Secrets of Lakefront House
CHAPTER 27. MAKE PEACE WITH THE PAST

A waiter approached their table and took their order. Reread the order to make sure.

“How is your mother?” Jilena asked after the maid left. “Did you meet him often?”

Noah nodded. “Yes, I still meet him when my mother is not busy with her club and organization, or traveling."

"He's the president of Lembayung Park Club, isn't he?"

“No, that's my stepmother. Why are you asking?”

“I'll be covering next week's Flower Show to be in the papers, so I thought I'd be— to interview your mother. If not wrong your mother's name is Ratih, right? ”

“Betul. My mom's gonna be in high school this Sunday afternoon in preparation for next week's auction. Maybe you should summarize the news about the fundraising activity. They're trying to get funding to renovate the auditorium.”

“I love that old auditorium—decorative details and thick burgundy curtains. The building is like an opera house.”

"That's fine. Didn't we ever go there to watch a music show, if not wrong, we've been there twice?”ask Noah.

"Yes, we've been there—and there's Tomi too, remember?" Jilena smiled remembering it.

“We spent a lot of time together,” Noah said.

Then his mind went back to Noah's mother again. “Did your mother know about Mariana after you grew up?”

"Well, it's kind of sudden." Noah frowned. “Why are you suddenly asking that?”

“I was thinking about the interview I wanted to do with her, and I thought I—may be able to kill two birds with one stone—” Jilena grimaced. "The choice of wrong words huh, I mean maybe I can ask you some questions for the Mariana case. To save time, you understand?”

“I don't know if my mom knows her. My mom and dad divorced when I was seven. If he wasn't part of the rich around here, my mom wouldn't be friends with him.”

“He could have known her by chance. He could know her from the bank probably. Doesn't Mariana work at a family-owned bank?" looking at Noah's face.

Jilena noticed the blink of approval on Noah's face. He shrugged his shoulders. "No idea." He leaned back, his eyebrows fused—the wrinkles on his face were clearly visible. “You don't think my mother had anything to do with Mariana's death, do you?”

Had Jilena been able to help solve the murder, and be the first to publish the story, it would have been a boon to her career. Perhaps one day he could leave this quiet little town and go to work at another newspaper in the big city.

"So, where have you been all this time and continued your studies?" Noah asked, it was obvious he was trying to change the subject. Jilena recounted that she went to college and majored in journalism. Noah said he continued his studies while continuing his football career until his knee was broken in his first year.

He graduated from business school, assuming his father expected Noah to return to Lembayung City and take over all the family businesses. And it turns out, Noah now manages all of his family's businesses.

They chatted about their college experience and the various jobs they engaged in, both very carefully avoiding talk of an unexpected pregnancy and the baby she gave up for adoption.

It was saved for discussion later.

It was clearly not the conversation material he wanted in a public place. There would definitely be cries, maybe even some screams and angry words. No, it is better not to talk about it in this restaurant where there are a lot of peeping eyes and ears. No doubt, the current him sitting alone with Noah would be the talk of the city gossip long before morning.

Jilena and Noah reminisce about proms and other activities they remember doing together . They even laughed a few times recalling some crazy antics memories from their friends.

Jilena involuntarily twirled her long black hair with her finger, she felt a little dizzy recalling those past memories. However, he felt a strange sigh within him, a feeling he had once felt with Noah.

When the food ran out and the conversation stopped, Jilena felt very comfortable with Noah. No bad memories were revealed tonight, no old wounds were revealed. Now, she could meet him around town and feel neither awkward nor stiff as it was tonight.

Noah drove her home and drove her to the front door. It was nine o'clock less. They stopped on the porch, stood right under the lights, and said goodbye. Noah leaned over and suddenly kissed Jilena on the lips. Before he could react, the sound of the squeaking of the car tires split the air.

Both Noah and Jilena turned towards the road, seeing police cars racing away. Jonathan, who had promised to come to Jilena's house at nine in the night, saw Noah kissing Jilena's lips. At once Jonathan immediately drove his car away from the place.

Jilena was feeling very uneasy now that she had gone to dinner with Noah. And because he was too excited to talk on the phone with Aunt Dewi, Jilena forgot that Jonathan would stop by his house around nine, after his shift was over. Oh God. Jonathan sees Noah kissing her. Now he must have misunderstood. Jilena was embarrassed.

Jilena unlocks the door, and the clinking of the key catches Noah's attention and walks back closer to Jilena. He threw his charming smile at Jilena. "Good night, Noah.” said Jilena stepped in.

"Are you not going to invite me in?" asked Noah who was standing at the door.

For the second time that night Noah asked that. She was eager to even hope that Jilena would let her into the house and spend some time together. But Jilena doesn't want it because she's afraid she'll fall in Noah's charm no more. If Jonatha's car tire creaking didn't wake her up, she'd probably— really had Noah in her house.

Both relationships improved tonight. If he let Noah into his house, maybe tonight would be a really nice night, and they spend the night together so that his defense will collapse and his body will be entangled in Noah's touch charm just like it did in the past. But no! He can't allow himself to be pulled back in the noose of Noah's charm.