Feliz goes toward the florist store. As she enter, she goes to the counter.
"Yes, miss. What may I help you?" ask the florist.
"I'm here, to return this flowers." Feliz put down the roses at the counter. The florist gasp to see it.
"I'm sorry, did we make a mistake delivery or…" The florist started to panic.
"No, no…I get this flowers as a gift from this store. But unfortunately, I'm not very fond with flowers. I couldn't bear to throw away such a beautiful bouquet, so I decided to return it." Feliz explains. The florist then sigh in relief, but still hesitate to take it.
"Oh…wouldn't you considers to bring this flower to decorate at your home, miss? It would be a nice view in your house."
"No. I honestly don't have any fond thought toward flowers. Please, take it back." Feliz emphasize. The florist reluctantly take back the flowers. Feliz then thanked the florist as she walks out from the store. She waits for a bus. When the bus arrives, she get in. Safely reach at her place, she then walks back to her apartment.
Her apartment is old but still stand tall. The neighbourhood was quiet. Feliz then walks up to her apartment. On the third floor, Feliz then reach her door. She get inside as she open the door. Inside her apartment was a small space with one bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. Feliz put down her handbag on her sofa then sat down. Suddenly her phone rang. Feliz answers;
"Helo, dad?"
"Feliz, how's the date going?" It was Mr Tan.
"I have a pleasant talk with Mr Linden, but unfortunately both of us are incompatible."
"What? What do you mean in…in…incompatible? Nonsense!" Mr Tan rebuke. Feliz notice her father tone, and knew he was angry. She was about to explain, when suddenly she hears a feminine voice by the phone.
"What's the matter?"
"No, nothing. I'm talking to Feliz. This kid…she's not getting any younger. Alicia, her younger cousin is already happily married, while she still single, never once brought back any boyfriend to meet us. If this matters isn't settle, I will prob….."
Feliz hang up the call. A sudden feeling of nauseous spread through her body. Feliz then bolted off to the bathroom and vomit.
Hearing the voice, the owner voice…that she never want to hear…no, even the face, she wish to never see anymore. If possible in this lifetime, she doesn't want to meet that certain person. Suddenly, a memory…the memory that she kept hidden from anyone to herself. That she kept it deep inside her memory…occur back to her mind.
"Uaargh…" Feliz then vomited a lot. Tears start to stream down her cheek as she vomits.
And vomits. Almost emptying her stomach.
She then collapse on the floor. She tries to hold back the emotion that overwhelm her. A sudden pain struck into her heart as the memory keep flooding. Her whole body feel cold. The coldness make her body chilled that she shudder. Another nauseous feeling struck her, as she vomits again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While at the company building, Linden was busy reviewing all the proposal on his wide desk. Suddenly, his phone rang.
"Helo, uncle." he answers.
"Linden, how's the date going? Any progress?" Uncle Liam asks. His voice reveals his eagerness.
"I'm sorry to tell you uncle, but Miss Feliz and I are not suitable toward each other. We don't see eye to eye." Linden exclaims.
"Wha…what? How could that be? Tan and I have known each other for so long, so I have seen his daughter myself. I found her very nice and well-spoken. She's perfect for you."
"Yes, the word 'perfect' is very unappealing to me, uncle. She deserve someone better." Somehow that word 'perfect' really tick him off.
"Don't be ridiculous. Who's far more better suit for her if not you. Probably, there's a misunderstanding between you two. Let arrange another meet up with her, so both of you can settle your differences." Uncle Liam finally suggested.
"Uncle, that…I have to disagree." Linden reject firmly.
"Linden…child, I known you since you're small. Behind that cold faucet that you always wear when meeting others, will never hide the true you from me. Finding a wife is what you need. It's what your son need too. Meet with her again, have a proper talk, get to know her better." With soft tone like coaxing over a child, Uncle Liam try to persuade him.
Listen to his elder, Linden stop doing his work, while lean his head on his chair. He sigh.
"She's too cold and indifference, uncle. I don't see how I can live with a woman like that. And I'm not convince if she could be a good mother for Colby."
"She's not always like that. Beside I known her since she was a child. She was a bright and bubbly girl once."
"Once?"
"Yes. I don't know what happened, but she had an accident 2 years ago. And had been in a coma state for 2 months. After she's awake, her personality change drastically. She wasn't the same as before."
