Knight

Chapter 4 Reunion

Darrell was startled when Callista suddenly scooted over to him. They were looking at some books while waiting for Isla. His bodyguard is taking their purchases to the car and organised couriers for the rest. "What's wrong? " Callista looked scarred. "Nothing." He wound his free hand around her waist and tucked her head under his chin, looking to all the world that he was sniffing his wife's hair when he was in fact observing their surroundings. Ah, a woman was starring at his wife. She looked familiar, he frowned and discreetly took out his phone to describe her to his guard. 

"Anything else you wanted to buy? Isla is heading here." He said as he noticed his sister's message. His wife shook her head. "We've bought a lot" Darrell laughed. "Well, then. Isla" He waved at his sister. She came with a woman "this is Lana, my assistant. She will help us with courier services while we looked around." She chirped cheerfully. "Sierra and Felix can stay with me. We're going to the kidzstation upstairs. Have fun" He waved Felix's small hand as Isla dragged her out of the bookstore. 

Darrell turned to look at his own guard that appeared then, and raised an eyebrow. "Her name is Helena Soedirja. The wife of Mr. Robert Soedirja. He is the owner of Soedirja Telecommunications." His other eyebrow joined the first one. "What did she want with my wife? " The guard coughed awkwardly "she said that she might be Mrs. Santoso's mother" Darrell blinked twice. "And is it a valid claim? " "I don't know sir, but she consented to do a DNA test. " He blanked out a moment. "Did she said anything about why she wanted to meet my wife? " The guard shook his head. "She just wanted to know if it was really her. She said that she left Mrs. Santos when she was really young. " 

"Papa, papa, can I have this? " Darrell smiled down at Sierra who showed him a plush puppy and nodded. "Sure darling, anything else you wanted? " The little girl shook her head, "just this one. We bought lots of books and toys earlier, papa. I just like this puppy." Darrell patted her head fondly. "Go find something like that for Felix. I'll wait here. " He waited until the little girl disappeared and told his guard. "Don't mention this to my wife. I will tell her later. Now help my daughter with her plushies." The guard bowed and run after the little lady. 

Sierra is tired, I'm taking her to The Little Bear's cafe at level 3.

Callista smiled at the message. "Woo, a message from the hubby? " Her sister-in-law teased her. She showed the message to her. "Ooh, poor tyke. She missed her nap right? " "Not really, she had her nap early on. Darrell carried her while she was sleeping. " Isla nodded. "He's always been that way with children. I think it was because he used to take care of me when we were kids." Isla smiled at her. "Did he tell you about our parents? " Callista nodded and give her a hug. "I know what it's like. At least you have each other. I got my nanny, who later married my father, but it wasn't the same, is it? " Isla nodded. "It doesn't matter now, we're both independent. Well, I'm on my way to be independent. " She laughed.

"So, you studied medical before? " She asked Callista who nodded glumly. "I had to leave before I finished because of my father's Illness, but I was about a year from taking the oath." "That's sad. Can you pick up from where you left? " "I don't know? Should I? I've got Sierra and Felix to think about, and Darrell too. The last year of medical school is the hardest, wht with residency. I was at my second year residency at that hospital in front of Prescott's, to be honest. " "Really?! That's real pity. You should continue your study. Darrell will let you, and you can always employ nannies or baby sitters, you know. I know that Raina planned on employing one. " "Oh, that's right, you two are also in university aren't you? " "Yupp, and we enjoyed every moments of it."

"Can we go to the cafe now? I think we're about done here. I'm feeling a bit tired too." "Sure! I was about to suggest the same. " Isla chirped and asked her guard to take care of the things they bought after she paid. "Callista? You're Callista, right? " A woman approached them. She dressed smartly and had an unpleasant smirk on her face. "How are you? " She smirked. "I'm on my specialist study now." Callista sighed. Here was Ivo, her biggest rival from school. "I'm fine thank you, how are you, Ivo? " "It was too bad that you had to quit school, don't you think? But the better for me because I got to be the best graduate without you there, even taking that fellowship with Dr. Pratikta." 

Callista smiled bitterly. The fellowship she wanted and the position she was a shoe in. What a hit. And they all fell to her rival. She handed it to her herself in a silver platter when she had to resign. Ivo was still making snide comments, mocking her for her failure when Isla came back. 

"We're done! Darrell said that he'll be coming here for us instead. Oh! Hi there, I didn't see you. Are you my sister-in-law's friend? " Isla greeted Ivo who looked like she had swallowed a lemon. "Sister-in-law? You got married? " She sneered "what's this? You got pregnant first? " "Hey! Don't talk to her like that! What's the problem with you." Callista patted Isla's back with a smile. "Now, now, that's not what she meant." Callista had known Ivo since they started school in childhood and knew that behind her snide comments, she was a actually worried about her. 

"I'm not pregnant before or now, Ivo, and don't worry. While I'm not going to be your rival now, I'm planning to continue my studies." She smiled. They were both accelerated in their studies, jumped classes a few times and experienced the cold shoulder and bully their classmates did just because they were several years younger. Even in medical school, it was hard to connect with anyone but each other because the other students were too old to hang out with them. Understandably, Ivo felt left out when Callista had to pull out because of her father's illness. While Callista was more open and understanding, Ivo's brash and snide attitude hindered her from making other friends than Callista. 

She patted Ivo's shoulder fondly. "Congratulations on your fellowship" Ivo grumbled and patted her back. "Congratulations on your wedding" She finally said. Darrell came with the children while they exchanged contact numbers and smiled when she introduced her friend. "I'm glad to know that Callista had friend. I'm sorry that we didn't meet before. You could have attended our wedding. " Ivo shook her head. "I most likely was too busy to attend." Isla and Darrell frowned, but Callista laughed. "Come on darling, we need to get back now" Darrell shook his head after musing at the two strange friends.