The soft patter of light rain against the window resembled the gentle hum of a singer. Natalie leaned against the windowsill, her gaze fixed on the distant view. The entire expanse of New York was shrouded in a hazy veil, the skyscrapers in the distance looking gray and lackluster through the rain. Tree branches in the streets swayed in the wind, sending a chill through the air.
Natalie instinctively tucked her neck in and rubbed her hands together. She chuckled softly and shook her head before stretching lazily in bed, rolling around playfully like a child.
It's good to be home. Natalie buried her face in the pillow and let out a contented sigh. Although she hadn't felt particularly tired during her days on the road in Europe, no hotel bed could compare to the comfort of her own home.
Just then, her mother's voice echoed from downstairs: "Nat! Dad's back."
"Coming!" Natalie quickly jumped off the bed and ran downstairs. Shelley helped her husband remove his slightly damp coat and walked away with a knowing smile. Meanwhile, Avner stretched out his arms with a grin and said, "Hey, honey."
"I missed you, Dad." Natalie smiled and hugged her father, pressing her cheek against his: "I wish you could have come with us."
"I wish I could have, too, my dear. I'm sure you had a wonderful time." Avner smiled and hugged his daughter before settling down on the couch and taking a sip of the coffee Shelley had prepared.
"It was decent. We went to Trafalgar Square in London and the National Concert Hall in Amsterdam. Except for Paris, French journalists seem strangely interested in Nat." Shelley shrugged as she spoke.
"It's not unexpected. The French tend to romanticize the idea of women being bold in movies." Avner's tone indicated his lingering dissatisfaction with the scene in the movie where Luc Besson had asked Natalie to be nearly naked. He looked at his daughter: "Nothing unpleasant happened, did it?"
"Well...except your absence." Natalie pinched her chin and pretended to think before answering.
"All right, all right, I promise I won't break my word next time." Avner chuckled heartily, oblivious to the fleeting sigh that passed through Natalie's eyes.
The whole advertising process hadn't been too eventful, except for the occasional inquiry about the "false report" incident. Although the matter had been resolved and the newspapers had apologized, Natalie still felt a lingering uneasiness. She didn't hold a grudge, but to be subjected to such an attack right at the beginning of her movie career hadn't been a pleasant experience, even with the quick apology from the other party.
However, this was not the time to dwell on such matters. Natalie pushed those thoughts aside and returned to her room to retrieve the gift she had purchased for her father. The family gathered around the couch, engrossed in conversation and laughter, exuding warmth.
Rainy days always hastened the arrival of evening darkness. Soon Shelley would be preparing dinner, and Avner intended to retire to his study to read.
"You can watch some TV, but don't overdo it, okay?" Her father rose from his seat and stroked her hair lovingly.
"Sure, I'll just read in my room." Natalie thought for a moment before answering.
"All right, suit yourself." Her father shrugged. Just then, the doorbell rang. Natalie promptly rose and announced, "I'll get it."
She hurried to the door and opened it with a click. But just as she was about to ask, "Who are you looking for?", she suddenly froze. Standing outside, sheltered under a Snoopy-adorned umbrella, was a beautiful girl.
"Hi, Nat!" The girl smiled, though there seemed to be a hint of coldness on her lips, her eyes shining with eagerness.
"Angie?!" Natalie exclaimed in surprise, a whirlwind of emotions sweeping over her. She was about to ask how Angela got there when she suddenly noticed that Angela's body was shaking slightly. Upon closer inspection, she realized that Angela was only wearing three pieces of clothing!
"Oh my God! Why are you so scantily dressed? Come inside quickly." Natalie's astonishment was evident as she urged Angela inside.
Angela's slightly pale face broke into a smile. She turned and waved to the car parked in the street, then closed her whimsical umbrella and followed Natalie into the house.
"Angela? Is that really you?" Avner, who hadn't yet retired to his study, asked in amazement, mirroring his daughter's astonishment. Shelley, who had emerged from the kitchen upon hearing the commotion, wore a similar expression.
"How have you been? Mr. Hershlag, Mrs. Hershlag." Angela greeted them with a smile. Unable to contain herself, she hugged and rubbed her own arms, then chuckled apologetically, "I'm so sorry, I didn't count on the temperature difference between Los Angeles and New York."
