The Secret He Will Later Know

Life has its ups and downs. One moment you’re way up there but you never know when you’ll fall down there. But one must remember that you can never give up. That’s life after all…

***

Elise sat nervously in her seat. She just couldn’t seem to calm down at the situation. She made a trip to the salon and even bought a nice dress just for that day, but she was afraid whoever she would meet would reject her right away once they found out her situation in life. She glanced at a table not that far from her and saw her three best friends who was smiling at her, their expressions saying everything will be okay.

She heard the door to the restaurant open and saw a man enter. He looked the same as the picture her matchmaker sent her. Elise took a deep breath and calmed herself.

The man she saw sat across her. He was sporting slick black hair swept to one side, and his dark green suit went well with his fair skin. Elise noticed his clean shaven face and dark brown eyes.

“Hi, you must be Elise.” the man said and offered his hand for a shake. “I’m Tom Han. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too.” Elise replied shyly.

Even though she was already thirty, Elise was still single. Ever since she graduated university, she had focused on working to provide for her family and had no time to date. The last time she dated, the guy broke her heart and left her with a problem. But over the years, she never really thought of it as a problem. More like a gift. But it was also one of the reasons she could never have a long-term relationship.

Elise and Tom were chatting happily in the table. Elise’s friends; Anna, Harold and Hilda, were quite satisfied at the situation. Now if only she wouldn’t say it…

“Tom, I can see that you’re a really nice guy but I have to confess something.” Elise said once they had gotten comfortable with each other.

“What is it?”

“You see… I… I have a twelve year old son. I had been raising him by myself ever since. If we do decide to date, you will have to accept him and you two have to get along.”

Tom was speechless at her words. He only came because her picture the matchmaker showed him was pretty, but he wasn’t expecting she was already a mother!

“What?”

“I-“

“Uh… I really enjoyed today’s dinner. But I just remembered I left some unfinished work.”

“So, can we schedule the next date-“

“Can we take a raincheck?”

“Uh… sure.”

Elise just watched as Tom, no, the man she met briefly stood up and walked out of the restaurant. She couldn’t help but be disappointed at what happened. But she knew that would happen. It always did in every blind date she had participated for the last few years. She glanced at the table where her friends were sitting and saw their disappointed looks as well.

She just sighed.

“So it’s a flop again.” commented Anna to her friend who had managed to keep a neutral expression.

“Yeah.”

“Why did you have to-“

Harold was not able to complete his question because Elise glared at him. It was the kind that was warning him not to finish his statement.

“At the very least, you could’ve gotten on a few dates first before telling him.” he said instead.

“If we’re going to be in a relationship, we should be honest with each other in the first place.” Elise retorted.

“You wouldn’t be lying. Just sugarcoating it a little.”

“That’s enough.” Hilda interrupted. “Arguing wouldn’t solve it. Hey Elise, I’ll just schedule another blind date for you, okay?”

“No need.” Elise said. “Seth and I will be fine with just the two of us.”

“The boy needs a father, Elise.”

Elise stood up abruptly. A bit miffed at Hilda’s off-handed comment.

“Seth and I have survived without another man in our life all these years. We wouldn’t need one now. I should go. I’m supposed to pick up Seth from school.”

Elise left the restaurant, leaving her friends speechless and worried.

“Shouldn’t we-“

“You two enough.” Anna sneered. “Elise is a strong independent woman. I agree with her. She doesn’t need a man in her life. Let’s go.”

***

Elise was leaning on her car, waiting for the school to end. When students started exiting the gate, she raised her hand as a greeting to the teenage boy that was approaching her.

“Hey!” she greeted.

“Hey Mom.”

The teenage boy, Seth Li, replied with a wide smile as he saw his mother.

“How was your first day at school sport? Adjusting okay?” she asked once the two of them were inside the car and was on their way home.

“It’s fine. The students here are rather more docile and much nicer than the ones in the States.” Seth snorted and chuckled a little.

“Well… Have you made any friends yet? I bet many girls have a crush on you when they saw you.” Elise said in a teasing manner. “You’re very handsome because you look just like your mother.”

“Yes. I’m very handsome and I got it from you. But mom, I don’t think they’ll have a crush on me immediately. As for friends, I’ll have some soon.”

“Hmm… Just don’t forget to focus on your studies okay?”

“Yes Mom!”

Elise felt a little relieved. Her son had always been optimistic, just like that guy. Although she felt a little sorry to Seth. The boy had never known his father and got dragged around because of her work back in the States, but he had been very understanding of their situation. And she couldn’t be any happier. When she decided to return to China and settle down in the country, he also agreed with it right away.

The two reached their house, which they just moved into. It was a two-story house with three bedrooms located at the edge of Shanghai. Anna and the others had commented that it was too big for the two of them to live in but they just decided to wing it.

“Hey mom, how did it go with your blind date?” Seth asked as he out his bag down to the sofa.

Elise stiffened a little when she heard her son’s question.

“How did you know about that?”

“Aunt Hilda’s not really someone that can keep secrets.”

She just sighed in disbelief. No matter how much she wanted to deny it, it was true.

“Did… the guy ran away when you mentioned me?”

Elise felt like cold water was dumped on her. Her son just hit the target right at the center.

“I’m sorry.” Seth sounded sad. “You can’t date because of me.”

“What are you talking about?” Elise immediately made her way to her son and sat next to him. “I don’t have to date you know. I’m quite happy with just the two of us.”

“But-“

“And besides, if any man wants to date me, he has to accept you too and you have to approve of him. The two of us are a set after all!”

“Really?”

