Chapter 03

SIAN's POV

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Ring....Ring.... Ring....Ring

My phone started to ring again for the umpteenth time.... 

No... I'm not gonna change my decision....

Determined I switched my phone off while digging it into my bag back. I heaved a sigh of frustration staring at the white lilies in my hand before stepping into the St.Claire Cemetery where the whole soul of mine is attached to. Every moment I get myself standing here I have the same nervousness following the remorse seeping through the tinniest cell of my body... It's the same feeling that you would never gonna see this person ever again in your life....

After a few minutes of walking, I was standing in front of the tomb bore the name "Aaron Maximillian" with the words engraved below, the beloved son to Jonathan Maximillian and Teresa Maximillian and the beloved fiancè to Sian Cynthia Anderson as it was followed  "20th of December 1991- 31st of May 2014"...... 

I knelt myself down beside him before I placed the lilies which were in my hand on his grave. I softly ran my fingers over his tombstone while heaving a long sigh of a feeling that could not be expressed with any of words existing on the earth.... It's beyond painful.... As though my heart is getting stabbed with a sharp kris for numerous times..

My memory instantly wandered back to the happiest years of my life with Max... With the memory of him, I disappeared myself into an infinity of thoughts. 

"Max.... you know... Umm.... It's been two years.... Can you remember this day?" I felt my voice start to get trembled in a sudden urge....

"Never thought that I would have lost you by this day... and today I miss you more than you could have ever imagined... No one can replace you. It's too painful.. It beyond hurts when I daily wake up to realize you are no more with me.... How god could seperate us this way.... You are the most precious thing that has ever happened to me Love... I Love you babe... Love you so much..." I embraced the grave of Max's before planting a soft kiss on his grave. The unfrozen streams of tears broke my eyes to uncontrollably roll down my cheeks.....

"And remember I told I would be going on a tour today... But....you know.. I.... I could not take part in my competition. I missed my flight because of an idiot. No... He is more of an idiot. Such a rude person. A jerk.... He doesn't know how to respect people.... I wonder how could such egoitic and heartless beast live on this earth.... God seems to do unfair things.. Doesn't he? I was irritated to my core. You know, this meant to be a massive opportunity for me and my crew as well. But after happening a mishap like this, how can I face my employer? So, umm..... I resigned from my job.... I know it's not wise to do such a thing at this moment. But for my self respect I happened to do it...." 

"But they still are not satisfied with my decision. They want me to work for them and gave me calls again and again. But I can't work there after making a mishap like this. It will deeply be buried in me and whenever I step in, that would stick in my mind. With that thought within me I can't work further... It's a big loss for my company. So how can I....? No, I can't tolerate my own mistake.... That's why I have taken this decision. I know this is not a good solution at this moment. Thus, I don't have enough courage to tell about this in front of my parents. But I hope you will understand me Max...." I said and at once there blew a small breeze making a chilling shiver hit my spine. With that feeling, I felt as Max was really there by my side, hugging me as light as a feather and listening to each word of mine that I was sharing with him.

Suddenly I felt my head spinning around and my arms getting trembled as well..... I just strove to wipe it out shaking my head a bit. But it didn't seem to help me at all... The vision got blurred when the time passed by. I tried to stop it by my fingers pressing both my temples tight. 

"Ughh... What's this? What's happening to me?"

But it was unbearable and unstoppable which made me weaker a little by little.

Oh gosh! My pills. Where is it? 

As the realization dawned upon me, I hastily dug my hand into my bag in thought of finding any of my pills. But nothing was left out. Oh god I forgot it! How could I? I had totally forgotten to re-fill the bottle with more pills as it was running out of pills. Doctors have prescribed me to take my pills on time since the day I got recovered from the thrilling coma I had over come. 

What shall I do now? No one is there...

Holding myself up to Max's tomb, I tried hard to get my form up, but it was a failure. Gradually the giddiness started to become worse. I felt like the things surrounded me revolve around me as the vision got more blurred. My eyes were getting dimmed and I could not see anything clearly moreover. What I could remember last was, my knees went weak as I fell over Max's grave embracing it as if my life depended on it.

********

"Ughh..." A small groan escaped past my lips as I felt an intense headache hammering in... It made me feel like I was having a big hangover. I tried to slowly flutter my eyes open, but the first effort went futile as my eyes were paining to hell as if I had not used them for a long amount of time.

What happened to me?

"Mom.... See.... she is alright now." I heard the voice of Mia when I finally was opening my eyes to the slightly dark room.... Still was my head aching as though a hard rock had placed on my head.... I held my head with both my hands while looking around to process where I was. Surprisingly I was in my room, on my bed. Mom and Mia were sitting next to me giving me the concerned look they had registered on their faces.....

"Sian... How do you feel baby...?" Mom asked clasping my hand. 

"Uhh... um feeling good now. How is dad?" Probed I trying to drag my whole self to the headrest of my bed....

"Dad is fine....." Mia answered for that question of mine. 

"Okay..." I simply said with a nod.

"But mom........ How am I here?" I was a little bit confused.

"I... I was at---" But my words were instantly cut off by my mom.... 

"First have these pills my baby girl." Mom offered me my medicine with a glass of water. 

