Back To The Present(II)

"So, you are really Annabelle D'Costa?"

"I thought I gave my introduction before properly. Yes, I am."

Annabelle smiled sweetly, making Eliana more puzzled. That doesn't make sense. Though it was Noah who helped her this time, still, how did he convince Annabelle for her? When Annabelle was a person who never liked to show her face in front of the media, then how can she believe a proper stranger all of a sudden? It was very possible that she could be the one with the media and leak her personal information. To think it clearly, there was not a single news about her present life. Like she has a daughter or something like that. Even if she was married or not, people didn't know. Even a small bee didn't get to know how her personal life was.

Long ago, there was a rumor about her though, that she got involved with some of her co-singers. But Eliana knew it was kind of a baseless rumor. Because it was clear that before becoming a writer, she never got involved with any men that much. Now thinking it clearly, Eliana was finding her personal life quite mysterious.

When you are famous, people will just like to make up stories about you, gossip about it until it becomes boring. This was the real-life of a celebrity. You become famous, do as your fans say, walk on eggshells, then when you retire, you will be gifted with a lot of rumors and tension. It was a given fact. That's why somehow she could guess why Annabelle chose to maintain a closed and private life. After all, she had seen herself what it costs when you connect the media with your life too much.

Annabelle took Eliana to her own bedroom a while ago. They were now sitting on a sofa facing each other. There were also some trophies displayed in the showcase attached to the wall inside her bedroom. At first, Eliana thought about why these are not displayed with the others downstairs in the hall room. But soon her question got the answer when she found what kind of trophies they were. They were all achieved for singing back then.

These awards, they weren't something that shameful to hide inside the bedroom. Rather, they were excellent enough to have a place among the other awards. Then, why did she do that? It clearly looks like something intentional.

"I am so sorry to make you sit here. This is my bedroom. This house is just in the middle of the interior designing process. I thought it would look good if I changed the insights sometimes, right?" she sounded a little apologetic.

"No, no! It's totally fine! So, that's why there is no electricity here?"

"Yeah, you can say that. Anyways, it's winter so I didn't bother with it that much."

"I see."

Somehow, the whole thing sounded a bit fishy to Eliana. It sounded like she was not living here. Then again, that child of hers, maybe there is also a boy, they also live here with her, right?

Though it was kinda out of her character, she felt a lot of questions in her mind. Actually, today all the things happening to her were surreal. She couldn't just accept it simply that Annabelle was allowing her to intervene in her personal space like that.

Let's not think about these! Eliana said to herself. If she pries too much into it, it will be a violation of someone's privacy. She is not some kind of creepy columnist who has come here to gather up some information about Annabelle. She was here for a different reason, a reason which will inspire her to become a writer.

"So, shall we get to the point?"

Eliana's daze broke when Annabelle started to talk.

"Yeah, of course, Miss…." Before she could finish, Annabelle interrupted her.

"Call me Annabelle. It sounds much better."

Eliana blushed by this sudden intimacy. This time, it made her confused as to whether she should be happy or suspicious about it. But she was really glad that someone like Miss D'Costa was so amicable as a person despite being such a big person.

"Okay, Annabelle." Eliana smiled back.

"That's better!"

This time she smiled more widely. Each and every time she smiles, Eliana just stares at her with awe. How can someone smile so beautifully? Each time she wonders.

"To tell you the truth, I didn't know that I was supposed to meet you today. Noah, he didn't even tell me….. Come to think of, you know Noah?"

"Yeah, we are related somehow. Although it was not necessary to know who you were going to meet today before coming here. Treat me as a normal advisor of yours. You wanted some stories, right?"

Eliana adjusted her glasses onto her nose out of habit.

"Yes, some real stories experienced by various people."

"I don't think you need various people for that."

Eliana twitched her brows in confusion.

"Why?"

"Because you don't need to focus on details. If you get to know only one person's story thoroughly, you will get to know all the stories of the close persons around them. After all, our lives are connected with our surroundings."

