Chapter Four

LIZA'S POV

I was drinking water when all of a sudden I heard a loud scream from Grandma’s room; it was my former bedroom that I made her use for the time being months ago. I walked at a fast pace taking big steps one by one. I was about to approach the door when my attention was caught by sobs roaring out of the walls. Once I was inside, I can see she was having a hard time. She was awake already when I arrived but she was also in a gloomy state, tears wheeled down her eyes continuously, and she was crying helplessly. I went to sit beside her angling myself and hugged the old lady sympathetically. She moved as well to hug me back making me feel like butterflies are flying around my stomach. I have never felt like this before. It was a warm feeling, so nice you never want to make it stop. Somehow this feeling reminds me of my parents. Granny leaned her head on the crook of my neck trying to be calm while wiping her cheeks.

“Thank you for coming here, my dear! You came just in time” she begins.

“No need to thank me… you are my grandmother now right? I would love to comfort you all the time possible.”

I said not wanting to say something that could hurt her even more. I can say she is at her lowest now, though I have ideas forming in my head, now is not the right time to ask questions. I want to help out a little so I still tried. I reluctantly asked her what happened and she replied it was just a bad nightmare; it was the cue for me that she was dismissing the subject.

I was wondering as heck what it was all about, I stopped myself. I didn’t reply to her and just stayed there in silence. After a moment of unbarring atmosphere, grandma pulled me into the bed. She grabbed the misplaced pillow near her, put it on her side, and tapped it, she then asked me to accompany her to bed for tonight, and I agreed. 

“My dream was so bad… someone pushed me into the cliff”

Grandmother said in a very low but soft hoarse voice.

It looks like she was not telling me the truth, there was this curiosity inside me yet I let her go. Seems like she was wandering in her thoughts alone.  I was calmly lying in the bed while she on the other hand was just sitting still. She was looking at the open window of the room may be lost in her thoughts. No matter how I adjust myself for a better position to look up at her, I struggled really hard trying to read her face, I mean her expression. I neither comprehend nor guessed anything so I decided to shut my mouth off. I didn’t scrutiny her anymore or interfere in her self-talk if she was.

“I was running in a hurry… looking for a cat, the name was…sun… it’s Kenny…”

She said after a moment of deafening silence, later on, she cried in tears and her face palmed. I didn’t dare to ask for more, I can see how much she struggled for words. Once I managed to suit myself beside her, I came close and hugged her. I patted her back slowly and carefully, I just want to make her feel okay and comfort her with all the love I can pour at that very moment. For a second, grandma looked so vulnerable in front of me, I felt like I must protect and love her at all costs. I then kissed her forehead and asked for her to sleep with me instead.

We lay in the small bed fitting the two of us as sleep engulfed us together.

The next morning, I woke up with a tingling sensation I felt in my body. Someone must be doing it purposely. I let out a series of giggles and a very loud happy scream. The sunbeams are shiny today but it’s still morning. When I managed to open my eyes, I saw James and Grandma dying out of laughter… so they’re responsible for waking me huh??

They were so engrossed in their laughter that the two didn’t notice I’m awake already; I then removed my bed sheet cover, and hovered around James! I trapped him between me and the bed. I moved my hands on his waist and started to tingle him as well, much more than the energy he gave earlier.

I looked at grandma and she was laughing seriously! she even put her hands on her stomach. I smiled seeing her this way today while remembering the things that happened yesterday night, I am relieved. I looked back again to James who was both crying and laughing, his laugh actually made me laugh along as well because he sounded like a combination of a horse and a  whale. Oops!!! never mind Haha!…

"Stop it auntie!… please stop it!." He said when he can no longer take it

"Why would I stop? You started it, baby!" I answered him even continued my business and completely ignoring his plea.

"No Aunt Liza please stop it!… Grandma help!!!" Grandma laughed even more instead of helping the helpless kiddo.

Eventually, I stopped too. James was still in his laying position meanwhile grandma greeted me happily with a good morning and

"Happy birthday Liza!!!" She screamed joyfully...

By that time my nephew sat down and gave me a warm hug. Grandma joined us too. Just then she told me that they have a surprise for me. James grabbed me by the wrist and took me to the living room, Grandma followed us. Everyone was cheering happy birthday to me with banners, ribbons, and balloons all over the room. All of a sudden, a handsome young man walked in holding a small size cake having a cute candle on top of it. It literally makes me the happiest and everyone sang the birthday song for me.

I blow out the candle wholeheartedly, they then clapped and greeted me with congratulations, and some of my guests hugged me tenderly. It was a very simple celebration, our neighbors’ were there. They said they got invited together by Ian Peterson, my best friend since childhood and the only male friend I ever had. This was supposed to be a secret, but you know what? I learned a few years ago that my weird secret admirer was no other than Ian himself...

I spent so many days figuring out who was that person, only to find out it was him. After I confronted him with my newfound revelation, he did not deny it. A few weeks after that, one of our friends told me Ian left to study in the capital city of Slytherland, I was so devastated and heartbroken during those times. I didn’t just lose him as a secret admirer; I lost my best friend too.

Everyone gave me a present including my Grandma who gave me a letter in a sealed envelope but she asked me not to open it in the meantime. The days went fast, and my newly formed interest in the man in the magazine I saw last time grew bigger and bigger day by day as well. I hope one day I will meet him too.