SIMANDA/ A True Love Story Never Ends

Chapter 5

The weather is getting warmer. Spring is coming to London. Amanda hasn't said a word to Simon since that call, she also goes back to work as a model, but not for Simon anymore. She still thinks of Simon, but thanks to her busy job, Amanda could get him out of her mind.

Chris has come back from his bussiness trip. Their marriage is getting worse. He rarely talks with Amanda even when he's home.

"Did you get back to work as a model?"
Chris mumbled. They're having dinner.
"I did."
Amanda answered.
"I thought you quit?!"
"I realized I still missed my job so much, and stayed home all day is quite boring."
Amanda replied, but she knows it is not the truth. There's no way she came back if it had not been for an offer from Simon. But after all things that happened, she can't stop thinking about Simon, and the only way to put an end to that feeling was to find another job and be deeply in it.
"It's good that you go back to work. At least for me."
Chris smirks, Amanda doesn't know why he said that.
"I'll be out all day tomorrow and maybe will go home late. You don't have to wait for me."
Chris continued, Amanda nods to reply.

The next day

Simon doesn't go to the company today. He decides to take a day off. He will leave London next week so he wants to visit the city one last time. All the problems are solved and it's time to go back to Los Angeles. Simon should have left a month ago, but there was something made him want to stay. But now, nothing left can hold he back.

Simon wanders around the city all morning. He suddenly thinks of Amanda when he walks by the coffee shop. This is where they first met. After a few second of hesitaion, he takes a leap in faith and enters the coffee shop.

"One Latte please."
Simon said. He wants to try Latte because this is Amanda's favourite drink. He chooses a seat next to the window and spends half an hour there working on his laptop, then he leaves. He heads to the exit. His both hands are holding the coffee and the laptop so he can't open the door. Someone helps him do that.

"Thanks."
Simon smiled.
"...Is that you Amanda?!"
Simon realizes the person opening the door is Amanda by her blonde hair. Amanda also knows it is Simon, but she tries to rush inside to avoid him. Simon quickly grabs her arm before she can manage to get away.
"Simon, I..."
"I need to talk to you."
Simon says and drags her to the table.

"Why did you avoid me?"
Simon asked as soon as Amanda gets back with her drink.
Insead of answering him, Amanda notices Simon's cup.
"Since when you drank Latte?"
"This is my first time. I wanted to try."
"How is it?"
Amanda asked.
"Not easy to drink. I don't know how could you love it."
Amanda replies him with a smile. This is what Simon's waiting for, her beautiful smile.
"What do you want to tell me?"
Amanda asked.
"I'll go back to Los Angeles next week."
Amanda doesn't reply, she doesn't know what to say. She did try to avoid him, but his leaving is so sudden.
"I came here because I want to see you one last time, but never have high hope. I understand why you don't want to meet me, but can you come back to work for my company? I need you."
Simon continued.
"Simon I-"
"It's ok. You don't have to answer right now. Call me when you make up your mind. And you will go home now, won't you? I will drive you home."

Amanda nods. She follows Simon out to the car. They drive home in silence. Amanda sometimes glances at Simon but she tries not to let him know.

"Thanks Simon. You can leave now."
Amanda said. They've arrived at Amanda's house.
"I won't leave until you walk in."

Amanda can't do nothing but to go inside. However, she realizes she had forgotten bringing her key, so she can't be in until Chris comes home.

"What's wrong?"
Simon is still waiting outside when he sees Amanda heads to his car worriedly.
"I forgot to bring my key with me. Chris won't be home til late night and I don't want to mind him"
Simon thinks for while then he says.
"You can come to my house while waiting. It's not safe for a woman to stay out, the weather is quite cold too."
"I'm ok! I just need a drive to the coffee shop."
Amanda tries to refuse. But in the end, she agrees Simon's offer because she doen't feel well and it's not a good idea to spent hours in the coffee shop.

They arrived at an old studio. It's still in the city but there's no sign of noisy traffic around. Everything is so quite that she can even hear the wind blows.

"Does this studio belong to you?"
Amanda asked.
"Well, it was actually my dad's, but he gave it to me as a 18th birthday's present."
Simon replies, opens the door and turns on the light. He leads the way to Amanda to go upstairs.
"A boy hires the studio for his band as a place to pratice, I rarely stay here so I let him move in. The second floor is mine."

He continued and stopped at a small room. There aren't much things in the room, everything is simply organized. Although the room is quite small, it has a beautiful view outside of a blossom tree.

"Make yourself at home."
Simon smiles, pulls out the chair for Amanda and goes to the kitchen for some drinks.
"I really love the house!"
Amanda exclaimed.
"Are you?!"
"How can I not. Tidy and simple, also has a beautiful view."
"I'm glad you love it."
Simon murmurs, places two cups of tea on the table.

The silence overwheelm the small room. Amanda has a sip of tea, the hot tea makes her feel better.

"Did you buy this book?"
Amanda looks around the book shelf when her eyes stops at a familiar book - her biography.
"Yah, I saw it at the bookstore and... well, curiosity leaded me to the book."
"What kind of curiosity?"

"All the things about you. More than your name, your favourite drink."

Simon murmurs then stands up and heads to the window, leave Amanda alone with many questions to ask.

"This peaceful view. How can I find something like this in a busy city like LA."
Simon smiles sadly.
"I'm gonna miss you Simon."
Amanda says, she has left her seat and standing next to Simon.

"That job? Have you made up your mind?"
Simon turns to Amanda and asks.

"I do. I'll take the job."

Amanda has been thinking a lot. She likes Simon's company, his staffs are also really kind, and she loves working for him, even though this may be the last time they meet.
Simon smiles widely. He can't tell how happy he is when Amanda said she would come back.

"Can you free for a hug?"
He suddenly asked
"Always!"
Amanda answers, and steps foward to hug Simon. Simon crosses his arms around her waist, as tight as he could, likes he never wants to let her go.

"Thanks for making my time in London more meaningful."

Simon whispers. He can feel her hot breath close and her hands around his neck. They keep standing there, leaning in each other like it could last forever.

"It's my pleasure to meet such a kind man likes you."
Amanda whispers. She tries to swallow her tears and her feeling. She never wants him to go but also feels relieve at the same time. From the very beginning, she likes him, and now, she knows it's more than that. But they both have their own relationship and the responsibility for their family and the only way to make things right is to say goodbye.