Chapter 2 Ariella Meets Maxwell

On the plane, Ariella turns off the overhead light so Juanita can sleep in peace. Just a few rows ahead, Maxwell is seated on the same plane to Malaysia, working on his laptop.

When they arrive in sleek, energetic Kuala Lumpur, Maxwell heads to work, while Ariella and Juanita head to her new homestay. At Juanita's new homestay, Mary offers them juice and snacks.

"It's tasty," She says, Mary smiles and tells Ariella "Kids love these things".

Mary tells her that she's very lucky her roommate is the nicest sister in the world and that she even sets up all the decorations around the house to welcome her specially. Juanita looks much cheerier already, and Ariella seems happy as well.

After school, Carol leaps out of class excited when she hears her dad has come to visit. Maxwell stayed in the lobby waiting for her downstairs. She runs into his arms when she sees him.

"Are you surprised?" he says while smiling.

"What brings you here?" she replies.

He explains that he's only here for a short while for the art exhibition, where her uncle and grandmother will be showing off their hand-crafted work used as décor in traditional homes.

Carol pulls out a small spherical bead from her pocket and shows it to her Dad, telling him that Grandma gave it to her, and she carries it around everywhere she goes.

At sunset, she pulls him to a bridge overlooking a river in the middle of the city. She tells him it looks just like the one back at home, and points out all the city landmarks that look just like theirs. He reminds her that if she misses home so much, she's free to come back with him right away,

"You don't know anything dad, it's good to miss something or someone. You just have to wait a while, then we'll meet again. I'm hopeful" she says as she shakes her head and lets out a warm smile.

"That's new logic. You just taught me a huge lesson" he says, nodding and smiling at her. They stood side by side, pretending they were gazing at the River back in Texas.

Juanita is in much higher spirits after checking out her spacious new home but still tears up when her mom has to head back to the airport for work. Her mom promises to come back to see her on the next plane to Malaysia.

"See you. Don't be too long Mom" she says, shakily as tears begin rolling down her cheeks.

At the airport in Kuala Lumpur, Ariella's friend and coworker Sarah walks assuredly toward her crew of attendants. She's charismatic and strict, making sure the rookies on her team are properly uniformed and following proper protocol.

Ariella arrives last, "I'm sorry for arriving late".

Sarah tells the team she'll be replacing one of their team members on the flight back and asks the team to be welcoming. They made their way to the plane. The team observes the routine plane checks before the first passengers start to arrive. Ariella and one other team member stand at the entrance to greet the passengers warmly and professionally as they board the plane. Maxwell runs to catch the plane but makes it just in time; he and Ariella smile at each other as he boards. On the way, Ariella watches a mother-daughter pair, remembers her daughter and holds back her tears.

On arriving at Heart Airport, Sarah and Ariella lead the crew through the terminal, chattering about their flight. On the moving walkway, they pass Chairman Paulo going the other direction with his own team, and both Paulo and Ariella look away while the other crew members greet each other.

As soon as he's out of earshot, the rookie crew members squeal about Paulo "he's as cool as the rumours say", "He's really handsome. I heard his wife's a flight attendant", "Ah, who? Or maybe it's just a rumour", "Maybe, but I heard she's average-looking and unimpressive".

Ariella cringes as Sarah halts in place. Ariella quickly excuses herself before Sarah gives them an earful. Sarah sighs that there's no point in scolding them, and when they guess that perhaps Sarah is Paulo's rumoured wife, she gives them an affronted glare and practically spits out her denial.

Ariella waits while Sarah gets ready to attend a celebration party for her friend's business. Sarah clarifies "I'm not mad because they called you average-looking, but because they thought Paulo was cool and handsome, hah". She pushes Ariella to take one of her dresses and come drink at the party with her, but Ariella refuses, saying she's waiting for a call from her daughter.

"Ariella'' Sarah Calls, "It's because you hide that nice body of yours that there are rumours about you being average. Stop being melodramatic and get a dress from my suitcase",

"I'm waiting for a call from my daughter," Replies Ariella.

