February 2017
Rachel has never been the girl who sat at the office, overlooking the floor to ceiling windows, claiming her own private office, and watched whatever she can see from the opposite building. She did, once, saw a lady working till late night and something mushy and messy happens to her and what Rachel assumed to be her boss. It all looks too familiar, like those she fantasize since the day she stepped into Derek's Oval, and imagine what the table may be used for besides writing.
She is in the field, not literally a paddy field, football field or muddy field, she is taking thing by her own hand. Brandon's charity organization were divided into many categories, there were projects for global warming, foundation set up for the poverty, electricity from the less developed cities in the third world, and also, medical care for the children who lacks of these facilities.
Yet, as much as Rachel would like to be noble, she wasn't ready to step away from the land of U.S.A, instead, she remained in Seattle, doing something altruistic.
'Is the water and food enough? I think we would be expecting at least 200 people today.' Rachel asked her partner, Adeline, who is responsible for delegating the task.
Two months ago, with heavy heart, Rachel left D.C after knowing Derek has won his second term as the President of United States. She was delighted, yet crestfallen, four years is long. She wanted to use these four years as a test, for both of them. Rachel never told Derek about her departure, knowing that he has his own resource to know her whereabouts. As soon as she reached Seattle, a bouquet of soft pink peonies, adorned with dark green leaf along the outline was place in her room. Rachel picked the card, it was signed off with the letters "superman". She knew, right in the moment that Derek has made the surprise.
Initially, Rachel had decided to leave Seattle for Colombia, to pursue her dream of helping children in the rural part of that country who lacks of medical facilities. After learning that Brandon was diagnosed with cataract on his left eyes and needed a minor surgery, she decided to stay in Seattle for a period of time until Brandon is feeling better.
Along the way, she couldn't find any charity project under Brandon's company that excites her, until, one fine afternoon, while she was sitting in a coffeeshop, feeling dishearten when the coffee reminds her of Derek, she saw a woman across the streets who is trimming hair for the homeless. Rachel was struck by her act of kindness, afterwards, without wasting any time, she approached her.
Adeline has been her partner since, giving free haircuts for the homeless. Every smile and confidence that was regained by every person they helped, Rachel felt immense amount of satisfaction.
With the financial ability that Rachel is able to cover, they had gathered more hairdresser to volunteer for this project as well. Work distracts her, now she believe what Derek said was true.
'Is Gary here already? We need to get the live video uploaded to YouTube.' Rachel asked Adeline again for confirmation. Adeline has been a great help, and without her, Rachel wouldn't be able to accomplish their mission and expand it to where it stands today.
'He's been here for thirty minutes, Rach, you are just too busy.' Adeline, pushing her brown framed glasses, tied up her golden hair into a high messy bun, getting ready to start her work. Adeline practically wears the same outfit everyday, not that she never washes her clothes, its just that, she wore the same color of top and same color of jeans. It has always been white, since Rachel saw her, white tops and navy jeans. At least, her shoe has more variety, sometimes she wears black Converse, or red Converse, or even grey Converse. Yes, Converse remained constant, it's only the color.
'Really? I must get myself a pair of glasses soon.' Rachel palms her head.
'Anyway, we have achieved 200k of views since we created many social media platform.'
Rachel nodded triumphantly, she was proud of her mini achievement. 'Remember I told you my plan about collaborating with technical school to offer programs to the homeless? So they can upgrade their skills? I have contacted several school and they are considering it.' Rachel studies a list of school which she has complied through her phone, she looks like a woman on serious mission, no more bullshit. She loves her jobs right now, enabling her to have more freedom in choosing her outfit for work, unlike working for Base Andrews, they only have the dull navy uniform, not that it was bad, it still carries a certain amount of pride while wearing those clothes, after all, she is serving the President of United States, and she is just one step ahead of her colleagues by having affair with President Hoffer.
'Awesome, Rachel.' Adeline puts a thumbs up. 'Anyway, I gotta start my work, we can discussed this tomorrow morning.' Adeline took the scissors pouch, tied it on her waist and get ready for her mission.
Rachel overlooks the whole program, talked with some of the homeless, asking about their plans, and offering them foods. Somehow guilt does pricks her to see the condition of their outfits. Rachel herself was wearing a grey Kenzo Tiger sweater, matched with a black jeans. Rachel reminds herself to check with Adeline if their budget allows them to purchase jackets for the less fortunate as well.
For the first time in her life, Rachel felt useful for her existence, besides enjoying the wealth that her adopted parents provided her, she is able to give back to the society.
