Secrets of Lakefront House
CHAPTERS 17. MEET NOAH AGAIN

"Good morning, Jilena." Noah smiles at him, a happy twinkle meets again with Jilena emanating from his eyes. Jilena pulled her hand from back from the door handle, she felt her body tremble. Why Noah? Why should she be the one I met this morning? What should be in The Upper Spot at the same time as him? It sucks to meet the person I avoid the most.

Noah looks handsome in a branded black suit and polo shirt, navy blue. Jilena has heard that Noah works for her father's real estate company, dressing up as it makes her look like a successful Realtor.

"Morning." replied Jilena Ketus. He no matter how handsome the man was, he was determined to remain vigilant while being around him. The girl knew very well, Noah would try to approach her again. He did not want to fall caught up in the charms of that handsome and successful man. Enough of the pain she felt in the past.

Noah opened the door and gestured for her to enter. "You go first."

Jilena passed by, afraid that Noah would stand behind her waiting in line to order his coffee. Instead of standing waiting in queue, Jilena chose to stand in front of the storefront and see a variety of cakes, bread, cakes and other delicious foods in the storefront, and, pretend to be looking around and thinking about choosing a cake.

"Large-size black coffee, cream and a little sugar, a box of rolls" Noah told the older woman behind the counter. Jilena felt the sharp gaze of the man being fixed on her. Or is it just his imagination?

"Jilena, do you want anything? I order for you, ”dia offers. Apparently, it wasn't Jilena's imagination. His eyes were fixed on the cakes in the window in front of him. The black eyes belonging to the charming man were no longer attractive to him.

 "No, I'm waiting for Ramira—thank you."

"The total amount became one hundred and seventy thousand rupiahs" the cashier said.

Noah handed her the cash. "How long are you going to stay here?"ask Jilena. He didn't answer.

“Jilena, babe?” Noah asked again.

"Oh sorry. Are you talking to me?” Jilena forced herself to look towards the queue where Noah was, unwilling to hear the man call her ‘sayang’, Jilena threw away her gaze to avoid the charming smile on the man's face.

"Yes, you."

"Not long, just a few days." Then he looked towards the woman behind the counter. “Nonie, please call Ramira—what is he still a long time?”

"Wait a minute yeah, I made coffee for this guy, I'll tell ramira that you're here."

Noah was speechless at Jilena's reaction and was not interested in responding. Noah stood waiting until the woman handed him the coffee and rolls of her order. After that the woman disappeared into the back room.

Noah walked over to Jilena, “Jilena, please listen to me for a moment, I can see from your attitude if you don't want to talk to me, but come on. Forget everything that happened in the past. It's been twelve years. We're both adults now, we're not kids like back then.”

Noah stopped and waited for an answer, but the girl remained silent and did not respond. She really did not want to talk to Noah, it was too painful for her to see the man.

"I heard you live in the city and take a job in the paper." Noah said again, trying to get Jilena to talk.

Jilena turned her head staring at the man with her eyes narrowed. "How do you know?"

"My father owns the newspaper, forgot?" Noah raised his eyebrows towards her for a moment, then the corners of his lips curved up to form a mischievous smile.

“More, in this city everyone knows the personal affairs of others. There is nothing women in this city prefer but to gossip and spread the word.”

"Do you like to gossip too? Then why are you asking me how long I'm going to be in this town?"jilena said she hoped Noah would leave her soon.

"I want you to tell me."

Jilena tried hard to take her eyes off Noah, but it was very difficult to do so. Why her? growing up to be that handsome guy? The engraved sweet smile on the thin lips of the man beckoned for her, but Jilena would not fall into her trap again.

“Nah, now you know.” she felt her cheeks become hot as her gaze returned to look at the muscular, burly Noah. Jilena's heart beat faster, she tried to calm her heart so as not to be fascinated by the man.

“Let me take you to lunch today. We can chase----.”the sentence is disconnected

"I'm sorry, I can't. He'll have lunch with me" Ramira said, just in time to— save Jilena from the man.

"Yes, right" said Jilena, without looking at Noah, "sorry."

"Other times, then." Noah took his coffee “Can I ask for your mobile number?” he won't give up until he can get the girl to eat together, and chase the years he's been missing. “No!” answer the short and ketus jilena. Not wanting to make the girl even more upset, Noah stepped out of the place.

“Thank you for saving me,” said Jilena with a weak smile. "I can't stand to see it."

"Either. Here, your cinnamon roll.” He handed me a small plate filled with cinnamon rolls, covered with plastic wrapping. “I have to set it aside for you, otherwise I leave it aside, there will be nothing left for you. You know every morning many customers buy bread. Sit down, I'll bring you a cup of coffee."

Jilena picked up her roll and sat by the window. The bells clinked as the door opened again and the sweet laughter of a little child rang out. "Vino" said Ramira. “Ahhh...exceptional surprise!” Jonathan was right behind the boy. “We just got home from the doctor, and I promised Vino I'd buy him your famous chocolate cupcake.”

