♱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀɪɴᴛᴇʀ ♱

T h e F o g

CHAPTER FIVE

"Your laughter is fading away
My darkness you think?
But I'm breathing the
Toxic underneath"

Everything looks so blurry...

I wiped my palm across the cold, wet glass and cleared the view. It's already snowing and the fog is covering the windows of my car. This highway is so calm and it's quite like there's no mankind out there.

Two or three cars passed by rather quickly. I stopped my driver and asked him to get off of his seat. He turned and gave me a short confused glance before pulling up by the side of the sparse road. He complied with my request without hesitation and I got out of the car with him. I moved past him and got into the driver's seat.

"Call Nicole and tell him to take you with him from here..." I said as I adjusted my seat belt and turned on the engine.

"Yes ma'am." He replied with a slight bow.

"...and wait right here okay?" I said, as i turned to look at him through the half opened glass window of my car and instructed him to not go anywhere.

At that exact moment, I realized the fact that it was too cold out there. The snow resembled a mund blizzard by now, and leaving him out here like this would be cruel. So, I pulled my coat off and gave it to him.

"Wear it," I said as I turned my head and eyes back on the road ahead of me.

I heard a faint "Thank you ma'am." Before I droves off.
• • • • • •

My car is at the highest speed. I know it seems like the same scene of almost every movie. Heartbroken heroine driving alone on a highway right? Very cliché turn of events.

Yes, my heart was broken. I Never thought I would have to face such a situation one day. I couldn't let go of the thought of losing my workshop! My home! My place of peace! I still don't know all the details of the contract that my father and his father signed together, and this even scares me more.

What should I do?

Present
Deborah's home
I'm pacing restlessly through the whole house. "What should I do? What should I do?" I mutter to myself in low tones as I tried figuring out a solution for my current issue.

Ah! I'm frustrated! I wish I had my father here with me.
I looked at his photo hanging on the wall of my bedroom. A drop of a helpless tear fell from my sober eyes and roll down my cheek.

Do I always have to be alone?

"Stop being a crybaby and think of a way! Think of who can help you!" My always irritated subconscious mind scoffed and hissed at me.

"The only person who can help me?" I think my hardest, trying to figure out who...

"Yes! I know! I have to call him."  I popped up with a sudden burst of energy as I recalled who.

I took my phone and dialed his number, hoping he's not busy!
"Yeah! Hello Mr. Carlos, how are you?" I said with urgency in my voice as my patience ran out. Fast.

"Hello, my lady. What reminds you of me?" I heard from the other side.

"Well, if you're free now, can I get an appointment with you? I need to talk, I have something to ask you." I asked and I was afraid he won't have a chance to speak to me.

"Um, well you know my schedule. I may not have time today, I have to head out for China on the evening flight." He said with a calm tone, almost regretful.

Damn! As I thought! No! What do I do now?

"Um o-okay." I said. I was sadder than I was before i made the call.

"Well you can tell me on phone, not in detail but at least for your satisfaction." He insisted and urged me to speak.

"Okay so listen, I'll tell you briefly," Without thinking twice I hurried and told him about Mr. Asfour and how his father and my father had a contract here once. Also about the workshop and the surprising fact that he wants to be my student!

There was a smooth silence for a moment.

Listening to everything Mr. Carlos said, "I think as he wants to be your student, make him." I wanted to burst.

What!
"What are you saying? I can't just make people my student, you know that. I have my work and I'm not a teacher. That's- I don't know what are you talking 'bout."

I was feeling nervous thinking of making someone completely unfamilair my student! And I have my own works anyway, I don't have time or the guts to teach someone!

"Look bore, my dear. I know your situation and in my opinion, this is the best thing to do now. He didn't want your workshop or property right? But you owe him in a manner. So you should give him what he wants if you don't want to lose your place." This old man can persuade me, but also,  he's right in this case. I had to comply, to avoid more problems.

• • • • • •

"Hello? Mr. Asfour?" I said on the line as my heart raced.

"Ms. Augustine, I was waiting for your call. Is there anything I can do for you?" He said with the same warm tone, almost heart-melting.

"I... I wanted to say.." I began.

                ♱ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀɪɴᴛᴇʀ♱