The Day He Matured

Me and Caily just stood like pillars, letting the three of them talk. I can’t hear what they’re saying anymore. It wasn’t until Hellen called my name and said goodbye that I was freed from my thoughts.

“Yes, goodbye.” I tried to smile to hide my panic.

Not long after Brian and Hellen left, Richard called the waiter to pay. Caily asked for my phone number and also left the restaurant after her fat boss and a few business partners staggered toward the main door.

I just knew that she worked as a salesperson for a company specializing in providing security equipment.

“Are you not feeling well, Bella?” Richard stared at my face and asked.

“Oh, yes. Caily makes me so dizzy, I…”

Richard burst out laughing, nodded slightly, and stood up. I quickly got up from the chair and left with him.

The terror brought by Brian made the shame towards Richard fly away.

I was busy worrying about my future for the next few hours, so I almost slipped and fell down the steps, fortunately, Richard caught me in time.

“Thanks… thank you.” I shyly pulled his hand away from my waist and whispered.

Leaving the restaurant, the luxury car took me back to the old place. The air in the car was so quiet that it made it hard for me to breathe like I was having a heart attack.

As soon as the words reached my mouth, I quickly swallowed them. Finally, when Richard stopped the car under the shady trees at the beginning of the road to turn into the villa area, I mustered up my courage and turned to him.

“Bella, please give me one more chance. After all, we used to have feelings for each other. I don’t know if you still have feelings for me now, but I still love you like that. As soon as I saw you in the square, I knew my prayers during the seven Christmas seasons had been answered.”

Richard spoke before me.

Has he been praying to see me for seven years? This love is really precious. What should I do?

I felt like my feet were standing on two boats and then the two boats kept separating because of the waves crashing. As a result, I fell into the river.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

The demon with two horns appeared once more. It told me to keep Richard as a spare tire, if Brian got married, I would run to him, and I would still be able to eat well, dress well, not suffer.

However, the angel also appeared in time, throwing that crazy and self-interested thought out of my head.

Richard has already wasted seven years on this silent love affair and I don’t want him to waste any more time.

“I’m sorry, I don’t…”

“Please think about what I have said, Bella. I know my sudden confession confuses you because you’re not mentally prepared, but don’t rush to answer. Please think.”

Richard reached out to the back seat, took a bag, and gave it to me. I realized this was a gift that he took a picture of and sent to me.

It’s okay, I’ll try to wait a few more days, then tell him that I’ve thought about it and rejected his feelings.

Until I completely get rid of Brian’s haunting shadow, I will not let any man make a silent shadow by my side, poor them, unfair.

“Yes, I’ll think about it. Thank you for the lunch and the gift. Goodbye.”

I nodded and opened the car door, got out, and walked straight into the empty road.

The villa area is always so quiet at noon, there are no cars, and no people because everyone is the owner of the company, so at noon they will stay at the company, only a few maids are at home, and they don’t go out.

I tried to walk quickly, not daring to look back to see if the man had left or not. I have a feeling he’s watching me.

The most complicated thing in the world is probably love, right? It’s confusing and it’s hard to find a solution that makes everyone happy.

The afternoon slowly passed, and sunset gradually fell. When I had just finished preparing dinner, Brian and Mrs. Alina had just returned home.

Today was one of those rare days when both of them stopped in front of the gate at the same time.

“I smell the aroma of food. What are you cooking?” Mrs. Alina went to the kitchen out of habit and asked.

“Stir-fried squid and snakehead fish sour soup.” I smiled and replied.

“Yeah, definitely delicious. It’s been cold these days, so I’m hungry quickly.”

She smiled and briskly walked up to the stairs and went straight upstairs.

I don’t know what Brian was groping for in the garage, but after a while, when I went from the kitchen to the living room, I saw him taking off his shoes on the doorstep.

After throwing me a strange gaze, he passed me and went upstairs.

I looked out outside, sighed tiredly, and placed his shoes on the shelf.

If he questioned, I would explain, and if he didn’t ask, I would not open my mouth. I was afraid if I explained first, he would solemnly throw me in my face with a few sentences like: “Is your story related to me? Did I ask you? I don’t care who you like or who you love.”

Or he will say like this: “Don’t be too confident in yourself. I don’t have time to pay attention to the people around you.”

If I had to hear those words, I would feel humiliated and I would die.

Caily told Richard about my secrets that made me feel my values plunged like a stock of Milan Group, even though he had said he secretly loved me for a long time.

During the meal, I did not dare to look at Brian, just bent down. However, because of the duty of a maid, at the end of the meal, when I put the dessert on the table, I had to open my mouth to ask him if he would stay up late at work or not so that I could prepare the food.

“Today you don’t need to prepare late-night food. I was fed up with cakes.”

His answer made me frozen. Yes, I wondered about this the day before. Because he always ate all the cakes and didn’t complain, I thought he was not bored.

If so, he could talk privately to me, in front of his mother, he said those words were like he wanted to let her know that I didn’t care about him. Really crazy.

“I will make another dish for you, stir-fried noodles or sandwiches.” I tried to lower my voice, gently speaking.

“That’s right, if you are bored with this dish, eat another dish, noodles, porridge. Our home not only has cakes.” Mrs. Alina said as if she was defending me.

“Okay.”

He took some grapes and put them in his mouth and left the table.

I looked at my kind-hearted mistress and received a sympathetic nod.

He showed such an uncomfortable attitude because of what happened in the restaurant, right?

Honestly, until now, I still don’t know if he really likes me. I do not have faith in my position in his heart even a little, because nothing makes me feel sure.

Publicizing the relationship with the media and family or a marriage certificate will be two prerequisites for me to believe that he really loves me.

But he will give those things to Hellen. Maybe he likes me like a toy, a pastime. Maybe he considered me like that.

When I was alone in a large kitchen, the feeling of emptiness and sadness filled my body and my heart seemed to be squeezed by someone.

I miss my parents, miss the small house, but full of laughter and loving words.

After cleaning, I walked back to my room, threw the phone on the table and lay down on the bed, gradually fell asleep.

I was originally intending to close my eyes for a while to make my mood relaxed and my body more comfortable and then draw some skirts that had just appeared in my thoughts, but in the end; I fell asleep.

It was not until I heard the phone ringing that I woke up. Seeing the screen displaying the name Richard, I hesitated, but still calmly picked up the phone.

“Richard.”

“Are you okay? Because I sent you some messages but did not see you texting and replying, so I worry.” His warm voice transmitted to my ear.

“Ah, because I sleep, I don’t hear the sound of the message.” I tried to cover my mouth to stop my long yawn.

“Ah. Please continue to sleep. I just want to wish you a good night.”

I looked up at the clock on the table. Now is nine o’clock. I can’t sleep anymore, I have to make stir-fried noodles for that unpleasant man.

Fortunately, Richard called me and woke me up in time.

“Are you working?”

“Yeah, I’m processing some documents, I’m about to finish my job. I heard your voice, suddenly my mood is better.”

“If so, please record my voice. When your mood is not good, turn on the phone and listen.” I swayed my legs and teased him.

“I am more greedy, I want to hear your voice and see you in real life.”

Oh, I’m so absent-minded. How come I suddenly forgot his confessions at lunch? I shouldn’t be teasing him like this. I was just joking, but he might think otherwise.

I didn’t know what to say anymore, so I pretended to yawn. And as I expected, he urged me to go to sleep and hung up very quickly.

After washing my face to wake up, I quickly went to the kitchen and made fried noodles for Brian.

How many heads and arms will Hellen grow before she can manage the housework, run the company, and work as a model? I bet she’ll hire an old maid.