Chapter 67 - Mama & Dad (2/2)

He probably went to his apartment to take his things and would return to the Cypress Gardens later. But later meant it could be late into the night, and so she hoped that she would be already asleep by then.

”This is your room,” Marian announced as the servant opened the screen door, and a very cozy traditional room with delicate decorations came before them. The screen doors themselves were work of arts, while the rest of the room was in elegant cherry blossom hues. ”How is it?”

”Exquisite,”Yanee answered readily. There was no other word she could muster to describe the room.

”Well, I'm glad you obviously like it. Our mom would be very happy,” Marian said happily.

Yanee of course clearly heard the word ”our” referring to the madam. But since she had already agreed to call the lady mama, she found nothing wrong with it.

”Thank you,” she murmured in appreciation before she was dragged into the room.

”Your clothes have been placed there,” Marian added as she pointed at the black antique Japanese armoire with delicate sakura design, before hurrying towards the screen door on the opposite side of the room.

”Are you sure you should be running around?”Yanee felt exasperated and nervous about the way Marian moved.

She was like a little girl going around the room excitedly. What if she tripped? Yanee hurried to her side, but not fast enough before Marian pushed the screen door open, and a very beautiful scenery appeared before their eyes.

Yanee was familiar with traditional houses and their Zen gardens, but this seeing one for real was a different experience. The back garden was filled with summer flowers and the most notable thing she saw was the huge hot spring pool there surrounded by rocks.

”Is this natural?” she asked in awe as she looked at the steaming water.

”It is,” Marian answered. ”You can take a dip now if you want.”

”Eh? I will do that maybe later,” Yanee said but Marian shook her head.

She pulled Yanee towards the changing screen and handed her a robe. Yanee had no choice but to comply. She'd been living in Japan for a long time and was used to this kind of thing. Women bathed together in hot springs nȧkėd so she had no inhibition to remove her clothes, wrap a towel around her only to remove them again when she dipped into the hot pool.

Oh! That felt good.

Yanee wanted to groan at the pŀėȧsurė the hot water was giving her screaming muscles. She glanced up at Marian who had settled on the lounging chair the servant placed next to the pool. Since she's pregnant, Marian's not allowed to take very hot baths as it could result to deformity of the fetus and other pregnancy complications.

”It's very nice, isn't it?” Marian asked with a knowing smile.

”It is. I'm glad I listened to you,”Yanee stated as she raised her hand and gave Marian a heart sign, making the older woman laugh.

”Well, it's the only thing I can do to make you relax. You seem so troubled when you arrived. I guess my little brother already made a move on you.”

Huh?

Yanee slipped into the pool in shock making the water splash and she sputtered as she shifted to sit right back up.

WHAT?

”Y-You… know?” Yanee couldn't believe it. Did Tohru tell Marian?

Marian laughed. ”No, he didn't tell me he confessed to you. But he's my little brother and you're acting so weird so I guessed he did.”

”I…see,” Yanee murmured as her cheeks reddened. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts and went quiet so Marian quickly apologized.

”Sorry. Did I make you uncomfortable?”

Yanee shook her head. ”No. I'm so sorry. I was just thinking. I mean, I was not expecting. I mean he's…”her voice trailed off as she sank into the water with only her nose up exposed.

Marian laughed. ”Well, I guess you're still shocked. But I do hope you'll give him a chance after you think it over. He's a good boy and I'm sure he'll be a good partner for you.”

Yanee sighed as she sat back up again. ”But I'm not really into office romance. I feel they don't work.”

”Why do you think so? Aren't you working on a project like that?” Marian countered and Yanee panicked, thinking she said something rude. Marian was one of her interviewees after all.

But words had already been said. There was no taking them back.

”I mean pure office romance. Even Yunjae and Jinho, Ash and Alex met somewhere else, right?” They were not really office affairs and it's why Yanee also had trouble how to write them.

Marian then brightened. ”Oh! Don't worry. My story with Liam's purely an office romance thing,” she said.

”Really?” Yanee was surprised. This would be the first time she'd hear one in that case.

”Yes. We're here anyway so I might as well tell you the story now…”