18. Aunt Concern

"Haaah.... The timing is perfect."

Benjamin only grinning seeing Nadine sighed. Slowly Nadine turned around and tried to smile as best as she could.

"Hi... Adrian..."

Adrian sighed seeing Nadine's forced smile. Seeing Adrian sighed, Nadine muttered a little loudly.

"I knew that... I should have gone home soon."

It turned out that Benjamin and Adrian heard it clearly, making Adrian chuckled.

"What's wrong Adrian? Why don't you come out?"

From behind Adrian, Olivia looked confused. Nadine didn't have time to run away and tried to be as calm as possible to greet Olivia.

"Um... Hi?"

She tried to smile as sweetly as possible to greet Olivia. When Olivia knew the one that greeted her was Nadine, she immediately looked awkward.

"Um... Nadine?"

Seeing Olivia who was very nervous, Nadine sighed. And approached Olivia without paying attention to the stare from Adrian and Benjamin.

"Hello.... You must be Olivia?"

Nadine stretched out her hand and smiled warmly.

"Hi.... Ehm... I..."

Nadine still held out her hand and was still smiling. Olivia, who was finally able to control herself, immediately shook Nadine's hand.

"Sorry.... I'm Olivia Wilson. I'm a friend of Adrian and Benjamin."

Nadine feels sorry for Olivia who is very nervous to see her. She studied the cute girl in front of her. And her gaze stopped at the hairpin she was wearing.

"Look good on you."

A smile was still plastered on Nadine's face who was still trying not to make the situation more awkward.

"Ehm... Thank you for choosing it for me."

Nadine was surprised because Olivia knew that she was the one who chose the hairpin. She immediately turned quickly to Adrian who was still stunned by Nadine's attitude.

"Ha ha... I hope you like it."

Hearing Nadine's laughter, Olivia looked a little relieved and smiled at Nadine.

"Sure... It's really good...."

Seeing the two women in front of him seem to get along, Benjamin just glanced at Adrian.

"Nadine? Why don't you come in? How long do you want to talk at the door?"

Marie's voice made Adrian turn around to her, followed by Nadine who peeked from behind Olivia's body.

"Hi Marie.... I just stopped by to give you something."

She approached Marie and gave her the souvenir.

"I have to go.... I sti-..."

Marie immediately replied to Nadine's words.

"Come here for a minute...."

Nadine was awkward and glanced at the three people behind her.

"I'll take Olivia home... You can have a talk with aunty."

Nadine suddenly glared at Adrian but Marie immediately replied.

"Benjamin wants to go out with them too to get something. I'll be alone, can you accompany me?"

Marie glared at Benjamin who was ready to refute his mother's words.

"Ehm.... Alright...."

Nadine could only obey Marie. Meanwhile Benjamin immediately pulled Adrian out followed by Olivia who still looked nervous.

"Sit here.... Let's talk for a bit."

Nadine smiled faintly and sat down beside Marie.

***

"Adrian.... I have to apologize to your wife."

Adrian turned to Olivia who was walking beside him.

"Huh? Why?"

Olivia glared at Adrian but then just sighed.

"Seriously Adrian? You don't know why it's so awkward there?"

Adrian didn't respond to Olivia.

"Adrian.... I remind you.. You openly said you wanted to escort another woman in front of your wife!"

Benjamin looks a little annoyed with Adrian's insensitivity.

"Haah... I told you our relationship wasn't like that... I'm just telling her the truth that I have to take Olivia home."

This time Benjamin and Olivia took a deep breath and stopped walking.

"I can take a taxi to get home... You don't have to drive me. I don't want Nadine to think something weird about our relationship."

Adrian smirked and turned to the two people behind him.

"Nadine who wants it... She's the one who asked me to always remind her that there's nothing between us...."

Adrian continued walking without waiting for Olivia and Benjamin.

"Benjamin.... What exactly are they planning?"

Benjamin just shrugged his shoulders and pushed Olivia from behind to quickly catch up with Adrian.

***

"The scarf is nice.... I like the color."

Nadine is so happy looking at Marie who is trying the scarf that was given by her.

"Oh yes .... Thank you for helping Adrian choose that hairpin for me."

Nadine was surprised by Marie's words.

"Hairpin?"

Marie picked up a box on her desk and showed it to Nadine. Nadine was very surprised to see what was inside that box.

"Huh? Very similar to Olivia's..."

Marie smiled at Nadine's words.

"He always buys similar gifts for Olivia and me. You know what his answer is, when I ask him why he buys the similar one?"

Nadine just shook her head and was still stunned.

"Because we're both girls so he thought our taste would be the same."

Nadine seemed to think for a moment and suddenly laughed at Marie's explanation.

"What a simple thought... Ha ha ha...."

Marie looked deeply at the young woman in front of her gently. Nadine stopped laughing when she felt Marie's intense gaze.

"Ehem... But he's really serious about what kind of gift is suitable for Olivia."

Nadine's voice weakened slightly when she said Olivia's name.

"For both of us, Nadine."

Nadine immediately looked at Marie's face asking for an explanation.

"Olivia, Adrian and Benjamin have been friends since childhood... Especially Olivia and Adrian who are the same age. They have a very close relationship. Especially when Olivia's parents died, Adrian and Benjamin were like Olivia's guard dogs."

Marie smiled a little as if remembering something.

"They will push away all the men who have bad intentions toward Olivia. Especially Adrian, he is very protective of Olivia."

