Chapter 199 - Im back (2/2)

He laughed at her reaction. He knew she would not be able to confess nor give in to her feeling. She was still in denial, a serious case of denial.

”Come on. How long are you going to keep everything inside you? You need to tell him. Or else you will regret again. Do you want to be under pain for the rest of your life?” he asked, no humour dripping in his voice. This time he asked her seriously like her own big brother.

She kept quiet. She refused to give in to his provocation. No more.

”Are you giving me the silent treatment? Do you want to hang up now?” he asked when he did not hear any answer from her. A smile curled on his face. He could actually picture her making faces at the phone as her answer.

She stuck her tongue out at the phone, imagining it was his face. How could he tease her like this? Weren't they foster siblings? He should take care of her feeling!

”The kids are already missing you and your steaks. When you return, remember to buy a lot of steaks for them,” Andy laughed, changing the topic tactfully when he realized she would not answer his question.

”Okay...” she replied shortly. She already missed that place. She wished she did not have to leave.

”Anyway, have more rest while you can. I'm heading to the sea for another scuba diving,” he laughed loudly when he heard her groan.

”Stop enticing me to go back,” she grumbled, hurting the way she sounded and cursing herself for feeling that way.

”Your loss. I have to go now. Bye,” with a laugh, he disconnected the call without waiting for her reply.

She sighed as she looked at the display. He did disconnect the call. It was rude but she was used to it. She looked for another number and called.

”Hi, mom,” she greeted when her mother answered the call.

”Hello, dear. Have you returned safely? How's the island? How's Andy and the kids?” her mother asked cheerfully. She knew about Ryn's trip to the island and even encouraged her daughter to go there to unwind herself. She knew her daughter was under a lot of stress and hoped Andy and the kids could make her feel better.

”Yes, mother. I've just arrived home. The island was perfect. Everything was perfect. The kids and Andy were active like usual,” Ryn replied, answering to all the questions given by her mother.

”Good. Very good.”

Ryn scratched her arm absent-mindedly, not knowing what else to say. She just wanted to tell her mother she had arrived, and now, once she was done doing that, she just felt... weird. It was awkward.

And she hated being awkward especially with her own mother.

”Do you have anything else you want to tell me?” her mother asked. She did not ask outright about the lawsuit because she knew Jeremy would handle it for her daughter. All she cared about was her daughter's feeling and wellbeing. She did ask Ryn if she wanted them to return or she would move to them but Ryn said no.

Ryn did not want to leave her study when she was about to graduate. She also did not want to cancel all the contracts she had committed. Even if she wanted to go to them, she wanted to complete her study and all her work commitments first.

Her mother understood that and respected Ryn's decision even though she still disagreed with her daughter working with those capitalist companies. It was Ryn's choice and as a mother, she would let her daughter do what she thought was right. Of course, she would always be there for Ryn, she and her husband.

”If nothing else, go have more rest. You just arrived, right? You should be tired. Go have a nap or something,” her mother told her.

”Okay, mother. Goodbye,” Ryn mumbled.

”Bye.”

Ryn disconnected the call and dropped the phone to her right side. She threw back her sight at the ceiling and sighed heavily. Although her body was screaming for rest but her eyes refused to close.

She sighed and reached for her phone again. It was time to go back to the real world.

She started to check all the miscalls and messages. Most came from three people; Jeremy, Mika and Harry.

She called Mika first, hoping her 'disappearance' did not make the silly girl worried.

”Ryn~”

Just as she afraid, Mika sounded worried with her wail once she answered the call. Ryn took a deep breath as she listened to the cry.

”Mika, Mika, calm down,” Ryn coaxed once the cry subsided.

”Where have you been? I've been looking for you. I even came to your home but you're not here,” Mika sobbed.

”I had something to do. Sorry I didn't tell you earlier. But now I'm back,” Ryn did not tell much, just enough to ease the worry in Mika's heart.

”Back? You're back? Are you sure you are back? You're not lying to me just to make me feel better?” Mika asked suspiciously.

Ryn chuckled to hear the accusation. Mika was so cute.

”Yes. I am back. Do you want to hang out with me or want to keep crying?” Ryn asked.

”Of course I want to spend time with you. Are you free now? Do you want me to go to you or...”

”Why don't we have dinner together tonight?” Ryn suggested, cutting Mika's off from her ideas.

”I want... I want... Then...”

”Just dinner, Mika. I just got back and I need to sleep early. Besides, tomorrow I still have to go to work,” Ryn was firmed with her decision, leaving nothing for Mika to argue.

”Fine... just dinner. I'll see you tonight.” Although Mika was unsatisfied with it, she just followed along. She knew if she pushed for more, Ryn would cancel everything. Thus, she just had to accept whatever Ryn decided.

Once Ryn was done with Mika, she turned her attention to the next person. But before that, she needed time to gather her courage.

Because the next one would be Harry and she knew, unlike Mika who was easy to coax with, Harry would ask a lot of questions until he was satisfied with the answers. It was quite troublesome but because he was a friend of hers, she still needed to call him back.