You'll Fall For Me, Today or tomorrow

Hilary remained distracted and had little to contribute to their banter.

Though that was how she had always been in front of outsiders, Yvonne did not particularly appreciate her speaking in front of them.

She secretly despised Hilary, and would rather that the latter kept her mouth shut, especially in front of her own fiancé.

Hence no one found Hilary’s silence unusual.

When she got home, Hilary stayed in the room by herself and sifted through her smartphone for information on Shermaine. The more she saw, the more her mood devolved. She went on to look up on James Smallwood and immediately knew that it was him.

Hilary understood now why she had found Shermaine awfully familiar and even took an instant liking to her.

She began to sob uncontrollably away in the washroom with the showers left running so that no one could hear her and continued this way for some time.

By the time Zach entered the room, Hilary was already fast asleep.

Or rather, she pretended to be asleep, as she was worried that Zach might notice something amiss.

The next morning while Zach was away at the office, she immediately called up Clarissa.

Clarissa was a little miffed that her mother has asked to meet. There was a chill in the air which encroached upon her skin, so she would rather sleep in.

“What’s so important that we’ve to do this so early, Mom?”

Hilary’s words were almost upon her own lips before she swallowed them back down. She opted to adopt a more measured and casual approach.

“Early, you say? Is this your daily routine? What kind of work are you doing that doesn’t pay and leaves you so undisciplined? Look at how hard everyone else is hustling. You aren’t bad looking so even if you don’t want to work, you should put in a little effort to doll yourself up when you go out.”

Clarissa laughed a little, only to patronize her mother.

“Why aren’t you talking?”

“Your observations are spot-on, Mom. I’m not able to defend myself!”

“You know, I’m this close to giving up on you, girl.”

You had never cared about me that much anyway.

That was what Clarissa thought. Hilary paused before she asked, “Remember that we’ve met Shermaine last time? Do you know her? I really like her, so do you think you could introduce us?”

“Huh?”

Clarissa’s brows perked up. “I don’t really know her as we operate in different social circles. I’ve only interacted with her back then because she’s a friend of my classmate.”

“I see. That makes sense.”

fell silent, mildly disappointed, yet oddly

you become a

“Do I have to explain this? I just enjoyed one of her movies that

but is it necessary to try to reach out to her? Haven’t you have anything better to do

I was wondering how you’re ever going to meet anyone when you’re holed up in the house with your so-called essays. You’ll be turning thirty

An awkward silence ensued.

slapped herself if she

saying all the wrong things at

strengthened her resolve to speak less going

fine eventually. The weather is getting colder, so I should be heading back to spend winter in W City. Probably be back next year. Got a deadline to meet so I really should

blasé, and only because she did not understand that the purpose of

Hilary, Clarissa did not return to Zen Highlands, but made a trip down

owner, her subordinates would be fortuitous if they saw her in the office once or twice a week. She was practically like a junior employee who needed supervision. Mandy in particular had

was a rabid fan of her writings herself with an insatiable appetite

to have snacks at the ready with which to pacify Mandy so that she may be

to Yael. They were able to bring in more sources of income in the form of a video game adaptation and peripherals

Even if you write only a thousand words a day, you should have consolidated quite a lot by now. Why haven’t you provided updates? I’m going to have to jump to my death from here if you

stuffed her own mouth with the pastries

whatever you have to do. I’ll send them to you as a tribute

“You’re an evil mistress.”

laughed, “I’m not yet

she might run with that and have some

with him, what else would that make you? Missus,

expression and tone left Clarissa

me now? Aren’t you afraid that

“Oh, I’m so scared!”

right. You should finish up whatever articles you have on hand soon, cause that’s what the production company is keen on. There are also a few more requests for you to do some screenwriting. It would be

“What?”

that she would not only need to avoid speaking but

thing she had on her mind was idling and sleeping in. She

mean by what. Didn’t you say you want to earn more to make rent? How is this lackadaisical attitude

up immediately. “I’ll get down to

brought her focus back. She wished she had

nodded in approval. “Your office has been underutilized all this time. You should get in there. It’s quiet and you won’t be

like right

“Yes, now. Questions?”

“Nope. None at all.”

own office. It was

mean like, why’s she even working so hard? I’d do absolutely nothing were I in her shoes. I’d fly to Europe to feed pigeons every day and return

did not know about Matthew before, it would be impossible not to once they

these emotional stages. By the time she appeared, they were already more