Chapter 5: FOUR
Joyrel Pov.
Fate and gift.
The waiter walked in with the juice and placed it on the small vanity table.
My eyes widened a bit seeing the other covered plate beside it, "I did not order that," I stated.
He smiled and gave me a meaningful look and said, " Because you were the first one to order a fresh made juice, and also booked a day room this early, the house gave you this as a gift," he pointed at the plate.
I felt my face flush and my stomach churned. This was too embarrassing already. What sort of gift to an early bird?
What was wrong with these big hotels?
"A gift?" I asked again. I only wanted to understand the meaning.
"It's a custom of our hotel, if there is a customer who books both night and morning simultaneously, then they will be…"
"Okay, just leave it there!" I cut him.
I had just forgotten that they had probably seen me coming from the guest rooms side of the hotel, it was not bad if they mistaken me for booking simultaneously. Then again, did I?
I took my phone and dialed the hotel management number from the card they had given me. To my horror, I did book the room we stayed in yesterday night. Luckily, it was booked to be mine alone so they did not know I had brought a guy inside.
"Do not disclose any information about me booking that room to anyone else, in fact make sure you write the name I am sending to you on it!" I ordered before quickly sending Timmy's name to the management.
"I am sorry," I muttered.
I was still that scared girl from primary school. Maybe that's why I chose to be a lawyer to protect those who are afraid like me. But, it did not prove that I was a weak person, when it came to work, I was as strong as no one could ever suspect that scared cat behind that suit. I was sorry for using his name.
Soon, I was informed that someone had come to look for information regarding the hotel room, they had followed my request and said that the card that paid for the room couldn't be disclosed but the name that registered for it was Timmy Kim. I heaved a sigh of relief, that was down.
My dress came a little late but I had booked the hotel for the day so I couldn't bother trifling with the seller on time management. I slept the entire afternoon and I only woke up at five in the evening, earlier enough to make it home without being asked so many questions about my weekend.
How glad I was that the day had finally ended and that I could possibly go home without looking so weary or having some scent on me. Even when the week passed by without any calls or strange activities, I had to admit to myself abstaining from alcohol and wine.
"No weekend getaways this time?" I remember my mother asking that Friday.
"Not, mom. I just want to focus on some upcoming cases," was my placid answer to her as I headed to my room.
Being a child to my parents, you had no reason for writing your own journal, they knew every single detail of their kids and their schedule. Not all details now of me.
Every single day and night of me that passed staying under the same roof as them made me uncomfortable and kind of turned me into a prayer girl. I prayed to God to never let them find out what had happened a week ago.
So as I worked every case of mine, I had a goal to exit their house and rent an apartment. I made myself busy and even started staying in hotels occasionally to create the chance of them strongly agreeing to my moving out.
Three months later, I suggested it to my father who was the big man of the house. Surprisingly enough, they agreed but not until they saw the exact place I was to stay at.
"No, problem. I will always make sure to schedule occasional home visits," I waved at them as they drove off the parking lot of my apartment.
I heaved a sigh of relief. I could now have some piece of mind. Those three months proved to be the toughest experience I had ever had. Even my internship days did not measure up to those days.
But, I never knew that the peace I was looking for and had found was going to end soon. I walked into the lift happily not noticing a black sedan that was also parked in the parking lot.
That evening, my doorbell rang. From the door lens I saw a young beautiful woman. She was a little younger than me, two or three years younger.
She was not that light skinned but she was brown in color. Her thin body looked like it was not well fed but her smile was pure and a little forced. Like she was about to give up on the world and saw another slight ray of hope to try again.
"Hi, neighbor?" She greeted me as soon as I opened the door.
"Hi!" I greeted her back expressionlessly.
I was just wearing my jammies and I had taken this day for some couch popcorn Netflix binge. So, I did not expect to have a nosy neighbor knocking at my door already.
We looked at each other and after a few seconds that seemed like ages, she broke the silence,
"Can I come in? I brought mangoes as a housewarming gift,"
I almost choked from the popcorn that I was still chewing. Looking at her hands, she had a basket full of mangoes. Green mangoes to be precise. Who wanted those?
"You may," I answered helplessly as I moved to the sides to allow her in.
"I am sorry to budge in unannounced, your house looks pretty," she said once in and took a seat.
"Thanks?" I said, sounding it as a question as I went back in after closing the door.
Didn't she just knock at my house and ask me to come in? Is that unannounced? Then what was good about my house, it was as simple as it could be with popcorn all over the couch and files on the table.
I had three folded chairs and one folded table for a dinning set up. One couch, one bean bag chair, a small coffee table and a tv with a floor to ceiling bookshelf decorating my living room.
"I am Lenny, Lenny Maribe. I live in the opposite house. Welcome to the community. It's a good fate to meet with you,"
I stared at the woman seated comfortably on my couch like it was normal for her to be in my house.
Is she okay? I thought.
How could she talk of good fate to meet with me? What did fate have with her being in my house? I hadn't even introduced myself?
"Fate?" I asked Miss Maribe.
She only smiled in return handing me the basket of mangoes.
I received the forced gift amiably and placed them on the dining table.
When I turned to her, she had a look of disappointment in a split of seconds and it vanished from her eyes. I felt confused so I asked,
"Miss. Maribe, do you want me to prepare you one?"
I could see that the mangoes were so unripe that it would be uncomfortable to eat them, much less someone like her.
Then before I could take one, I heard her speak,
"Miss, you are a lawyer right?"
I looked at her and I had a strange feeling, surprisingly I felt no rage.
"Yes, do you need some help I asked?"
I could see conflicting emotions in her eyes. It seemed like she had a final decision. When I saw the conversation taking another direction, I decided to grab a seat myself.
"Do you know a boy by the name Timmy Kim?" when she opened her mouth to speak, my heart trembled at the name she called.
I have had three silent months trying my best to forget that boy and focus on my work. Who knew because of my work, I was already fated to hearing his name once again?
I didn't want to answer but, how was I going to help her if I didn't want to hear of this? I decided to listen and transfer the case to someone I knew so that I can't get involved. That was if she was okay with it.
"Yes."
"Have you ever seen him?" She shot the second question at me.
At that time I felt so angry yet, I smelled the fishiness of the situation. So I asked her in return, "Did you come hear, Miss Maribe, to probe me?"
"No, I only want to make sure you can help," she gave a sentence to justify her actions.
"I know that when you decided to visit me, you already had the decision made in your mind. So if you are going to continue beating around the bush, I will be forced to ask you to leave," I stated. I was getting tired of this play.
"The green mangoes should give you a sign that I am pregnant,"
The bomb was dropped over my head. So, that was why she seemed to be disappointed. She was trying to give me a sign. Was she the girlfriend and she learned I slept with him? Then, why face me?
"I want you to tell me if you can keep my child. If not, I will be forced to terminate it!"
Let me cut the story short. From that day, I had another responsibility, as a mother and five months later, the baby came and I became the mother to Mirabel Kay. After five years now, I haven't seen Maribe ever again, and with the kid asking for the father everyday, I decide to take her to him.
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