[Trouble] Chapter 10 - Follow that lady

The birds twitted on a tree branch just outside of the inn gate, the sun has just risen. It is still early in the morning but Riz already woke up. He go and get ready, taking bath, wearing casual cloth and comb his hair. When he is done, he took out their bag from the closet, he fold the clothes one by one and put into the bag. He only leave a pair of the clothes each for Angela and Damian.

He plan to return today back to their hometown, since it is just a week before school start, so he need to make preparation for school too. He already told Lina and her parents about this, he told them that he will be leaving after eating lunch at the inn. He also would like to say his goodbye to grandma Meng too before leaving.

.._..

Amy took a morning stroll around the inn as usual, but she is walking by herself instead of with her friend. She frowned a bit as she wonder how to persuade that boy to stay with her. She then came to the dining hall to eat her breakfast, and coincidentally met him there.

Riz looked up when someone sat opposite of him on the same table. Angela and Damian are eating slowly, as they too look at the person. Angela pouted a bit and she look away as she nom nom on her foods more.

Amy smiled when Riz look up, then she look at Angela and Damian. She raised her eyebrow when Angela pouted, she wonder if it was because of her or if it is because she don’t like the food she is eating. “Good morning. Am I bothering?” She ask them anyway.

Damian shook his head, while Angela glanced at Amy and ignore her. Riz look back at his food, “No, but there is a lot of other available table you can sit at.”

“Ah, well, I don’t like to eat alone. My friend are not here today.” She said and smile, after she ordered for some food for herself. “Say, are you running away from me?” She asked out of blue as she then stare at Riz.

“It is because you are a weird aunty! So I don’t want to stay with you!” Riz said with frown.

“I’m not weird. I’m a normal person.” She said while crossed her arm.

“You are weird, you wear like before and sneaking around..! Its scary!” Riz said as he can feel his hair on his arm stand straight. He pull down his sleeve more to reduce that feeling. At first he just ignore when he saw her sneaking around, because he assumed that she was just using the same road as him. It was not until Angela told him that she saw her a lot before this too.

Plus with that incident, Riz then felt that this woman is weird and felt worried of his safety, which is why when she approached him for the first time, Riz felt the instinct to run away first, because it seems like she aimed him.

She startled, she did not expect that a kid like Riz to notice her watching him, “Hey! I’m not sneaking around, I was just having a stroll around that town at that time.” Even though she still said with smile, it was an awkward smile.

“Anyway I don’t believe that you have my custody.” Riz added as he look at her, even though he said so, he know that it was true because Mr Niel already called him last week, he simply forgot to inform him earlier as he did not know that she would find Riz that soon.

“If you do not believe, come with me today, and I’ll show you that I did have it.” Amy smiled, “You can call Mr Niel to accompany you.”

“…” Riz glanced at her more, then he go call Mr Niel, he asked if Mr Niel is free today, he really wanted to meet with him again, because he was unsatisfied. Luckily for him, Mr Niel are not busy today and he is free enough to come accompany Riz.

With that decided, Amy suggested that Riz ride her car, since it will save time, as they will be able to arrive on the afternoon, compared to riding the train which take a much round-about route, which are much farther, so the time taken is much longer.

.._..

Juniel hung his phone with a yawn, as he go took bath and then wear a clean set of clothes, and ironed his dark blue suite. He then go ready his suitcase, and then go take his spectacle and wear it. He look at the mirror to make sure that he look neat and proper.

Shinai glanced at him, “You’re going to meet him? I’d like to come too” She said with a puffed cheek.

“No can do, no can do, what if he remember after seeing you?” Juniel said with a chuckle, he then went to the fridge and scavenge the fridge for some ice-creams. He took a big cup of ice-cream and sit on a chair to eat them.

“I-I don’t care, I can pretend to be someone else or something.” Shinai said as she seat next to him. She leaned on his shoulder as she cross her arm with a pout.

“Well… We’ll see then” Juniel smiled and feed her some of his ice-cream, as they chill around till afternoon.

.._..