"You should be thankful it's raining and not snowing out there. Otherwise you'd be freezing!" Natalie scolded with a hint of irritation as she helped Angela fold the umbrella. No one, not even herself, could detect the undercurrent of concern in her voice.
She fetched a cup of hot water and offered it to Angela as she helped her warm her arms. "Have something warm to drink first. I'll find you some clothes soon."
"Thank you, Nat," Angela expressed her gratitude. "Don't worry, Mr. Flynn will bring over some clothes soon."
Speaking a little tentatively, Angela continued, "When I heard you were coming, I... well, I rushed here on a flight from Los Angeles. It was so sudden that I didn't pack much."
"You mean you just flew in from Los Angeles?" Natalie stared at her in disbelief.
"Yeah, you know, after the incident..." Angela paused and locked eyes with Natalie.
"Shelley, my dear, I think we have something to discuss," Avner interjected abruptly, motioning to his wife.
"Yes, and I have to get dinner ready," Shelley nodded in understanding. After a moment's thought, she added, "Angela, would you like to stay for dinner?"
"I would love to, Mrs. Hershlag," Angela promptly accepted.
Once her parents had retired to their respective rooms, Natalie shrugged and led Angela upstairs. "Let's go to my room. I'll find you something to wear while we wait for Mr. Flynn to bring the clothes."
When they reached the upstairs bedroom, Natalie quickly found a pink down jacket with a hood for Angela to put on. "Here you go, this should make you feel much warmer."
"Yes, being inside is definitely more comfortable than being outside." Angela rubbed her hands and then her cheeks, making a funny face at Natalie. Natalie promptly responded by sticking out her tongue, and both girls burst out laughing.
"Maybe I should suggest to my dad that he pack a change of clothes for plane trips," Angela mused aloud.
"What?" Natalie inquired, a little confused.
"Ah... never mind. I mean, from now on, I should always be prepared with appropriate clothing, no matter where I'm going," Angela explained, trying to change the subject. Then, after a moment's pause, she finally asked the question that had been on her mind, "Nat, are you still thinking about it?"
"Think about it? What do you mean?" Natalie asked curiously. But it quickly dawned on her, and after a brief silence, she gently asked, "Is that why you came here?"
Angela didn't answer right away; she just looked at her friend. But the slight trembling of her hand on the edge of the down jacket betrayed her feelings.
"Angie, I want to tell you that although I was upset about that article when it was published, I stopped thinking about it after their public apology," Natalie said, then sighed, "All right, I admit, even now it still makes me uncomfortable. But believe me, Angie, I never intended to blame you or anyone else."
The room fell silent for a moment. Suddenly Angela looked up. "No! No, Nat! It's not like that!" Her face flushed a deep red, whether from returning warmth or excitement, it was hard to tell.
"You know, Nat, I was really scared after that incident. I was afraid that you would distance yourself from me. I was afraid it would affect you badly, and I never imagined it would cause such chaos. If I had known, I wouldn't have gotten involved in the damn thing at all. I should've just let it go. I've been waiting for your message, and when you came back, I came here too, because I'm scared, really scared, Nat... I'm afraid of losing you."
Natalie didn't fully understand Angela's words, but as she looked into those emerald green eyes, filled with fear and sincerity, an intense emotion washed over her. It took root deep within her, causing her heart to race loudly.
She stared at Angela, who stood so close to her that their noses almost touched. But Natalie didn't step back or break her gaze. Enchanted, they remained locked in a four-eyed connection. After Angela's confession, the room had returned to silence. Aside from the pitter-patter of the rain outside, the only sounds were the two girls' racing heartbeats, seemingly calling for something.
But just as they moved closer together, a sudden knock on the door startled them both. They jumped back, their faces flushed as they exchanged embarrassed glances.
"Dinner is served, dears," came Shelley's voice from outside.
"We'll be down in a minute, Mom," Natalie replied in a slightly nervous tone. Fortunately, her mother seemed oblivious, and her footsteps soon faded away.
"Well... Angie... shall we go downstairs?" Natalie cleared her throat slightly and suggested.
"Of... of course..." Angela turned her head slightly and gave Natalie a shy look as she replied.
Natalie patted her cheeks gently to reassure herself. She was about to reach for Angela's hand when their fingers brushed together, causing a sensation similar to holding hot coals. Hastily, they let go and shared awkward smiles before leaving the room one after the other.
