CHAPTER 6...
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LATER THAT DAY...
~ HYUNDAI MALL, SEOUL~
Raphael went shopping in one of the biggest malls in Seoul to get a few things he would be needing for his longtime travel.
He walked around the clothing department with his hands in his pocket as he took a glance at the puffy jackets been displayed on a doll.
"Sir... Do you want to try it on?" One of the salesgirl questioned as she walked up to him.
Raphael clipped his lips as he reluctantly gave the jacket a doubtful look.
"It's fine... I'll pick something else!" He uttered and that instant his phone beeped with a notification.
Taking out his phone someone startled him from behind, as she faked a roar.
Raphael dropped his phone in shock.
"Oh my goodness... I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" She apologized immediately and swiftly bent over to pick up the phone.
She stood up and handed the phone over to Raphael. Luckily the fall didn't leave any scratches on the phone.
"It's fine!" Raphael said looking up at her and he stared straight into her eyes.
He looked away immediately but thankfully he couldn't see her future and he exhaled sharply.
"Raphael... You don't recognize me?" She asked with a disappointed smile.
Raphael looked back at her.
He struggled to recall but it wasn't kicking.
"We've met before right?" He asked still struggling to recall.
The call laughed jovially.
"At least, you remember we've met before... It's me, Charlotte... Charlotte Bu" She introduced brushing her hair backwards in a stylish way.
Raphael bit his lower lips still struggling.
"My brain has been scrambled for days now... Please can you tell me where we met?" He asked politely so he didn't disappoint her again.
Charlotte smiled cheerfully taking out her phone from her tiny purse.
"You took me this photo when I turned 23, I remember my dad inviting you over to my birthday party..." She said showing him the photos he took of her.
Charlotte Bu, the only child of minister Bu who was a prosecutor but now a wealthy politician. Charlotte grew up in wealth, she lived most of her life visiting places only the wealthy can afford. She was protected a lot as a kid and now as an adult. Regardless of how wealthy her family is, she has never left the country before not even once that was how protective they were of her. She's currently in her mid twenties just like Mabel.
Raphael laughed loudly covering his mouth as he stared at her in disbelief.
"Charlotte... You mean to say, you're bratty Charlotte?" He asked in disbelief.
Charlotte pouted looking away and she leaned closer to him.
"I'm not a brat anymore! I'm a change girl now" She said politely in an etiquette manner.
Raphael laughed even more seeing her do that.
"You've grown up! I can see that clearly in your appearance. How's your father doing? Too bad I haven't been able to visit ever since your birthday. I've been pretty occupied" He uttered politely.
Charlotte waved her hands in the air.
"It's fine... I bet he understands. Dad has been pretty busy too. I barely even see him these days... Oppa, do you come here often? How about I get you a present for the beautiful photos you took me" She cut in sharply signaling one of the salesgirls to come over.
Raphael waved his hands in refusal.
"Come on Charlotte, it's fine... Your father paid me for my services anyways so it's fine" He turned her down politely.
Charlotte furrowed her brows.
"Oppa, it's fine! I want to do this so allow me. I saw you staring at this puffy jacket? Do you like it?" She asked with a smile.
"It's fine, Charlotte...." Raphael wasn't even done talking when she interrupted.
"Pack up the whole jacket on this rack!" She ordered like a boss lady.
She turned to Raphael and grabbed his arm like a big brother.
"Oppa, pick out something else. What else do you like here? I think those sweaters will look good on you..." She cut in sharply pulling Raphael with her.
She made it even harder for Raphael to turn her down.
"Charlotte!! We've been waiting for you.." Mabel nagged walking into the store tiredly.
Charlotte turned to her with a silly smile.
"Sorry! I got too excited and forgot about you... Sorry" She uttered cutely holding her earlobe.
Mabel shook her head rolling her eyes.
"You got too excited hanging out with a guy... And who do we have here?" Mabel asked jovially and turned Raphael around in a blink of an eye.
Raphael had his eyes down.
"Huh!!" Mabel gasped moving backwards in shock.