"Oh no. Is Vino sick?" asked Ramira, looking very worried.

“No, she is healthy, just a medical checkup before school starts,” Jonathan explained and saw the look on Ramira's face immediately calm. He loved that adorable boy.

"I'm going to kindergarten" added Vino.

"Good morning, Jonathan," said Jilena from her seat, not far from Jonathan. He got up and walked closer. "Who is this handsome guy?"

*vino Clarren Benedictus

The boy held out his little hand. "It's nice to meet you," he said stiffly, as if—dia had been training. Jilena grabbed the small hand and shook it, surprised by the strong grip for a boy her age.

He looked at his father. "This aunt is beautiful, doesn't look as old as daddy."

Jonathan shut his mouth holding back a laugh and knelt beside the boy. Jilena and Ramira throw their faces away while giggling. So this boy thinks his father is old.

"We're old friends, a long time ago," Jonathan explains.

"Oh, daddy's girlfriend?" vino replied, not at all ashamed of his words. Make them surprised. “Friends daddy” says Jonathan doesn't want any misunderstandings. He was worried that Jilena would think that Vino would deliberately talk like that. Ramira quickly takes the chocolate cupcake and gives it to Vino to distract him. "This is for you, dear Vino."

A smile rang on the boy's face as he picked up the cupcake. His wide round eyes stared at his favorite chocolate cupcake, as he opened his mouth to eat his cupcake.

"What do you have to say?" father asked.

Vino said "Thank you" before munching on the chocolate cupcake.

Vino's face is very similar to Jonathan's. Jilena was so reminded of her baby boy, does my son's face look like Noah? Where is my son now? Is she okay? His heart was so sad to remember that.

"Can you give me a tissue?" Jonathan asked Ramira.

Ramira took out some tissue sheets and stretched them out.

"Thank you." Jonathan asked for a tissue just in time, as the boy was devouring cupcakes and straw frosting fouled his face and saw the boy wiping the frosting spill from his hands onto his shirt. Jonatha patiently cleared the chocolate from around the boy's mouth and cheeks.

"Vino likes cupcakes?" jilena.

The boy just nodded enthusiastically.  Jonathan stood up, grabbing Vino's hand. “Better I take her home and change her clothes.” He stopped and looked towards Jilena. “Today is my holiday. You still remember about our appointment, lunch together and meet?”

"Vino too?" Jilena asked.

“No, just the two of us. My mom will take care of it.” Jonathan ruffled Vino's hair with his finger. There was a bit of disappointment in Jilena, she wanted to be with Vino, very surprised to hear Jonathan's invitation to go together. "All right."

“How about then we meet at Paradise Restaurant for lunch,” his proposal.

"Sounds good."

After breakfast, Jilena returns home to do more research on the story of the horrific discovery near Green Lake. He pours his story through public records and attempts to discover who the property's previous owners were, digging back to twenty years ago. Without knowing exactly how long the woman had been buried there, she had to find all the possibilities associated with the murder and the property where the skeleton was found.

The Arsyanendra family has owned their lake house for over twenty years—definitely many he knows — but he has to find the identity of the other property owners around the lake, trying to recall, he said, Jilena keeps digging for information on the internet.

He called Detective Hero and asked if he had researched missing parents and missing person reports in the area. The detective said he had all his reports, anyone who had been reported missing from five to twenty-five years ago, he was already looking into missing persons with female traits, his height and age were the same as the victim's, but none matched his description.

“So, you have detail it's — height and approximate age of the woman?" Jilena asked. “Will you share info with me?”

“I don't think that's a good idea. You are not law enforcement.” replied detective hero.

“Yes, but I'm on your side. If I can help you figure out who that woman is, then you have a better chance of solving this case. Do you disagree?"

"Or is it the opposite? It'll backfire by sharing info with you that could get me fired."

Jilena chose to ignore the detective's last comment. Instead, he pressed. “I beg you, Detective, consider me your partner. We can work together and help each other solve this murder case. Once we find the killer, you'll be a hero to this city."

The man was silent for a moment, he seemed to be thinking about a decision. "The city hero, you say." He grunts. "Oh well." His voice was lowered and it sounded as if he was cupping his hands around the phone. "According to the results of the examination, the woman was estimated to have been born between the years five-five to five-seven and to be roughly in her mid-thirties to early forties, but you didn't hear that from me. That's all I can give you. ” said the detective in a soft voice.

“I noticed there was something that looked like a necklace in one of the photos I took.”

"You took a photo?" He sounds angry. “I know I shouldn't have let you stay on the scene.””

“Me, you're glad I did. By taking photos from TKP we can find something” said Jilena.

“Back to the photo, there's something that looks like a necklace, maybe. Do you know what it is?”ask Jilena again.

"I've given you too much information." He hung up.

Jilena felt uncomfortable, feeling if the detective was hiding something—but what?