The soft patter of light rain against the window resembled the gentle hum of a singer. Natalie leaned against the windowsill, her gaze fixed on the distant view. The entire expanse of New York was shrouded in a hazy veil, the skyscrapers in the distance looking gray and lackluster through the rain. Tree branches in the streets swayed in the wind, sending a chill through the air.
Natalie instinctively tucked her neck in and rubbed her hands together. She chuckled softly and shook her head before stretching lazily in bed, rolling around playfully like a child.
It's good to be home. Natalie buried her face in the pillow and let out a contented sigh. Although she hadn't felt particularly tired during her days on the road in Europe, no hotel bed could compare to the comfort of her own home.
Just then, her mother's voice echoed from downstairs: "Nat! Dad's back."
"Coming!" Natalie quickly jumped off the bed and ran downstairs. Shelley helped her husband remove his slightly damp coat and walked away with a knowing smile. Meanwhile, Avner stretched out his arms with a grin and said, "Hey, honey."
"I missed you, Dad." Natalie smiled and hugged her father, pressing her cheek against his: "I wish you could have come with us."
"I wish I could have, too, my dear. I'm sure you had a wonderful time." Avner smiled and hugged his daughter before settling down on the couch and taking a sip of the coffee Shelley had prepared.
"It was decent. We went to Trafalgar Square in London and the National Concert Hall in Amsterdam. Except for Paris, French journalists seem strangely interested in Nat." Shelley shrugged as she spoke.
"It's not unexpected. The French tend to romanticize the idea of women being bold in movies." Avner's tone indicated his lingering dissatisfaction with the scene in the movie where Luc Besson had asked Natalie to be nearly naked. He looked at his daughter: "Nothing unpleasant happened, did it?"
"Well...except your absence." Natalie pinched her chin and pretended to think before answering.
"All right, all right, I promise I won't break my word next time." Avner chuckled heartily, oblivious to the fleeting sigh that passed through Natalie's eyes.
The whole advertising process hadn't been too eventful, except for the occasional inquiry about the "false report" incident. Although the matter had been resolved and the newspapers had apologized, Natalie still felt a lingering uneasiness. She didn't hold a grudge, but to be subjected to such an attack right at the beginning of her movie career hadn't been a pleasant experience, even with the quick apology from the other party.
However, this was not the time to dwell on such matters. Natalie pushed those thoughts aside and returned to her room to retrieve the gift she had purchased for her father. The family gathered around the couch, engrossed in conversation and laughter, exuding warmth.
Rainy days always hastened the arrival of evening darkness. Soon Shelley would be preparing dinner, and Avner intended to retire to his study to read.
"You can watch some TV, but don't overdo it, okay?" Her father rose from his seat and stroked her hair lovingly.
"Sure, I'll just read in my room." Natalie thought for a moment before answering.
"All right, suit yourself." Her father shrugged. Just then, the doorbell rang. Natalie promptly rose and announced, "I'll get it."
She hurried to the door and opened it with a click. But just as she was about to ask, "Who are you looking for?", she suddenly froze. Standing outside, sheltered under a Snoopy-adorned umbrella, was a beautiful girl.
"Hi, Nat!" The girl smiled, though there seemed to be a hint of coldness on her lips, her eyes shining with eagerness.
"Angie?!" Natalie exclaimed in surprise, a whirlwind of emotions sweeping over her. She was about to ask how Angela got there when she suddenly noticed that Angela's body was shaking slightly. Upon closer inspection, she realized that Angela was only wearing three pieces of clothing!
"Oh my God! Why are you so scantily dressed? Come inside quickly." Natalie's astonishment was evident as she urged Angela inside.
Angela's slightly pale face broke into a smile. She turned and waved to the car parked in the street, then closed her whimsical umbrella and followed Natalie into the house.
"Angela? Is that really you?" Avner, who hadn't yet retired to his study, asked in amazement, mirroring his daughter's astonishment. Shelley, who had emerged from the kitchen upon hearing the commotion, wore a similar expression.
"How have you been? Mr. Hershlag, Mrs. Hershlag." Angela greeted them with a smile. Unable to contain herself, she hugged and rubbed her own arms, then chuckled apologetically, "I'm so sorry, I didn't count on the temperature difference between Los Angeles and New York."
