell, Miss Feliz."
"Wait Mr Linden."
Linden turns back toward Feliz.
"As you already said your piece, allow me to say mine." Feliz prompt.
Linden just stand at his position, seemingly want to listen.
"It's not that I use my brain rather my heart in this matter. But I likely refrain myself from following my heart." Feliz stated.
Linden left brow lifted.
"I never consider myself as a perfectionist. I am human. I have my own flaws and fault. So, please do change your point of view toward people like me. You might thought that I'm cold-hearted. But no, Mr Linden. Rather than say cold-hearted, we just hardened our heart. Because in life there's no way, people in this world that never counter hardship." She added.
Linden look at Feliz, as he was stunned. He couldn't refute to her words.
"I apologize for my manner and speech that probably offended you, Mr Linden. I never intended to do that." Feliz apologized. Linden lost his words as he silently watch her.
"I bid you farewell, Mr Linden. Have a safe drive." Feliz then walks away. Linden still standing watching Feliz back that slowly going far from him. Linden who looks like in a deep thought, slowly walks away.