Alice Hermione

Axel got out of his car, he had arrived at his father's golf course. I don't know if there was a wind suddenly his father asked Axel to come to pick him up. Is it suspicious? Yes, for sure. Because this has never happened before.

Even though James could have ordered his driver to come and pick him up like he always does, why should it be Axel now?

Axel walked into the place and it turned out that his father was walking out with a girl. Yes, a girl. She was young, maybe the same age as Axel, or maybe even younger than Axel.

"Dad." Called Axel who had taken off his suit and tie. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. The appearance is not neat but looks cool.

"Axel? Have you come?" James said like he was making small talk.

"Yeah, you're going home already?" Axel asked a little relieved that he didn't have to wait long here.

"Yes, in a minute," James replied.

"Axel, introduce me, this is Alice. Because Mr. William can't accompany Daddy to play today so he asked his daughter to come so that Daddy can still play with." James.

"Alice, this is Axel, my son," added James. Alice smiled then held out her hand to Axel.

"Hi, Axel. Nice to meet you."

"Yes, nice to meet you too," Axel replied casually after returning the girl's handshake.

"Uncle James, you've been picked up and my driver happened to have come to pick me up, let's go home," Alice said in a friendly tone. Her voice was soft and warm. Her behavior reflects her maturity.

"Ah, yes. Let's go home." James replied.

"Yes, Uncle James," Alice said.

"Axel, be careful when driving. See you later." Alice said to Axel. Then she got into the car that picked her up.

'See you later? How sure are we that we'll see each other again? And Uncle James? Is he that intimate with Daddy?' Axel said in his heart. Unknowingly he had been daydreaming.

"You're daydreaming, are you so fascinated by Alice, Axel?" James teased on purpose.

"Don't make it up, Dad." Axel snapped then got into the car. James also came in.

"What do you think?" asked James randomly.

"What?"

"Alice. What do you think of Alice?" James asked provoking his son's reaction.

But Axel didn't respond. He looked indifferent. He chose to focus on driving the car.

"Is she pretty?" Catch James again.

"Beauty is relative, Dad."

"Then how about his appearance? Were you impressed by your first meeting?"

Axel sighed. Axel understands his father's intentions. He must be trying to get Axel to talk.

"Well, I think she is quite mature and has a good attitude. She doesn't look arrogant, just like Mr. William who always acts lowly." Axel is what it is.

James smiled contentedly. He felt he could continue his plan to set Axel to Alice. James felt they would get along well because their almost identical characters probably wouldn't be hard to put together.

"Yes, you're right. She's beautiful, mature, has high integrity, suits you very well." James said.

"Fits? With me? What do you mean, Dad?"

"You know what Daddy means, Axel."

"Dad, don't tell me you—"

"Yeah, you're right. You keep refusing to look for a wife, so Daddy's going to find you." James said triumphantly.

"This isn't funny, Dad!" Axel said annoyed. But in the end, he knew his father's hidden intentions.

"Indeed. I didn't say I was making a joke." James replied not wanting to lose.

"Dad, I warned Daddy not to get involved in this. I'll find it myself, no need Daddy. Find it for me."

"How dare you warn me. I am your Daddy."

"Oh, whatever!" Axel raised his hand in surrender. While James was smiling at this victory.

James' next step was to arrange a meeting between his son and the girl he chose. Hope it goes as expected. Just imagining it made James couldn't stop smiling. Hope this plan works.

***

Axel entered his room and went straight to the bathroom. He needed water to cool his mind. Axel felt very annoyed because all the way his father kept talking about Alice, Axel felt displeased.

He was not used to talking about strangers. Axel regrets having picked up his father this afternoon, if he knew there was a hidden intention like this, Axel would not want to pick up his father.

But wait! If you think about it, is it the right way? Axel suddenly remembered Anna who said she would find the right person for Axel.

"Anna, do you think someone like her is the right one for me?" Axel muttered while soaking in the bathtub.

"Ah, why do I always think of Anna when dealing with this kind of thing? Can I not be taken care of by Anna? Should Anna take care of everything? Come on, Axel, you take care of this business yourself, you don't need Anna to take care of it." Axel raved and cursed himself.

Axel buried his head in the water until he felt more relieved. Once satisfied he immediately got out of the tub and grabbed a towel. And at that moment he remembered Anna who almost fell in the bathroom she was using.

Why does everything always have to do with Anna?

"Shit!" Axel cursed.

But there is nothing wrong if everything Axel does is always related to Anna. Wasn't almost all of his time spent with Anna.

Of course, for work. Axel waved his hands in the air as if he was dispelling the images of him and Anna.

"Forget it."

***

Anna walked along the gondola shelf at the nearest supermarket. She was shopping for daily necessities which he usually did once a month. Monthly shopping term.

Anna stopped at one point and then her hand reached out to reach for her favorite yogurt, but it turned out that the other hand also grabbed the yogurt bottle that Anna was holding.

"Oh, sorry."

"Sorry."

Anna and the other said at the same time. Then they laughed at each other.

"You like this?" Ask the person.

"Yeah, you too?" Anna turned to ask.

"Yes. It turns out we have the same taste." The man said. Anna chuckled.

"Just a coincidence."

"Alice." The person suddenly reached out to introduce himself. Anna shook the outstretched hand.

"Annalise."

"Annalise. A beautiful name, worth the person." Praise Alice.

"You're praising too much. You're more beautiful yourself." Replying Anna.

Yes, that's how women praise. Complimenting others in the hope of getting compliments back.

"You buy a lot of things, on a monthly shopping spree?" Guess Alice.

"Yes, that is so."

"Want me to help? But in return, you have to accompany me to dinner." Alice said.

"Only that?" Annalise asked, frowning.

"Yes. You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not."

"Then let me help you shop first."

"Okay." Alice and Annalise went shopping with light chatter coming out of their mouths. I don't know why they just met but it's like they've known each other for a long time. Maybe it's because some of the things they have in common make them quickly get to know each other.

***

"Two steaks and two cranberry juice." Alice's message to the waiter.

"Anything else, Miss?"

"No, that's all," said Alice.

"Okay, please wait a moment." The waitress said before she went to prepare Alice and Annalise's order.

"Which area do you live in? Who knows if we are in the same direction I can take you home at once."

"No thanks. I live in an apartment nearby. Just a few dozen meters from this place."

"Sorry, you live alone in the apartment? Where is your family?" Alice asked carefully.

"Yes, I live alone. My parents died when I was little."

"Sorry, I shouldn't have made you remember the sadness."

"It doesn't matter. I was indeed sad when I remembered that my biological parents had left before I understood their existence because I was very young at that time. I didn't even know what sadness was at that time. But I am grateful because my adoptive parents loved me and took care of me. I've had enough happiness." Unknowingly Anna tells her story to a stranger. I don't know why chatting with him just flows like that.

"Did your adoptive parents die too? Why are you living in an apartment?"

"I can't explain my reasons in detail, but this is my own decision."

***