Meanwhile in the car, Amy took the seat at the front, next to her driver, while Riz, Angela and Damian occupy the seat at the back. Angela and Damian could not stay still inside because the car was quite spacey and the cushion is very soft. It seem Amy has taken note of the two of them because they were quite a lot of toys for them to play with during the journey.

Since Riz woke up early today, with the car not shaking that much plus with the comfortable cushion, he soon nodded off and fall asleep up until they arrive. During that time, Angela and Damian played with the toys without bothering their big brother sleep too much.

Though halfway through, Angela too took a nap next to Riz while she hugging him, and Damian head on Riz lap as he play with a transformer toy. Amy looked through the rear mirror and can see why it has become quiet, so she smiled as she chatted with her driver about casual everyday stuffs, and she once awhile also checked her phone and social media.

.._..

With that, few minute after the afternoon, a maroon coloured car arrived in front of a big golden gate door. The gate wall is very high and seems to cover a very large area around the gate, if one try to see, it would felt as if it were an endless distance, thus one would not know the exact perimeter of the whole area covered by the gate.

After waiting for almost five minute at the gate, another car arrived behind the maroon car, by which the big door left side are then being opened by the guard inside. Both the car then went inside with the other car follow the maroon car lead.

After they park the car in front of a building, Jyu Niel then came out from the other car, with a twin tailed bespectacled lady coming from his passenger side. She then follow Jyu Niel walk closer to the maroon car and stopped few steps away from it.

Amy soon came out and as soon as she did, Riz, Angela and Damian also came out together. The two, Angela and Damian looked around while holding to Riz shirt, hiding behind him despite their curious eyes. Riz went to Jyu Niel side and Amy then lead them to her office.

In the office, there were a big brown table near the big window behind it with a big chair. In front of the table is a set of peach coloured sofa. “Have a seat.” Amy said with a smile as she then make some drink for six people. She put a slice of lemon on each of the six glasses, then pour the drink into the glasses before she then serve on table.

Jyu Niel and the twin tailed bespectacled lady took one glass to take a few sips after they sat down. Riz just sat there quietly, and looked up at Jyu Niel. Seeing how calm Jyu Niel is, means that what Amy said must have been true, so he looked down while sighing in his heart. He is unwilling to leave this deceased parents house just like that.

And with that, Amy took out the document related to Riz, Angela and Damian’s custody from her cabinet. It was a copy of the original document, but was enough to show to Riz that it was real. After Riz flipped through the document, he put it on the table and sighed.

“Tonight, stay here.” Amy said happily with a smile. And Riz just nodded as an okay. “I’ve long prepared your rooms here, so I’ll show to you after dinner.”

From arriving until now, Jyu Niel has never spoken as he only watched and accompany Riz. Before going back, Amy took Angela, Damian and also the twin tailed bespectacled lady around the building, showing around to them.

“Riz, there is one reason as to why I passed your custody to her.” Jyu Niel spoke as he pats Riz when riz again looked up to him.

“Why?” Riz asked with a bit frown.

“She can take care of you and your siblings, your education here will be better, and your well-being is reassuring.” Jyu Niel said and smile.

“But she’s a weird lady. I-I got ghostbumps when she look at me.” Riz said as he look away.

“Ah.. That, yeah she is a bit weird… Don’t… mind that” Jyu Niel said awkwardly and laugh a bit.

“Uh… I’ll try…” Riz mumble with another sigh.


-To Be Continue-

[Trouble] Chapter 9 - Its Her Again

The three of them has been staying at the inn for more than 2 months now, Riz wondered if that weird women are still lurking around there or not, but nevertheless he still needed to go back to their home soon to get ready for the school after New Year. 

Now he has been helping at the inn for two month and this day is the first day of the first week of the third month, he has gotten used to waking up early to help around with Lina. Angela and Damian also now are very familiar of the places in the inn, so they can freely play around at anywhere they wanted without getting lost. Though grandma Meng volunteered herself to watch over them for safety purpose.

.._..

Today Riz is helping at the counter with Lina’s father. The number of customers that are coming at the inn now are not as many as the first month, because most of the rooms now are almost all being occupied, so there were only a few available rooms there.

