"Mommy, I'll join a recital next month" Catherine said to Nana as she played with her wavy brown hair.

The little girl today went to school with a lot of excitement; there'll be an announcement on who's going to be the Swan for the upcoming ballet recital. She used the cute pink hair clip at the front side of her hair, making her long wavy hair looked pretty. Nana smiled to her as she drove the Audi on the busy road of Hong Kong. She decided to off to the office earlier so she able to go along with Catherine.

Usually Catherine took the school bus and Nana will pick her up later on around 4, after her class. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Catherine had her ballet class, on which Nana always attend to give her encouragement to do well on the course. Nana enjoyed the moment she had with Catherine. This little girl along with her brother always energized her, no matter how tired she felt. Of course there's a time where she argues with Catherine. But still, she loves her with all of her heart. Both of her kids are her best gift ever; angel.

"Really? Tell me the result of the announcement, ok?" Nana said, glancing to Catherine who smiled up to her cheeks. The pink blush on her cheeks looked really cute; sometimes Nana couldn't help to pull both of her cheeks and played with it.

"You and Dad will come to the recital, right?"

"Of course. We will cheer you up! Me and Alden will scream your name as loud as possible and daddy will record the video of you. Sounds interesting?"

"Uh-huh. But don't embarrass me, Mom. Ok?" she said in a cute way. Nana made a shock face over her daughter.

"Are you feeling embarrass to have me as your mommy? I can't believe this!" Nana dramatically shook her head, pretending to be mad.

Catherine pouted and touched Nana's elbow softly. "No, of course not. I'm so proud of you, Mommy. But you know, don't be too loud. Last week, Harry was mock by the other because his granny kept yelling his name out loud during the football game. And he's kind of having trauma because of it. I don't want me or you being mock by the others" she explained, looking for Nana's eyes.

Nana smiled to herself and as she stopped the car in front of her school, Nana helped Catherine to take off the safety belt.

"That's not good thing to do, Cathy. Harry's grandma must be really proud with him playing on a football game that she excitedly cheered for him. Did you join your friend to mock Harry?"

Catherine immediately shook her head. "Daddy said that we shouldn't laugh over our friend. And Harry is a good friend so I didn't mock him..."

Nana recalled that Harry is one of a nice kid she met earlier in Catherine's class and these two seemed pretty close.

"Good girl. Now off to school!" Nana said, placing a kiss on her forehead.

She watched Catherine closed her eyes as she kissed her. No matter what, Catherine resembled Nana in so many ways. She is the mini her, even her habit is kind of similar with Nana’s. Time flies pretty fast and her little baby already grew to a pretty 8 years old girl. Catherine kissed Nana's cheek hard, awakening her from the thought on her mind.

"You will pick me up today, right? Mommy will be the first one who knew whether I'm being the Swan or not!" She said as she stepped out from the car, watching Nana.

"Yes, I will pick you up, Honey. See you later" Nana waved to Catherine.

"Promise me" Catherine gave Nana her pinky finger. She put her pinky finger over Catherine's and shook it softly.

"Promise"

Catherine then waved to Nana and joined Stephanie and Lola, her classmates, who just arrived also on the school gate. Nana watched her until she couldn't see Catherine and then continued to drive again to her office. There's a lot of things happened and she only had today before the product launch, which is the main issue now.

Today must have been another busy and hectic day...

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Nana looked on the scheduled event for the product launch. She rechecked again several times of the rundown of the event and put some note to the paper while sometimes sipped on the green tea in the cup. So far the event organizer that worked with her already prepared a proper schedule, but still she need to review it and make sure that everything needed for the event already covered and no mistake happened during the day.

A soft knock on the door made her startled a bit and looked at the visitor. Fei stood there with a happy face that radiates the room, bringing Nana a very wide smile.

"Hello Madam Wu, I'm coming to give my greeting for you" she said as she walked in and gave Nana a warm hug.

"Finally!" Nana shrieked as she hugged Fei, excitedly seeing her. The Chinese woman in front of her looked very beautiful and fabulous as always, which sometimes made Nana jealous.  "What took you so long?!" Nana playfully slapped her shoulder as both of them moved to the couch in Nana's office.

"Just came back from LA for a photo shoot. My schedule is so busy, Madam! But still, I came for you... Wait" Fei said as she looked at Nana's face and touched it softly. "God, what do you eat every day? Why you always looked so glowing every time I see you?" She raised one of her eyebrows, examining Nana.