'So how was the Beijing trip?' Rachel speaks over the phone as she reached her office, a temporary office she rented for Adeline and her to held meetings and plannings. It's pretty much empty, not because it's literally empty, but Rachel decides to use minimalist design for her office, thus, she request for all files and documents and other unnecessary stuff to be stored in the drawers, instead of cluttering around the table. She was glad that Adeline shared the same habits as her.
'Freezing, the sky looks so much clearer than the last trip we visited. We met your idol by the way, Jack Ma.' Derek chuckles.
'I know, have you forgot that I am your hardcore fans? I've seen your instagram, Derek, and you look so...' Rachel intentionally drag her sentence just to make Derek impatient.
'Charming.' Derek snapped, he doesn't need to pretend to be humble in front of Rachel, they know each other too well.
'As always...' Rachel replied shyly. Her hearts beams all the time when Derek's voice surrounded her anatomy. They haven't met for two months, both struggling to get used to their life without each other.
'I went to your apartment before I left D.C , your coffee machine is malfunctioning, so I took the initiative of buying a new one.' He told her.
'What? Never mind, it's about time anyway.' Rachel tries to remember if she notices any errors in her machines before she left for Seattle. Once, she pressed the button and the machine wasn't steaming, she totally forgot about it because Derek has stopped coming to her house since. Coffee reminds her too much of him that she decided not to let any scent of his favorite beverage reminds her anymore. It was only until recently that she took up the courage to indulged herself in it, just to pretend that Derek was there with her. 'So, what are you doing now?' She adds.
'Pretty much working through the classified files that you are dying to read all the time.'
She chuckles, knowing that Derek was teasing her for being a nosy parker. 'Do you still have to work that hard? I mean, you've won the second term.' Rachel reminded him. Actually, Rachel hates the word second term, if it wasn't for the second term, they would have already been free from the world's attention, they might have been living together in the house that Derek bought for them.
'I worked hard for that, of course I am going to perform to the most ultimate for this country.' Derek flipped the files, browsing for those that needs immediate attention, but nature has been kind to him, he was able to spare an hour or two just to talk with Rachel. 'Anyway, you have seen my pictures all the time, I haven't seen yours.'
'Really? I told Gary to take a decent photo of me so I can post to our Instagram, he doesn't follow instruction.' Rachel pretends to reprimand her photographer.
'Gary? It better be a nickname for a girl.'
'Obviously, Gary is a man, an old man.' Rachel rolled her eyes and laughed out loud. 'He is one of the homeless that we recruited once we learnt about his skill.'
'Hmmm...' He murmured, seems to be satisfied with Rachel's answer. 'I wish we could be having a video call now.'
'Derek? Are you initiating a phone sex? God, you are such a pervert.' Rachel feigning insulted.
'You are such a hypocrite, Rachel.' He chuckles, his face redden slightly.
'Anyway, you have updated your Spotify.'
'If I doesn't know you in real life, I swear I would be so terrified of you, Rachel Woods.' He sounded astonished, but in a joking manner.
'And after you know me in real life, I would be label as the crazy ex who stalked you all the time.' She laugh.
'Pretty much a horror story as well...' Silent curtained both of them, probably the wound of separation is still healing, a prick of pain is still felt once in a while. Rachel pretty much needed some wine to ease her to sleep sometimes, and she would make a drunk call to Derek. He would pick up anyway, even if it is midnight. Rachel would even serenade the song 'Without You' by Air Supply when she totally lost control of herself, when she found out in the next day, she stopped contacting Derek for three days until Derek couldn't bear not hearing her voice, he had to beg her to pick up her phone.
'Derek?' She mumbled.
'Yea?'
'Tell me I'm a fool for leaving you.' She felt her voice weakens. Rachel hardly cries anymore, perhaps she is immune.
'I was a fool for not stopping you.' He replied sadly.
She chuckles softly. 'I'll call you again soon?'
'Okay.'
They had long passed the inseparable stage when dealing with hanging the phone. Rachel and Derek doesn't need any excuses for each other to call or to hang up, probably they were no longer hiding anything from each other anymore, and thus they have no reason to suspect each other.
Derek often wonder if a separation is a better option for both of them. They were growing closer to each other even though the ironic part was that, they broke up. They never took much picture while together, there is at least six of them, the best one was taken during their dance at his birthday slash Christmas party. Rachel look absolutely stunning in her red dress, the photographer took the picture in the right timing, they were both gazing mesmerizingly into each other's eyes. Derek zoom in to Rachel's face, he longed for her, two months isn't long, but it was unbearable to say the least.
â*â*â
May 2017
Finally, spring is here to chase away winter fashion. Rachel loves to see the flowers blooming after the frosty period of the year. Rain is getting less frequent, for a person like Rachel who loves to dress up for every occasion, or even when there is no occasion, she adores the current situation of Seattle. The sky is getting filled with more white instead of the grey moody clouds, she starts to wonder why they say it rains in Seattle all the time.
