"Not again, please!." Bagaikan sebuah trauma, dia menjadi takut jika dia menjadi orang yang akan dituduh untuk perkara yang tidak pernah dilakukannya.
Eve Aurora dan Ryeo Matthias melangkah mendekati lobby hotel tersebut. Kelihatan seorang wanita berambut putih ditemani dengan seorang lelaki yang juga berambut putih. Dia meneka usia mereka dalam lingkungan 50an, lebih kurang sebaya dengan Uncle Max dan Aunty Pearl.
"I demand to see the manager of this hotel!." Jerit wanita itu.
Manakala lelaki di sisinya hanya memerhatikan isterinya sambil kedua-dua belah tangannya berada didalam poket seluar.
Alejandro Marco keluar dari bilik pejabatnya sambil menghidu minyak angin yang dipegangnya. Terdapat juga tampalan plaster perubatan di kedua-dua belah dahinya.
"Y-yes, Lady Frances. I'm Alejandro Marco, the manager of this hotel."
"How did you manage this hotel, huh?! Do you know someone stole my money at my room..!."
"I'm sorry, Tuan and Lady Frances. Let me investigate this issue."
"How long does it take to know who did this to me?!."
"I didn't know either, Lady Frances. But I'll try my best." Pujuk Alejandro Marco.
"Huh!."
"Anastasia, please let them to investigate of this matter. Jika ianya tidak dapat diselesaikan, kita yang akan ambil tindakannya!." Suami kepada wanita tersebut berkata dengan tegas, sambil melirik tajam ke arah Alejandro Marco.
Alejandro Marco telan air liur.
"I-I promise you that I'll find the person." Jawab Alejandro Marco.
Tiba-tiba matanya terpandangkan ke arah Eve Aurora dan Ryeo Matthias yang beruniform dan sedang berdiri di sebelah trolley peralatan kebersihan.
Eve Aurora telan air liur.
"This is your housekeeper?." Soal wanita itu sambil berjalan ke arah Eve Aurora dan Ryeo Matthias.
Dengan serta-merta, Ryeo Matthias menghalangi tubuh Eve Aurora agar gadis itu tidak bertentangan dengan wanita tersebut. Dia ingin melindungi gadis ini. Tiba-tiba Eve Aurora tertoleh ke arah Amelia yang sedang bergegas keluar meninggalkan lobby hotel tersebut.
"Y-yes, Lady Frances." Jawab Alejandro Marco.
"I think, you should start with them first!."
"Yes, sure. As you wish." Jawab Alejandro Marco dengan lembut.
"Good. I'll wait for the good news, Tuan Alejandro."
"Baik. Baik." Balas Alejandro Marco.
Pasangan suami isteri itu pun berjalan meninggalkan lobby hotel dan menuju ke lift.
"Phew!." Alejandro Marco melepaskan keluhannya sambil menghidu minyak angin yang dipegangnya.
"Aurora, Ryeo, do you find anything through the CCTV records?." Soal Alejandro Marco.
"... Not enough to use it as evidence, Tuan Alejandro." Jawab Ryeo Matthias.
Eve Aurora memandang ke luar hotel. Terbayangkan wajah ketakutan Amelia saat meninggalkan hotel tersebut.
Sighs.
...
Hati Ivy Rose terasa seperti ada yang tidak kena. Sepertinya ada sesuatu yang sedang terjadi. Tiba-tiba fikirannya menerawang mengingati anak gadisnya, tanpa berlengah lagi dia mencapai hand phone yang berada di atas meja kaca di hadapannya, lalu mendail nombor telefon anak gadisnya itu.
Poketnya terasa bergerak-gerak, dia terus menyeluk poket seluarnya. Vibrate daripada hand phone miliknya. Tertera nama ibunya. Dia tersenyum lalu menjawab panggilan tersebut.
"Mom!."
"Hi, my sweetheart. Are you okay?." Soal Ivy Rose lembut.
"Yes, mom. I'm okay. What's up, mom?."
"It's nothing. I just miss you so much, Eve."
"I miss you more, mom...!."
"Where are you now?."
"I'm heading back to my room."
"Alone?."
"Yes! All alone. I feel so lonely here, mom... But I'm so lucky to have another brother here."
"What do you mean, sweetheart? Do you have an adopted family there?." Eve Aurora ketawa mendengarkan kata-kata ibunya.
"No, mom. I means, the chef. Oh no, I forgot to tell you about the day!." Langkah kaki Eve Aurora terhenti.
"See, my own daughter has forgotten about me." Rajuk Ivy Rose.
"I'm sorry, mom. It has been a hectic day lately. I couldn't find a time to call you and tell you in detail what happened. Forgive me?." Pujuk Eve Aurora.
".. Alright, I forgive you, my sweetheart. So, tell me, did you say thank you on behalf our family?."
