CHAPTER 6—Trying To be Friend with Her

Rain’s Point of View

AFTER ENTERING THE ROOM, I sat on the bed. Annoyed, I opened the tumbler and drank. When I calmed down, I lay down again. I wanted to sleep, but it seems that my sleepiness has disappeared.

I just went into the bathroom after a while and changed into my exercise clothes. I wore black leggings, a white T-shirt, and rubber shoes. I also brought my earphones and the phone itself. There is one room in the mansion that is fully equipped with exercise equipment. That room was big and spacious.

I went in there to see that there was no one inside. I warmed up for a while before hitting the treadmill. I put on the earphones and then started playing. My full attention is outside. It made the walls of that room of glass. I can see the swimming pool from here.

I had only been running for twenty minutes when I stopped because I felt thirsty. I smiled when I saw the mini fridge there, so I got something to drink from there. Carrying the towel, I wiped my neck for a moment when I felt someone enter the gym.

I turned to the newcomer and saw Aga. It comes with a towel and a tumbler. Our eyes met, but I immediately took it back and got back on the treadmill.

Aga warmed up for a while, then came closer to me. I didn’t pay attention to him. I focused full attention on what was being done while listening to music with earphones.

Aga went to the elliptical bike, which was quite close to me, and started exercising there. He was wearing a blue T-shirt and jogging pants.

I frowned when I realized and asked myself. ‘What is he doing here?’

I was looking at him even though the treadmill was still running. It seems that Aga has no intention of looking at me because he just looks straight outside.

I just ignored him. I stayed at the gym for about an hour. The equipment that Aga touched, I did not try.

After drinking water, I picked up the towel and left the gym. It was only then that I noticed my cousin Aliona holding a cell phone. Looks like someone is talking.

I had no intention of paying attention to this, but I was stunned when Aliona stopped talking and greeted me.

“Good morning, Rain!” she greeted me.

“Morning.”

“Are you from the gym?”

I just nodded.

“Well, it’s obvious.” Aliona laughed. “Anyway, breakfast is ready in a bit. I just came from Auntie Cathy’s room and I told her and Uncle. Good thing I met you.”

I nodded again. “Thank you. I’m just going to take a shower. Excuse me.” I heard Aliona’s weak ‘Okay’, but I didn’t pay attention to her. I walked back to my room to take a shower and get dressed.

Aliona’s Point of View

I was QUIET AND STILL in front of the dining table. My relatives are constantly talking, including my parents. I also speak from time to time, but only when I really need to answer their questions.

“After eating, come to your granny’s wake and the guests might be looking for us,” said Auntie Merceditas to all of us.

“Mommy, can we go for a walk later? I am with Aliona and Apollo. We will just go to the lake.” Azariah asked her mother’s permission, who frowned.

“Why? What are you going to do there?”

Azariah turned to the cousins, who were silent. The nervousness or fear is obvious on their faces.

“I-I miss going there for a walk. Isn’t that where we used to go for a walk—”

Auntie Merceditas told Azariah to discuss it later in the library while it focused her on cutting the meat. I couldn’t see how Azariah’s shoulders slumped. The redness of her eyes, as if she wanted to cry, did not escape my eyes either.

Azariah turned to her mommy, who also had her eyes on her cousin. After a while, the cousin looked at me. She smiled at me sweetly. After a while, Azariah picked up the water and drank it. I don’t feel good about them. Azariah stood up and spoke, “I’m done. Excuse me,” she said and turned around.

Rain’s Point of View

I followed Azariah as she walked away from us. My eyes shifted to Apollo and Aliona with worried faces. They seemed to want to leave the dining area, but they just couldn’t.

“Later, there will be a mass at Mom’s wake. We all need to be there. The bishop, who is a friend of Mom and the family, will also be there.”

“Alright. No problem,” my dad answered.

“I’ll go before you. I’m just going to take care of something,” said Auntie Merceditas after drinking water and wiping her mouth with a white cloth. She stood up and left the dining area.

Apollo and Aliona sighed at the same time and leaned back in their seats.

“Are you done? Let’s go?” said Aliona. She was whispering, but I could hear it.

“I don’t feel like it anymore. Do you think Auntie will scold Azariah?”

Aliona shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m nervous. Maybe later...”

“Aliona, Apollo... You’re still eating, aren’t you?” Uncle Eliseo asked the children.

“D-dad, I am done. I’m just waiting for Apollo.”

“I’m about to finish, Dad,” Apollo said promptly, then hurriedly finished what he was eating.

Until the end of that breakfast, I just remained silent. I pushed my mommy’s wheelchair to the living room.

“Ember, I’ll take care of myself here. I’ll just air in the garden first,” said Mommy while holding my right hand.

I looked around. “Where’s daddy? Do you want me to go there with you?”

She shook her head. “Your daddy will follow you there in the garden. We will go to Butterfly Haven together later. Your Uncle Eliseo had just talked to him.” The brothers had only met now because Apollo and Aliona’s dad were very busy with his business in Japan.

“I’ll just accompany you there until Daddy is finally here.” I pushed the wheelchair until we reached the garden where there were many flowers.