Chapter 2

Melanie's POV continues

     "Mom, what are we gonna do?" I asked impatiently as I remembered what transpired at the station. It turned out to be true that the young man was not an uncle to the strange girl. He was infact an undercover officer and he was not putting on his uniform. We went in as we explained what happened to him. My doubts about the resemblance was confirmed as well. 

"Ma'am, why are you lying to us? She's your daughter, right?" One of the officers on duty asked Mom and she titled her head in confusion. "What do you mean?" She asked, unsure. "He means that she is your daughter so why do you insist on portraying her to be lost and found?" Another officer asked. 

"I've explained everything to you guys. She's not my daughter. I just happen to run into her on our way to the cinema." Mom told them. I placed my hand on hers. "Mom, they're right. You guys look alike. No one would believe you're not related." I said. The policeman turned to look at me. "Young lady, you're her older sister, right? She resembles you as well." He smiled at me and I faked a smile. I pulled away from the men and we left the place later after the girl's picture was taken.

I looked back to see the strange girl still eating the popcorn Mom handed over to her. 

~

We actually went to the cinema with her and only God knows the number of compliments we received because of hers and Mom's beauty.

 I mean...c'mon guys, I think am getting invisible here. When we sat down, I couldn't even get to understand the whole movie because people sitting close to us were all whispering, commenting on the girl. Even young kids that came with their parents wished to play with her. But I couldn't let her out of my sight. She is still strange and it's not right for people to get accustomed to her.

~

"Well, let's wait till we get the results from the search." I nodded, rested my head against the head rest and I closed my eyes. Someone touched me and I felt something like a spark. I opened my eyes instantly looking shocked. 

"Mom, did you just touch me?" I asked and she shook her head negatively. I looked back at the girl and she was busy with her popcorn. I turned back to face the front. Maybe it was just my imagination. No one touched me, or so I thought.

When we got back home, the maid came out to collect our things and I assisted her in taking them in. Mom held hands with the strange girl and I noticed the surprised look the maids and some other workers in the house were having on their faces. Then don't be surprised I said 'maids and other workers', we are quite wealthy but it does not in any way give me the chance to misbehave. 

Long story short, we entered the house, ordered one of the maids to take the girl for a bath and then we had lunch together. My eyes were sternly fixed on the strange girl. I pleasantly studied everything about her, from her way of sitting, her eating manners and all.

After the meal, I cleared the table with the help of the maids and I joined them to wash it. They later left the main building and retired to their own building for lunch and they might not be back until it's time to prepare dinner except of course a few of them that stayed with us in the main building. I went up to my room and laid on my bed. I stared at the ceiling...this had actually become my habit whenever am bored or when I've got a lot to think about and that's what am doing again. A lot has been going on in my mind. Ranging from the few changes I've started discovering in myself, to the newly found strange girl. I sighed and closed my eyes to have some sleep and it didn't take much time before I was engulfed with sleep.

I woke up with a slight headache. Guess I overslept. I picked up my phone and checked the time. I widened my eyes when I discovered I've actually spent so much hours on sleeping. I stood up slowly and entered my bathroom. I walked briskly to the sink. I turned on the faucet and splashed a handful of water on my face. I felt refreshed a bit.

I exited my bathroom and was about to head for the door when it opened. I looked up to see who it was and saw Kate popping her head in and smiled when she set her eyes on me. "I was about to come out" I told her cause I know she was here to call me for dinner. "Yeah, I can see that. Actually I've been here before and discovered you were asleep so I left unnoticed but decided to check on you again." She smiled. I nodded, understanding that I actually didn't know someone came in... so unlike me. "Let's go." I finally said and she led the way. We got to the dining room and Mom was just about to start eating. I pulled a chair to sit down. 

She looked up and smiled. "Just in time, darling" I smiled back as I sat down. Kate was about to dish out my food but I stopped her. "Let me do that." She retreated and went back to her room. I dished the food and started eating. I glanced at the strange girl once in a while. I don't even know her name so she's still with the name tag 'the strange girl'. The dinner was done in silence until a loud sound interrupted the silence and I flinched. I was not expecting a sudden interruption. It was Mom's phone that actually interrupted the silence. Mom glanced at the phone's screen, looked up and saw me staring at her then she smiled. She received the call while I listened attentively.

"Yes, Mr Brian. Any information about it?" She asked with high expectations. And I knew it that instant that it was about the 'strange girl'. I paid more attention to their discussion and I dropped my cutlery. "Oh! You mean no one turned up or report to be searching for her?"she asked. The caller's voice could be heard because Mom placed the phone on speaker. "No ma'am. We made sure the girl's info and pics were spread but it seems she has no family." The man said and I sighed.