In her first stop of spring shopping, she headed towards a shop downtown where there is a variety of socks to choose from, she learns about that place from Google, immediately, Derek came to her thoughts. She waste no time in visiting that place, after she dressed up in yellow sundress with square neckline, paired with red wedges, she even bought her latest Prada straw shoulder bag, it all looks like she is going for a picnic.
Retail therapy is now Rachel's motto. Even though she didn't took economics in her college days, it doesn't take a PHD graduates to know that spending will boost the economic. Rachel supports small local business, she bought twenty socks simply because she has choice phobia, and everything looks funky on Derek's leg. Rachel particularly love the one that has brownies design on the socks. Brownies are special to them, they held a significant memories during those days in Camp David, although she wasn't a girl who is fond of sweet stuff, but she is willing to get diabetes for Derek. She wonders if there is a possibility that she can visit that paradise again.
'Hey!' She sounds bubbly when Derek picks up her call.
'You seems to be in a good mood.' Derek said from the other side, his tone was normal, as usual, this was how he sounds like when he was clamming the phone in between his shoulder blades and his ear while perusing at documents. He really never rejects her calls, unless he was having a drastically important meeting, but he would call her back the minute he sprung free from duties.
'And that's because I just shop for some nice socks for you, I think, no, I believe you will adore it.'
'Rachel? My drawer is going to explode from the socks you sent me, and if I remember correctly, it was only last month that you just send a batch of it, I'm not an octopus to wear that much socks at one go.' He sound really astonished this time.
'I did?' She feign amnesiac, 'how come I don't remember?'
He chuckles, 'did you get any for yourself?'
'It's beginning to be warmer here, I'm going to wear flip-flops, wedges, slippers and all those shoes that can flaunt the pedicures that I did. So, nope, I didn't buy any for myself.'
'Uh-huh...' he sounded doubtful, 'pedicures?'
'That's the term for a manicure done on the feet.' She explains while walking on the street, admiring the spring florals that freshens the view of the city.
'I think I might need to study English again, my teacher never taught me those.'
She giggles. 'So, I saw those photos about you and Grace visiting an elementary school.'
'Those kids are adorable, they asked questions that I never had any answers to. You see, one of them ask me if it is possible to declare a national dog day.'
'Aw, that's so adorable. What did you tell him or her then?'
'I said we can work on that, buddy, and maybe you can sort that out by yourself when you grow up. In other words, I'm encouraging them to pursue what they think is needed in this world.'
'Uh-huh...' Rachel suddenly reminds herself of their unborn child, there are just too much wounds to recover this year.
'You okay?' Derek sensed something is missing in her voice, the enthusiasm is slowly fading.
'Our baby would be seven months old if he...' Rachel couldn't finished the sentence, it's too cruel to mention it. She settles down at the bench in the International Fountain, overlooking the grandeur Space Needle Park, one of the most iconic monument in Seattle.
'I'm sorry.' Derek said ruefully.
'Well, anyway,' Rachel decides to shift the subject, 'have you, the President visited the Space Needle Tower?' Rachel tried to regain her chirpy mood.
'Yes, I do. Have you?' He proffered her question.
'You might be surprise.'
'So, it's a no.' He wasn't that surprised
'Maybe this year. I left Seattle many years ago. Were you even born when this piece of landmark was erected?'
'Erected? Are you sure you are not implying something adult rated?' Derek teased her. She can imagine his mischievous smile plastered on his lips.
'I swear you are absolutely up to no good, Mr. President.' Rachel mimics British accent when she pronounced those words she read from Harry Potter.
'You remind me of Theresa May.'
'Well, I'm trying to be as noble as Mother Theresa.'
Derek couldn't hold his laugh, she could hear his bursting hilarity from the other side.
If there is something that the separation brought, it would be intimacy. They agrees to withstand the test of time, to know each other without the restriction of each other's relationship status. They wanted time to prove them if they were meant to be together, and it seems like the detachment is showing the fruits of their labour.
Two weeks later, Rachel received a call from the man that she haven't heard for a very long time.
'We don't talk anymore, we don't talk anymore. Hi, stranger, care to share your whereabouts?'
'Tony!' She squealed.
'How do I sound? I had this plan of joining X-Factor.' He mentioned confidently.
'Only to get insulted by Simon Cowell?' I mocked.
'Well, maybe the audiences fancies me more than the judge, it happens before.' He stands firm to his belief.
'Anyway, did you mentioned about my whereabouts? Why? Are you in town?' She asked.
