The Devil

C H A P T E R 3

The man took out his hand for a handshake and introduce himself as, ”The name is Alexander Lee, nice to know you Ms...?”

I took his hand and shook hands with him while introducing myself, “My name is Linayla Kim. It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time CEO Lee.”

I took a glance at his facial expression and swear that I caught a glimpse of his lips curved into a smirk. I don’t know the actual reason why I should feel intimidated around this man. Maybe because he is my boss or maybe because of how much success he could get in such a young age. He had this vibe radiating from him that I could never explain.

I realize that our hands are holding each other for quite a long time and quickly I let go of his hand but, he had his hand still gripping onto mine tightly but not tight enough for him to hurt me. I swear this is getting even more awkward. A few moments passed before he let go of my hand and gesture me to sit down.

I settle down on the seat then he breaks the silence, “Well then, any interesting information about her?”

“Well Sir, she went to the same senior high school as you. That’s interesting to me. Perhaps you both knew each other?” Joshua asked. I shook my head left to right then said, “As far as I remember, I don’t have anyone I knew from that school named Alexander Lee.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow then asked, ”Are you sure?”

I nod my head. His eyes pierce through me and now I could feel cold sweats forming at the back of my neck. Insane how this guy could make me feel intimidated and why only this man after so long of my rehab?

I swear I will cry just by looking at this man. I’m scared, I don’t know what to do! Just then Joshua breaks the awkward silence then said, ”Introduce yourself to the CEO please.”

”No, it’s fine. I knew her already.” The CEO said. My eyes grew wide as I stare at him in shock of his replies. He knew me?Then he said, ”From the biodata, I was given some info about you earlier.”

Oh, I see, I thought he legit knew me from school or else I will flip out.I give him a smile then replied briefly, ”I see.”

Try to act natural, Linayla. Relax, calm down, he’s your boss.

Joshua continues the meeting and lends Alexander my biodata. Odd. He said that he had read my biodata earlier, why does he still needs it?— Maybe as a reference?

Joshua was about to say something when suddenly Alexander interrupted. He said, ”It’s okay Joshua, I will take over now.”

I could see from Joshua’s expression that this is a rare thing Alexander had ever requested but, eventually he let Alexander handle the interview while he sat next to him maintaining his stiff posture. How on earth he can maintain that posture for so long? I will cramp my body and turn myself into a walking wood if I did that.

”So Ms Linayla, what do you prefer to be called as?” Alexander asks the first question. I replied, ”Nayla is fine to me.”

”Nayla? Hmmm what about...May?” At that moment he said my name, my eyes grew as wide as a tennis's ball.

“Linayla Kim huh? You don’t have a middle name?”

“I do have it. Linayla Mae Kim.”

“May???” “The pronunciation is Ma Ae. That’s my japanese name.”

“Well then I will call you May.”

I rolled my eyes in annoyance as I stare at his blurred face then said, “Suit yourself.”

The silence made him snap at me, “Ms Kim...” I snapped from my thoughts then replied to him, “Y-yes?”

“Is it okay if I call you May?” He asked again with one eyebrow raised. I hesitantly asked, “H-how did you know... that name?”

He came closer to me and now our face are just a few inches away. I could feel his warm breath against my lips sending tingles down my spine and all my hairs stood up. He whispered, “There’s nothing I do not know about you, May. Especially the fact that we both went to the same school. You’re kinda the hot topic there.”

Yeah, hot topic. I hate that.

I forced a smile then said, ”I am not that kind of girl to be part of a hot topic. Not anymore after I dropped out.”

”Well, you are still a hot topic even after you left school. Questions just never stop slipping through every student's mouth. Like, where did Linayla go? What happened to her? Why she drop out of school so sudden? Did she move overseas?”

I chuckled, ”Knowing that they still had me in their minds back then made me sad. Well, I do apologize that I dropped out of school all of a sudden. I just could not manage high school at that time.”

Every single word slip through my lips made me grip onto my hand even tighter. It was all a lie. I hate talking about my school; not that I hate going to school but, what happened at that school just hurts me. It still leaves a scar in my heart. His eyes stopped at a section if the paper and I could see it grew a little wide. Hesitantly he said, “Y-... You’re married?”

“Yes.” I replied briefly. He looked at me then stare at me for a moment before asking, “Tell me more about your husband.”

“Oh...uhm... sure. So, his name is Terry Reo Ariyama. He serves in the military as a peacekeeper, so basically right now he is on his way to Afghanistan as a back up.”

“Oh... so he’s Japanese?” He asked again. I nodded my head while replying, “Yes.”

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After the interview, we went out of the cafe and I bid goodbyes with the both of them. Just before I was about to leave, a hand grab my shoulder and made me spin around and came face to face with Alexander. My eyes grew wide as a brief image of the guy that had raped me before played in my eyes outlining Alexander’s fit and tall silhouette.

All the hairs on my body stood straight and I could feel chills running down my spine. Judging by how Alexander changes his looks at me, I bet it is clear that the colours on my face had disappeared from his vision. He asked, ”Are you okay?”

My lips were quivering and I am lost for words. There’s no way in hell Alexander could be thatguy. I didn’t even remember knowing him at all and this is the first time I’ve ever meet Alexander face to face. I slightly nod my head replying to his momentarily hanging question. He let go of my shoulders and I could feel a sense of tension had been lifted off from my shoulders.

’Just who on earth are you Alexander?’ I thought to myself. He asked, ”Do you want a ride home?”

Quickly I decline his offer, ”Oh no thank you. I have to go to the hospital after this. My son is currently being hospitalized.”

His face grew serious and immediately he asked with a worried tone hinting his voice, ”Is he alright? What happened? How long has he been hospitalized?”

