13 13 Confused Jealousy

It was rather stressful and uneasy for Camellia to gossips about some stranger or celebrity. Even if it's her own husband. Emily was away to take a long phone call. Camellia glances in her way several times but it seemed Emily still can't join them any sooner.

"Have you heard about the celebrity Hanna?"

"What about her?"

"It is not my place to say this but some say that Hanna is not her real name. More like a Japanese origin."

"Oh, is it?" The other lady replied. " But, I love all her dramas especially when she becomes" the witches or bad woman characters. Don't you agree?" She excitedly turned to Camellia for support.

"I'm not that into celebrities so I am not so familiar with this celebrity that you're talking about," Camellia awkwardly explained.

"Well, you should love them or be their fan," another lady cut into their conversation. "But, I heard she is in a relationship with another woman's husband."

"Hey, Isn't that Hanna Kang?" Everyone turned to the entranceway where a handsome couple just come onto the rooftop. The waitress came and assisting them to their seats. They all staring at the couples except Camellia. Camellia decided to excuse herself to go back home early after all.

"Is that the man?" the rest of the woman begins to talk with each other and the heated gossips has turned another way. They planning on spying on the couple! Camellia was about to excuse herself when someone grabbed her hands, locked her hand under her armpit and starts to pull her along walking towards the new couple. She realised it was Emily, she began to relax not aware of what this friend trying to do. When she realised where they were heading, she begins to panic and tried to get loose but Emily gave a quick wink, heads up with a bright smile and tighten up her grips on the hand which starting to sweat up. They heading to the table with determinations.

On the other end of the rooftop where the group of ladies begins to heat up among themselves as the duo approaching the table. Camellia about to excuse herself from disturbing the couple leaving Emily behind only to turn around to see her husband was the man sitting there with his partner. Spontaneously, she turned to the young lady opposite him. She never saw that lady before yet somehow look familiar. She can feel her heart-tugging tightly at the couple shy and loving stares at each other. Jealousy. Is this what they call jealousy? Her breathing was heavy, her face turns pale; all of the sudden she appeared haggard & worn out. Shuusei. Her husband! He appeared with another woman. She senses fondness between the two through their eyes staring at each other. She turns away and leaves the trio, heading to the restroom.

Inside the powder room, it was nearly empty as Camellia gets into one of the huge wall mirrors. Her hands were shaking, her hearts were still pumping heavily. Sure enough, the noise of her heart can break the ice sculpture outside. Who was that young woman? Why did she look familiar? What kind of relationship she has with Shuusei?

Shuusei?! To her realisation, she spoke his name loudly inside her mind. Like someone that she cares & know by heart. She shook her head in denial with her hands on top of the sink table unaware gripping it hard for support.

Why should she be bothered by Shuusei's personal life? After all, their marriage was all about the contract. Emily once told her the reason Shuusei agreed with his marriage is that he was threatened by his family to end his job as a chef and return to the family's firm. Camellia clenches her palms painfully. He should have chosen his girlfriend to do this! Camellia exited the stall and washes her still-shaking-hands realised someone has just come in and about to left the place, returned inside.

"Camellia Song?" the woman address her name like closed friends. "Is that really you?" Camellia looks up through the mirror stand at the woman, confused to see an unknown woman calling her name.

"Do I know you?" Camellia asked awkwardly. Confused how she know Camellia's baptism name.

"Hey, It's me. Laura Baek."

"NO! It can't be," Camellia horrified at her claim. All her other thought were disappeared as if it never been there before. "You. You look different." All she could remember about this Laura Beak was that one of the little girls arrived at the orphan home. Camellia never quite closed to her and only heard some nasty stories from the nuns about her. She was a quiet, timid and cautious girl. Her small eyes were always wary of her surround as if she scares something or someone might do something to her. She heard some of the nun said about her being sent to many orphan homes before she finally gets to be sent to that orphan home.

"Shhh..." the other woman looked around cautiously. "Don't talk too loud." Seconds later, she smiled at her excitedly. "Nice to meet you again though. Let's exchange numbers."

"Alright. Let's do that," Camellia still not believe her eyes to meet her closed friends again after ten years. Not sure if it exciting feeling or something else. She pulled out her business card from her tote and gave it to her. While Laura pulls out a toilet hard tissue and write down her contacts and exchange it with her. Camellia still staring at her. Was the girl back then that beautiful? "Let's hang out sometimes."

