Chapter 12: Chapter 12

"How's college going for you?" Sebastian asked while savoring his meal. Grilled Grouper was his choice. It seemed fitting since he had only eaten random food since morning. Meetings with numerous clients had taken up much of his time.

Not to mention the many reports from Vino that made him change his mind about just filling his empty stomach. If it weren't for Clara’s visit to the office earlier, Sebastian might still have to work on one or two things. Her charming persuasion had almost made Sebastian falter.

But now? He found himself stuck with Fathia at one of his favorite restaurants.

"So far, it's okay," Fathia replied, not knowing how many times she had chewed on the potato wedges, the signature menu at the place. She followed Sebastian's long strides as he led the way. They didn't talk during the walk.

Many things had changed in the five years they had been together. Whether Sebastian realized it or not, for Fathia, the man beside her was becoming colder and more rigid. His words were brief, full of commands, and intimidation. It was as if what came out of his slightly chapped lips was a necessity for Fathia.

For the first time, she heard Sebastian using his voice to ask a question. Usually, the voice of the thirty-five-year-old man was only for giving orders. That was why Fathia looked at Sebastian with surprise.

"Your grades?"

Fathia's forehead furrowed in confusion. All her thoughts focused on Sebastian, who was now looking at her. "Not bad."

Sebastian's hand, which was about to scoop the fish, paused. He finally faced Fathia. Then he sighed softly and shook his head. "Prepare yourself in two years, Fathia."

Now it was Fathia who didn't understand the direction of Sebastian's conversation. "What do you mean?"

"I can't work for you forever. I want to be free from Azure."

Initially, Fathia was eager to finish the grilled fish, which was still half left. She even wanted to add more rice to accompany the delicious salad. But upon hearing Sebastian's words, her appetite vanished.

Even as she tried to scoop the rice, which had stopped in mid-air, Fathia no longer had the desire to eat.

"Business is dirty, Uncle," Fathia said softly. Her eyes dropped, and the clear image of her parents and her brother bidding her farewell on their last day together five years ago reemerged.

"I'll be there. You'll be safe," Sebastian spoke casually, enjoying his meal without even glancing at the young girl in front of him.

Hearing Sebastian's words, Fathia's heart suddenly burned. "I remember that you said the same thing to Felice. What did I get? My sister's coffin." She placed the spoon, which still held rice, somewhat roughly. She grabbed her small bag and left Sebastian with a wound that she could never heal.

No matter if Sebastian gets angry in the apartment, for this time, Fathia needs to let go of the sadness that haunts her again. Full of certainty, the sadness that still lingers, reminding her of the meaning of loss, crashes into her mercilessly, causing tears to flow down her cheeks like a river.

"Sebastian, what's wrong?" Fathia finally sighed, while hailing a taxi passing by right at the edge of the restaurant where she had eaten earlier. "Cafe Amore', please," she said briefly after settling into the passenger seat.

****

"Why do you look so sour? What's wrong with you?" Jessy asked, casually wrapping her arm around Fathia's neck. Normally, Fathia would scream in protest as Jess's actions could mess up her neatly straightened hair. But with Clara, Fathia was silent.

Fathia couldn't remember how many times Clara had stirred her iced cappuccino without any interest. Her sighs seemed to suggest that she was dealing with some significant problem.

"Hey, what's wrong? Are your lips mortgaged?" Jessy continued babbling. She looked at her friend with a puzzled expression. Since arriving at the café, Fathia hadn't said a word.

"Fathia?" This time, Jessy used a soft and sympathetic voice. She let go of her previous embrace, replacing it with a gentle touch on Fathia's shoulder. She knew that Fathia often drifted away into a world that Jess couldn't touch.

"Why do I have to use the name Claire?" Fathia asked softly. It was more like a mumble that Jess couldn't hear clearly.

"I'm going back." Fathia then stood up, grabbing her bag from the table without finishing her iced cappuccino. She had thought that meeting Jess amidst her busy schedule of running a small café near campus could ease her burden a little.

"Are you sure?" Jess doubted Fathia's words. It was a habit of the girl that when she had many thoughts, her heart would race wildly. Fathia was like a mute girl who didn't say anything when her mind wandered to unknown places. Jess was very observant of that. "Why don't you come to my room? You can stay here."

Fathia stopped in her tracks. She pondered Jesslyn's tempting offer for a moment. The room on the upper floor of the café had a view that made her feel peaceful. Large windows were deliberately installed there, covered only by big curtains, with a mattress on the floor without a bed frame. She often slept in Jessy's room and knew it like the back of her hand.

However, if she stayed there, Fathia hadn't dared to cross the boundaries set by Sebastian. She had to be back before 8 p.m. From the first time she stepped into the man's luxurious apartment, unwritten rules were made.

"Isn't Roy visiting?" Ah, Fathia remembered one name. Jess's boyfriend, who sometimes visited her. Especially today, she remembered it was Saturday. For some reason, Saturday night was the official visiting time for boyfriends to come to their girlfriend's house.

Except for Fathia, of course.

"Well... I can go out for a while, right? No problem." Jessy grinned as she was reminded of their plans for the evening. For her, Roy could wait and be diverted to someplace else for a while. Fathia was the most important.

"It's okay, I'll come next time." Fathia gave her best smile. She didn't want to be a burden to Jessy tonight. She had grown accustomed to facing Sebastian, whether he was at the apartment or watching over her through phone calls. She didn't want to risk hearing Sebastian's words that had often hurt her.

Ah, just remembering his figure made Fathia feel melancholic again. Sebastian's influence on her mood was truly insolent.

"Be careful on your way home. Let me know when you get back to the apartment."

Fathia just gave a thumbs up and a fake smile. She didn't want Jessy to worry more about her.

As the night sky approached, the remaining sunlight still didn't want to leave, leaving a dramatic tinge of orange. Fathia gazed at it for a while, then let out a long sigh as she prepared to return to her luxurious cage. Before she could even take a step to hail a taxi, her phone rang again.

"Where are you?"

Fathia closed her eyes for a moment. Even though she had disappeared from Sebastian's radar for less than three hours, the cold and rigid man had already reached out to her again.

"At the campus."

"Wait there. I'll pick you up."

No need for an answer, just the thought of finding an excuse to avoid him was enough for Fathia. She did as he asked, stopping her steps around the bus stop and sitting there, waiting. Killing time by listening to the saxophone's tunes that reminded her of her family's living room. The place where the four of them gathered happily. Occasionally, her mother's soft humming would be heard amidst the spirited debates of Felice and Alvin. As for Fathia? She chose to read her favorite comics while lying on her mother's lap. The warmth of the family that was lost from Fathia's heart only made her more melancholic.

Her phone's playlist was filled with things she used to listen to. Especially the music her father loved, like Kenny G's. Closing her eyes, she filled her heart with many beautiful memories of fifteen years spent with her family. As a complete unit. Until the sound of a car engine made her open her eyes. A well-dressed man, whom Fathia knew as Sebastian's personal assistant, opened the door for her.

"I miss you, all," she greeted.

Fathia simply nodded and entered without waiting for any more instructions. Next to her was Sebastian, sitting stiffly without glancing her way at all.

"Don't add to my burden, Fathia."

Those words left a lasting impression on her heart. Sebastian had said something like that to her not just once or twice. And he had been saying it more and more frequently without realizing how much it made Fathia want to cry. She wanted to protest or at least express her grievances, but she couldn't.

"I'm sorry, Uncle."