“Of course! So, don’t ever blame yourself, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Now go upstairs and take a bath. I’ll prepare dinner.”

Seth ran upstairs and Elise just watched him with a smile on her face. Because of what happened, she couldn’t help but get a blast form the past.

Sixteen years ago, when she was eighteen, she got drunk and got accidentally pregnant. Afraid of her parent’s reaction, she tried to settle it with her boyfriend, the father of the child in her belly. But her boyfriend was an upcoming celebrity so she was contemplating whether to tell him or not. After a few hours of mentally debating whether to tell him or not, she decided to just tell him. He had to take responsibility after all.

“Hello?” answered the voice on the other line of the phone.

“Hey, I… I have some news.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“I… Do… Do you remember what happened last month?” she asked.

There was a long pause on the other line but…

“That. Did your parents find out?”

“It’s worse than that. Babe, my period didn’t come and the PT came out positive.”

Eighteen year old Elise heard a crash from the other line, like something made of glass broke. She was very sure her boyfriend just dropped something breakable to the floor.

“What did you just say?!”

“Babe. I’m… I’m pregnant!”

“This is… Let’s meet. We have to discuss this! Let’s meet at the usual place!”

Elise went to their usual hangout, a hidden spot near the bank. The two used to just hang out there after school and chat or eat. She waited for him. And waited. And waited. But hours passed and he never arrived. She looked at her watch and saw that it was already nine in the evening and her parents had left her about dozens of missed calls.

Her phone rang and she was relieved when it was her boyfriend’s caller ID.

“Babe? Where are you?”

“Elise, I’m sorry. But, I can’t do this.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ll be debuting next month. If we keep the baby, think how much trouble will that get me? Will that get us?”

“Are you saying, you want to get rid of it?”

“Can’t you do that?”

Elise huffed in disbelief and tears started to stream down her face.

“I can’t believe you. You should say that to my face instead of hiding behind a phone call!”

“I’m very sorry Elise. I… You can decide what you want to do with it. But I don’t want anything to do with it.”

Before she could even retort, the line went dead. She sat there and kept crying.

After that, she had never heard of him again. He even changed his number and address, so she was never able to talk to him. She was just surprised to see the news in the TV about a new singer that debuted. It was him!

Elise’s parents had become suspicious. Somehow, there daughter had become moody and she would shut herself in her room. She seemed very different from the cheerful daughter in their memories. Her mother finally decided to confront her after seeing her run to the bathroom and throw up.

“Elise, what’s going on?”

Elise tried to calm herself, but her chest welled with pain and tears gushed out from her eyes at an uncontrollable rate.

“Elise? What’s wrong?”

“Mom… I- I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. I’m very sorry!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Mom… I’m… I’m pregnant!”

“What?”

When her father found out about it, he almost had a heart attack. Both he and his wife were very disappointed at him. But even then, Elise was firm on keeping the baby.

“It wasn’t his fault.” she said. “I’m going to keep him. And I’m going to raise him.”

The family decided to cover up the fact that she was pregnant by sending her abroad. She was not able to attend her senior high school graduation and didn’t immediately go to university because of her pregnancy. After the baby was born, Elise’s parents wanted to send him for adoption, but she was strongly against it.

“He’s my baby! Please! Don’t send him away!” she begged with tears in her eyes.

“But Elise-“

“Please mom. You can’t. Please. Please.”

Mr. and Mrs. Li weren’t that pleased with their daughter’s decision, but they knew that once Elise had set her mind on something she will definitely do it. They supported their daughter until she graduated from university and found her own job. After that, Elise and her son were left on their own.

Since then, Elise had never heard from her family and had been staying in America. That was until she got offered a job in China. She wanted her son to see their homeland, so she decided to accept it and settle down.

Elise sighed as memories flashed in her mind. She just shrugged and did not mind it. She and Seth had been doing well already. There was nothing she could ask for. Well, except for one thing, she was hoping never to see that guy who left her again.

***

Elise shook the hand of President Wu of Wu Studios. She was offered to be a talent manager and a celebrity handler in the company a few months ago. The two were meeting for the first time.

“Thank you for accepting our offer Miss Li.” President Wu said as they took their seats inside the conference room.

“Well, it was a very nice offer. I wouldn’t want to miss it.”

“Still. I bet you have handled many big shots in Hollywood during your stay in America.”

“I wouldn’t say that President Wu.”

Elise read the contract that was offered to her and took it to heart. For a celebrity handler, she was offered a lot of good benefits. She could only guess how tough her job would be. She just shrugged and signed the contract.

“A celebrity had already been assigned to you.” said President Wu as he accepted the signed document. “He’s a veteran actor and singer, and he’s also quite famous so you won’t have a problem with him.”

She was a bit surprised. She thought she would give her a newbie to handle. But then again, with her work experience, Wu Studios would be insulting her if they did that.

The door to the room opened and a man in a dark blue suit entered. When Elise set her eyes on him, she couldn’t help but stiffen in surprise and regret.

‘What is he doing here?’ she thought. ‘Of all the people I have to deal with…’

“Ah, Ryan! You’re here.” President Wu ushered the newcomer to the seat just across her.

Elise collected herself and tried to look calm.

“Ryan, this is your new handler Miss Li.” President Wu said. “Miss Li, this is one of our studio’s top stars, Ryan Zhang. I hope you’ll take good care of him.”

The sets of eyes locked on each other. One set was filled with remorse and maybe a little bit of hate, but the other was filled with surprise.

“Ellie?” Ryan called to the woman in front of him. Being surprised was an understatement.

“Hey. Nice to see you again.”