"That's so cheesy Fei! My goodness!" Nana replied with annoyance, waving her hand.

"How is Kris? And how are the kids? Oh I can't wait to see them again!"

"Kris is fine, he worked well with his business now and the kids are great. Cathy is now on her second year in elementary school while Alden just enjoying his life as baby... which involve sleep and eat and play and that’s it" Nana made a quick resume of her little family which made Fei looked envious.

"I wonder when I can be married and have kids like you..." she ranted. Fei's fiancé is a busy international lawyer. They had been dating for 5 years. Last year he finally asked her to be her fiancé, but so far no wedding bell heard. As much as she loves him, she felt annoyed sometimes as he still not asking her to marry yet.

"The time will come, Darling. Be patience..." Nana replied as she softly grabbed Fei's hand.

Fei nodded and clapped her hands, just like remembering something. "And now, moving to the project, what help can I give for you?"

Nana made a time out sign and went to her desk. She took a box and brought it back to Fei. When she opened it, she found a set of Belle Club's Summer Collection. With happy eyes, Fei scanned it and opened the product one by one. There she found the foundation, compact powder, mineral powder, eyeliner, lipstick, eye shadow, and blush on. All with the orange, yellow, peach, and lime color.

Nana watched Fei’s excited face. She brought the product on her hand and looked at Fei with hopeful eyes.   

"Please check on this product and help me to rate it on tomorrow's launching event. What do you think of it?"

"Wow, what should I say? I love the color already, Nana! This is beautiful and really looks like summer..." Fei looked at the eye shadows set and found the pretty color on the pallet. "Oh, I love my job!" Fei winked at Nana and the latter simply laughed on her words.

“No one ever try it? I mean, other than the people from your company of course” Fei asked as she applied the lipstick color to the back of her hand. Nana could hear a joy growl from Fei.

Nana shook her head. “It’s just me, I tried using it the last 4 days and I love the result of it”

“The eye shadow looked pretty in your eyes” Fei commented, staring at Nana’s eyes. “Can tell you already this is going to be a hit!”

“Amin to that” Nana responded with a big smile. Well, Belle Club’s Summer Collection has been her dream after she launched her brand, Belle Club. It was the dream that she architected ever since she’s in junior high school. She never had any thought that it would be a dreams come true.

"Do you have other plan today?" Nana asked Fei who busily checked on her products.

Fei nodded her head and looked at Nana. "My mom and grandma invited me for dinner. It's been a while since they saw me... How about you? Any plan for today?"

"Well I'm going to have a final meeting with the event organizer at the event place and then picking up Catherine... Erm. Wait a minute..." Nana checked on her wrist and realized that it's almost Catherine's time to go out from school.

“What’s wrong?” Fei asked with concerned look.

“I think I couldn’t pick up Catherine…” she muttered as she rechecked on her schedule.

Nana frowned, not realizing that she almost coming late to pick her up but her works hasn't done yet. She quickly grabbed her phone and wrote a text to Kris. He said previously that he will be coming home quiet early today since tomorrow he will accompany her for the launching event. He should be able to pick Catherine while she's having a meeting with the event organizer.

Another knock heard from the door. Nana found her secretary, Olivia, politely smiled at her.

"Ma'am, there'll be a short interview and backstage footage taken from today up to tomorrow for the product launch. The TV crew already here, can we get the interview first before we heading to the event's place?" she asked.

Nana looked at Fei who already giving an approval nod towards her. "I'll be taking this and go, ok?” she pointed to the product that Nana gave to her earlier. “See you tomorrow night, Darling" Fei left a peck on Nana's cheeks.

"Thanks a lot, Fei. I'll send a driver to your place okay?" Nana said one last time before she headed to go with her secretary. Fei nodded and gave her a reassured smile.

"When are we going to meet with the event organizer? Aren't they supposed to come at 2 today?" Nana asked Olivia with a confused look.

"They informed us that they have another meeting earlier and it stretched up until 4 so we can be able to meet them around 5 at the place, Ma'am” Olivia replied as she looked on her mini note book.

“As I checked on the final meeting schedule, we should only do a rehearsal and some sound checking. Tomorrow you can go to the beauty salon around 3 and be ready at 7, no more meeting needed with the EO and we can start around 7.30. Your dress along with Mr. Wu’s suit will be sent to both of your office. The After Party should be held around 11 at Insomniac Club, Ma'am. Invitation and confirmation already received, the After Party will be more exclusive" Olivia ended her explanation with a nod.

