Life Without You

Chapter 52 - Confrontation

The next morning, Ariel was relieved when no news or pictures popped up exposing the kiss Leon forced on her. The kiss had caused her a sleepless night where she oscillated between feeling upset and worried,  to being repulsed and jittery with butterflies in her stomach. When she arrived for work, she pretended nothing had happened.

Today, Fujita's in-house film crew came over to the restaurant to film for their weekly YouTube cooking videos. Ariel, Hong and Han were present for the shoot.

"Once the gravy is done, pour it over the grilled fish...see how it shines? Just like my bald head!" joked Han as he poured the gravy on top.

"And place these curly green onion garnish over the fish," Hong placed some garnish over its head. "Now it's got hair, sorry Han," Hong laughed that contagious ticklish laugh of his.

Since the introduction of the two chefs to the channel, the number of subscribers had grown exponentially. Fans nicknamed them Hi-Ho-Ha from the first two letters of Hinata and their names, for they love the comedic vibes that these two chefs brought to the videos. They were so natural with the camera that they did not really need to rely on the script, unlike Ariel who preferred to be well-prepared. While Ariel presented herself as classy and professional, Hong and Han took a more casual and jovial approach. Even Ariel noticed they enjoyed filming more than she did.

After their shoot ended, a waitress approached Ariel, "Ariel, someone's looking for you."

"Who? Another fan?" asked Ariel.

"This lady refused to pay the bills until she sees you. Said you two met at the park last night."

Ariel knew who the waitress was referring to, and immediately followed her out to the table where that said lady was sitting.

"Hello," Emily waved her fingers at Ariel with her dimply smile.

Ariel sat down across her.

Emily took a last bite of the avocado tomato salad, "Leon's favourite salad, right?"

"What do you want from me?" Ariel narrowed her eyes at her.

"Simple. I want Leon back."

"Ask him yourself. Why bother me?"

"I can't anymore."

"Then what has that got to do with me?"

"Everything. You're the reason he can't come back to me," Emily played with her fork.

"Me?" Ariel raised her eyebrows. "I'm his ex-employee, not his girlfriend."

"But you have his heart," Emily's smile became broader.

Ariel was pricked by the same words that Leon mentioned last night. That uninvited kiss still felt raw on her lips. "Look, I'm not interested in discussing this."

"Do you know why he likes you?" Emily continued. "Because you remind him of me. Why do you think he thought I was you when we talked on Instagram?"

"I don't believe you," Ariel shook her head and squeezed her knees with her hands beneath the table.

"Trust me. You and I have more in common than you realise. We're both mothers, we have failed marriages, we both beautiful women, with long hair that we almost look alike, 'cos we're both Asians-"

"You're part-Asian," Ariel corrected. "And I look nothing like you."

Emily simpered and continued, "And we both love the same man. I'm after all, his number #1, his very first love. His debut single, "Be Thou Mine" was a song he first serenaded to me at Forest Cherry Hill Park, when asked me to be his girlfriend. Gave me his first kiss and his v-card."