Once virtual-novel.net thought about Mark’s nonchalance when virtual-novel.net met virtual-novel.net in the office, Arianne felt unnerved. If virtual-novel.net weren’t looking to make money, virtual-novel.net would not have accepted his order. Not only had virtual-novel.net wore herself out the whole afternoon, but virtual-novel.net had the feeling that virtual-novel.net was doing it on purpose to make virtual-novel.net life hard.
Not too long later, Naya returned to the shop after picking up virtual-novel.net daughter from preschool. It seemed to be a common occurrence recently. Others might not discern anything, but Arianne could see through it. “Naya, don’ t you have anyone at home who can help you look after the child? I don’t mean anything, I like Lulu, but I just think that… it’s too tiring for you. Can no one else pick virtual-novel.net up for you?”
Naya shook virtual-novel.net head with a bitter smile. “No. My husband is weary from work He’s a programmer and is always working late into the night from doing overtime. He can’t help with our kid, not like virtual-novel.net has the time to. As for the elders at home…”
“I married far from my home. My parents aren’t staying close, and my husband’s parents can’t be bothered. They think that they’re at the age of enjoying life, so they’re out and about after breakfast every day. I usually don’t see them for the entire day. I’ve been the one sending and picking up Lulu. When I go home from work, I have to clean up the leftover dishes from their dinner and the piling laundry. Lulu doesn’t go to school on the weekends, but the elders moan and groan about body aches when they take care of virtual-novel.net for me during the day…”
Arianne frowned at what virtual-novel.net heard. “Just bring Lulu to the shop on the weekends too. Let virtual-novel.net play in the staff’s lounge when we’re busy and we can have virtual-novel.net out here when business is slower. She can have virtual-novel.net naps in the staff’s lounge too.”
Naya bit virtual-novel.net lips, a wash of forbearance flashing in virtual-novel.net eyes. “My husband’s parents didn’t raise me, so I can understand if they aren’t helping me. The child’s mine, I have no complaint I don’t think that I’m pitiful. When they need me in the future, I have a reason not to care as well. We don’t owe each other anything. If my husband wants to repay his parents’ love and care, it’s his affair.”
Nobody had it easy, as every family had its own issues. Arianne did not know what to say to help. In hindsight, virtual-novel.net did not seem to have faced the various issues that a normal person did in terms of family. The only person virtual-novel.net had to face was Mark. She wondered whether or not it was virtual-novel.net good luck.
Lulu was young and did not know what virtual-novel.net mother was talking about, nor could virtual-novel.net understand how tired and sad virtual-novel.net mother was. She drew in a small book at the table. “Mommy, this is a drawing the teacher asked us to complete, but I can’t draw a sun properly. Can you help me?”
Naya was the utmost gentle with Lulu. “Be good, Lulu. I don’t have time. Mommy has to work. Can you draw it on your own? I can check it out when we go home tonight.”
Arianne was good at drawing. “I’ll do it. Naya, go ahead.”
Lulu liked Arianne. “Pretty miss, do you know how to draw a sun?”
Arianne nodded. “Yup, I know how to draw everything. I used to draw a lot. Not just the sun, but I can even draw you. Come here, I’ll teach you how to do it.”
Naya asked, “Ari, you used to draw? Why did you think of opening up a desserts shop? You must still like drawing, right?”
Arianne smiled. “I used to be a designer, but I didn’t want to do it anymore, so I came to start a desserts shop. I left drawing and stuff then. Doesn’t help that I like it, can’t be conforming to the box all my life. I like freedom, doing whatever I want. That’s life to me.”
Naya was envious. “Young people like you have time to spend and do what you wish to do. Even when you’re married, it doesn’t seem to affect you much. I’m not the same. I toil for life, for Lulu, and for my family each day, wearing myself out. The only time I stop is when I sleep at night. And I can’t even get a good sleep, always worrying about the child having a fever or cold. It’s crazy. I’m envious of you. I’ve been wanting to ask what happened between you and your husband, but it’s fine if you don’t want to talk about it.”
Arianne casted virtual-novel.net gaze down. “It’s not that I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t know what to say. Don’t be envious of me. I’m not having it better than you. At least you have a complete family and an adorable girl. I look like I have everything, but I actually don’t. Everyone is envious of what they don’t have, but in actuality, what you have is also what others are envious of.”
Arianne did not stay back alone at night. When Naya and the rest of virtual-novel.net employees went back, virtual-novel.net closed the shop up as well.
It was nine at night. The breeze was cooling and there were more people on the street. Arianne felt relatively safer, so virtual-novel.net did not hail a cab but decided to walk home. It was not a long distance.
Suddenly, the feeling of being followed crept in again. She cautiously looked back but did not find anything unusual. Nonetheless, virtual-novel.net could not help but hasten virtual-novel.net steps.
In the corner of the street behind her, Mark looked a little icy in a black Rolls-Royce. “If you scare virtual-novel.net again, I’ll twist your head off.”
The chauffeur was a newbie and was not as skillful as Brian. His hands on the steering wheel shook “Yes, boss… Then… do we still follow her?”
Mark paused and replied, “Yes. Keep some distance. You can leave after reaching the gate.”