Nana sighed and bit the bottom of her lips. It means that today probably she couldn't fetch on Catherine and even takes the kids for sleep. Nana checked on her phone again and made a quick call to Miss Lo, asking her to prepare the dinner for her husband and the kids.

"Ma'am, are you ready?" Olivia asked her once Nana noticed the TV crew presence in her office. She flashed a smile and nodded to them.

"Yes. Let's get started"

Nana really needs to get everything done quickly by today.

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When Nana was done with the meeting with the event organizer and summed up with her team, it was already 9 PM. Her phone was dead due to the empty battery and she couldn't find a place to charge it. So when she's on her car, she charged it and realized that there're lots of call from Kris and her home number. Kris also sent her a message, just a short "where are you". She frowned at the message. She already told him that she's having a meeting at the event's place and it's not typical Kris to ask in this kind of manner.

Once she's arrived, Nana noticed that Kris' car already parked in his usual spot and she drove her car to the garage. The kids usually already sleep at this time. She wondered if Miss Lo managed to get them sleep. Slowly, Nana opened the front door and found that it's dark inside. Miss Lo seemed only the dim light of the room.

Nana was about to get upstairs when the lamp suddenly . She flinched at the sudden light, adjusting her eyes to the bright room. She found Kris sat on the living room with a flat expression.

"Kris?" She called as she walked closer to him. Kris looked down with his arms crossed his chest. She knew this kind of expression he made, it must be something bad. And this usually happened when they fought pretty big. Kris can appear really frightening when he's feeling really angry.

"Put your stuffs. We need to talk" he said as he stood up from the couch and walked upstairs, heading to their room without even looked at her.

Nana felt her heart beating faster and she couldn't help but feeling anxious and worried at the same time. What probably went wrong until he treated her like that? He didn't even call her name for once. Her body was already tired and her mind occupied with the works thingy, Kris being angry to her was the last thing she wanted to hear for today.

Taking a deep breath, Nana walked upstairs as she brought her bags. She got in to their room, only to find Kris stood near the wide window that's covered with the crème curtain. He still didn't say anything even though he knew that Nana already in the same room with him. Nana put her bag on the desk near their bed and stood across Kris, waiting for him to say something.

"Kris" she called him again, reminding him that she's already there.

She could only see his back, never once he looked at her ever since she arrived at home. Kris turned around and looked at Nana with a very serious expression. This one was the first time Nana saw it. She knew his level of anger, but this one really scared her.

"Where have you been?" he managed to let out a cold voice.

“I went to the place for the event tomorrow. Didn’t I tell you already?” Nana replied with a stern voice. There’s no way she would be accused to forget tell him where she is.

“No, you did not” he replied. Despite his flat words, at least he looked at her directly.

“What?” she frowned upon hearing his answer. What was he talking about? She was really sure that she already sent him a message about her whereabouts.

“Has it ever occurred to you how I crazily calling you today? I called you more than 50 times, Nana! And you didn’t even take any single of it. Great!” he sarcastically responded. “Where is your phone?”

“Listen, my phone was out of battery and I just managed to charge it when I was on the car on my way back home. What is this all about actually Kris? Why did you suddenly act like this?” Nana yelled at him, annoyed with his action. This was not fair for her to be treated like this with her being clueless with the situation.

“Didn’t you suppose to pick up Catherine?” he asked her again.

“I supposed to do it, but then I texted you Kris. You told me that you’re going to go back early, so I asked you to pick her up. Are you mad because I’m asking you to do that?”

Kris closed his eyes and slowly massaged the bridge of his nose. Nana watched him as she still did not understand what made him becoming so furious like this.

“Are you sure you texted me? Because I have nothing from you on my inbox” he said, gritted his teeth.

Nana sighed and took her cell phone, just to proof him that she already sent him the message. Kris can be so annoying at a time like this; most of the time he will try to show Nana that she’s wrong and he’s right. And she couldn’t tolerate this anymore. She quickly opened the text option and her face fell down. Yes, she did create a text for Kris, but the thing was… she never sent it to him. She forgot to click the send button, and now she got the clear view where this dialogue heading to.

“Found anything?” he tested her.

