Babel Novel
Have Lunch Alone
To Love You Again, My Husband
Chapter 98: Have Lunch Alone Airina’s POV
I nodded at Matthew whom I saw while I was on the way outside of work. I actually just visited just to get a scarf I forgot the last day. It has becoming chilly, so I need to take care of myself well. Now that I mentioned that I haven’t seen it rained for the past weeks.
“Airina!”
While I was quite occupied with my thoughts, I heard a youthful voice in front of me. When I looked ahead, I widened my eyes and staggered backward. I almost tripped and fell on the ground but there was another figure behind me.
“Elisa….” It was Matthew whose voice sounded both sad and surprised. I was partially shocked that she was here when she said she would settle overseas but the person I am most surprised was no one but Jackson.
I lowered my gaze feeling utter discomfort. Slightly fidgeting, I cleared my throat and tried to put on a brave face. I knew it wouldn’t be effective, but I still attempted.
“So, you came back, Elisa.” It was a greeting that I found disgusting especially noticing her arm around Jackson’s. Seeing her again confirmed something that puzzled me. The woman I saw sitting across Jackson was her and no one else.
Jackson’s eyes on me were unblinking and unmoving. I could make out that neither all of us wanted this kind of experience.
“Rina! It had been a long time since we last seen each other. How are things between you and Matthew?”Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.
I glanced at Matthew who scoffed. He put his hand over my shoulder, making this uglier. “It has never been finer than it was now.”
As expected, Jackson’s face was devoid of anything. The moment he broke up with me, I am hearing everyone being gossipy that the CEO Jackson had become violent and cold. Although I doubted if that was true, experiencing it firsthand made it real. More so being aware that he allowed her to just link arms with him. They must have been hitting it off.
I presumed I would feel utterly bitter. Somehow, I felt calm shrouding over me.
Hesitant, I noticed Jackson’s reluctance to say something. “Indeed. CEO Matthew, you look glowing.”
“Good to hear from you,” he pointed at the both of them, “You two must be in a relationship? Ever since I saw both of you, the aura and vibe hit it off.”
Elisa held Jackson’s hand which he quickly dodged and stepped away. “Honestly, Jackson and I are already engaged!”
Jackson then quickly hit her head like a joke and shook his head irritatingly. Somehow, that very scene just made me think that once again I have fallen into the trap that he spread out to me. In a way, more or less, I was a trial version.
“I don’t know what you are thinking but we’re not engaged. On the other hand, Elisa just came because she wanted to see you, particularly you, Airina.”
In an instant, I felt my heart blossomed strangely. As though it had been a long time since anyone called my name most affectionately and gently as possible. Somehow, I suddenly liked the name that my parents gave to me. Indeed, when someone you love calls you with it, it just hits differently.
I lightly smiled.
“What help could I lend to you, Miss Elisa?”
The first time I saw Elisa, I had an intuition that she must had been masking her real personality and the moment I accidentally got drunk and went to her home, I finally confirmed that indeed she must had been doing it for the image she had established so far.
Hence, her action going in here for me was unsettling.
“I don’t have so much free time on my hands so if you are asking for something time-consuming, I am afraid I must”- I then smirked and pulled Matthew forward right before her face and resumed, “Put Matthew at work for you. Then, have a good day ahead!”
“W-wait, Rina! How about lunch together?” She further asked me to which I shook my head.
If I eat with her, it will just make matters worse and no matter how much I refuse the fact that I am not uncomfortable, I am more than what the word meant. I felt wary, displeased, and even more than upset.
It hadn’t been so long since I saw him and yet this is how we have such a reunition? It felt surreal and like a ticking bomb, my face flushed in anger. Hell, I underestimated that I was calm.
“Rina!”
I paused; my hand shook at the voice that called me. Unhurriedly, as my heart drummed inside my heart, I risked and looked at him.
“Jackson.”
He approached me, his emotion wasn’t unusual rather it was casual and quite cold. “Are you already leaving?”
I smiled, opening the door completely. “Yes, I have matters to attend to.”
“Wait,” he strongly grabbed my arm, pulling me closer to him and bringing a gasp out my lips. “How have you been?”
I blinked my eyes, unsure how to respond. “… Fine,” I glanced at his hand, “Let go of my hand. I need to go, Jackson.”
“Won’t you eat lunch with us?”
I scoffed at him, dismissing his offer. “I’d like to have my lunch alone.”