'Looking at the Sea-Tac tower now, the President just left with should I say your boyfriend or ex-boyfriend?'
Her eyes widen as Tony mentions the word President. Rachel's mouth formed into a wide 'O' as she can't contained the excitement erupting inside her. Every blood vessel deep inside her rushes the blood all over her body as adrenaline spikes. 'The President is in town.' She repeats.
'Uh-huh, which we owe the pleasure to him.'
'We?' Rachel was eager to know.
'Same old, same old. Dolores, Corbin and we took the initiative of asking Sarah to join us in the celebration of your birthday, which of course, she has to take another flight.'
'How sweet of you guys, seriously.' While she was feeling grateful with her friends, Rachel was far more engrossed in Derek. It's about time they took a short break from their test.
'So, can we meet up soon?' Tony prompted the question.
'How long will you be staying here?' She tries to fish Derek's schedule from Tony.
'Well, that depends on our boss, there hasn't been any clear instructions yet, but I reckon it will be around three days.'
Three days, she voiced it inside her mind. 'Perfect, text me the place you guys are staying at, we'll meet up soon.'
The moment when Tony and Rachel are done with their phone calls, she started browsing Derek Hoffer's Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Google news for his latest news. It was the technology fair that brought him here. She hasn't heard from Brandon that the President will be visiting.
She couldn't wait any longer, she was floating like a hot air ballon, flying towards the direction that will leads her to Derek. When she was done conducting meetings with Adeline, she packs her stuff all into her Marc Jacob shoulder bag and leave for the day, before she left, she gave a warning that nobody is allowed to contact her tonight unless somebody is dying.
'Rachel! Oh my gosh!' Dolores hugged her like they haven't met in a century. 'I miss you so much!' Dolores couldn't hide her excitement.
Rachel uses Brandon's Range Rover to drive them to the Blueacre Seafood, where in Rachel's opinion, they served the best baked lobster in town.
'How is everybody?' Rachel studies them, feeling warm across her heart to meet her other family again.
'Tragic, without you.' Corbin shakes his head with disapproval.
'I took your presence for granted Rachel, I miss your fridge so badly.' Sarah exaggerated her misfortune, Rachel chuckles.
Rachel never gave her ex-colleague any explanation regarding her horrible miscarriage that happens in the plane. They never pursue her for any answer as well, knowing Rachel too well that if she isn't willing to share, there is no way they can crack her out of it.
'How is Seattle treating you?' Tony walked beside her, while the rest of them were busy being a tourist, taking any possible photos so they could upload it to their Instagram stories, particularly Corbin, his pursue for popularity in the social media has render him the title 'selfie-king' among them.
Rachel locked her phone after she browse for Derek's whereabouts, the picture shows that he is meeting with the Tehcno moguls. Mirthfulness spreads over Derek's face as she she look at his picture. Perhaps that's what Seattle does to people, after Rachel watched the Movie Sleepless in Seattle, she has this idle thoughts that her happily ever after would be based in this beautiful city, in the house that Derek bought.
'Besides the weather, I'm doing great.' She replied Tony with honesty.
'Really?' He smiled and nodded, like he was genuinely glad that she settled down well. 'I'm curious about something Rachel, can you just give me the benefit of the doubt?'
'What?' She shrugged.
'Is he still your boyfriend or ex-boyfriend?' Tony places both his hand inside his jeans pocket.
Rachel tries to process his words, and at the same time, she tries to hide the guilt that she was being dishonest all the time. 'I would say it's complicated, but we are trying to work things out.' She shrugged again, avoiding his glance as well.
'I see.' Disappointment wash over him like a tidal wave of cold ocean water splashes over him during tsunami. He tries to act cool, feigning he wasn't injured with another waft of discouragement.
'Yup.' The ambience between them were mix with a little bittersweet. Tony held her hand really hard when she was going through the pain in her process of miscarriage, his grave expression on his face was another thing that she buried and locked in her deepest part of memory along with her unborn child. She can't return his love, regretfully. 'Look, I didn't thank you properly, for whatever you've done, I couldn't be more grateful than that.' Rachel chooses the word grateful to translate her message to Tony.
He notches up his eyebrow, like he reads her mind. He pursed his lips and nodded again. 'Like I say, let us be normal.' Tony uses the same phrases again.
A/N
3700+ words. That's longer than what I usually would write.
Rachel and Derek needs to go through a cycle of storms and sunshine to know what they really want. People always think that marriage solve everything, but they forgot that when there is a problem even before a marriage, they have to solve it before taking a further steps.
I hope you enjoyed this story!
By the way, if you know already, I will be editing my chapters, sorry if there will unnecessary notifications in you feeds!
Thank you for reading, love y'allllll.
XoXo