บท 36: The bitter aftertaste and its medicine

It was already dark when Bella Lim and little pumpkin reached their home. They entered the house after paying the taxi fare. Inside, little pumpkin tugged the edge of his big sister's loose blouse. His big eyes were glued at her back.

The sudden pull made Bella Lim turned around. She chuckled when she realized that it was little pumpkin's deed. She bent her knees and pull herself in as she sat on her heels.

"What's wrong?" she asked with a gentle smile on her face.

"Big sister, are you alright?" little pumpkin asked with a stifling voice. The emotion in his eyes made Bella Lim quivered. She felt a lump on her throat, making it difficult for her to speak.

Little pumpkin saw the strain on his big sister's face, so he leaned forward and hugged her head. "There, there..." he patted her head gently. This action finally pulled Bella Lim's tears down.

Her cry began with a gentle weeping which gradually became louder. She wailed like a kid, her tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down on her face. Little pumpkin felt his big sister's chin trembled and his shirt wet from the unceasing tears of hers. However, he was still standing there, offering his tiny shoulder for her comfort, hugging her head while patting on it gently.

This was the first time Bella Lim had really cried after the death of their parents. Before, whenever she faced hardships, she wouldn't allow herself to entertain the problem. Instead, she would just ignore it after settling them down. But, today was different. Today... she was ditched by one of the most important things in her life.

Bella Lim recalled that her role as manager was one of the compensations given by the messenger of God. It was really a satisfying gift when she first greeted and accepted her 21st years old self. Now, appreciation and gratefulness have left her entire self. What was the point of giving her something when in the end she was bound to lose it?

That was when a realization came to her. Now that she lost her job, did it mean that soon something would happen to little pumpkin?

Bella Lim snapped from her somber as she stared at her six years old little pumpkin. She recalled that he was also part of the compensations.

God, please don't be so cruel! She prayed in her heart as tears once again rolled down her cheek. She realized that her fear was probably just paranoia after everything that she had gone through today. Still, logic was screaming into her ears as if it would really happen soon. Her grips on little pumpkin's shoulder tightened.

No! She would protect little pumpkin with her life no matter what happened! Bella Lim made an oath in her heart.

"Sorry," she muttered as her watery eyes looked at little pumpkin who was smiling cheerfully at her.

"Big sister, everything will be okay. You can find a job again," little pumpkin was still smiling. Bella Lim felt blessed when she saw his smile. It cleansed her worries away like magic.

Bella Lim nodded unrestrained. Her little pumpkin was indeed saying the truth, finding a job was easy. It just that, Simply Cafe was a place she had poured all her sweats into. This was the place that made her grew into who she was at the moment. Her heart was attached to this place. That's why leaving it left a bitter and painful taste inside her.

Still, she knew she needed to let go for the sake of herself as well as little pumpkin.

Bella Lim took a deep breath and let it out. She closed her eyes, trying to find herself again. Not long after, her lips broke into a gracious smile following with a relaxation that swam over her whole body. When she opened her eyes again, she knew, she would be okay.

"Little pumpkin, what do you want to eat? Should we make your favorite cheesy chicken?" Bella Lim asked in a cherry tone. Little pumpkin who was filled with worry earlier was now clapping his hand as his eyes widened in excitement.

"Big sis, let's make sweet potato wedges as well!" he proposed with full vigor. He laughed in joy when Bella Lim shook her head in agreement.

Then as if nothing had happened, the two went to prepare their dinner with a happy vibe. The whole dinner time was filled with two siblings chatting and laughing.

After dinner, Bella Lim read little pumpkin's favorite book which soon lulled the little boy into sweet dreamland. She kissed his forehead a goodnight kiss and walked to her room.

Inside, the silence made her recalled the incident at Simply Cafe. However, she was no longer affected by the three selfish people, instead, the faces of Lily and Daniel who were begging her to stay came into her mind.

Subconsciously, she took out her phone and scrolled through it. There were lots of miscalls and messages from Lily and Daniel asking her if she was okay. She knew she had made these two worried about her, therefore, she sent a message telling them that she was okay and other good stuff to ease their worried heart.

Bella Lim continued to scroll and saw an unfamiliar number miscalled her once. The timestamp was at six in the evening. This was the time she was occupied by the trio at Simply Cafe.

Bella Lim frowned as it was rare for a stranger to contact her since she only gave her number to people in her contact list.

Curious, she dialed the number.

"Yes?" a raspy voice entered her lane of hearing. She froze. Although that voice sounded irritated, Bella Lim recognized its owner. Her heart began to palpitate. She was truly shocked to know that this number actually belonged to Eric Wu!

Who did it? Who forced the mighty man to call her? Wait, was this even real? Bella Lim pinched her cheek and groaned in pain. This was real!

"Bella?"

Gasp! Bella Lim thought that if she was left with one breath to live, a word from this man would send her to eternal sleep. This man had a compelling aura. Right now, his voice was hoarse like someone who was awakened from sleep. But... really, why did he sound so scarily attractive?

"I'm hanging up," the receiver declared, pulling Bella Lim's clarity of mind to its rightful place.

"Wait!" she tried to hold the man which actually a success as they were no voice from the automated machine telling her that the call was ended.

"Mr. Eric, right?" she asked to confirm.

"Hmm," the man responded with unintelligible word, but enough to dismiss the 0.000000001 percent of doubt in Bella Lim's mind.

"Oh, w-why did you call me this e-evening?" stuttering again. Bella Lim flinched as she felt like slapping her mouth. Why must she stutter every time she spoke with this man?

"The workshop will send your motorbike tomorrow morning. Anything else?" the man asked impatiently. His voice was getting hoarse. Bella Lim was disappointed after listening to his response. Did he hate her so much that he wanted to end the phone call right away?

"I--"

Tut-tut-tut...

"Tch!" Bella Lim fell on her bed with her phone on her chest. She stared at the ceiling with his mind trying to scold Eric Wu for what he did just now. However, in the end, she ended with a long list of praises for him. She was defeated even in her consciousness.

Sigh.

Bella Lim took her phone as she wanted to put it on the bedside table at her right side. That was when she saw the numbers displayed on her phone screen. 12.35 AM.

What the hell!! No wonder Eric Wu sounded angry, she basically had awakened him from his deep slumber! She knew that he had a strict sleeping schedule and according to her research, this man sleeps exactly at eleven at night.

For someone who lived a hectic lifestyle, this sleeping schedule was unbelievable.

To spice things up, this man was actually living three different life; the president of a conglomerate company, the master of a big clan, and weirdly a novelist as well. So, how did he managed his life to incorporate such a good sleeping habit?

No matter how much she thought about it, she just couldn't find another reason except that this man was too omnipotent.

The whole night, Bella Lim's thought was filled with Eric Wu. She had long forgotten about the bitter aftertaste of today's terrible incident. This man truly had a deep impact on her life that everything else was incomparable to it.

He was the best medicine for all her sorrow!