Bella felt a little calmer as she rode the scooter back. There was nothing more to think about. Ten years had passed, and it was time to move on. Suddenly, she realized that the scooter had stopped.
She parked the scooter on the side of the road, restarted it, and checked it over. However, the scooter wouldn't start. She couldn't understand what had happened. If she wanted to reach home, she would have to walk another kilometer.
With no other option, she decided to push the scooter. Bella wondered why the machine didn't feel so heavy when she was riding it.
It was around seven o'clock, and the sky had started to darken. Bella had been walking for about fifteen minutes when a car sped past her. Startled, Bella, already exhausted from pushing the scooter, lost her grip and fell to the ground. The scooter fell onto the road with a loud clatter.
The car suddenly braked to a stop. Bella slowly stood up, wincing as the skin on her elbow was scraped and bleeding. She ignored the pain and started pulling the scooter again, struggling to lift it due to the ache in her body.
A man suddenly got out of the car that had stopped earlier and started running toward her. He picked up the scooter and set it upright. Bella glanced at him—he was a young man in his thirties, casually dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. At first glance, it was clear he was the son of a wealthy family.
"Sorry," he said with a smile.
"It's okay," Bella replied, not stopping to talk. She continued pushing the scooter, surprising him. The fault had been entirely his; he hadn't noticed Bella pushing the scooter on the side of the narrow road with no streetlights, and yet she wasn't angry.
He had expected a loud reprimand, but instead, she acted as if nothing had happened.
"Hey, wait!" he called, running after her. But Bella didn't stop. She kept walking.
"See, it was my fault," he said gently. "I didn't notice you. I'm willing to pay for the damage."
"I said it's okay," Bella answered without looking back. "There's no need to pay. You can go."
"You can't say that," he insisted, walking beside her. "Now that I've offered, how can I believe you won't come after me tomorrow, making a big deal out of this?"
Bella exhaled, stopped the scooter, and turned to face him.
"Look, Mr...?" she trailed off, waiting for him to introduce himself.
"Sanjay," he replied with a slight smile.
"Okay, Sanjay," Bella said, her voice tinged with irritation. "I've already told you I don't have a problem. But if you follow me again, I'll file a harassment complaint."
Sanjay chuckled softly, clearly enjoying how much he had irritated her. He took in her appearance: the loose black t-shirt, blue jeans, and her shoulder-length cropped hair. Despite her frustration, her youthful charm was undeniable. Her eyes, though, had lost their luster.
He didn't want to leave her like this.
"Alright," he said seriously. "Write me a statement, and I'll leave."
"A statement?" Bella asked, confused.
"Yes, just a simple one," he explained. "That you won't press charges for the scooter incident. Your signature at the bottom."
Bella hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Fine. Wait here."
She lifted the scooter's seat, pulled out a notepad and pen, and jotted something down quickly. Sanjay noticed her hand trembling with pain as she wrote. After she finished, she tore the page from the notepad and handed it to him.
"Here. Are you happy now?" Bella asked, her voice tight.
Sanjay took the page, reading it carefully. At the bottom was her name: Bella Sebastian. He looked up at her, but before he could say anything, she was already putting her things back and preparing to push the scooter again.
"Miss Bella," Sanjay called, his voice a little more insistent. "If you want, I'll give you a lift."
"No thanks," Bella replied, offering a polite but strained smile. "I don't ride in strangers' cars."
With a sigh, she resumed pushing the scooter. Sanjay paused, thought for a moment, and then ran back to his car. Bella watched him, surprised, as he drove the car closer, parked it on the side of the road, and then ran toward her.
"Miss Bella!" he called out, his voice more forceful now. Bella looked back, startled. Without a word, he grabbed the scooter from her hands.
"Excuse me! What are you doing? Leave my scooter! I'm warning you—you're going to get sued," Bella snapped, her anger rising.
"Miss Bella, please don't make me do this. Just tell me where you need to go, and I'll push the scooter there for you," Sanjay said calmly, trying to reason with her.
"Really, there's no need," Bella replied, brushing off his offer.
"You're injured, and it's because of me. I can't leave it like this," Sanjay insisted. "Let me accompany you. If you don't believe me, here's my card. You can file a complaint anytime."