So on this morning there were only one of two that come to stay for a few days, a lot more are starting to check out instead now. So Riz mostly help with giving a thank you free gift to the customers that are leaving. He also wrote down their name in the checkout book with other details like time of check out and etc.

At the afternoon just before they are going to go eat lunch, a woman came in, “Hello, is there any empty rooms available?” The woman asked with a smile. Riz looked up, and since Lina father left early to the kitchen, only Riz are at the counter.

“Yes there are a few rooms available. How many rooms would you like to have?” Riz asked after he checked the available rooms in the log book.

“Only one, if possible one with the nicest scenery. “ The woman said as she checked her cellphone. “I’d like to stay for a week” The woman added as she then close her cellphone and kept it back into her handbag.

“Okay, you room is 031, at the west side, facing to the west garden. It is a bit farther from the hotspring, but it will give you more privacy because it was a bit secluded from the other rooms. The room is bigger than the others and it have a lot more better facilities special for customer.” Riz said with a smile as he promote the room a bit. 

“Alright, that room is fine enough” The woman nods, “My friend will later arrive, so just lead her to where the room are in case she came when I’m not there.”

“Sure, I will.” Riz took note of that. “Would you like to include breakfast and dinner?”

“Yes, that would be nice.” The woman nods again as she then fill in her details in the book that Riz handed to her. “I’ll be back later then.” She then left after she told him that. Riz close the booking book and took the key to that room. He and Lina will go prepare the room after they ate their lunch.

.._..

And so after they finish eating lunch, Angela and Damian go to play at the west garden while Riz and Lina are preparing the room, properly tidy up the room, checking the futons and pillows, bringing new clean blankets and towels to the room, making sure the facilities inside are working properly and then they clean up the toilet and bathroom again. When done they take Angela and Damian back to the center, Riz stayed at the counter again as Angela and Damian follow grandma Meng to the small room for the lesson.

Riz take the phone at the counter and dial the women number to call her in order to inform her that their room is now ready.

Around 5 in the afternoon, the woman came back with her baggage, “Welcome back” Riz said with a smile to her when she arrive at the counter.

She smiled back to him, “Thank you.” With that Riz hand the key to the room to her and then show the way by leading her to where the room is. She enter the room, and after putting her baggage, she came out with a satisfied face. Riz then show to her where the hot spring is, which is located at the south of the inn, where the dining hall and also entertainment hall are also located there.

When he done that, he then return to the counter. Just as he sit down, a woman with a Red fiery hair enter, she wore a maroon dress and grey jacket, her high heels keep hitting the floor with a clank, clank, making Riz look up. “…?....!!” And he stare at her with a gasp.

“I’m Selina friend. She said she is staying at room 031?” She said calmly.

“Yes, I’ll… I’ll show you the room.” Riz then stood up and show the way to her, with her walking behind him with a smile, as she bring her luggage along. She whistled a bit and chuckle, and she shook her head a bit and smiled more. She never expected to find him here either, her eyes glinted a bit and she then stare at Riz’s back.

Riz felt as if someone staring at him intensely, and he sweated a bit. He shuddered and walk faster to the room. When they arrive, “this is the room, your friend is probably in there. Excuse me then.” Riz said with a forced smile and then run away fast.

.._..

Amy knocked on the door with a smile, “Selina, I’m here.” She called, then waited for a while, and she looked at the west garden.

The door soon opened and the woman came out, “Amy!” She cheered and hug Amy, and they then enter the room. They chatted and drink some tea happily. From outside their laughter can be heard, so anyone who passed by would be wondering what they are talking about.

.._..

Riz now are waiting at the counter, he frowned a bit, as he mumble, “Why was she here? Is she here to take us away?” He frowned more, as he then check everything at the counter before he leave it to go back to the small room, to play with Angela and Damian.

As he enter the room, he can see Angela playing with a knitted toy, its probably from grandma Meng, because before this when Angela and Damian were taking a nap, Riz do notice that grandma Meng are knitting something, but he did not ask.

Damian tilt his head as he stare at the knitted toy, and Riz come and sit close to them. Grandma Meng came with a plate of cookies, and also a warm hot chocolate drink for Angela and Damian. She also bring some mandarin for herself to eat. She raise her eyebrow when she saw Riz, and she smiled and take a seat at a table.

