Kathrine: I’m An Orphan But I Won’t Do It – Episode 21
She held my hand as we walked over to the sofa. “What can I offer you, Kathrine?” she said. Immediately she said that, I felt a shockwave travel throughout my body. “Could this be the drink?” I thought.
“I’m fine, Ma’am, please don’t trouble yourself,” I replied as I sat down on the sofa, resolved never to taste or eat whatever she offers me.
“Please don’t say that, Kathrine. This is our first official meeting and your first time visiting my salon. You don’t need to be overly courteous. Just a moment, let me get you something to drink,” she said, walking towards the fridge.
“I’m truly alright, Ma’am. I had something before coming, and I’m already full. Please don’t bother,” I replied, my heart beating faster than usual.
“Are you serious? It’s just a drink. Don’t be overly nice, Kathrine,” she said, grabbing a bottle of red wine along with two glasses from the fridge and placing them on the luxurious table before me.
I wanted to persist, but I swallowed my desire to speak out, not wanting her to begin to suspect my strong refusal. She sounded so innocent, and the more she persuaded me, the more suspicious she became, reminding me of the Mrs. Abigail I saw in that dream.
She sat down close to me, and we began to discuss. “So, Kathrine, thank you once again for yesterday. Thanks for returning my handbag intact. I think it was God who used that scenario to bring us together for good. I want to believe it’s not a coincidence.”
“As I mentioned, I couldn’t just let you go like that after what happened that day. It’s really hard to find people who are sincerely honest and trustworthy these days. And by what you did yesterday, you proved you were one, and I was impressed.”
“You’ve told me a bit about yourself. I genuinely feel for you, Kathrine, and I promise to assist you as much as possible,” she said.
I sat down quietly, listening carefully as I rehearsed in my mind everything that happened in that dream, ensuring I’d be very cautious in my interactions with her.
Before I could express my gratitude, she continued, saying, “I don’t know what kind of business you would love to pursue, but I promise to support you throughout the learning process until you can start your own.”
“Tell me, what would you love to do, Kathrine?”
Everything that was unfolding was gradually diverging from what I had dreamt, and that greatly diminished my fears. The absence of Mrs. Victoria or any third party in our discussion gave me hope that life wasn’t recreating that dream in reality.
I recalled that in the dream, I had expressed interest in becoming a drop-shipper, but given the nightmarish turn it took, I decided to pursue a career as a hairstylist instead. I felt that the dream might have been a warning that becoming a drop-shipper could lead to failure.
While not entirely certain, I had a gut feeling that made me lose interest in becoming a drop-shipper after experiencing such a terrifying nightmare.
“I would love to become a hairstylist like you, Ma’am,” I replied, paying close attention to her reaction, trying to know whether she’d be pleased that I wanted to follow in her footsteps.
“Wow! Seriously? I could give you some time to think about it if you want. You don’t have to make a decision based on emotion but on what your heart truly desires. I think I should give you more time,” she said, not exactly happy but surprised that I aspired to become like her.
Seeing that she was doing the opposite of what she did in that dream, I became somewhat convinced that she had no ill intentions. Nonetheless, I remained cautious.
I didn’t need more time to decide what business I wanted to pursue because I had already rehearsed that conversation in my dream. Whatever I said, I had thought about it enough to know what I truly wanted.
I told her I didn’t need more time and that I had already made up my mind before that morning that I wanted to become a hairstylist. She suggested I go home and think about it, but as I continued to reassure her, she eventually decided to let the matter rest.
“Since you mentioned you’ve considered this before coming and that it’s your true desire, that’s fine. I wanted to ensure your decision wasn’t driven by emotions, and now that it’s not, it would be my genuine pleasure to take you as my apprentice.”
“Over the next three years, I will dedicate my time to teaching you everything I know as a hairstylist, hoping you’ll surpass my skills,” she said as she poured the red wine into the two glass cups on the table and proposed a toast.
“Thank you so much, Ma’am. I’m truly honored to learn under your guidance,” I replied, raising my cup of wine and gently placing it back on the table after the toast without taking a sip.
She looked surprised, gave me a puzzled look, and said, “Oh my, Kathrine, do you think it’s alcohol!c? I wouldn’t offer that knowing you’re underage. Go ahead, it’s safe to drink, it’s non-alcohol!c.”
“Not really, Ma’am. I… I’m just…” I trailed off, and before I could finish, she reassured me by saying, “It’s alright if you’re being cautious. I understand. Don’t force yourself, Kathrine. You don’t have to drink it if you don’t want to.”
She drank her own wine to the very last drop, smiled at me, and remarked, “Once again, you’re welcome, Kathrine. I’m glad to have you as my apprentice.”
As soon as she finished speaking, her phone rang. Glancing at her screen, I saw it was Victoria. She excused herself and left the spa room to answer the call.