CHECKMATE

Circle of the Past

"Be careful on the road to Bas" Amanda said, kissing her husband's hand. As usual, Bastian always takes his wife to work.

"Yes, wait for me to pick her up" replied Bastian. Then he drove his car away from Amanda's company.

After the car disappeared from his sight, Amanda went into his company building. The entire staff looked respectfully at him. This was already the first thing he would meet if he arrived.

"Good morning, Mom---,"

Amanda responded with a smile to all the employees who were there. Then a few seconds later, he stepped away towards his study. Ella was waiting for him there. It's Ella's custom, she'd rather wait for Amanda than for the girl to come before her. Even though he knew, Amanda didn't bother with that much. But for Ella, this is a manifestation of how much she appreciates Amanda. Regardless of the closeness between the two so far.

"Hi Ella, have you been waiting for me?" amanda said as she arrived at the door of her study

"Of course not. I know you'll never make anyone wait for you for too long" Ella replied, smiling

A crisp laugh came from Amanda's lips, after hearing Ella's words. Seeing Amanda's reaction, Ella becomes confused, clueless.

"What's wrong, do I look like a comedian, so you laugh,"

And once again, Amanda kept laughing at her words.

"Hey, nothing funny Amanda. Stop laughing" he said.

"Is there anything strange about my appearance today? Is the makeup on my face excessive? Am I wrong to wear clothes? Is-----"

Not done yet she spoke Amanda cut off her conversation

"Are we going to keep standing at the door, and talk about things that don't matter to Ella?"

"Work is waiting for us" Amanda said. He then pulled the body of Ella who was busy paying attention to her appearance.

Ella continued to pay attention to her appearance, from behind the mirror in the room. Seeing that Amanda became upset.

"Are you going to keep it that way? Stop Ella, I'm dizzy to see your moves" Amanda said

"There's nothing wrong with your appearance. Every day you always look perfect" Amanda said again

"Huh, you're just freaking me out. What would the other employees say if they saw my appearance as a mess. Could fall for me as an assistant to Amanda Manuwella," added Ella

Amanda no longer intends to respond to the insignificant words of Ella. He only showed amused expression at the behavior of his best friend. And the next few minutes, Ella appears to be carrying some work files that Amanda has to check and sign. Then mention some important agendas for Amanda today.

"Oh yeah, you know what?" ella said after they had been silent for a while. He purposely suspends his speech, in order to shift the focus of Amanda, who is struggling with some work files.

"What's wrong, you haven't said anything. How do I know what you're talking about" he replied

"It's a very important thing for Amanda" Ella said

"What's important?" amanda asked, this time she looked at Ella for a bit, then refocused on her work.

"It's about Def" Ella replied hanging again

Amanda took a deep breath, trying to refrain from yelling resentfully at Ella. He thinks it's not something that's very important. Ella just bothered him.

"That's not important to Ella, you're just interfering. Go there, finish your work," she said

"It's important Ella. Yesterday Def came to the apartment you used to live in before marriage," she explained, who immediately responded with a surprised look from Amanda

"Huh? He come over there? You know where Ella came from," Amanda said impatiently. His attention was now completely focused on Ella

"In the evening at about eleven o'clock at night, he came there. However, since he didn't find you there, he asked the security guard on duty that night" Ella explained

"Aish, two humans are the same. No he, not his wife, just interferes with people's lives" Amanda said, sounding frustrated

"You mean?" ella asked confusedly

Amanda then told Ella everything. The connection between his past and Bastian's past. And about Regina and Def lately.

"Geez, the world is really very narrow Amanda. You and Bastian are stuck in a loop of the past" Ella said in a statement

"Does Bastian know your past?" tanyanya.

Amanda said nothing. She responded to Ella's question with a headband. Which Ella quickly understood.

"Why don't you just be honest with her Manda. This is not a joke, this is a matter that will be complicated for you and for your household in the future" he said later

"Until when do you continue to be someone else in front of Bastian?" say Ella again

Amanda looked frustrated this time. He covered his face with both hands.

"I'm not who Ella is yet, it's not time for her to know everything" she replied