CHAPTER NINE
2135 Words
[FAST FORWARD]
KEVIN's POV
It's been an hour and a half since their meeting started. Here I am at Starbucks Caffe, just on the side of Nath’s company building. I am waiting for Zaira to come out. I thought of a way for me to prove that she really is Joy.
Yeah, I am very desperate to get her back. I don’t care if he reports me to the police because I know she can’t afford to do that.
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ZAIRA's POV
The meeting has ended. I was about to leave the conference room when Nathalia called me. She walked toward me.
"Thank you for attending the meeting and I hope you like my presentation."
I smiled at her. "You're welcome," I replied.
It's weird. Nathalia isn't thinking that I'm Joy and Kevin do? Even though she knows my face very well. Or perhaps... for her my face is far from my childhood face and besides I am very different now.
But... why did when Kevin first saw me he immediately think that I am that kid, named Joy? Am I that really familiar to him?
Anyway, even if he insists on himself, making himself believe that I am that kid, I won’t give it to him.
"Thank you. And I would also like to apologize again for what I did in the exhibit. I was aware of that but I still did it. I apologize again for my reckless action. I hope that won't affect my image to you and to Pierre. "
She was talking that time she took photos of our jewelry. That was seriously reckless.
"Okay. I hope it won't happen again."
"Of course. It won't gonna happen again. Thank you for your kindness."
I silently scoffed. I’m not used to this habit of Nathalia. She's like an angel. But I know because I am Zaira. A famous jewelry designer. For sure she wouldn't be this kind to me if I were Joy.
"Sure. I'm heading off. Have a nice day." I said. I was about to walk again when she spoke again.
"Uh, wait. Do you have some time? I would like to invite you for a dinner. If you don't mind?"
Invite me for a dinner? And why is she inviting me for dinner?
What is she planning to do, huh?
"That is if it's okay with you and you have free time. No force." She giggled softly.
Well, I don't have time but I'm rude if I will reject her and she might think I'm avoiding her. It might make her think I was part of her past.
"Sure. That's not a problem. But I will inform my fiance first."
"Great! You can bring Pierre if you want. It would be nice to have dinner with the both of you."
"That would be great. Please inform me of the date and time."
"This Saturday. Is that okay? Are you two free?"
"Sure. We're free."
"Okay. I'll text you the address and time then."
"Sure. See you, then."
"Okay, see you." She smiled. I smiled back at her, and finally leave the conference room.
Did I make the right decision?
Anyway, that is better so that she won't doubt me either.
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I was already in the elevator down to the ground floor. I took my phone into my bag to check if there is a message from Pierre but none. Is he still in a meeting? Or on his way home?
Maybe he is on his way home. I will just send him a message that my meeting is over and I will go home. Hopefully, I will arrive home before him so I can cook food for him. For sure, he'll be tired and hungry.
The lift sounded when it got to the ground floor. As the door opened, I exited the elevator and walked to the exit door of the building.
When I got out, I immediately approached the car. I opened the door in the driver's seat and was about to get inside when someone pushed the door causing it to close. I looked at someone who did it and my forehead creased to see Kevin.
What the? He is still here? And what the hell did he just do?
Didn't I tell him not to cross the line again? He really wants to report to the police, huh?
"Excuse me?" I raised an eyebrow. "You again, what are you doing?"
"I won't do anything, okay? So, don't think like that. It's just... I have to go and I don't have a taxi. I'm sorry to ask you this but can you give me a ride?"
Like what? He is really crazy, isn't he? Doesn’t he really know who Zaira Lou is and does he ask like that?
"It's really urgent. Please?" He begged.
"I'm sorry but I can't give you a ride, okay? So just find a taxi."
"Please? I... I really don't have much time."
"Neither do I. Don't you know who I am? I am Zai..."
"I know." He cut my line. "I know you that's why I am asking you to help me because I know you will help me." His eyes are full of confidence as if he really knows that I will not reject him.
As much as I wanted to say no right now, I couldn't. Because my heart softened immediately. I hate it! This shouldn't be happening. I shouldn't be feeling like this.
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Silence wrapped us on our way to the place he wanted to go. Yes, I am helping him. I am giving him a ride ... No, he is driving my car and I can't believe this! Hopefully, Pierre doesn’t come home to me first.
But where are we going with this man? He didn't tell me where he was going.
Should I ask him?
Maybe no.
I don’t want to start a conversation, plus, I don't care where he goes. As soon as we got there I would leave immediately.
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KEVIN's POV
What's my plan? Where are we going? I'm bringing her to the orphanage. The first place was where I went, where we lived together, where we became family and best friends. I know I will be crossing the line, but just like what I have said, I am desperate to get her back. I don't want to waste the time. I've been waiting and looking for her for eight years.