He pulled a small card from his pocket and offered it to her.By the time Bella had bought the card and read it, Sanjay had moved a little further with the scooter. Noticing this, Bella shouted, "Hey, wait!" and ran after him.
"So, you're the manager at Victoria Entertainment?" Bella asked, her voice laced with surprise.
"Specifically, Victoria Productions. Have you heard of it?" Sanjay replied, looking back at her.
"No… I'm hearing about it for the first time," Bella said, offering a half-truth. She hadn't made up her mind about joining yet, and she wasn't sure what her future there would hold. It felt wise to avoid discussing it just yet.
She stopped talking. He kept asking more and more questions, to which she only gave brief responses.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his curiosity growing. "I mean, work?"
"Nothing," she replied flatly.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked next, his voice casual.
Bella suddenly stopped walking. She turned to face him and pointed to the right."My house," Bella said with a soft smile.
"Oh..." Sanjay nodded, understanding. He handed the scooter back to her, slowly and carefully.
"Thanks, Mr. Sanjay," Bella said, not waiting for a response. She pushed the scooter through the gate and walked inside.
"See you again," he called out with a smile. Bella didn't acknowledge him, her face unreadable, as she closed the gate behind her.
Sanjay turned and walked back to his car. He slid into the seat, took out the paper Bella had written, and looked at it.
"I testify that Mr. Sanjay has not seen my scooter today, not even once.
Bella Sebastian"
He chuckled softly at the oddity of it all. As he flipped the paper over, he discovered something else. On the reverse side was a beautifully drawn animated image of a girl—an angel, gazing at the stars from a beachside.
Sanjay smiled to himself, folding the paper and tucking it into his pocket. He started the car and drove away, the image of the girl lingering in his mind.
Placing the scooter in a corner, Bella grabbed her belongings and entered the house. She walked quietly, hoping her mother wouldn't notice her arrival. But just as she reached the hallway, the light flicked on, and Rosamma appeared, turning toward her.
"My lord, what is this now?" her mother exclaimed, rushing over to Bella. She gasped when she saw the cut on Bella's elbow, which looked like a scratch from a cat. It was exactly what Bella had anticipated.
"I fell on the way back, Mother," Bella explained quickly. "It's not that big of a deal." She tried to gently pull away from her mother's grasp, but Rosamma wasn't having it.
She patted Bella's head softly, her voice laced with concern. "Come, sit down." She guided Bella to the sofa, her worry evident as she checked the cut."Stay here. Don't move," Rosamma instructed, nodding her head as she settled beside Bella. Within seconds, she retrieved the medical box and began tending to the wound.
"That's the benefit of keeping a nurse at home," Bella teased, cupping Rosamma's cheek with a playful smile.
Rosamma huffed, her eyes narrowing as she carefully applied the medicine. "How many times have I told you, little one? It's time to replace that ancient scooter with a new one."
Bella grinned, her tone lighthearted. "So, if you want to get rid of all the old things, I guess you'll have to start with yourself first," she teased, playfully holding Rosamma's chin.
Rosamma turned her face with mock indignation, her lips pressed in a thin line. "No matter what you say, you'll always get a response like a rollercoaster," she muttered, as she finished applying the medicine. When she tightened the bandage, Bella winced, unprepared for the sting.
"Oh my gosh... are you trying to kill me?" Bella yelped, quickly pulling her hand away in mock horror.
"If you keep being disobedient, maybe you will get killed. No one will come looking for me," Rosamma replied with a grin, her tone feigning seriousness.
Bella shook her head, standing up after Hearing her mother's playful words.
"But after tomorrow, I'll officially become an employee," Bella said with a determined look. "You'll meet many people who will inquire about me, so please, Mom, let go of those nonsensical worries."
It took Rosamma a few seconds to process what Bella meant. When realization hit, she jumped up with excitement. "Is it true?" she asked, her voice full of joy. By the time she followed her, Bella had already entered her room and closed the door with a mischievous smile.
Rosamma stood still for a moment, then a gentle smile appeared on her lips. She lit a candle in front of the Lord's photo and began to pray fervently. "O Lord, grant my little one whatever she is longing for."