And so, Riz go sit next to grandma Meng as he ate some of the mandarin with her, and he chatted with her about what he do today, because he thought of her just like his own grandma, plus grandma Meng are also very friendly.

.._.. 

During dinner time, they went to the dining hall to eat as usual, and coincidentally he stumbled with the two woman. Riz smiled to them as a greeting, and he let them enter first before he then enter. Amy glanced at where Riz sit at, and could see that he is eating with the inn owner’s family. “Did he know them personally? Never mind that, now that I’ve found you, it is easy.” She smiled and then eat together with her friend Selina.

“Hey Amy, why are you staring at that table? Do you know them?” Selina asked while she ordered some food at the waiter.

“Nothing. Do you remember about the kid that I told you before? The one that I said that I wanted to adopt?” Amy said why still watching Riz with smile.

“Ah? From your cousin middle school?” Selina blinked and turn a bit to look at Riz, “But it seems that he have another two siblings. Are you going to separate them and only took in their elder brother?” Selina raised her eyebrow as she said this, she glanced at Angela and Damian that was eating.

“Hey, I’m not that cruel. I already know that he have two adopted siblings, since their family lawyer already told me earlier before he agree in letting me have the right to take care of them.” She said with a smile, “Plus, the lawyer himself is very protective of them. I would not do anything bad to them.”

“Well, it is just because… before this, you don’t really care about children since you doesn’t seem like you want to get married.” Selina laughed a bit, “So it was weird that you are interested in a child… and even planning to adopt them.”

“Is that so…? Well, who knows?” Amy only smiled, as she shook her head a bit. The waiter soon bring out their food to their table and serve them with smile, he opened the drink and pour into their glasses slowly. Then he open and put the napkin on them before he then return to his counter.

.._..

Meanwhile Riz ate really quickly, he does not care about his manner tonight, all he thought that he want to return to his room as soon as possible, because he felt really uncomfortable when someone was staring at him for such a long time. Even though he finish eating, he just realize that Angela and Damian has not finish their food yet. So in the end, he have to wait for them to finish eating before returning to their room for the night.

So when they are done, he return to their room with them. Angela keep looking at the back as they walk, she frowned a bit and puffed her cheek. She hold Riz hand and urged him to walk faster.

-To Be Continue-

[Trouble] Chapter 8 - Helping at the inn

After a week of staying there, Riz decided to help Lina at their inn, at first Lina is reluctant to let him help because he is their guest, but eventually she gave in because of her parent permission and Riz stubbornness in insisting that. So the first day on the second week, Riz woke up early to get ready. He took a proper bath and wear the staff uniform that Lina has prepared for him.

Their uniform are simple and easy to wear. It was a bit big for Riz but are adjustable with Lina help. Their grey with white striped half hakama still look like a long hakama because of Riz insufficient height and because Riz are still young. Riz blue hair was combed to the back and tied with a string to make him look neat.

Riz followed Lina around as he learned from her on how to serve the customer. Angela and Damian are staying with Lina’s mother at the counter in front, and Angela greeted everyone that come to the inn, while Damian helped Lina’s mother by giving the room keys. Their days passed by rather leisurely and Riz are learning well, and after more than two weeks Riz now can already start to do some of the task by himself without getting lost.

Even the customers gave a satisfied feedback to the inn owners, which make Lina’s parent smile because having Riz there is very helpful to them because they have no need to find too many part timer worker for this three month period.

.._..

Today Riz are helping at the kitchen, he is learning how to make the dishes with the inn uncle as his teacher. Despite having no experience in cooking, Riz learning speed are quite fast as he was after all a top student at his school, so his memorizing is good and he can easily repeat what was taught. So the uncle always pass the ingredient preparation to Riz while he cooked the food.

The other kitchen staff prepare the snack and any other simple dishes, which caused the food to be ready in a very short time. And because the food provided by the inn is very delicious, it cause an endless number of customers coming to the inn during the day, so the dining hall is almost always full today. 