I glanced at her through the rearview mirror. She was looking out the window. She's so cute, I can't help but smile. No doubt, no matter what angle I look at her I see Joy in her. She really looks like her, because she is her.
She may be made others believe that she's a different person, but not me.
I decided to turn on the radio to listen to music because I was deafened by the silence that enveloped the two of us. Unexpectedly, the song that played was the one I sang before when we were in high school.
/Every time that I see you
You're stealing my heart
Every moment I share with you
Like I'm living in a dream/
Is this a coincidence?
Looking at her, there was a trace of distraction on her face, but she quickly changed her facial expression.
/Your voice is so tender
And your hands are so warm
When your arms are around me
That's all that I want/
"Sorry, I turn on the radio. I just wanted to listen to music," I started the conversation. She might think I'm being too open in her things here. She didn't reply to me.
We are wrapped in silence and I can't help myself not to snatch a stare at her through the rearview mirror.
/My heart belongs to you
My heart waits for you
What I want to hear
Can't you just say to me/
I hope I could hold her hand. I hope I could talk to her longer. I hope I could drive the car slow just to be with her longer even just on this occasion. I hope she knows how much I miss her damn so much.
/Never let you leave me
Cause the only thing I do
I'll be there for you/
"Are we still far from where you're going?" She asked instead of giving a reply to what I said.
"We're near. Almost there."
"Okay. Just hurry, because my fiance is back from Japan. I need to go home before him." She said, calmly.
Fiance? I'm not jealous, not at all. I was about to but when I looked at her finger, I did not see an engagement ring on her finger but only fashion rings.
She's not good at pushing me away.
After a couple of minutes, we arrived at the orphanage. I park the car outside.
"We're here," I said, taking off my seatbelt then I look at her. I saw her being stunned when she saw the orphanage.
She's Joy.
'Joy,' I only called her in my mind, letting a smile on my lips.
"Can you leave my car now?" She spoke which makes me go back to my senses.
"This is my home. Would you like to go inside?" I asked her.
She turned her head around to face me. "Your home?"
"Yes. Here in this orphanage, I grew up." I turned my attention outside, looking at the orphanage. "But someone adopted me so I live in another house now. But I always come back to this place because for me it's my only home. And in this place, I feel real happiness. Here, I feel the true love and care of a parent. Most of all, here, in this place, I have the hope to see and be with the woman I love... again. I really miss her. So much. " I looked at her after my sentence and I was surprised when I saw tears fall on her cheeks. She was also surprised when I suddenly looked at her so she immediately turned her head away, and wiped her tears.
"Are you..." I wasn't able to continue my sentence when she opened the door and immediately exit the car.
"Wait!" I also exited the car and walked toward her, but she walked past me and go straight to the driver's seat. I followed her.
"Wait," I grabbed her arms and made her turn at me before she could open the door.
"Why did you cry?"
"Take off your hand at me." She coldly said but her tears were still in her eyes.
"Answer my question. Why did you cry?"
It took her a few seconds to speak. "I said take off your hand at me. You crossed the line again. Didn't I tell you..."
"Who are you?" I cut her sentence.
"What!?" Her eyebrows snapped together.
"Tell me. Who really are..."
"Kevin?"
I wasn't able to continue my sentence because someone called me from behind. Looking behind me, it was Lady Marry.
"Lady Marry," I uttered, taking off my hand on Zaira's arm.
"What are you doing here outside? Why didn't you come in?" Lady Marry asked as she walked in my direction. "Who's with you?"
"Uh, I was about to go inside, Lady Marry. By the way, this is..." I looked at Zaira. She's not facing me. It seems like she's fixing her face. "This is Zaira Lou." I introduced.
She faces Lady Marry with a small smile on her lips. "Good afternoon," she greeted Lady Marry, bowing her head slightly.
Looking at Lady Marry, she's wearing an expression like how I first saw Zaira. So, I am not the only one who sees her as Joy, but Lady Marry too. Because this woman named Zaira is Joy.
"Hello, Zaira. I'm Lady Marry."
"Nice to meet you, Lady Marry. I have to go. My fiance is waiting for me."
"Oh, I would like to invite you inside. Kids would be happy to meet you." Lady Marry.
"She has to go," I said before Zaira could speak.
As much as I wanted to invite her inside and show her everything that is part of our past, I don't want it, for now. I don't want to hurt her. I shouldn’t force her to go back to her past. She needs some time to adjust. I was desperate so I am crossing the line so much. I don't want to put her in pain again.
"Oh, okay. Then maybe next time you could visit here. You are welcome here."
"Thank you. I'm going." Again, she bowed her head slightly and turned her back to us. She open the door of her car, get in the driver's seat, and finally drove her car away as soon as she starts the engine.
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- Writer