Nana took a deep breath and tried to digest the situation. “Catherine?” she could only let out a squeak of her name, suddenly felt no energy to stand up with her legs.

“She waited for you for three hours at her school” he answered shortly, glaring at Nana with his deep eyes.

“Didn’t the school call me or you?” she asked him again.

“Of course they call you, but no answer” his voice sounded so venomous on her ears.

Nana recalled that after 5, her phone was already dead. She cursed inside, regretting her careless act.

“How is she? Where is she now?” Nana started to frantically search for Catherine.

“Asleep”

Nana stopped moving and looked at Kris who walked closer to her.

“She insisted to wait for you at school, even though her teacher already offering her a ride home” Kris said again, sighing before Nana. “And when I finally pick her up, she’s already crying like baby. What have you done to her?”

Nana blinked her eyes for several times. There’s no way she would hurt her precious kids. She remembered her promise to her and she didn’t realize how her words really affected Catherine. She recalled the pinky promise they made this morning and to know that she betrayed that promise, Nana couldn’t help but feeling really guilty. And the way Kris looked at her now totally made her sad. How on earth she could do this thing? Hurting the people she loves…

“Kris…” she called his name, confused on what to say.

She knew it was a careless mistake for leaving her phone with dead battery and even forgot to send him the message to pick her up, but then… somehow everything made no sense for her at all. She wanted to see her and talked to her and hugged her just to tell Catherine that she would never mean to hurt her. But just like reading her mind, Kris walked passed by her with a very piercing words.

“Judging from how quiet she’s today, I don’t think she wants to see you now. Talk with her tomorrow. I’ll sleep with the kids”

Nana looked at Kris with a longing stare. She really wished to see her now, but what Kris said might be true. Catherine must have been felt really hurt with what she had done to her today.

“Do you know why she waited for you other than the broken promise you gave for her?” Kris asked her, searching for her eyes. “She’s chosen as the Swan, and she insisted that you should be the first person who knows about this”

And just by that, Kris closed their room’s door. No warm Kris or understanding Kris, Nana was left all alone in their room. He even didn’t want to be in the same room with her. And at the thought of that, tears immediately ran on her cheeks. All the things she had in mind about tomorrow suddenly felt less important.

Nana didn’t want to care about how the opening will be held; she didn’t care what she should say in front of the media tomorrow. All she cared about now is her daughter safety which she abandoned today. Nana sat on their bed and covered her face with both of her hand, sobbing at the fact how her life crumpled from perfect to mess. Why her dreams seemed to kill her loved ones?

Nana seemed to have difficulties to stop her tears. She kept blaming herself about everything, even thinking that she’s a very bad mother. It’s not only about Catherine, but it’s also about Kris. Probably this is what she got for not listening to her husband advices many years ago when she’s about to start the business. She gained nothing from her dream and to tell that she’s proud with herself now would be some kind of mockery.

Later that night, Nana couldn’t stop sobbing and regretting all the things she did the whole day. Her dream should include the people she loves and not only made her as the only one who felt happy with it. She didn’t know anymore whether she should continue or not the big day she prepared months ago.

Nana was lost in her own thought without realizing that morning approaching already. The sun greeted her fatigue face that’s found lying on the bed while her body bended on the carpeted floor. Still wearing her clothes from yesterday, she slept with her make up on and even the hair do. The traces of tears were still clearly seen on her pretty face, but of course she didn’t notice it. Her eyes and face swollen, with a slight of dark circle formed under her eyes.

Kris found her on that position earlier when he woke up and about to get ready for work. He sighed and slowly walked to her, kneeled in front of her as he watched her sleeping face. Her breathing sound could be heard very clearly from his position. He traced her face with his long fingers and took a deep breath.

Im Jinah, what should I do with you?

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Chapter 3.

I surprised myself by updating it already. Actually I have another plot for this chapter, but I think this one that I posted will fit better compared the previous one. Scenes kept coming on my mind and this chapter was actually what I got from the 4 hours travel from Bandung to Jakarta. 

Crowded road and even though I already asleep for several times, the traffic was still so bad... 

Any though on this? Please share with me. I really likes reading feedback from you guys, because that's the fuel of my will to write the fiction. Appreciate everyone who already read, subscribed, and commented for the story. 

Hope you like this chapter. The next chapter would be the continuation from the last scene though, but better to put it for the next update :) 

Enjoy! ;)