chapter 2. trying to cover up who we are

'uh, it should have ended three hours ago' Miraki sighed as she dressed in a off-white dress with yellow dandelions printed on it.

Her shift had started at an early hour of 6 am and ended at 4pm. She only had an hour to get ready to meet her friend.

Miraki got dressed and used a few makeup products and packed a few gifts for her two of her favourite kids.

Entering the back garden of Mercury, She took the stony path near the jungle. As she descended it, a glistening view of the lake was visible.

[Katcha]

She clicked a picture of the picturesque scenery and entered through a wooden door which had a name carved "Apathie's Garden" .

The surroundings had many flowers like hibiscus, dandelions, daisies, cherry blossoms and many more. In the midst of these flowers lay a table where Esther sat.

"Oi mimi!" Esther called Miraki out as she heard her footsteps.

"hey! Etsy" Miraki walked towards her and pulled into a hug. Esther had worn a soft cotton beach dress which had lotus printed on it and a summer hat to complement the vibe.

"Sit down" Esther pulled the chair for her "what do you want to have? Order anything" her lips smiled from ear to ear.

Esther was a woman in her early thirties, specifically 31. She had met Miraki in her first year of work. That day her son specifically loved the carrot cake they had eaten and she had come to the head chef's office to reward the chef.

"Then, let's have some dumplings," Miraki suggested.

"Sure, it seems work is hectic these days. Be sure to have all three meals a day. I have brought these supplements, be sure to have them." Esther handed her a box of goodies, just like she always did.

"Thank-you" she expressed her gratitude. Miraki was very grateful as she had acted as a mother figure since she had met her.

It was one of the reasons why her and Lucy's health hadn't deteriorated.

"By the way have you heard the rumours?" Miraki asked. "What rumours?" Esther asked back while she sipped water.

Now that is suspicious Miraki remarked in her head since, etsy had always been quick to learn about all the juicy gossip and lurking rumour.

"Well, apparently our director is getting engaged," she revealed.

The next second, Esther choked on her water in the most awful way possible. It almost splattered on the platters at her front.

"Ahum, ahum" she coughed hard. Miraki immediately rushed to her side and patted her back. Esther clasped her palms to Miraki's.

"Who spread such lies?" her eyes were teary and yet she had a deadpan face.

" Well I don't know. But the rumour has been circulating like wildfire" she commented. It took Esther a few seconds to compose back and then the dumplings arrived and they were carefully placed on the table.

" I didn't know you were interested in your director, mi. You should have told me earlier I would have arranged him with you." Esther winked playfully and cackled as Miraki's face turned sour.

"Now, now let's not speak of things which shall never happen.'' With that said they dug in and wholeheartedly enjoyed the meal.

Esther felt the urge to say ' you deserve someone better than him' but she suppressed it, since Miraki would never accept it.

She had always been that way she could remember. Humble and hardworking but she never dreamed or wished for things beyond her reach.

But life never worked that way, only those who ran for the big and could pay the price for it could only make it, something Miraki had learned early on in her life.

'She has grown up so much and yet she is still a baby.' Esther admired Miraki's eating habits.

Over the years she had seen her turn from a loud child to a hospitable woman. Her cheerful and bright side was no more unfortunately.

" Are you finished, Mimi?" she asked as she looked at her wristwatch.

"Yep," she answered while wiping her lips with a napkin.

"Alright, then let's go meet my children. That have been wanting to meet you for a while."

The path was made of stone while the green grass covered the rest of the area. The trees were tall and coniferous. They let out a peppery fragrance; that cleared her mind.

"Momma!" a small boy ran towards Esther as they had reached the back of the garden.

Esther instinctively squatted down and immediately spread out her hands and caught the boy lifting him like a ball and carried him high up in the air.

"aw, my baby is here" she ruffled his hair and the boy giggled softly.

The boy turned his head, his piercing blue eyes gazed at Miraki and all of a sudden he got more excited.

"Aunt Mimi!" his smile got even brighter.

He spread his hands wide asking Miraki to carry him.

She hesitantly looked at Esther who was fine with it, so she took Jackson in her arms.

'uff! This boy has gotten heavier'

She could only imagine how Esther could lift this big boy into the sky.

"Did you miss aunt mimi?"Her round doe eyes fluttered as she kissed his cheeks and tickled him.

As she played with Jackson who was about three years old, Esther's elder son Orion who was 13 years old had arrived with his butler following him.

"Hey ma" he greeted " Hey aunt Mimi" Orion bowed.

Miraki gazed at the boy, he had grown. Orion was now much taller than her yet both the brothers shared the same pair of piercing blue eyes.

Miraki handed Jackson over to Esther and stepped next to Orion.

She stood at the tip of her toes as she ruffled his hair " you've grown tall Onion. Now I miss the little guy who would run around me like a tail, asking for the carrot cakes." her lips smiled ear to ear.

His cheeks flustered. It was an embarrassing memory which teasing women would probably never let go, he sighed in his mind.