Chapter 8 Small Talk

Angelica

That voice... The voice that I never thought I would hear all over again, the voice that I don't wanna hear after all these years, the voice that I've been trying to avoid, the voice that I loathe, the voice that broke me.

I couldn't move, I just stood there, I know he's beside me but I couldn't dare to look at him, I couldn't dare. I shouldn't be affected like this, I've moved on with my life without him and I don't need him, I accepted it already.

"Angela," he called out again.

I put on my very cheerful smile, "Oh, Hey," I say cheerfully.

He just looked at me like he is staring into my soul. He's indeed looking at me, searching something into my oceanic eye. I hope he doesn't find what he's looking for. "I—" He reach out for me but I step aside.

"Oh." I quickly said. "I'm sorry I thought there was person passing by," I made an excused, "Anyways, what was it your talking about?" I smiled again, making sure the smile reach up to my ears.

"Nothing, I—" He cleared his throat, "How are you?" He shove his hands into his pockets. I looked at him and he was wearing a white shirt and white fresh sneakers, they look so new and with a few chains dangling on his neck.

"Oh, I'm great," I stated. "When did you come here in LA?" I asked and he started walking and I did the same.

This is so awkward for me but he just seem so fine beside me like nothing happened of whatsoever... I mean he left who am I kidding? "I just came in California about two weeks ago."

I nod my head, "I see, why?"

"Purposely my job," He shrugged "It's just a small company, I just got in two months ago." His English accent is still thick and authentic, rubbing and scratching his eyebrows like he always do, "Since when did you start living here in Cali?"

Are we really having a fine conversation?, "About 3 years and a half maybe? I don't know," I shrugged.

He smiled, "I just love hearing that 'noer' accent of yours." He laughed "Your Aussie accent haven't change one bit. You still have that accent even though you've live here for more than a year."

"How could you mock my accent," I laughed, "I can't really change my accent, all my household are Australian, I can't seem to change it."

He nod, "What do you?," He asked, "I mean like your job or whatever. What are you doing inside a mall without shopping bags beside you, aren't woman into that kind of stuff?"

I raised a hand and shook my head, "Oh not me, I'm just here to buy some paint brushes, papers, palettes and I don't know what I bought. I don't really do shopping, Nicholas." I said, His name roll off my tongue like a poison.

"Your still the same. You still stick with arts and you don't really like sophisticated things." He smiled.

I wanna slap that face so bad, "I'll never be sophisticated," I almost forgot that Jeff is waiting for me at the car, "Look... Nicholas it's really nice catching up with you but I got to go,"

"Would like to go out sometime?," He bluntly ask and I gave him a confused face, "I know, it's just. I wanna talk," He said while scratching the back of his neck,

"I—"

Say something you idiotic fool, say no.

"I don't know. I'm quite busy." I tried now didn't I? I shook my head, "Look I really have to go my boyfriend is waiting for me." There I drop the boyfriend word.

He look into my eyes and I see his but I don't what it says there are like unspoken words in there but I don't read eyes, you read with your eyes.

"I see, so see you around?" He said.

"Yeah," I said and left. I almost run outside, I went to the bathroom just to pee not to see him. I knew I wasn't hallucinating.

"Ready Babe?," Jeff ask

I let out a shaky breath, "Sure, let's go home."

When we arrived home it was already 3 pm. "Mommy!" Zeke called making me smile.

I bend down and give him a hug, "Hello, bud. It would have been better if you came along."

Zeke was about to comment but he saw Jeff beside me and he said a quick Hello and left.

Jeff sigh, "When will he ever like me?"

I pitied Jeff. Zeke doesn't like to interact with him at all whenever I ask Zeke why he doesn't like Jeff his answers are all the same: He just doesn't.

I bet he got it from Nicholas,

And yeah I'm glad Zeke didn't come along. I don't want any family reunion especially 'To him', "Why don't you give him your truck?" I suggested, "I bet he'll give you a small conversation."

Jeff smiled, "Yeah, you're right." Jeff went to the living room. Sarah and him gave an exchange Hellos and he went to Zeke, "Zeke I bought you a truck," He said lowly,

Zeke grab the box, "Thank you but I don't really like trucks, I prefer cross words and puzzle and books."

"If we go to the mall together I can bought you some." Jeff said.

Zeke is just so hard to convince. He looked at Jeff and said. "It's okay. I have a lot anyway, Mommy always bought me one. I don't think I'll ever get bored playing them,"

"I see,"

Jeff approached me with a sad look on his face, I giggled, "I tried my best," Jeff said, "Damn your kid is so smart, he's not like any 6 year old."

"I get that a lot. He even understands my paintings better than you," I said. Jeff hugged me from behind, "But thank you for trying your best."

"I don't like paintings at all. I see nothing but messed up paints with colors," Jeff said, "But I support you at what you do best," He kissed the top of my head. Oh, the perks of being small, They can kiss your head with no complications at all. they even have to bend down for you and A lot of short people find it offensive but I don't. They have to adjust for you not you adjusting for them. Leaning into Jeff , I jolted when I felt a vibration on my small bag, it must be Moon Fashion Co.