Mom threw me a look and I returned it with a 'what-do-we-do' look. She shrugged and replied. "Okay, Mr Brian. I'll talk to you later to know my decision." She ended the call. I looked at the girl and I could swear that I saw her smirking but at the blink of an eye the smile has disappeared and I wondered whether it was my imagination or not. I turned back to mom who was thinking. "Mom, what do we do now?" I repeated the question my look sent. "Actually, I don't know. We can't take her in.." mom said and I smiled.

Thank God I'm not the only person here that doesn't want her. "Exactly my thoughts Mom. We can't take her in. Not when we don't know her background. We could drop her in the orphanage home, you know." I suggested, looking at the girl. I could see a flash of disappointment in her eyes. Is this some kind of setup? I thought aloud. "Maybe that would be a better idea" she said and I rejoiced in my mind. She would be out of our lives in a jiffy just the way she arrived.

"Alright, eat up. Tomorrow we would take her to the orphanage home." I nodded and continued my food. The girl never stopped eating throughout our conversation and by the time we were halfway, she was done. She drank water and rested her back against the chair. Within some minutes, we were all done with our meal.

Another maid joined me to pack the dishes and I helped in cleaning them. Though I insisted that I would do it alone, the maid still disagreed so I ended up helping with the rinsing and arrangement of dishes. When we were through with the dishes, I walked back to my room. I laid on my bed, brought out my phone and went through my music library.

I listened to music, actually I'm obsessed with music. I've always loved it since my childhood days and I've got one favorite musician. Her music name is Suzy but her birth name is Susan Lee. Actually she's an half caste. I read that her mom is a Japanese and her father an American. I also learnt that she had started singing since she was 7. I played one of her songs that I loved most. It was "Be My Love" and I actually love that song because it seems to pass a lot of message not even about love.

Only someone who understood the metaphorical meaning of words can understand the true meaning of that song. I sang along as the song played through my earphone. When I stopped singing, the sound of claps was heard and I looked up. The strange girl was standing at the end of my bed. She was smiling deeply. "Hey what do you want? What are you doing here?" I asked. "What do I want here? What am I doing in your room? Tell me, which one should I answer first?" She asked gesticulating. I was surprised at the way she talked. Though I don't know her age but I'm sure she's too sharp for her age. "Answer all." I fired back.

"Can I sit down?" I looked at her again. I wanted to scream "No. Get out of my room and our lives" but I thought otherwise. She's just a little girl anyway. I nodded and she smiled thankfully before taking a seat. "I was bored in the room so I came here to check on you and maybe talk to you. Then I heard you singing and I must commend you have a great voice." She said and I looked at her suspiciously.

"Hey, what's with the look? Have I done anything wrong?" I wanted to say "Yes. You did a lot of things wrong by coming with us." But I restrained myself and said "No" forcing out a smile. I turned back to face my phone and started doing other things while listening to music. All this while, I knew she was looking at me but I didn't budge. After all I did not ask her to come to my room.

"Am I invisible to you?" I heard her voice all of a sudden. What did she mean by that? "What do you mean?" "You're not saying anything to me. At least try to know me, my name or anything at all." She told me looking sad. I was almost feeling guilty but I called myself back to order. "Hey girl, you can't use that look to make me feel sad, get that into the skull." I said poking her at the head.

"And about you being invisible, it would have been better if you had not come with us at all. I don't seems to like you and I don't just dislike or hate anyone unnecessarily. But you, I don't know why " I blurted and she looked shocked and she was taken aback.

"But I did nothing wrong. I only met you two when your mom was about to run into me." She explained. "And you called her mom. You called me mom. Everyone thinks you're related to us. You have a striking resemblance with Mom and looking more intently at you, I feel as if you resemble me as well and all these are freaking me out. Everywhere we have been to people admire you, making me invisible." I yelled and she flinched. 

It's not as if I wanted people to notice me but her being here is irritating me. I don't even know why I dislike her.

"I don't like you being here. There's no way we're gonna make people believe you're ours. I don't want you here, in my room and our lives. Just get out." I shouted at her and she stood up with tears in her innocent eyes and she left my room. I ruffled my hair. Gosh! She's driving me crazy.

TBC.

Sneak peek into the next chapter 3:

"But the result here says otherwise. She's your daughter. 100% related to you."