“Ah! Riz! Hurry hurry!” The uncle called for Riz while sweating profusely as he keep cooking, and since he is almost done, he need to cook the next one soon, so he have to rush Riz for the next menu ingredients. The fire in his pan is very strong but since he is a professional chef, it was not a big deal for him, as all is within his control as a sizzling sound and fragrance scent came as he cook.

“Okay uncle, the ingredient is ready!” Riz reply as he done and put the prepared ingredients to the station. He sighed a bit and went to prepare the next one fast, because he know taht each second counts.

“Alright boy, great!” The uncle reply with a smile as he now done cook the current dish. He went to the next stove and start the fire, leaving the finished dish for the staff to put and decorate on the serving plate. 

“Ssshhhhhh!” The sound of some ingredients being fry in the oil, as the uncle keep pouring the ingredients in the new pan, as he keep stirring and adding it. While Riz now done prep the fish with the turmeric and onions, he dice the carrots and pepper. 

The staff that are done put the food on plates carry those out to the dining hall and serve them with a smile on the face, “Madam, Sir, Enjoy your food” They said with a simple bow and then leave to go pick up the empty dish from the customers that has finish eating. They also help to pour the tea for the customer and the customer thanked them for giving such service.

Soon it is time for break, it is now two oclock in the afternoon, and the dining hall is closed for an hour to allow all the staff to eat their lunch alongside while taking a short rest from the busy schedule. The kitchen staff all sat down, as some of them took out their own homemade lunch box, while some sat up straight when the uncle put down a bunch of dishes for them that he cook just before the break time.

Riz flopped on the chair, he took out his handkerchief and wipe his sweating forehead. He then go wash his hands. Though he has been helping at the kitchen for a few days now, he still have a hard time to adapt during the rush hours, and he felt that it is quite tiring especially today when there is a lot more customers coming due to the weekends.

He smiled when Lina’s mother came to the dining hall with Angela and Damian following behind her. Like usual, they always eats together no matter how busy they were, and the two of them never throw a tantrum during these busy time.

“Big brother!” Angela tackle Riz and hugs him happily when they are close enough. She snuggle and smile as she look up at Riz. Riz ruffles her hair and help her sit on the chair next to his right. The staffs always reserve two chair for the two little kids because there was one time when they sulk when they cannot sit next to their big brother.

After making sure Angela sat properly, he then helped Damian next. They thanked for the food and then started to eat together with everyone. Due to how young Angela and Damian are, the staffs that adore little kids keep giving some portions of their handmade food to the two kids. Angela did not feel shy at all and ate all that they gave to her, while Damian was not sure if he should or should not eat those foods.

.._..

After eating, they get ready to resume their work, while one of the staff bring Riz, Angela and Damian to a small room, just next to the main kitchen. Inside there is a grandma waiting inside. The staff smiled to her and greeted her, then left the three of them there.

“Grandma! Hello!” Angela greeted as she run and hug the grandma excitedly, “Play play again?” She ashed with sparkling eyes, making the grandma laugh as she lift her up.

“H-hello grandma...” Damian greeted her too while holding to Riz sleeve, and Riz walked with Damian to the grandma and Damian took a seat first. The grandma smiled to Damian.

“Hi grandma Meng.” Riz finally greeted her too, and took a seat, “Sorry for troubling grandma Meng everyday...” Riz apologized a bit.

“It’s fine, since I have fun teaching all of you.” The grandma said gently and pats Riz head slowly. “Plus, you and your little siblings are just like my grandchild.” She laughed a bit, “Plus it’s a good way of passing my idle time too.”

“I-Is that so..” Riz said with a bit flushed cheek, “Me too like to learn with grandma Meng.” 

“Angela too! Learn fun!” Angela said with a happy smile, she especially like to cling to the grandma during their lesson. Riz assumed that it is maybe because grandma Meng is very gentle like how his mother were, so Angela maybe a attached to that motherly gentleness. Damian nods too as a way to say that he too also liked to spend their time with this grandma.

“Alright alright. I’ll start today lesson then.” She smiled and took out sewing kit and some already cut fabric. It seems that this week she will be teaching Riz about sewing. Angela look curiously at the sewing kit, she want to open it, but the grandma took out some drawing books and also some origami papers, so her attention immediately moved to those two things.

