Chapter:02: Answers:

“Don't you think something is off about your parents?” Lana asked as soon as she had succeeded in cutting short her jubilation.

“What do you mean?” Mandy turned her gaze in the direction where Alana was sitting and she seems very lost.

 She didn't quite understand why Alana said such things about her parent. But whatever she thinks and whatever prompted those reactions were simply right.

   “Ummm, I mean, haven't you noticed anything weird? I mean it's weird, right?”  Alana tried to go through the corners to avoid hurting her with the words that she might say but Mandy was keep on hearing what she has to say.

 “What do you mean? Just say it already and stop using the dark route”  She urged. Then, she buried her face in the catcus for a while. Until she heard Alana speak.

  “Didn't you notice that you got two strange gifts this time?” 

The words felt like a bombshell and Mandy felt like she had just come to a big realization.

Her face which was buried in the golden catcus flowers hung up in mid-air and she couldn't bring it down nor take it up.

   

   She was frozen.

Just then she rampaged her mind through the gifts she'd have gotten over the years and realized that they came in singular forms.

She never got two strange gifts but this time, it was different. She got two Stranges from both her father and mother on the same day.

Usually, it was either her father who gave her the gift or her mother. She never the strange kinds of gifts from the both of them on the same day.

It's just dawned on her that she was given both gifts, which she considers strange gifts on the same day.

Just Realizing this, she felt like she was going to go mad by simply thinking about it.

“I mean....”  at that moment Lana raised her brows and met Mandy's eyes staring into her curiously. She quickly shut her mouth thinking that the young girl was mad at her.

However, the revised was the case.

“Go on with your thesis, I'm keen to know what you've come around with”  Mandy looked at her with seriousness.

 Alana was nervous at first but she bite her lips and continue. 

“ The master and madam have always given you strange gifts on your birthday as you told me. However, they never bothered to explain the meaning of each item, don't you think that you should ask them what they represent or why they gave them to you?” Alana asked, diving into her ocean-like eyes with expectations.

Mandy thought about it for a while.

“I mean, you should know, right? You haven't gotten over the shock of your other presents and now, here we go again ” She sighed defenselessly.

Hearing her speak, Mandy knew she had a point and she would not let this one chance to ask her parent what those gifts meant too–She would confront them about it today and not a single day after.

“Now , that you mentioned it, I think you have a point and I'm not going to take more chances about this. I will ask them all about it tonight and not a day after” Mandy pursed her lips and said with a firm resolve.

Alana stood up from the bed and came to hug her. At least, her soothing hug might help in calming her racing nerves.

Mandy patted her hands when she saw the cold hands snaked around her neck for a friendly hug.

Alana and Mandy free up as friends, even though Alana was working as a maid at the mansion.

She was brought to the mansion by some strangers when she was just seven years old, according to the people, who brought her to the mansion, they claimed that her parents were killed In an attack. So, the poor little girl was left alone in the woods.

Fearing that the wild animals might hurt her if she stays too long in the woods, they decided to bring her to the doorstep of master Nicholas, who has always been generous when it comes to the hopeless and helpless. 

He gave out shelter to those that needed one and provided them with the necessity.

When he saw the little girl that day , he was reluctant about taking her in, because she was way too young for a child that could stay on their own without guards.

He can't promise to provide her with parents that would help her get over the shock of the death of her parents due to how busy he and his wife, Elizabeth, were.

“Im sorry but I would like to ask you to take to another home, please ”  Master Nicholas said with a look of regret in his eyes.

He folded his hands and dipped some money into the hands of the strangers , who had brought the girl.

“Its alright, Master Nicholas, this will go a long way in helping us look for a new home for the poor girl” One of the men said.

After that, he signaled to one of his men to take hold of the  little girl's hand as they lead her away from the mansion. However, they have just taken a few steps when Mandy , who was just hiding behind the door came crying to her father.

   She cried so much that she didn't have any voice left to say what was wrong. She struggled to speak , but in the end it ended with a muffle and whimpering.

The men felt that it was a family matter, so they attempted to leave once more. However, each time they tried to leave, Mandy would cry out with bitterness.

 After several attempts, Mandy   found her voice and said.

“Dont take Lana away!  Don't take her!”  She cried out.

 Everyone looked at each other with unrest. They didn't know who and what she was talking about.

They didn't even know who Lana was in the first. So, they simply thought that she was throwing a childish tantrum. So , they ignored her words and took hold of the little girl once more.

She rushed toward the man , who had grabbed Lana's hand and bits him serialusly that he cried out in pain.

“Madison! Why did you do that to him?” Her father was so angry ,thinking that the little girl was being mischievous.