"You should be thankful it's raining and not snowing out there. Otherwise you'd be freezing!" Natalie scolded with a hint of irritation as she helped Angela fold the umbrella. No one, not even herself, could detect the undercurrent of concern in her voice.
She fetched a cup of hot water and offered it to Angela as she helped her warm her arms. "Have something warm to drink first. I'll find you some clothes soon."
"Thank you, Nat," Angela expressed her gratitude. "Don't worry, Mr. Flynn will bring over some clothes soon."
Speaking a little tentatively, Angela continued, "When I heard you were coming, I... well, I rushed here on a flight from Los Angeles. It was so sudden that I didn't pack much."
"You mean you just flew in from Los Angeles?" Natalie stared at her in disbelief.
"Yeah, you know, after the incident..." Angela paused and locked eyes with Natalie.
"Shelley, my dear, I think we have something to discuss," Avner interjected abruptly, motioning to his wife.
"Yes, and I have to get dinner ready," Shelley nodded in understanding. After a moment's thought, she added, "Angela, would you like to stay for dinner?"
"I would love to, Mrs. Hershlag," Angela promptly accepted.
Once her parents had retired to their respective rooms, Natalie shrugged and led Angela upstairs. "Let's go to my room. I'll find you something to wear while we wait for Mr. Flynn to bring the clothes."
When they reached the upstairs bedroom, Natalie quickly found a pink down jacket with a hood for Angela to put on. "Here you go, this should make you feel much warmer."
"Yes, being inside is definitely more comfortable than being outside." Angela rubbed her hands and then her cheeks, making a funny face at Natalie. Natalie promptly responded by sticking out her tongue, and both girls burst out laughing.
"Maybe I should suggest to my dad that he pack a change of clothes for plane trips," Angela mused aloud.
"What?" Natalie inquired, a little confused.
"Ah... never mind. I mean, from now on, I should always be prepared with appropriate clothing, no matter where I'm going," Angela explained, trying to change the subject. Then, after a moment's pause, she finally asked the question that had been on her mind, "Nat, are you still thinking about it?"
"Think about it? What do you mean?" Natalie asked curiously. But it quickly dawned on her, and after a brief silence, she gently asked, "Is that why you came here?"
Angela didn't answer right away; she just looked at her friend. But the slight trembling of her hand on the edge of the down jacket betrayed her feelings.
"Angie, I want to tell you that although I was upset about that article when it was published, I stopped thinking about it after their public apology," Natalie said, then sighed, "All right, I admit, even now it still makes me uncomfortable. But believe me, Angie, I never intended to blame you or anyone else."
The room fell silent for a moment. Suddenly Angela looked up. "No! No, Nat! It's not like that!" Her face flushed a deep red, whether from returning warmth or excitement, it was hard to tell.
"You know, Nat, I was really scared after that incident. I was afraid that you would distance yourself from me. I was afraid it would affect you badly, and I never imagined it would cause such chaos. If I had known, I wouldn't have gotten involved in the damn thing at all. I should've just let it go. I've been waiting for your message, and when you came back, I came here too, because I'm scared, really scared, Nat... I'm afraid of losing you."
Natalie didn't fully understand Angela's words, but as she looked into those emerald green eyes, filled with fear and sincerity, an intense emotion washed over her. It took root deep within her, causing her heart to race loudly.
She stared at Angela, who stood so close to her that their noses almost touched. But Natalie didn't step back or break her gaze. Enchanted, they remained locked in a four-eyed connection. After Angela's confession, the room had returned to silence. Aside from the pitter-patter of the rain outside, the only sounds were the two girls' racing heartbeats, seemingly calling for something.
But just as they moved closer together, a sudden knock on the door startled them both. They jumped back, their faces flushed as they exchanged embarrassed glances.
"Dinner is served, dears," came Shelley's voice from outside.
"We'll be down in a minute, Mom," Natalie replied in a slightly nervous tone. Fortunately, her mother seemed oblivious, and her footsteps soon faded away.
"Well... Angie... shall we go downstairs?" Natalie cleared her throat slightly and suggested.
"Of... of course..." Angela turned her head slightly and gave Natalie a shy look as she replied.
Natalie patted her cheeks gently to reassure herself. She was about to reach for Angela's hand when their fingers brushed together, causing a sensation similar to holding hot coals. Hastily, they let go and shared awkward smiles before leaving the room one after the other.
