Suddenly the door opens.
"Julia... how long are you going to watch the movie?"
We were both surprised, my body reflexively moved away from her. Then the room light was turned on.
There was a woman dressed like an office lady. Her face looked mature, wearing red lipstick, and adult-type glasses, and her hair was tied back. Her eyes were so sharp, reminding me of my strict lecturer. Even so, I was amazed by her mature body that I'm sure men would be very attracted to.
"Mia, I didn't know you were coming."
"I wanted to check on the progress of your script. I'm hoping it's 50 percent done."
"..."
The woman sighed.
"From the look on your face, I think it's less than that."
She looked around, until her eyes stopped on the cover of the cassette tape I had been watching with my aunt.
She smiled. What did that smile mean?
"Julia, I'm thirsty. Can you make me an iced coffee?"
"Oh, wait... I'll make it."
Auntie stood up immediately, leaving us alone in the room.
"You... shall we drink in the living room, or would you rather drink in the ladies' room?"
Her words were painful.
***
In the end we were from facing each other. I felt like I was in an interrogation room.
It wasn't long before my aunt came in with two glasses of iced coffee.
"Here's the iced coffee, one for Joseph, one for Mia. Enjoy."
The woman took a sip immediately.
"Mia, before we talk, I need to take a shower first. You stay here with Joseph, ok?"
Then she left us alone, again.
"Joseph?"
"Yes!?"
"Relax, I'm just calling your name. You look tense, like you have a pressure."
"What do you mean ma'am?"
"Call me Mia. This is my business card."
"Oh, thank you."
"I'm Julia's book editor, ever since she made her debut. You could say I've been a witness to the author's life all these years."
She took another sip of her drink.
"You... think of Julia as your sexual material right?"
"Ah... ehm, that's not it, actually--"
"If you want to avoid it, it's useless. Because just now I saw your hands on her breasts."
" I am sorry."
"No need, I honestly have no problem with it. I'm honestly curious, about the reaction of Julia herself."
"Her reaction?"
"Did you know that she has a phobia of men?"
"I didn't know. All I know is that she's a famous writer who is suffering from writing block."
"The last time she published a book was two years ago, and it was also the last time she was able to write as well as she used to."
"Can you please tell me the details, I want to know."
"Even though you are her family, I think this story is too private for her, unless you are an important figure in her life, or you think she is precious."
I was silent for a while to think of the right answer.
"To me, she is a precious one."
She smiled, but this time her smile seemed genuine.
"I'm impressed with your answer. I guess you're not entirely a dick."
I forgot that she was a devil.
She took another sip of her drink, but this time it seemed almost empty.
"Come with me for a drive."
"Well, aren't you waiting for her to talk?"
"That can be another time. I'd like to talk to you a lot, more like discuss Julia in depth, but I don't think this is the right place."
"You're right, especially talking in front of the person, that' just rude."
She got up from her seat.
"You might as well learn how to satisfy a lady, because your technique was terrible earlier."
"Heeeeeeeh!?"
This woman really pissed me off.