Chapter 13 - Viona's Trauma

After landing at the airport, Viona rushed to get out to avoid the man she just met on the plane. Viona quickly walked towards a car that was waiting for her in the lobby. Viona then blocked the number of the man named Justin, whom she had just met on the plane so that he could not contact her. 

"What are you thinking, Viona?" asked Jenni, who was a pastry chef at Viona's shop, when she saw Viona pressed her temple, looking perplexed. Jenni picked up her boss from the airport today.​​

"Nothing. I was blocking another man today. He talked me into giving my number today on the plane. You know I can't say no when people were acting sweetly to me," Viona replied while leaning on the car seat. It's easier to just give it to them and then block later."

Jenni widen her yes in confusion. "What happened? Was he ugly? Rude? Why did you want to block him?"

Viona shook her head. "No, but I am not interested in men. They are either abusive controlling freaks, or womanizers with sweet mouths."

"Open your heart to man. You will know that in this world, not all men have sweet mouths or abusive," said Jenni, giving advice.

"Someday, but not now," Viona said softly as she closed her eyes.

Jenni smiled at Viona's words. Since Jenni started working at Viona's muffin shop, she had often advised Viona to open her heart to a man so that the gossip circulating in the hospital about that Viona being gay would subside. 

Jenni once asked Viona why she was still at home alone on the weekends when many of her friends had boyfriends or went out on dates, but again Viona's answer were just empty words that were meaningless.

"I've only left for two months, yet I really miss this shop," said Viona excitedly as she got out of the car.

"Do you miss this shop or us, Boss?" asked Amina, a Pakistani girl who had worked for her for two years.

"I miss you too, of course. Come on. I'm hungry," Viona replied with a smile. She then pulled her suitcase into her little muffin shop.

Seeing the boss enter, Jenni finally followed together with Amina. Viona deliberately only hired female employees because it would be easier for her to adapt than having to work with male employees. 

She was tired of being surrounded by male doctors at the hospital where she worked. Her trauma from the past would reappear when she was close to men. God knows how long would Viona be able to get rid of her fear.

Nobody knew that Viona owned a muffin shop, because she had never shared her personal life with anyone, including her best friend at the hospital. Viona's cold attitude made the male doctors at the hospital even more ambitious to approach her.

"Doctor Angel," said Amina, breaking the silence in the kitchen as Viona and Jenni enjoyed lunch together.

"Why do you call me that?" asked Viona, raising an eyebrow.

"It's not like that, Viona. I just remembered when Jenni picked you up at the airport, some medical students who were with you, mentioning doctor Angel's name over and over again. I'm sure they're talking about you," said Amina trying to explain what she said.

"Indeed, in the hospital, you are the only one named Angel, aren't you?" Jenni asked curiously as she took a bite.

"Yes, I am the only one with that name in the hospital. But why did they talk about me? I never got involved with the meds students," Viona replied in confusion.

Viona was a quite reliable surgeon at the hospital, she only had a few female assistants to help her in carrying out operations and the intensity of meeting with male doctors was very small unless she was resting or in meetings.

"Maybe they are fans, Viona," Jenni teased with a laugh.

"I'm not a celebrity!! Anyway, I'll take a nap for a while. Please, wake me up," Viona said as she walked into the room near the kitchen that she had provided for rest.

Her two employees nodded in unison then continued their lunch before returning to work, serving customers. 

***

Viona woke up when she heard the sound of several women in front. When she took a look to find out what happened, Viona saw there were ten high school students who were ordering two dozen character muffins made by Jenni. They were noisy because they were arguing about what characters to buy.

"It's nice to be a teenager," Viona muttered softly as she looked at the group of high school students.

"We've all been through those good times, Vio," whispered Jenni, who suddenly stood beside Viona.

"Yes, but my adolescence was too bitter for me to tell Jenni," said Viona softly.

"Never mind what has passed," added Jenni with a smile and then helped Amina serve customers.

Even though Viona had got her life together and had a good job, her trauma had not yet disappeared. She even went to Ms. Naura, the best psychiatrist in London for therapy. However, her trauma could not go away. 

When she looked at the crowd of teenagers with longing eyes, her mind went back to the good times before her foster mother, Maria, died.

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