With that, Riz was taught the basic of sewing by the grandma, he learned the style of sewing, the pattern and how to make little sachets as the practice for today. Riz learn with focus because he wanted to also learn how to sew clothes. With that he aimed to learn to make cute dresses for Angela and smart casual clothes for Damian.

The two hours of learning passed easily when one is enjoying the lesson, and Riz finished making three cute sachets with cute pattern. It is not too small and not too big, but enough to put small items like coins and cell phone inside. Riz also put some tassel and bells to the sachets, making it look better. Angela and Damian came next to Riz and looked at the sachets.

“Oh, you really learned quickly.” The grandma complimented as she checked the sachets too, and she can see that he sew it properly and there were not too much imperfection on the sachets, it does not look like how a beginner make it.

“Um, I’m just making like how grandma Meng show to me…” Riz said while keeping back all the needle and thread back into the sewing kit, cleaning up with a smile.

“But you make improvement and make it look much better instead of letting it be a plain and simple sachet. I can teach something a bit harder, tomorrow.” The grandma chuckle and pats Riz as a reward, which make Riz feel much more content than being complimented.

“Angela want too!” Angela again tackle the grandma with a puffed cheek, she was bit jealous because she did not get a pat for her origami work. The grandma shook her head a bit with a smile and also pats both Angela and Damian too.

Their small lesson has ended, and the two kids was a bit sleepy so they took a nap in the room with Riz sitting on the middle as they use Riz’s lap as a pillow to sleep. The grandma come and cover them with a blanket as Riz read a book in the meantime.

.._..

Riz woke the two up after two more hours is up, since he needed to go to the kitchen again to continue helping at the kitchen. So when Angela and Damian woke up, he then tidy up their clothes and then bring them to Lina’s mother at the counter. Though the two of them are still rather sleepy as they yawned when they walk, Riz holding their hands to lead them.

“You should have let them sleep more.” Lina mother smiled when she saw them keep yawning.

“I’m not sure if they won’t walk around when they woke up alone in the room… so I’m bit worried.” Riz said and pats them slowly, he help them sit next to Lina mother.

“Right, since they cannot stay still.” She chuckled, and she then asked one of the staff to bring two small pillow for the two of them.

Riz nodded, agreeing as he recalled that one time when he was late in picking them up at kindergarten because of a sudden meeting for the student council, where all the class leaders need to attend, make him arrive late 30 minutes. When he arrive at the kindergarten, the teacher told him that Angela and Damian went missing because they walked out of the kindergarten by themselves without telling anyone.

It caused Lyla and Fuz a big panic, and they with Riz have to find them around the town, only to find them playing at a playground rather far from the kindergarten. It seems like it was Angela idea to go exploring with Damian just following her, it was lucky that nothing bad happen to the two of them. Because of that incident, Riz knew that he must make sure that there are someone to watch them.

They sulked when Fuz scolded them, and refused to even let Fuz hold them, not even holding hands or carrying them. Even though Damian does not sulk as long as Angela, he still followed Angela by also refusing to let Fuz stay close to him.

He does not want to cause trouble to the inn since he was after all staying there with the two of them. He really does not want such thing to happen again due to feeling grateful of them letting him staying there.

And so after settling them, Riz went back to the inn kitchen to help. Because he helped them preparing for ingredients in the morning, at evening they only ask him to help wash and clean up some of the plates. So he went out to the dining hall to pick the empty plates and bring back to wash them.

When it is almost dinner time, the staff allowed him to retire for the day, so he went to the counter to pick Angela and Damian to return back at their room, to bath and clean up before coming down to eat dinner together with Lina family.

.._.. 

During night time, as the three of them laying on the futon, Riz told them a bed time story so that they can sleep soon. Damian was usually the first one to sleep first, while Angela always hold herself from sleeping, because she wanted to listen to the story until the end of the story. So despite her feeling drowsy from sleepiness, she will stay up as hard as she can.

Riz patted her when she finally sleep after the story ends. He himself yawned and also then sleep after he turn off the lamp. He make sure he two of them was properly covered with blanket before he then go to sleep.

-To Be Continue-