Chapter 48: 20 QUESTIONS {CONT'D}
“What is more important to you, truth or happiness?”
Munching away, I leaned into the chair to ask my question. The 20 questions bit worked well, Natasha hasn't remembered about the TV for a while now. She was even nice enough to get the tray of cookies. We should stay up late more often.
“Hmmm, I haven't really taken my time to think about it before. I guess I embrace both happiness and truth. But I can't be happy at the cost of truth.” She said ever so easily, not hesitating. Like it's something she wouldn't waste a second pondering about.
“Very keen on honesty?”
“Most definitely. Nothing is more important than honesty. It's best to call a spade a spade while you still can.” Shrugging, she stuffed her mouth with a cookie, brushing away the crumbs on her lip.
“I see you can be principled when need be.”
“Of course.”
“Shoot”
“Coffee over tea or tea over coffee?”
Jumping out of the couch, I slammed my fist on the coffee table in the middle of the living room. “OMG!”
“Geez, what?” She sounded irritated by my dramatics. Maybe that was a tidbit over the top.
“I feel so hurt, wounded, injured, pained.” Feigning hurt, I wiped away an imaginary tear from the corner of my eye. Sniffing, I clicked my tongue at her.
“Will you calm down?” Rolling her eyes, her arms crossed.
“Ok, I know for the past few months I have been a very terrible housemate. In fact, way worse than terrible. But Natasha, what do you take me for?”
“A sensible and logical person. I guess I was wrong then.” Gesturing towards me, she facepalmed. I always have to be over the top and extra.
Flipping my hair, I took my sit on the couch again. Perks of having long hair, it is easy to flip it over my shoulder. Just for the sass.
“After everything, how can you ask that question. Of course, I prefer coffee to tea.”
“Can you ever quit being so dramatic?” Sighing exasperatedly, her hands reached out to grab the last cookie but I was quicker.
“Pffft, where's the fun in that?” Sending a wink, I took the very last bite.
“Your turn. Ask away” She humphed, indulging me.
“Are you a dog lady or a cat lady?”
“I have a dog. That answers everything.”
“I guess.” Scratching the back of my neck, I realized that I had just asked an obvious question.
“If you could travel to any year in a time machine, what year would you choose and why?”
Suddenly, the world stopped rotating and the clock stopped ticking. Natasha raised her brows at me, waiting for a response.
“It would be the year my dad died.” I managed to say, breaking the silence. A lot of important things happened that year. It all went downhill from there.
“Oh, why?”
“That year, I met Hannah and her parents. I can't help but feel that my life would have been way better if I didn't meet them. I could have been independent on my own, gotten over the grief all by myself.” Anyone could hear the confidence laced in my voice. That's because I was so certain that it was true. Grief doesn't last forever and that one wouldn't have.
“I still don't know this Hannah everyone speaks about but I'm certain that there was a reason for your paths crossing.
You see, in life, you don't meet people by accident. There's always a reason, a lesson, or a blessing. Which was it? There's no need to answer, just ask yourself.” With one of the brightest smiles, she finished speaking looking anywhere, but at my face. I don't think she was talking to just me, it was also a message to herself. Regardless, I didn't bother trying to pry further.
“Well.....” Trailing off, I blinked several times.
Nudging my elbow, her infamous poker face returned.
“Stop with the awkwardness and ask your question.”
“I think I'll have to recycle yours. If you could travel to any day in a time machine, what year would you chose and why?.”
“23rd of February, 2008.” Unlike me, there were no hesitations.
“Eleven years ago? That's oddly specific, why?”
“On that day,years ago, I accepted a marriage proposal and walked down the aisle exactly six months later.”
“Hold up, you were married!” Just as I haf reacted earlier, I jumped out of the couch yelling. This time, it was worth it. Saying I was shocked was an understatement. Just the other day, I and Cyril discussed the possibilities.
“Ssh, keep your voice down. Lucy is asleep remember?” Shushing me, she pulled me back unto the couch.
“Oops, my bad. Back to my question, You were married?”
“Does everyone think Lucy fell from the sky or something?”
“In my defense, you don't look a day over eighteen.”
She's extra small. My shirt would probably be a couple of sizes too big for her. Natasha could pass off as a final-year high school student without anyone being wiser.
“I got married at eighteen!!!” Scrunching her nose, she rolled her eyes at me.
“Just how old are you?”
“A lady never reveals her age.”
“One sec.” Dashing away to my bedroom, I headed towards the dresser.
“Where are you going? Jeremy....”
“Here. You're thirty. How... How.. How!” Waving the document in her face, I smugly declared victory.
“You sneaky thing!” She swiped it from me, hiding it behind her back. Well, that's futile. I had already seen what I needed to see. It was her official profile information. Sam asked me to give it to her a few days ago but it slipped my mind.
“It's not making any sense.”
“Are you empty-headed now? I was born thirty years ago, simple. You can close your mouth now.”
“Lucy is eight, You had her at 22.”
“I see you know maths a little.”
“How can you look so small. Are you certain you're thirty?”
“That's what's on my birth certificate and also what my mother said.”
"You can easily pass off as my younger sister, considering how tiny you are.”
“I'm older than you kiddo, you'll accord me the respect I deserve.”
“We both know that's never happening.”
Chuckling, I nodded in satisfaction.
“I just had to try.”
“So, where's her father. Your husband....”
“I'll rather not talk about that.”
“But-”
“No buts, remember the rules? No, follow-up questions.” She stopped me from speaking, reminding me of the rules of the game. Batting my eyes at her, I tried getting her to cave.
“That's not fair, that's the only answer I'm interested in.”
“Life isn't ever fair Jeremy. It's my turn to ask the question. Who the hell is Hannah? I'm sick of hearing about her without knowing who she is. You talk about her a lot.” Changing the subject tactically, she asked her question.
“My ex.” Using both of my index fingers, I massaged my temples on both sides. All this talk about Hannah is starting to get on my nerves. Why can't everybody just let it go? Everybody including myself. She has moved on, I should too. Everyone else should too, and stop reminding me of the scar.
“Damn, I've never seen your expression change so quickly.” Her gaze was fixed on me as though she was scrutinizing my facial expression.
“It's silly, I know.” Tearing my eyes away from hers, I buried my head in shame. Nothing seemed to be more embarrassing. Natasha might not have held me with high regard before, but now she may never think I'm mature or manly.
“Silly isn't the word I'll call it. From your reaction, I'm guessing she dumped you?”
“Over a phone call to be precise.” Unwilling, I flinched at the memory. The day I threw my phone across the room in anger.
“How rude. She's Mike's daughter?”
“Yeah, how do you know?”
“Cyril said something to that effect once. Does it have anything to do with why you were avoiding him?”
“Maybe.” Yes, it does. What is she now, a psychologist? An observant one at that.
“I understand if you don't want to talk about it further.” Her hands ruffled my already messy hair.
“ I don't have any problem actually. When my father died, Hannah and her parents helped me to get better. It was my second family. I grew up under their wings, protecting and guiding me. We attended the same high school and college. Everything was fine until Andy died. Andy was one of her dads. Mike disappeared, I never saw heard anything from him. Hannah made me believe she didn't either. It was easy to date Hannah as I had always admired her. She was the one who dragged me into modeling in the first place! Everything was fine, or that was what I thought. Months ago, she had to travel to South Africa that's when it went topsy-turvy. I got a call from her saying she was done. Mike keeps defending her, completely biased because she's his daughter. It's like I never meant anything to any of them, to begin with.”
Gulping, I released the breath I didn't know I was holding. That wasn't so hard, just difficult and unbearable.