"Yes, I did. And we're having dinner together. Do you know that he is actually a friend of Sister Lea?."
"Yes, I know."
"How do you know about this? I haven't told you anything about this, mom."
"Your manager, Alejandro Marco told me about this, Eve."
"Oh, yes! I forgot about Alejandro Marco." Eve Aurora tertawa.
"Did he tell you about something else?."
"No. Why, Eve? There's something else that I need to know?."
Eve Aurora terdiam. Takkanlah dia nak memberitahu tentang kejadian dia ditampar oleh Matilda itu kepada ibunya? Pasti ibunya akan datang dan mengamuk.
"Eve?."
"Yes, mom. There's nothing. I'm just asking."
"Eve." Panggil Ivy Rose lembut.
"Yes, mom."
"I'm glad that you did your best, Eve. I'm so proud of you... And thank you for the dinner treats on behalf of our family. I will repay you back once I meet you."
"I couldn't wait to meet you, mom. And I want to hug you tightly!."
"I would lo..ve it, my daughter!." Mereka berdua ketawa. Biarpun tidak kelihatan wajah, namun mereka tetap memandang langit yang sama.
"Aurora?." Panggil seorang lelaki dari arah belakangnya. Eve Aurora berpaling ke arah suara tersebut, kelihatannya Ryeo Matthias sedang berdiri sambil memandang ke arahnya.
"Ryeo?." Lelaki itu tersenyum.
"This is your sandals. You left it this morning at the beach."
"Oh, thank.."
"What? You were with him last night, Aurora?." Tiba-tiba Amy Wilton muncul dari arah tangga bangunan bilik tempat dia tinggal.
"Amy?."
"How could you lied to me, Aurora?." Ada nada kecewa. Gadis itu terus berlari meninggalkan mereka berdua dan menuju ke arah pantai.
"Amy!." Panggil Eve Aurora. Kemudiannya, dia berpaling ke arah Ryeo Matthias.
"She doesn't know about we slept at the beach. I told her that I stayed at the hotel last night due to the Matilda's case."
".. I-I'm sorry, I didn't know about that."
"Nevermind, Ryeo. Thank you for sending back my sandals. I have to leave now. I have to explain it to her. It was a mistake. We didn't do anything at the beach. I-I should talk to her right now. Do you mind if I go now?."
"I will go with you, Aur."
"It's okay, Ryeo. I will be safe."
Eve Aurora berpaling ingin mengejar Amy Wilton yang sudah pun jauh di hadapan, namun dia berpaling semula apabila namanya dipanggil.
"Aur."
"Yes?."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Ryeo."
Kaki Eve Aurora terus melangkah mengejar gadis itu ke arah pantai.
"Eve?!."
"Oh, mom!." Dia hampir terlupa tentang panggilan ibunya yang masih ada itu.
"Y-yes, mom. I'm sorry. Something happened just now."
"You slept with that guy at the beach?!." Soal ibunya.
Dia telan air liur.
"Mom, there's nothing happened between me and that guy. I swear."
"Then? I demand the explanation from you, Eve Aurora Rayne."
Sighs.
"I was so sad that night, so I went to the beach. And I coincidentally met him at the beach. So, we talked. I told him that I missed my family, so he hugged me. That's all, mom.. I swear."
"Mmm... You didn't lied to me?."
"No, mom. Trust me."
"Alright, Eve. Please, take care of yourself... But wait! I heard about Matilda just now. Who is Matilda?."
"Mom, I will explain it later. Now, can you let me go?."
"Where are you going now, Eve?."
"I want to explain it to Amy. She's angry at me because I was lying to her. I said I stayed at the hotel last night. She's my friend and I have to find her now, mom."
"Alright, my daughter. Be safe. Call or text me once you are done."
"I promise you, mom. Thank you. I love you more, mom!."
"I love you more, daughter."
Setelah panggilan itu berakhir, Eve Aurora berlari ke arah pantai untuk mengejar Amy Wilton. Dia tahu salahnya kerana menipu, namun apa pilihan yang dia ada ketika itu. Takkanlah dia nak memberitahu kepada gadis itu bahawa dia tertidur dengan Ryeo Matthias di tepi pantai? Apa pula tanggapan Amy Wilton terhadap dirinya nanti.
Dari jauh, Ryeo Matthias mengekori gadis itu. Dia merasa risau akan keselamatan kedua-dua gadis tersebut, terutamanya diwaktu malam sebegini.
Dia mencari kelibat gadis itu di sekeliling pantai itu, dan pada akhirnya dia terpandangkan seorang gadis sedang duduk diatas batu besar di tepi pantai itu. Eve Aurora tersenyum sambil berlari ke arah gadis tersebut.
"Amy!." Laung Eve Aurora ke arah Amy Wilton.
You're my safe place.