“I told him to let Lana. He didn't listen to me, so he deserves whatever he got and even more” Her eyes were fury furnace as she uttered this words. She was so angry to the point that her eye ball shone brightly like a full moon under the open sky.

“Lana? Who's Lana?” Nicholas asked?

Mandy raised her brows and pointed at the little girl.

“Shes Alana. She will be my new friend” Mandy said.

Nicholas wanted to be sure that the little girl wasn't just saying things out of the blues. So, he leaned close to the little girl and squat in front of her.

Looking into her eyes, he asked, “Whats your name, little girl?”

The little girl tried to open her mouth and say a few words but.couldnt, she tried for a while and finally said, “Alana!”

   “Alana!”

She suddenly heard her name being called for in a loud , annoyed tone.

“Yes madam!”  She responded from inside tried to disengage from the hug but Mandy pulled her back and held onto her like she was her mother.

 “Dont go anywhere, stay here with me today, ” Mandy whined as she held her even more tighter than before.

Alana felt the living day light being squeezed out of her due to the strong hold Mandy had on her.

“Crazy girl, let me go!”  She tried to break free the hands circled around her waist. But Mandy was much stronger than she was.

  

  “I told you don't go anywhere!” 

  “But madam Elizabeth is calling for me. I need to attend to her first”  Alana tried to convince her and pull her out of childish outburst. But, the situation was way out of her control. So, she sighed dejectedly.

    “I will tell mom, I needed your help. She  won't say anything after that” 

“Are you girls still not ready yet? We have a party to plan”  

Suddenly, they heard voice of the head maid, Yolanda, in front of the door.

   She was so close to the door so that husky voice of hers went directly into the girls's ears and they quickly jerked out of their sismance– They scampered for an escape route.

Her voice was so loud, and husky that it sent several shivers down the spine of whomever.

  “This is all your fault , Mandy.” Alana accused as she hurriedly followed Mandy as they walked toward the bathroom.  

  “Hey! How is it my fault? Your bosdom was just so soft and wanted to rest on them. You should be happy, I find those stony ,hard  rock comfortable, you know!” Mandy said as she pointed her index finger at Alana's breasts while she spoke.

“Are you crazy? Why would you say that? These are very soft and comfortable. I can't say the same for you though”  Alana pursed her lips and teased.

“What did you say about me? Come here and repeat that!” Mandy demanded as she chased after Alana.

They giggled while chasing each other around.

They laughed so hard that they almost forgot that the head maid was still at the door waiting for a response.

   “Are you girl ready?”  She asked, this time in more gentler tone and the girls immediately froze upon hearing her voice.

“Yes, almost done. We'll be out in five minutes. Judy give us ten minutes and will ready” Mandy shouted from inside.

 She held her breath and lied through her teeth.

“Alright.  Hurry up, your mom and dad is waiting at the breakfast”  She added.

  “Sure!” 

Yolanda knew that they were passing some mischief as always. Because of that, she was mad at them.

  “Such spoiled brats. Alana is given too much and this is the result of that”  H

She mumbled as she left the door.

“You see? Let's get ready quickly” Alana said and pushed Mandy toward the bathroom.

 Ever since Alana came to the house, She and Mandy has remained inseparable from then till now.

They act like siblings and fight for each other.

Their friendship was beautiful but not everyone likes the bond between the two, especially Yolanda,  she hated the sight of the two girl in each other's company.

   Well, no one knew why she hated their friendship and she never shows her hatred for them in front of the master and his wife, or in front of Mandy, she was only fond of taunting and making life a living hell for Alana in their absence.

A few minutes later, 

Mandy descended the stairs with her hands on the railings with Alana walking behind her. She looked toward the living room, and saw no one, she knew that they might still be at the table.

She wore a look of determination. Then, she exhaled after taking the finally step off the stairs.

 She was going to ask her dad and mom for an explanation today. No matter what happens, she really wants to know the reason behind the gifts.

“I will be in the kitchen, call me if you can't handle it alone” Alana whispered into her ears before she took to her hero's and ran toward the kitchen's entrance.

With a deep breath, Mandy held the hem of her skirt and walked to the breakfast table. 

Both her parents were still seated at the table. With her father at the beginning of the table, her mother was sitting adjacent to her. Both she and her mother faced each other at dining.

  “What took you so long? Another round of mischief with Alana?” Her mother asked. Then, she raised the glass of juice to her lips.

“The kids can never mend their ways” Nicholas chimed in as he battled the steak in his plate.

Mandy simply feigned a smile– she wasn't in the mood for the long talk, she just needed answers.

 She clasped her fists and looked up at her parents.

“Dad, mom? I want to know why you .....” 

Before she could finish her words, a maid came in, interrupting her.