Nadine tightly gripped her shirt because it seemed jealousy had entered her heart again. But for a moment she shook her head to get rid of the feeling.

"Why? Thinking something strange?"

Nadine was surprised because Marie seemed to be able to read her mind.

"You could say Adrian and Olivia are like a sweet childhood couple.... The perfect couple in my opinion."

Marie's honest words make Nadine try to keep her composure by remembering all her meeting schedules for the next week.

"Jealous?"

Nadine immediately looked up and was slightly surprised by Marie's smile that seemed to tease her.

"Honestly huh... Of course I'm..."

Nadine paused her words for a while.

"So much... To the point that I hate myself."

Marie was still smiling.

"But I know that I don't have the part in his heart to allowed getting jealous."

Nadine spoke firmly this time.

"So I will only take a part as a supporting role that will help the main character get back together. In this case the main characters are Adrian and Olivia."

Seeing Nadine's earnestness, Marie was momentarily stunned and spoke again.

"Did I forget to mention that they broke up quickly after being a couple for a month? And I remember that it happened when they were in college."

This time Nadine was stunned by Marie's words.

"Huh? I think you're wrong Marie. When I asked Adrian to be my boyfriend, Adrian said that he already had a lover and that was Olivia."

Marie shrugged her shoulders and thought for a while.

"I don't know... Maybe he's just using Olivia as an excuse so you don't bother him anymore."

Nadine just smirked.

"But for me Adrian and Olivia are meant to be together."

Marie sighed and shook her head.

"Haaaah.... Nadine about that matter, only Adrian who can decide."

Marie stroked Nadine's head gently. Nadine was slightly surprised, which made Marie raise her hand immediately.

"Ah... Sorry... It's a habit when I talk to those three childs."

Nadine immediately shook her head.

"Aah... It's fine... You can pat my head again... Just..."

Nadine paused for a moment and lowered her head. Marie stroke Nadine's head gently again.

"It's just... It's been a long time since no one has struck my head after my mother died."

Marie stopped stroking Nadine's head, this made Nadine lift her head and look at Marie.

"Can I hug you?"

Marie smiled and asked her gently. Nadine nodded and welcomed Marie's embrace with open arms.

"Nadine.... Sorry if Adrian is a little annoying... He's just going through some bad stuff..."

Marie's shooting voice makes Nadine feel calm.

"And thank you for your help."

Nadine nodded, hearing Marie's words.

"Thank you... This is all I need right now..."

Nadine was immersed in the warmth of Marie's arm. Marie's sincere thanks made Nadine feel very appreciated and her worries about her past mistake seemed to disappear for a moment.

***

"Sorry mom... We've to stop by for a while at..."

Benjamin who continued to talk as he entered the room immediately stopped when he saw his mother pressed her index finger to her mouth.

"Ssssh... Speak slowly."

Adrian, who had just entered behind Benjamin, was surprised when he saw Nadine sleeping with her head resting on Marie's bed, her hand holding Marie's hand tightly.

"Sorry..."

Benjamin slowly entered the room and tried to shut the door as quietly as possible.

Adrian approached Nadine and was a little surprised to see the tear mark on Nadine's face.

"Aunty? Did she have a bad dream earlier?"

Seeing Adrian's worried face, Marie chuckled.

"Tsk... If you were worried you shouldn't have gone earlier."

Adrian looked embarrassed and cleared his throat.

"Ehem..."

Hearing Adrian's voice, Nadine slightly moved.

"It's fine... Just a talk between women."

Marie stroked Nadine's hair gently, seeing that affectionated move Adrian still couldn't believe it.

"You two, just be quie-..."

BRAAK

Marie and Adrian immediately turned to Benjamin without forgetting to give him a death glare. But it seems too late because Nadine suddenly wakes up and looks confused.

"Huh!"

She looked at each person in the room. Her confused face was so cute it made Marie laugh.

"Ha ha ha.... Your prince has arrived sleeping beauty... You're finally awake."

Marie's words make Nadine spontaneously turn her head to Adrian. And make her face flustered from that embarrassing moment.

"Unbelievable.... The cruel Nadine became embarrassed like that."

Adrian glanced at Benjamin who casually picked up the thing that had fallen earlier.

"Who wants cheesecake!"

Hearing the word cheesecake, Nadine spontaneously turned to Benjamin while gulping.

"Cheesecake?"

Benjamin nodded excitedly.

"I want it!"

Nadine suddenly stood up and walked over to Benjamin. And it didn't take any longer when she opened it. Adrian just shook his head when Nadine ate the cheesecake in front of her.

"Huh? It's different from before?"

Nadine was surprised because the cheesecake in front of her didn't taste like Benjamin's cake.

"Ah, that was Adrian who bought it on the way to the hospital."

Benjamin explained to Nadine while passing another cake to Marie.

"I think yours is better."

Nadine mumbled while spooning the cake in front of her. That honest word slightly surprised Adrian.

"If you don't want it, you don't have to eat it."

Benjamin chuckled as he heard Adrian grumbled.

"I'll eat it..."

Nadine turned to Adrian.

"Thanks for buying it, Adrian..."

Adrian was a little flustered when he looked at Nadine's smile.

"Am I the only one who thinks that Nadine can be a cute girl?"

Marie smiled faintly then she casually answered Benjamin while pointing at Adrian.

"It's not just you.... There's one more person who thinks like that but doesn't realize it."