Tease

Ms. McCrae joined us again for meals and Aunt Aigerim tried her best to steer Lana away from her. I informed ana and äke that we will be staying in the city for the rest of the hiatus.

I also told Miras aga and Arlan about the change of plans. They were happy about it. Äke announced during lunch that we will go back to the city tomorrow. The girls are not happy about it. They took a liking to the big house.

The next morning, we were all outside in the falling snow, putting our luggage at the back of the car. Ms. McCrae settled in the car first with mama and papa.

Throughout the ride to the city, I was fast asleep. It was around 3 am when I slept last night. We arrived in our Nursultan home after an hour and half. I said my goodbyes to everyone and gave a kiss to Lana. She didn't want to go home so I promised her that I will come over their house for dinner. After their car drove away, I went straight to my room and slept.

I was woken up by Adi shaking me.

"It's time for lunch aga. You already slept about five hours. Mama told me to wake you up."

I sat up, disoriented.

"What time is it?"

"It's past 1 o'clock."

I slept for quite some time.

I stood up then went to the bathroom to wash my face. My face and my eyes are swollen.

Nobody was in the kitchen when I came in but there was food in the table. I ate in leisure. After I was done, the old studio was my next stop.

Äke and ana renovated the space to serve as their office but my old instruments and equipment are still in the corner and they kept the recording room.

We decided to buy new instruments to put in Üy Dalasí and let the old ones stay here so that I can make music both here and there.

I played my old guitar. It still sounds the same, nicely balanced and round. My piano also sounds rich and resonating still. Äke and ana took care of them well. I went back to my room to get my song drafts when I ran into Ms. McCrae. She just emerged from the kitchen.

"Hi. Did you settle in well?" I greeted her.

"Yes Sir. I'm roommates with Raya again. And Tatiana."

"Uncle Ruslan and Aunt Dasha are only staying until tonight. They will be leaving for Russia early tomorrow."

"Hm," she nodded.

"Alright. See you later."

I walked pass her and she also went on her way.

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I called Miras aga in the studio.

"Aga, you will come tomorrow right?" I asked him when he picked up.

"I am. I'm excited to see Ms. McCrae. I'll be there at 8."

"Good. See you tomorrow."

I also called Arlan and confirmed the schedule for tomorrow. It seemed that his mother, Inzhu taté, overhead us talking and she asked to talk to me.

"Arystan dear, happy New Year! May you have good health and success this year too," she greeted me.

"Thank you tatém. Happy New Year to you too. I wish you continued good health."

"Thank you dear. Come over sometime. We miss seeing you around here."

"I will taté. I'll try to make time."

"I'll hold you to that. Alright son. I must get going. I'm making baursak for my grandchildren."

"Okay taté. See you."

I stood up from my seat to go on to the kitchen for a quick bite when Adilet greeted me at the door.

"We have guests aga and they want to see you."

Guesst??

"Where?"

"In the living room."

I followed after him and was startled when I saw who the guests were.

"Arystan dear. It's so nice to see you again."

Aunt Sezim walked to me, smiling from ear to ear and gave me a hug.

"Happy New Year tatém. How are you?" I asked her after she released me.

"Oh just fine dear! It had been so long isn't it? We came back because Sofia is relocated by the company back here in Kazakhstan."

I looked her way and she gave me a restrained smile.

"How long were you back?" I turned to Aunt Sezim leading her back to the sofas.

"About a month ago. Yes. The last week of November. Anyway, your mother and I were talking just this morning, New Year greetings, but she also told me that your family just arrived here in Nursultan. I thought it would be nice to see you again so here we are."

"It's nice to see you again Aunt Sezim. And you too Sofia."

""I hope you two are still good friends despite what happened because Rakhym invited us for dinner. We will be staying a bit longer. This will be the first time after 2 years right? That you two saw each other again?"

"Yes tatém. Don't worry. Sofia and I parted with good feelings."

"Good! Good! Anyway what's past is past."

Aunt Sezim occupied my attention, asking about my latest project, the places I went to for the last two years, and even about my romantic life. She seemed glad to know I haven't dated anyone for the last two years. Thankfully when we all sat down for dinner, she sat beside my mom.