Sarah tells her it won't do her any good to wait at home as she walks out of the dressing room, "There's so much dazzle I might go blind. You look breathtaking my friend", "Stop being boring and let's go get drunk. They only sell 150 glasses of handmade beer a day. It's the place to be ''.

They're interrupted by a call from Ariella's mother-in-law, who expresses no reservations in her relief that Juanita has been sent away "Children are a hindrance" she says

Ariella politely denies it, while her mother-in-law tut-tuts at a group of grandmothers picking up their grandkids from school, declaring that she would never live like that.

Sarah successfully convinces Ariella to come to the party with her, who now spots a form-fitting maroon dress that makes her feel really awkward.

Sarah picks up two beers from the restaurant owner and seems to recognize him, but he doesn't answer. When she gives Ariella her drink, they run into another one of their younger coworkers who recognizes Ariella as Paulo's wife.

He's full of rumours, asking Ariella if she knew about Chairman Paulo's clubbing habits and secret meetings with different crew members, and also asking Ariella if their daughter arrived safely at her new school. "You must be so free. Look at what you're wearing" he adds, with a look.

He wondered if they sent their Daughter Juanita away to lead a freer lifestyle. Guess there are no secrets in the workplace.

Sarah's friend finally arrives and explains that the party is hosted to celebrate her getting her first commission.

Sarah still can't remember where she knows the restaurant owner from, and her friend reminds her that they all met before. Sarah finally remembers, recalling how she flirted with him before finding out that Maxwell was not only married but had a daughter as well.

Ariella can't stop worrying about Juanita. However, she tells Sarah that she's going to head out early. Sarah urges her to stay, introducing her friend as the person who set up Juanita's homestay in Malaysia. Sarah's friend knew Juanita's roommate's family (that is, Madison and Maxwell.

Ariella is embarrassed that they're meeting like this before she even gets a chance to thank her properly, but Sarah doesn't see the big deal: "Are older ladies not allowed to have fun?" she says as she laughs

When Maxwell pulls up to the front of the restaurant, Sarah recognizes him right away as Maxwell Stone, Juanita's roommate's father. Ariella, of course, is mortified at the thought of meeting yet another person in her tight dress, and refuses to introduce herself.

Maxwell isn't interested in joining the party anyway, and only brings a drink upstairs to his office to get right back to work.

But Sarah follows him up to say hi, asking if he remembers her "We met five years ago". It doesn't seem to ring a bell, so she tries again "I was the one who asked about Carol's homestay through our mutual friend".

Maxwell asks if Sarah is Juanita's mother, then, but Sarah assures him that she's not. "Juanita's mom is elsewhere, hiding in her dress," she says.

So instead, he gets Ariella's phone number from Sarah and calls, heading out to the roof. Maxwell catches sight of Ariella walking home as he talks, introducing himself as Carol's father and inviting her inside. She sighs and tells him it's a little inconvenient at the moment, her awkwardness palpable through the phone.

Maxwell finally breaks the long pause, hitting right what Ariella is concerned about: "It's hard, isn't it? Sending your kid abroad alone"

Ariella agrees, saying that she just feels so sorry that Juanita is out there scared and alone, and Maxwell relates: "You even feel bad when she's sick and you're not." He tells her "If it's any comfort, my daughter seems to prefer it there, and rarely calls or visits Texas".

It does make Ariella feel a lot better until she suddenly realizes that she forgot her handbag inside. She hurries back to the restaurant to pick it up, and Maxwell follows, looking through the window to find her. Ariella notes a man speaking on a phone from across the room and waves, mistaking him for Maxwell; the man waves back and promptly hangs up. From outside, Maxwell watches the whole thing through the window, equally confused as to who she's talking to.

Maxwell calls again as Ariella heads back outside, telling her that he just spoke with Carol and Juanita's host mom, Mary. Mary told him that Juanita is adjusting very well and that she and Carol are getting along like longtime friends, so Ariella has nothing to worry about. Ariella can't hold back her emotions anymore and sobs, thanking Maxwell for his kind words through the phone. She quickly excuses herself from the call, telling him her taxi is here, even though Maxwell can see from his place on the balcony that there is no taxi. He watches quietly as Ariella drags her suitcase through the street, sobbing in relief.