CHAPTER 47: The Encounter

KATE’s P.O.V.

The next morning, nobody came to talk to me, nor bother to text me something... Or even a simple greeting. There is no one’s name registered on my phone, or anything. Maybe Elijah is indeed really mad at me. But why? I’m only trying to protect myself from being hurt once again.

I took a deep breath, before deciding that I should probably go to some place that could make me happy... A place where I could temporary forget about everything, including all of our problems. I didn’t want to hurt Elijah that way, it’s just that I’m having a hard time to give my complete trust to someone for I know that it could ruin me once again. And so after preparing myself, I grabbed my purse as I decided to come to the mall and treat myself for apparently no reason at all.

I arrived there after thirty minutes of driving before I finally hopped down from my car right after I parked it under the small shade in the open space in front of the main entrance of the mall. I walked passed by the security, before I tried to find some cool places to go... Well, maybe in arcade zone. Maybe this one could lighten up my mind.

I spend some time playing their available games, but even how many times I won, I never feel the satisfaction rushing through my system. I feel empty... Like I don’t even enjoy in this kind of place. Well, maybe, just maybe, this is not for me. I should just go to some places where I could find myself... Where I could breathe properly even just for a moment.

“Hi, lady!” I was stunned to see Cloey, looking up to my face while holding a buckets full of tickets that she won from playing here as well.

“C-Cloey...” I stuttered to pronounce her name.

Yes, I am still mad at Claire for what happened yesterday, but still, this little child has nothing to do with our little battle that started a long time ago.

“What are you doing here?” she asked me in her cute, little voice.

“Oh... I’m just... You know, passing by.”

“Really?” She looked at me from head to toe, before scrutinizing the bucket of tickets that I am currently holding.

“Fine, fine. I played some games as well...” I shyly admitted, knowing that she’s just a kid and she wouldn’t tease me about it.

“Whoah, that’s a lot,” she stated, pointing out to the tickets I won.

“Do you like it? You can have these. I really don’t know what to do with them either way...” I stated, shrugging.

“Really?! Thanks, lady! I will right this on the diary that you gave me last night!” she joyfully said.

My heart suddenly aches, as I remembered what happened the other night. Elijah... He probably really mad at me right now. But what should I do? I can’t just ignored what happened the other night... And Cloey... She was nothing but a complete epitome of the word innocence. She is so pure and her parents are so lucky to have her... I wonder when will I be able to feel being a mother to my own child someday.

“You deserved it. Anyways, are you all alone in here?” I asked her, as I started to get worried that she might be lost.

“Nope, I’m with Mommy Claire... She is...” She looked around the place, before pointing at one, certain direction. “There!”

When I turned around, I came face to face with my old friend... My long time enemy, the only person who could make me feel insecure in a way that I hate it so much.

“Cloey! I’ve been looking for–” Claire looked so stunned, seeing my face once again after what happened at her daughter’s birthday party last night. “Kate...” she trailed of, before gulping.

I completely ignored her, before turning back my gaze to Cloey, who’s now happily smiling from ear to ear without knowing that me and her Mom has something in between... The tension. Though I tried my best to act like I was not affected by this sudden encounter of ours.

“Cloey, I should go now... I will see you again soon,” I said, stating my farewell towards her.

“But, lady!” she complained, before she pouted. “You told me that we will have some bonding time with each other when we meet again... You promised last night...” she stated, and she was about to cry, and so Claire kneeled down on the ground just so she could console her.

“Cloey, your Aunt Kate still got a lot of things to do... You can’t have some bonding time together right now...”

“But why not, Mommy? Today is our girl’s bonding time,” she stated, before making a puppy eyes towards my direction. “Please join us even just for lunch, Aunt Kate... Please...” she pleaded.

And who am I to refuse this beautiful child? Even though I am mad at Claire, I still can’t give her a no... She would be highly devastated, and I’m sure of that. I would never want that to happen to any child... Not in forever.

“Cloey, we are now taking too much of her time,” Claire explained.

“No, it’s okay... I will join you... If... If that is okay with you, Claire?” I asked her.

“Really?! Yey!” Cloey jumped up and down in too much delight.

“Of course it is fine with me... And thank you for doing this, Kate,” Claire stated, before flashing a genuine smile towards my direction. But I hated it.

“Just remember that I didn’t do it for you... I did it for your daughter,” I whispered.

She thrifty smiled, and I could see how hurt she is right after I said those words. For a moment, a regretted doing that, for I completely ruined her mood. She looked so happy earlier, but now, she looked like she was kind of devastated.

“I know, Kate. Believe me, I know that. Still, thank you so much...” she trailed of, as if she was about to cry.

“Let’s go and eat!” Cloey announced, and the three of us started to walk and search for a perfect place where we can eat lunch all together.