She looked at Charlotte curiously. The looks in her eyes were obviously questions.
What are you doing with him?
Raphael cleared his throat and looked away.
"It's a good thing you came in! I don't think there's any need for more introductions right? Oppa, Mabel told me, she signed a contract with your studio. How does it feel working with this hardheaded girl...?" Charlotte asked laughing.
Raphael took Charlotte's hand off his arm gently.
"Charlotte sorry but I'm running out of time. I have to finish up my shopping so I can catch up on my flight" He said forcing a smile on.
Mabel looked at him sadly.
Flight? What's going on here? Is he traveling? She questioned in her head curiously. She almost popped the question when Charlotte did.
"Oppa, you're going somewhere? For business?" Charlotte asked curiously.
Raphael nodded his head negatively then smiled.
"It's partially business and also a partial vacation"
Charlotte pouted sadly as she stared at him.
"Does that mean you're not coming back anytime soon?" She asked sadly and Raphael nodded.
"My return is uncertain!" He replied.
Is he leaving because of Rein? Is everything fine with Raphael? He didn't look very good yesterday. Should I apologize about what I said yesterday? Mabel pondered in her head.
"Oppa, let's have dinner together please... Sort of a send off. I would really feel sad if you turned me down!" Charlotte pouted.
"It's just dinner... Let's have one Mr Raphael. I'll accept it as an apology for leaving so promptly when our contract is still on" Mabel chipped in.
Raphael exhaled deeply.
As long as I don't make an eye contact with her, this will go smoothly. Let's not make this a big deal. He said in his head and nodded to their request.
"Yeh...!!" Charlotte squealed excitedly.
"Yes!" Mabel mumbled clenching her fist in excitement.
I'll use this opportunity to make up for yesterday. I can't allow him see me as a shallow flirty girl, no way. Mabel uttered in her head.
"I'll book us a table. I know a very good restaurant!" Charlotte said excitedly scrolling through her phone.
One of the salesgirls walked up to her.
"Miss... The jacket has been packaged" she informed.
"Okay, where do I make the payment?" She asked as she left with the salesgirl.
Mabel and Raphael were left on the spot. It suddenly became too awkward between them.
Raphael was about to leave the store when Mabel stopped him.
"Why are you leaving so soon? Does this have anything to do with Rein?" Mabel asked nervously.
Raphael turned to her. He could feel how nervous she was, asking him such a question so he held himself back from saying anything hurtful.
"It has nothing to do with Rein. I'm leaving for business!" He responded coldly and just then Charlotte came back with some shopping bags.
She looked at both of them with a smile.
"What did I miss?"
Raphael grabbed the bags from her and went back to the salesgirl.
"I need only one of these! Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience" He apologized politely.
Charlotte frowned.
"Raphael!" She whined and he smiled at her.
"Thank you!" Raphael whispered.
~ TOKYO, JAPAN ~
Violet was busy reading a script on her next movie and taking short jottings on it.
A call came in through her phone. It was a call from Simone.
She took the call without looking at the caller.
"Yes, Violet Sato speaking!" She answered with her eyes fixed on her script.
"Violet, what are you doing?" Simone asked calmly and Violet grinned.
"Miss me already... What are you up to? You've been ignoring my calls for a while now. Everything's fine back at the office right? How was Raphael's first day back at work?" She asked dropping the script on her hand on the table.
She adjusted her singlet and walked up to the balcony where she watched the beautiful ocean view as the sunset's behind it.
"Raph is doing alright... You still sound this way, I guess he hasn't said anything to you yet.."
Violet raised her brows curiously.
"Say what to me? Is everything fine with Raphael?" She asked curiously.
"Raph is leaving for the States tomorrow! He's taking some time off at work. He didn't really do great yesterday at the office... The poor guy is struggling" Simone uttered sadly.
Violet ran back into her sitting room. She grabbed her tablet from the couch. She slide in to the airline app to book the next available flight to Seoul.
"Did he say that to you? Raphael was doing great before I left Seoul... I don't get it, why would he run off like that without even discussing it with us... What was your response when he said it to you?" Violet asked seriously with her eye balls sticking out angrily.
