Masked Love [ Completed ]

Chapter 2. Orphan

Chapter 2 | Orphan

When was the last time she had a peaceful meal?

The truth was that she couldn't remember, it was sad but the truth. The more time she spend alone the more she compared her old life with the new. She was done unpacking and cleaning, food was the next thing on list. She had just enough money to buy groceries for a couple weeks, finding a job was her priority so she applied for a few jobs via internet hoping she would get a call soon. Some in companies too prestigious to hire someone like her.

Not bothering to go out shopping she decided to go with instant noodles for dinner that she got from the store just five minutes away, and it felt good to take that decision for herself. It may not seem much to others but it was a huge step for Belinda, she was yet to grasp the fact that she was free now. Away from her nightmares.

A small knock on the door made her choke on the noodles hanging halfway from her mouth, swallowing and wiping her face quickly she peeped through the peephole to check who it was. As far as she knew she had not given her address to anyone, not even at the orphanage, well except daisy.

She sighed in relief to see that it was none other than Jax. He was still in the same clothes, standing oh so casually at her doorstep.

"Hello Jax, good evening." She greeted him and he smiled at her. Her heart melted a little. He was too charming for his own good.

"Hello Belinda. Actually I -"

He cut himself off and looked down. For the first time since meeting him she saw him getting flustered, he brushed his hands on his neck and avoided eye contact like a pro.

"Yes?"

"Since you just moved in my mom told me to invite you for dinner." He blurted out sudden startling her.

"I mean, you must be too tired and when I told her about you she asked me to invite you. She does that with almost everyone. It's okay if you don't want to, you are not forced." She could tell he was embarrassed but she found nothing that he should be embarrassed about. His mother seemed like a sweet lady and she even invited her for dinner.

Instant noodles or Home cooked meal?

The decision was made.

"I would love to have dinner with you and your mother. She seems lovely." A small grin slowly spread over his beautiful face making her sigh.

"Great! Come on then!" He waved her over telling her to follow him downstairs to his apartment. On their way they made small talks.

"You live with your mom and dad?"

"It's just my mom and me, dad left when I was eight."

"Oh I am sorry-"

"Don't be, it's been so long that I am used to it. It doesn't affect me anymore. Chill."

But it did. It did affect him to talk about him, she could see it in how his body stiffened just slightly, his eyes widened a little to try and act normal. She noticed all those little details, she was always like this, catching details that no one else did.

She decided to leave the topic. They reached his apartment in no time. He pushed open the door to reveal a flat similar to his, but much homier.

The walls were a lovely shade of blue and the TV was on, though no one was watching it. It had the warmth her apartment lacked. The smell of chicken stimulated her mouth to water and gulp. She saw a lady cooking in the open kitchen. She was plump and short but very energetic, Belinda could say by the way she was cooking. She had salt pepper hair that said she was older and perfect to be Jax 's mother.

"Momma! Belinda is here!" He shouted and dropped on the brown couch facing the TV, he looked so exhausted, she shook her head amused.  She heard some ruckus in the kitchen and then the Jax 's mother was right in front of her, startled she moved a step back to create some space between them.

"Oh dear! Welcome! You poor thing just moved in, Jax told me. You must have a nice warm meal today, just wait a few minutes dinner is almost ready. Oh and my name is Marilyn but you can call me Mary. Sit down, make yourself at home." Mary left a stunned Belinda standing there and sauntered back to where she came from.

"Don't mind her, she just loves people for some reason." Jax's voice pulled her out of the shock and she sat at the space he created for her on the couch.

"No, she seems so sweet." She answered genuinely, she had never experienced a mother's warmth and love before, and it was new to her. Seeing Mary made her happy. She was glad she came here.

"Really? Some may think she is too much."

"No. She is perfect."

Jax's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion.

"Well let's talk about you now, did you move out of your parent's house?" He asked catching her off guard. Should she tell him about her being a orphan? There was no harm anyway, it was her identity and she accepted it whole heartedly all her life.

"Actually I am an orphan, I moved out of my Orphanage since I turned 18."

This time he was the one caught off guard.

"Whoa! Really? And you brought an apartment already? Where do you work? They must be paying you a lot. "

She did not expect such reaction, normally people would change their opinion once she revealed her identity. Orphans were not exactly accepted in the society she lived in.

"Umm it was from my savings actually, I don't have a job yet." She could feel the heat creeping into her neck and cheeks all the way to her ears.

"Oh that's cool, did you apply anywhere?" He asked just when Mary entered with a big bowl of some sort Chicken Gravy, and rice and orders her son to get the plates and glasses. 

"It is nothing special but I hope you like it."

"It smells heavenly. Thank you so much." She smile before serving a little amount for herself, she did not want to portray herself as desperate for food.

"Dear you need to eat more, you are so thin. Here eat." Mary served a hearty amount of food on her plate and continued to eat, Jax was hogging all the food as if it was his last meal. It was funny to see him eat like that but she couldn't blame him, the food was delicious.

"You can come here anytime you want dear, don't hesitate okay?" She nodded and smiled before turning and heading back up to her room.

Sighing in content, rubbing her stomach she fell on her bed. Mary had made her eat lots.

She prepared a glass of warm water for herself and opened her old laptop to check for any emails. Her heart stopped when she saw one from Thorn. Inc.

Thorn. Inc. was one of the companies she had applied to and was sure she would not get a reply from. Thorn. Inc. was almost royalty amongst the business world, their business was not limited to a particular Field, they were diverse and special in their own way, it was spread worldwide.

She could not believe she received an emails from them, but what if it was a rejection letter? 

Maybe they emailed her to tell her that she was not qualified enough and thus rejected?

The only way to know what to click on it and read. And so she did. Her breath hitched when she read the email.

Miss Belinda Carson,

Congratulations!  We are happy to inform you that your application for the vacant post in Thorn. Inc. has been approved. You have been called for an exclusive interview on the 3rd of September @ 10am sharp.

Do reply to us whether you are interested or not.

Secretary.

Thorn. Inc.

She burst into a fit of giggles once she registered the words and squealed in happiness. She quickly typed an email to confirm an appointment.

She closed her laptop and fell asleep with a smile on her face, looking forward to the interview that was just a few days away.

Life was not so bad after all.