"Accident?" Linden was startled about this new information.
"That poor child….still, she's very respectful, obedient and a nice girl. Although, her father always complains about her never visited home, she's not ungrateful (unfilial) child. Every month she will transfer money to her father for their family. This prove that she still care about her family well-being. She also care a lot about her father opinion. For what I see, she's like you…cold on the outside but warm in the inside."
"......"
From Uncle Liam remarks, it really hit the nail on the head. Linden could only feel helpless.
"Try to meet her again, child. Get to know her. Like an old saying; things won't happen without reasons." Uncle Liam persuade again calmly.
Linden then remember what Feliz said last time.
'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.'
Recalling it back, Linden then realized he might been too sudden on his word that he judge her character ruthlessly. He gently massage his temple as he answer;
"Fine. Name the time and places."
"Ok, how about tomorrow? I will arrange it again with Tan. I inform you sooner." Uncle Liam happily reply. He knew he could reason with his nephew.
"Fine." Linden tirelessly said.
"Take a good sleep. Don't overload works too much. You rarely stay at your house than your office."
"No need to worry, uncle. You take good care of yourself. I'm going to rest a bit." Linden hangs up then rest his eyes.
"Tomorrow…" he mumble.
Aside that, Feliz goes out from her bathroom. With a dishevel shirt and wet eyes, she look very pale. Feliz then take a deep breath as she tries to restrain her outburst feeling. She goes to the kitchen, take a mug then pour bottle water in it. Her movement was very hasty. Feliz took her medicine. She drank it as she slowly become calm. Feliz walk back toward her sofa. She reaches her phone to see 5 missed call from her father. Feliz put down her phone, as she sigh.
Suddenly, a sound of notification. Feliz looks at her phone to see her father 3 messages.
'Why did you suddenly hang up? Dad hadn't finish talking. I call you back, answer my call.'
Second messages;
'Why are you not answering? Are you working?'
Third messages;
'Uncle Liam and dad will arrange meeting for both of you again. Tomorrow dad inform you the time and place. Make this work, don't waste our effort.'
Feliz then reply impassively;
'Understood. Sorry, just now I feel sick, I need a rest. Good night, dad.'
Feliz put down her phone, as she then take her towel to take a bath.
The next morning, Feliz wakes from her slumber. She start to refresh herself in the bathroom. Following her routine, she make breakfast then eat. After that she start to tidy up the apartment. Swept the floor and wash clothes. Finish from doing housework, Feliz then sit down to her bedroom where she work. She start reviewing the manuscript on her table.
While Linden who slept from his company, start to refresh himself. His office has a separate door that lead into a full bathroom for his private used. Also a wardrobe where his fully clothes was prepared and a bedroom. As he finishes preparing himself neatly, he went inside his office. He pushes a button on the telecom machine.
"Good morning, sir." A voice greeted out from the telecom machine.
"Dexter, I need you to revise my schedule for today in my office now."
"Understood."
A minute later, his secretary arrived. As he started to revise all Linden's schedule today.
"Alright, confirm my arrange meeting from my uncle on my behalf, and cancel all my schedule on noon."
"Yes, sir." Dexter noted it down.
"When will be Colby school holiday?" Linden ask.
"It will be on the weekend." Dexter inform.
Linden nods. "Alright then. Prepare for the meeting. Make sure every executive ready for their proposal."
"Yes, sir." Dexter then walks out, as Linden focus back into his works.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Feliz put three manuscript inside a big envelope. She's preparing to go out. Her phone then rang. She answers;
"Helo, Miss Lim."
"Feliz, where are you now?"
"I'm still at my apartment. I'm going out now." Feliz then goes out from her apartment.
While Linden was attending a meeting, Feliz was on a bus on the way to the city. Both have their respective lives. On noon, Feliz receive another task from her employer. She walks out from her company. Her phone rang. She answer;
"Hello dad?"
"Where are you now?" Mr Tan asks.
"At work." Feliz reply.
"Oh, then at 1.00pm go to Jasmine Restaurant. Dad and Uncle Liam already reserve a table for both of you."
"Alright then."
"Feliz, this time Uncle Liam and I will not be there. It will be the two of you. So, be sure to take your time to get to know each other." Mr Tan advice.
"Alright dad, I'm on the way to be there."