I was shocked at how considerate he is. Maybe it’s his way of expressing his sympathy towards his workers? Not sure about that but, I eventually answer his question, ”He is currently stable and the incident happened today. We rush him to the hospital early in the morning, the doctor said he has pneumonia and since he has a case with having asthma too, they need to keep him under their watch.”

He heave a sigh of relief. ‘Woah, he is legit considerate.’ I thought. He said, “I insist, please let me give you a ride to the hospital.”

“W-well, if you insisted then... Sure.” I accepted his offer and before I even realize, Joshua had already prepare Alexander’s car. Everyone’s eyes got caught at the luxurious transportation and the model that they’ve never seen before. Maybe it was customized. Joshua open the door for me and I hesitantly went into the car while Alexander went into the driver’s seat.

The trip to the hospital was extremely quiet, as if we both are in a room filled with a moment of meditation or as if the volume of the world had been turned down, either both the silence made me uncomfortable and awkward in his presence. Here I am, sitting in a luxurious car, having my handsome boss drove me to the hospital. I bet any female employees would want to be at my position right now.

Those staggering hazel eyes combining with that dark brown hair with a few strands of gold sticking out of the shadow. Oddly intimidating. My heart skipped a beat and my head started to throbs. The pain is excruciating and I fisted onto my blazers. Thank god Alexander is focusing his eyes on the road, it’s better that he did not witness my about to get a mental breakdown moment right in front of his eyes on our first meeting.

Once we reached the hospital, I step out of the car and was immediately hit with a sharp pain on both my legs. I supported myself by holding onto the car door and looked down to see my legs trembling as if I’ve just got off from a never ending rollercoaster but I did not.

Alexander realize that I’m not moving away from my spot so he came near to my spot to see the blood from my face just got drained leaving a transparent surface of an expressionless face. He asked, “Dr. May, are you okay?”

With trembling voice I briefly replied, “Y-yes...”

I’m not okay. I couldn’t feel my legs and I am completely terrified from the sharp pain stabbing both my feet. Is it because I was traumatized, that’s why I’m having this kind of occurrence? I want to cry but I also did not want to show how cowardly of a mother I am in front of Alexander. I got this gut feeling telling me that I need to show Alexander that I am a capable mother despite of being so young in age.

I pull myself up and slowly feel the pain travels up my legs, making the whole part numb. I forced a smile then said, “Lets go, Noah must be waiting.”

I slowly took a few big steps to reach the entrance of the hospital and went to the pediatrician section. The never fading sharp smell of rubbing alcohol filled my nostrils and despite of hating that smell, I eventually had gotten used to it.

We both open the door to Noah’s ward that he share with other kids. He had woken up from his short slumber and move his attention quickly towards me. I said, “My baby, how are you feeling?”

“I’m okay, mommy thanks for asking.” He said with a soft voice. I plant a kiss on his forehead and stroke his head while muttering under my breath, “I am so sorry for being a bad mother.”

Sure enough he did not hear that. He draw his attention towards the figure who is standing behind me. I chuckled at how cute he looks while c*****g his head to the side and wonder who is this stranger behind me but, his face did not show an expression of wondering yet it shows the face as if he had seen Alexander before.

“My dear, introduce yourself to Mr Alexander please.” I said. Alexander shook his head then said, “You can call me Uncle Alexander, little boy, what’s your name?”

“Good Afternoon, my name is Noah Akito Ariyama and I am 3 years old.” He introduced himself with a huge smile that could melt any cold hearted person’s heart. Alexander gave him a smile and took out his hand for a handshake, “Nice to meet you, Noah. You can call me uncle Alex.”

“Oh no no, you’re my boss, I don’t think it’s good—“ “Please, I insist...” Alexander cuts me off and looked at me with pleading eyes. I let out a soft sigh then nod my head, giving in to him then I said to Noah, “Call him uncle Alex, okay Noah?”

“Yes, mommy!” He smiles.

At night...

I slept on the hospital floor using my sleeping bag. I am now back in the hospital, the smell of antiseptic filling my nostrils brings back memories when I went into labour to give birth to Noah... I could never forget that moment where I experience labour pain at such a young age. No matter how many hardships U had gone through during pregnancy, people telling me just to abort him just because they thought I will have a better future if I don’t have a child.

They are wrong.

I am more than happy and my future is brighter than I had ever expected. Get married to someone whom I love and who cherish me and who will be a great father to Noah. Have a child who is so precious in my life, the one who taught me how to mature up myself in such a young age. I never regretted growing up so early just to fit myself into motherhood, in fact, I am grateful. So grateful that it felt like my days are a blessing from God. As if I am walking in a valley of flowers, taking in the beautiful scenery and wonderful scent, being surrounded with beautiful and colourful flowers and butterflies.

When Noah came into my world, I held the bundle of joy in my hand and take in the sight of a beautiful baby right in front of me. He’s mine. I cannot believe it. Tears of joy won’t stop running down my cheeks as I plant a kiss on his forehead. From there, I gave him the name Noah. His birth moved me emotionally and puts me to rest. He will forever be my precious son.

A stream of warm liquid could be felt running down my cheeks, I touch it and look at my wet fingers. A chuckle left my lips, ”God, I was a bit emotional right there.”

”Mommy...” I could hear Noah’s calls. I rose up from the ground and looked at him. His eyes are open and he stare at me for a moment before saying, ”I can’t sleep, can you sing a lullaby for me?”

I curve a smile on my lips then said, ”Sure thing, honey.”

I settle down on the empty space right next to him, carefully resting myself, making sure that I did not sat on the wires and small tubes that is connected to his body then I started to sing a lullaby for him. Watching as he slowly went into deep slumber.