I ate in silence. Ms. McCrae is sitting opposite me and Sofia is on my right. I could feel Sofia tensing beside me but Ms. McCrae just ate, oblivious to the tension in the air.

"So uh... I heard she is your new manager," Sofia said softly, a few minutes later.

"Yes."

"How long had you been working together?"

"I first met her couple of weeks ago."

"It's strange. I thought you're against hiring women as your manager."

"This will be the first time."

The dinner ended without another word said. I excused myself to go back to the studio. It was around 9:30 when Aunt Sezim interrupted me to say goodbye.

"You are still as hardworking as ever son. I hope your labor will pay off abundantly."

"Thank you tatém. Have a safe ride home. Goodnight."

"Thank you son. Goodnight."

She gave me a hug and kissed my cheek.

I leaned back on the backrest after she walked out the door and sighed.

So Sofia's back in Kazakhstan. We will be seeing each other again, knowing Aunt Sezim.

I shook away thoughts of her and went back to my music sheet.

Everything about Sofia was over.

A quarter to 12 am I made a trip to the kitchen and helped myself to instant coffee. Sleeping for hours in the day always makes me want to stay up late.

"You're still awake Sir."

I turned to the entrance of the kitchen and saw Ms. McCrae limping in with her crutches.

"So are you," I responded to her.

"I can't sleep."

She took a seat beside me and prepared her own cup of tea.

"Why?"

"Just some thoughts," she answered then sip her tea.

"What thoughts?"

She just smiled down to her cup.

"Well.. same. I turn to music when I don't want to think my thoughts."

"Must be nice."

"What is?"

"It must be nice Sir that you have music to distract you from your thoughts."

"Want to compose with me?" I joked, half- meant.

"I can actually write poems," she smiled.

"Oh. That's nice."

"But only when I'm emotionally distressed," she chuckled.

"Are you right now? It might come out as a good poem," I also laughed.

She looked at me for a couple of seconds then smiled.

"What?"

"I find it amusing Sir that we joke around with each other over tea and coffee in the kitchen. Almost like good old friends."

"You think that too?"

She smiled-- no. More of a smirk.

"I get too comfortable with you sometimes Sir."

"Well, that is not a bad thing."

"It could be Sir."

"Why do you think so?" I frowned.

She looked at me and laughed.

"But I hope not."

"Hope not what?"

"You know what they say. A man and a woman are rare to only be just friends," she said after a moment.

"Are you scared to fall in love with me?" I chuckled.

She shook her head, pursing her lips.

"I'm just saying Sir."

"Would that be a bad thing?"

"Yes.. I think that would be a bad thing."

I placed my mug on the table and turned my whole body towards her.

"Why?"

She laughed.

"Why are we talking about this?" she also turned to me.

"Well, it's good that we're talking about this. The reason why I don't hire female managers is because of this. It will be good if we can put it out in the open."

"Uh hm."

"Do you think at some point we'll like each other?"

She shook her head.

"No Sir. Well.. I mean when two people get close they can sometimes catch feelings. It's inevitable. Just saying it could happen to us too."

"And you're scared of that or you just don't want that to happen?"

"I'm just saying that as employer and employee it would be unwise."

I smirked.

"You're right."

She took a sip of her tea and we sat in silence.

"So.. should we stop getting close or something?" I asked after a moment.

She chuckled.

"How do we exactly do that Sir?"

"Right. So.. let's just not worry about it now and ruin the comfortable atmosphere between us."

"What if you fall in love with me Sir?" she turned to me, serious.

I smirked.

"Then I'll just love you I guess."

"Hm. Sounds easy but it would hurt," she smiled.

"As they say, love can hurt but what if you fall in love with me?"

She looked at me unsmiling.

"I won't Sir."

"What do you mean? I doubt anyone can control their feelings when it comes."

She smiled.

"I'm done with my tea Sir. I need to go and sleep."

She stood up from her seat and went to the sink to wash her teacup. I followed after her and also washed my mug.

We went out of the kitchen in silence.

"Good night Sir," she told me when we are about to separate ways.

"Good night."

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