บท 2: Helle, you are nothing new
"Good day, Helle. Won't you invite me inside?" Anton left the door wide open, showcasing his presence. His musky scent, probably from the factory, enveloped the entire floor. He had a cherry smile while wrinkles crinkled at the sides of his eyes.
"How could I not? Please come inside." Helle had her expressions changed in microseconds from flabbergasted to the first love smile. So fake yet so surreal.
With a candid smile, Anton walked inside. He was about a decade older than her and had been pursuing her since her young teen years. He was a good man who ran the factory of shoes and jute. Every corner of the town spoke of him, brewing the riddles about his love life and the prestige his family held.
On the streets, vendors would greet him, and women would often give loving gazes.
"Did your university results come?" Anton reached for her waist. While his other hand slightly brushed off her buttocks. A shrill of shocks passed through her entire body. Her breath hitched.
"Not yet. It should be out next Sunday." Replying with a dry tone, she promptly took away the plates and headed to the back kitchen. Far from his touch, she brisked as fast as she could. While her fiance followed in her footsteps.
"Why are you running away from me? I was just trying to check your hands," he insisted, this time trying to clutch her hands.
"I see. Well, I had the stove on, so... Please wait," she answered, masking her disgust at his touch, and walked into the kitchen.
'WHAT THE HELL!' Her mind and her words were opposites. 'I don't fluffing want to be touched by you.' Helle wished to scream but kept it locked inside while turning the stove on and preheating the oven as well.
'It'll be over soon. I just need to be patient; she chanted inside her mind while taking the utensils to the sink.
"Where did you get that scar from Helle? You know young women should take better care of themselves." Anton walked inside. He knew the place like the back of his hand; after all, it had been years since he kept coming to the restaurant.
Hearing his words, Helle had her eyes subtly roll. Although he meant good faith for her, if he had ever known her well, he would have known that she enjoyed what she did, and a few marks and scratches were no issue.
"It was while I was cutting the watery potatoes. No need to fret."
"How can I not? We are soon to be..." He didn't finish his sentence, but Helle already knew what he meant. Making her further want to tear him apart.
Once again, out of the blue, the doorbell rang "Trang~," but this time the footsteps were loud enough to make it known that it was Lorraine, her mother. Anton was quick to walk out of the kitchen.
"Helle~ oh.... Anton! Long time no see." Lorraine waved at the man who had been perusing her daughter for years. A piece of her felt sorry for her daughter. To have to continue to tolerate such a man; yet in other parts, she could only be grateful that such an outstanding man had liked her. He had good looks and was rich.
"Hello, aunt. How have you been?" He gave a smile.
"Oh, I've been well. Just dealing with a few issues with the legitimacy of this land; after all, hyenas are everywhere, as you know. You must be here to visit Helle, right? Take your time. Would you like to stay till dinner?" Despite the passing of the years, Lorraine had aged like a fine wine. Her rich genes could be traced, as her undying beauty could only be possessed by a few.
"If you would like me to, then surely," Anton clasped his hands in happiness.
Inside the kitchen, on the contrary to the happy pair outside, Helle had a bitter face as she unwantedly listened to the conversation between them. She hated it. Resented it all. Fuming over her spilled thoughts, she placed the batter inside the oven.
Lorraine gave one last look over to her daughter and then headed upstairs to rest her body. Dealing with those Hyena-like relatives was exhausting. They picked at her every action, every word, from the way she dressed to the way her daughter was still not married. Voicing out their useless words.
"Do you need any help for the dinner, Helle?" Anton had a rough voice, yet his intentions were sweet. Yet Helle felt an awkward barrier to him.
"No need. What would you like to have, although? Potato stew or "
"How about steak? I will run to Zach's store quick."
"Sure," she sighed while Anton left the house.
~
Helle made sure to check her phone at every minor notification. The likes and subscriptions were still low, but a particular comment from an account named "Blue Jade" made her eyes shine.
'As always, I can feel my mouth water just by looking at your cooking. Keep up!'
Smiling to herself, Helle prepped the table for the dinner, and soon Lorraine and Anton joined. The lights were somewhat dim.
"Um... The meat is perfectly cooked. You've improved a lot, Helle. Back then, you used to always have the kitchen smoking hot because you couldn't cook."
Those words made the two people at the table crack up. Lorraine had a crooked smile on her lips while Anton fondly remembered the past. Helle had her lips slightly curled up and remained quiet.
Back then, Helle was no older than fifteen, and being the curious rebel she was, she often refused to cook, and whenever she was forced to... well, the kitchen went through the most miserable phase.
"She was such a rebel. I'm just glad you were there to watch over her." Lorraine cut a piece of her steak and ate it while a surge of happiness flashed on Anton's face.
"Oh, that is alright."
"So, are there any new projects here? You seem pretty busy these days." Since Helle didn't even bother to speak more than necessary, Lorraine navigated the conversation after all; this man was very pivotal for their future.
"Well. There is one. It's supposed to be kept a secret, but it's okay between family, right? So, a rich investor has bought hectares of land and plans to open a medicinal herb farm for their other factory. Since I am one of the tenors, I've been busy entertaining him."
"Oh, that must be tough," Lorraine replied instead of her daughter. Her eyes were gawking at Helle, who was immersed in her phone.
"Well, they are hard to please," Anton replied.
And so the dinner continued, and the guest Anton left the restaurant, and a pile of dirty dishes was crammed in the basin. The smile on Lorraine's face faded, and a cranky expression replaced it. Helle was quick to notice the change in temperament, so she started to do the dishes instead.
"Why were you not lovingly replying to him?" Lorraine had a strained tone. Anger flared in her eyes while looking directly at Helle's slender figure.
"Am I obligated to?" Helle sharply replied in the outpouring of her anger.
"What did you say? Dare say it again?"
"Am I obligated to? For all I care, I just wish to get out of here."
'Spank!' Lorraine slapped her daughter across the face. A stinge of pain and a burning red mark. It was nastily painful. That very instant, Helle was on her knees. The bones hit the wooden ground, making it painful to even stay still.
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