At some point, it does make sense. Hearing only some specific stories won't be enough for a perfect creation.

"If you want to know my opinion, I would say, when I write something, I am not that bothered about the reality. When you start something with passion, whatever it is, it becomes realistic and more relatable with your life."

She was indeed Annabelle D'Costa. Each and every word spelled from her mouth made sense as always. Fortunately, she is someone who got to hear her advice with her own mouth sitting in front of her.

"So, how about I tell my story? It will help, I guess?"

Eh? It was already enough that she was getting help from her, but hearing her own story? Isn't it too much?

Looking at her expression, Annabelle laughed heartily.

"Don't worry, I don't have any weird story to tell."

"No, no! It's not that….. Are you sure you are gonna tell me the whole story?"

"Hmm… I didn't tell you that you will get to hear the full story. You will listen to some fragments, and later you have to work on them. Or else it won't be your story, right?"

"I guess…"

This time Eliana was more than confused. She no longer knows what's even happening. She just decided to go with the flow.

"Did you bring a recorder?"

"Recorder? No..."

"Then let me bring mine. You will need it today. Which one will you prefer? Coffee or tea?"

"Tea, I guess?" Eliana said after pausing for a while.

For some reason, hearing that, Annabelle's face became a little pale. As if she accidentally remembered something unpleasant. Then again, it was a split second and she regained herself by putting her iconic smile on her face as if nothing happened.

What was that all of a sudden?

_Back To The Present_

"That's it?"

She thought she could get to know more about the story. At least, she wished so. Then again, what Annabelle can do right now is merely give her inspiration, a perfect view, and an idea to write. After continuously listening to her story, Eliana almost forgot what she was for here today. She was feeling weird as if she was also there.

Eliana acknowledged Annabelle's talent but never knew she was really the versatile genius people tagged her as. She could really do anything. She was telling her story to Eliana as if she did the storytelling job for decades. She took her inside the story, inside her sorrows, also inside all the events happening there. Now, Eliana felt really dejected. It was clear that she won't get to hear the rest of the story. After all, from here, she had to make her own one.

"Feeling sad?"

"Yeah, a bit."

"Don't worry, when you will finish your own story, you won't regret knowing this one then anymore. Trust me," Annabelle said, making her voice a little assuring.

"Hmm… I see. Another thing, Ma'am."

"Again? I am not that old yet, Eliana." Annabelle squinted her eyes, faking annoyance.

Eliana chuckled by witnessing her expression.

"Okay, Okay, Annabelle, right?"

"Hmm, perfect. Tell me what it is?"

"Do I need to change all the character's names?"

"You wish, it's not necessary. Just don't change one person's name. How about it? You know who I am talking about, right?"

Annabelle grinned as she looked at Eliana as if she was requesting her to keep those names. Though she was thinking to change some parts a little bit to make it look like her own story, she later decided in her mind to not change it. Annabelle deserves the credit at the start. She sowed the seeds, and now Eliana has to bring the whole thing towards the climax. She wants to give Annabelle's story a new reason, a new ending.

But won't it make problems for the people holding these names? Or she changed them according to her choice? The moment this thought crossed her mind, she felt a bit uncomfortable. Though there was no reason to feel uncomfortable. Then, why? Why is something feeling off to her all of a sudden?

… … … ...

Eliana was preparing to leave when Annabelle called her from behind.

"A wise advice for you, Eliana. Don't think about what actually happened, just focus on your story, okay? And don't come here until you finish it."

"You are gonna check it first, right? I want you to be the first person to read it, Annabelle." This was the first time she voluntarily said her name.

Annabelle was surprised for a moment, but in the next second, she replied back.

"That's the editor's job, Eliana. Just give me the honor to be one of the readers of your first successful book, that will be enough. There is no special reader for a writer, all of the readers should be the same for us. You know that right?"

Although Eliana felt a little sad to hear that, she nodded in agreement as she felt that what Annabelle said was completely right.