"Alright. I like that." Laura smiled at her suggestions. "Interesting, you work as a wedding planner huh? Maybe I could use your service for my wedding soon." Laura hurriedly excused herself after a quick wave to her stunned friend. "Oh, and please don't let other people know about us or the orphanage." She managed to whisper her last word out without a sound.

Camellia nodded in agreement.

A few minutes later, Emily came in to look for her. "There you are. I was looking everywhere for you. Why are you coping yourself here? You just missed out on Shuusei a moment ago. Let's go back to our table."

Camellia ignored her nagging. She knows she needs to leave soon or she might bump into the couple which was not ideal at all. Just a moment ago, before Emily gets to her, she realised the harsh reality of marriage. It hurts. It hurts like hell. Tears filled her eyes, threatening to drop any seconds before Emily rush in and she wipes it off with the back of her palm. Emily can't be trusted to keep her secret.

After freshen up, Camellia followed Emily to join the other women at their table only realised that eyes are focusing on her back. She knew who was that but she didn't dare to confirm it. Emily seemed to have figured out what caused her to behave in such offered her to stay at her home tonight. But she refused. She needs to go back home.

"Camellia?"

Camellia looks up to the calling. She smiled at the new couple that just arrived.

"Hi, boss." Little comfort eases her pained heart. "Hi, Sakura Nim."

"Is this why you refused my invitations?" Sakura spoke in a serious tone. This man rarely gets mad. Getting know him for two years makes her knew his characters rather well.

"Well, It's a long story. I rather not talk about it." Camellia heaved a sigh. She sensed Emily's present beside her hurriedly introduced them all to Emily. Emily was surprised to know the wedding dress designer was indeed a man. Camellia decided to sit with the couple only to be ushered back to their table. At first, Camelia refused to budge from her seat but only after Emily warned her about Shuusei staring at her way had her agreed to leave.

Camellia reluctantly agreed to Emily to stay at her home for the second time. This time Camellia didn't argue with her. She can't go back to her home with some dagger look from Shuusei tonight. She remind herself that man called her husband is a nobody to her. And all she needs right now is some comfort and understanding of what situation she's in now.

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"Have a seat. I'll come back to you after I arrange some room for you to stay," Emily headed the kitchen before appearing with a glass of water then disappear again into another area.

Camellia looks around the huge living room with a high ceiling. It was already past twelve o'clock and the area was vacant. A tiny drop of a pin might echo throughout the space.

"Mommy, is that you?"

A little chubby girl appears behind the pillar in pyjama while holding her doll on her left arm and her swollen right thumb as if she just sucking her thumb to sleep. Her curly hair looks messy but she still looks adorable. 'Maybe she looking for Emily.'

"Sorry, but I'm not your mommy." Camellia came up to her, kneeling into the same eye level as the little girl. "What's your name, dear?"

"Silly mommy, my name Hunny." the little girl gave her a sudden hug only pushed them both down on the ground. "You gave me my name yourself. Suhaney April Okuichi, remember?"

"Oww.. Easy there." Camellia falls back to the soft carpeted floor with the child hugging around her waist. She chuckled softly. She steadied the little girl away from her. "Shouldn't you be sleeping right now?" She carried the child in her arms heading to the living room sofa furrowing her brows. Somehow this child seemed familiar. "Aha... That's right!" She was seated beside the long-haired man all night during the full moon party for Emily's baby. She wondered if she was one of Emily's child. This chummy, beautiful child has some similarity to Emily. Obviously not the hair though. Her long wavy and lustrous hair looks make her more like a doll. Her eyes were bigger for a Korean or Japanese. Her tiny yet high nose with pucker lips looks cute. They seated on the sofa side by side while Camellia staring with delight.

"Hunny?" a voice calling a name startled them both, turn towards the caller. It was dark and Camellia was unable to identify the caller makes her wary until the little girl responded to him happily.

"Dada! Hunny found mama. Found mama!" the little girl runs towards the man shielding under the dark. Camellia never heard that man voice before and realised the man is not Takashi- Emily's husband after all. She stands up awkwardly aware of what the child said a moment ago.

"Well, we crossed path again, wife of Shuu."