"Why... What do you expect me to say to him? Of course, I encouraged him. The poor guy spent four years building Rein's career at our studio. Every corner reminds him of her. He needs some time off, he deserves it!" Simone justified.
Violet shook her head angrily in disbelief.
"Well, you can say all that. After all, you were the one he told about it in the first place. Do you think traveling is going to help him heal? What about us? Wait a minute... How long does he plan on staying there?"
Simone exhaled deeply from the other end, he stayed quiet for a second thinking hard on how to say the words to her without getting her upset.
"He has no date in mind... But I bet he has it all figured out, he can't leave the studio for long. I know my friend. He's obsessed about his work" Simone persuaded.
"No date in mind and you're cool with it... How's he going to survive out there? Battling with his pains alone. I can't even go see him cos of the project I've got in hand" Violet said worriedly.
She batted her lashes so worriedly with her hand on her waist.
"I'll speak with Raphael myself!" She added and hung up the call.
~ CRISPY TREATS RESTAURANT ~
Raphael, Charlotte and Mabel arrived at the restaurant Charlotte booked for them.
A table was reserved for them. They were about to dig into the mouthwatering dishes placed before them when Charlotte raised her glass up.
"Let's cheers to Raphael's journey!" She stated with a smiled.
Raphael's lips curved up cutely.
He looks super cute when he smiles like that. Mabel squealed in her head as she stole deep glances at Raphael.
"We really don't have to do this..." He said reluctantly picking up his glass.
"Cheers!" They chorused and had a sip of wine from their glasses.
Raphael leaned forward to the table and he saw Elle the super model walking towards their table with a smile.
"You invited her over as well?" He asked looking up at her direction.
Mabel and Charlotte turned around swiftly.
"What is she doing here?" Charlotte furrowed her brows then she stood up from her chair changing seats.
She sat next to Raphael.
"Oppa... What a lovely sight to see you outside the studio" Elle stated playfully touching Raphael's shoulders.
"Same here!" Raphael said smiling awkwardly.
Charlotte stood up from her chair and took a few steps away from the table.
"Elle, what are you doing there? Come with me, I have something important I want to share with you" Charlotte said in a very mean tone.
Elle swallowed hard. She knew exactly how upset Charlotte was considering her tone.
Charlotte is known to be the queen bee right from elementary school.
"Coming!!" Elle responded nervously then left with her.
Mabel was left with Raphael again.
She was a bit upset that he wasn't looking at her direction.
She dropped her fork noisily on her plate of steak.
"Mr Raphael did I do anything to offend?" She questioned anxiously.
Raphael chewed on his food gently without even looking at her.
"No...why do you ask?" He asked coldly.
Mabel clipped her lips frustratedly.
"Nevermind!! I want to make use of the washroom" She blurted in a bit of an upset tone.
She stood up angrily to leave the table but she missed a step about to bump into a waiter who was holding a tray of glasses filled with wine.
Raphael saw that and was quick enough to pull her by the arm and she fell on his thighs.
She got lost staring into his blue eyes as the glasses he was putting on fell on her.
"Your eyes!" She uttered in a low tone completely mesmerized.
Raphael was forced to look into her eyes. He saw everything again.
"You did nothing wrong to me! I just don't want you to end your life like it means nothing to you" He stated staring at her pitifully.
Mabel swallowed hard, mesmerized by his piercing blue eyes which made him way more attractive than he was before. She didn't hear a word Raphael said to her.
Raphael noticed she wasn't ready to get off him so he jerked her off.
"I'll settle the bill. Tell Charlotte, I said thank you for the jacket and dinner!" Raphael stated and walked away.
Mabel was still standing there dumbfounded on his move on her.
She ran after him..
"Raphael..." She called out frustratedly.
"Don't run after me again! My connection with you ends here. I don't want to ever cross paths with you again!" He responded strictly then walked away.
He took out his phone at the sound of it's ringing.
All Mabel could see was his well built back disappearing into the lobby.
"Why does it hurt?" She mumbled placing her hand on her beating chest.