"Now you need rest. We'll talk later. Okay?" Mom said brushing the tufts of my hair off my face and kissing on my forehead. After she had me covered with my duvet she stood on her feet. 

"Yeah.... Mom is right... You need to have a good sleep now. So do take some sleep.. And If you need something call me. I am there. Take care..." Mia said making me surprise as she didn't ask me anything either. Cause she had the courage to straightly probe me when she found out something about me.. Not utterning anything in reply, I just nodded with a smile covering myself up with the duvet. 

So, they both left me in my room totally dumbstruck... 

Why didn't my mom or Mia ask anything about my tour? 

How did I come back home? 

Or else do they already know what happened? 

Many questions were revolving in my mind much to my apprehensions. I closed my eyes expecting some sleep to engulf me, but that didn't even help me overcome my worries until it passed an hour or two, but made me immerse in a reverie of my exhausted thoughts much to my dismay. I spent half an hour recalling the things which recently occured in my life out of nowhere. The first thing that hit my mind was that heartless person I encountered back in the airport.

Wish I would never meet him again in my life. 

He is such a pain in the ass....

Few minutes later I luckily had fallen asleep thanks to my exhausted thoughts.

After a well earned sleep I woke up just to realize I had taken a deep sleep for three hours as my room had been enclosed by the darkness... Raking the unfastened strands of my hair with my fingers I got off my bed to guide myself down stairs... As I climbed diwn I saw my mom cooking in the kitchen... The tantalizing smell trialed through my nostrils gave the proof that she was making spaghetti, my favourite. My stomach instantly stirred with the smell of spaghetti as I haven't had a proper meal for hours.... As I wandered my gaze around the living room as well as the dining room, Mia was nowhere to be seen around...

May be she is studying in her room.

"Sian.... Come baby.... I have made your favourite.... Have this." Feeling my presence behind her, mom twilred her whole self towards me before asking me to have my dinner.... 

"Thank you mom...." Pulling a chair out, I sat at the dining table with a craving stomach. "Oh mumma. You know I can have two plates in one go, I guess. It smells so delicious....." I mesmerizingly muttered before starting to have my meal like a starving beggar. Mom looked at me with an adorable smile on her face as she tucked a strand of my stray hair behind my ear.. I had almost finished my meal when Mia joined us. But she straightly went towards the kitchen to make a coffee for herself... 

"You need more?" Mom asked taking my plate in her hand...

"Oh no mom! I am full.."

Now this seemed to be the worst part as I was struck between my mom and my words.. I wanted to tell her everything what happened.... But it seemed my diction had no words to be picked uo right now..

"Mom... um..." I just started and stopped as Mia came placing herself on the chair right next to me taking a sip of her coffee.....

"Hey Sian.... You needn't to be worried. We already know what happened..." Mia voiced making me surprise....

My eyes nearly popped out when Mia said they knew what happened. 

"But how?"

Then Mia initiated the story.

"When I arrived in home after school mom was worrying about you that you didn't give her a call or a message saying whether you reached at airport or gonna board to the flight. She has called you more than twenty times. Even I tried to call you and your phone was switched off...." Mia paused for a while.

"Hence, we called your channel to know whether you have departed or have given any information about your tour... Then only we came to know that you resigned yourself from the job a while ago as you could not go on the tour." Again she paused and made her face with a serious expression. 

"You know how mom got worried of you... At least you could have given us a message. You know, I had never seen her get worried like this..... She was getting worried about dad as to how she would say this with him. So she asked me not to tell about this with him until we could find out your whereabouts..." There was a concern in her voice.

I gazed at my mom.... "I'm so sorry mom.... I'm really really sorry" and I hugged her tight.... "I... didn't mean to do this. I---I didn't know how to tell you....that I missed my tour... I didn't have any idea for a while about what is to be done. I was confused... I am sorry mom...." I said trying to keep my voice unbroken.

"It's okay baby.... Now it's gone. Don't worry...." mom tried to pacify me. I felt guilty of myself. Yeah, I could have informed my mom the sooner I went through this kinda problem...

"You know we worried a lot about you. Because your phone was switched off. We didn't know where you had gone. Then Mia presumed that you might have gone to the cemetery. Then I left Mia with dad and came to the cemetery. I was utterly astonished to see you had fallen unconsciously on Max's grave. For a while I couldn't process  what had happened to you. Your tablet bottle was fallen beside you and that took my breath out of me you know.. I had the wrong thoughts as to you might have taken a wrong decision... But I knew you would not do that kinda stupid thing... Then I straightaway brought you home before I informed the doctor. After checking on you, he told that you had not taken your pills..." mom clasped my hands in her warm ones...

"Sian... never forget to take your medicine on time. Else you're gonna put yourself in danger. I don't wanna see anything bad happen to you and lose you again..." mom's voice quivered with worry as her eyes instantly welled up with tears. My eyes ran over hers to see the deep careness immered in her eyes. Tears started to uncontrollably run down my cheeks. 

"Love you a lot mom." I said hugging my mom tight as I was too emotional to let go of this moment... "And Mia love you too my goofball..." I gathered Mia from my other arm. Three of us smiled through the tears. 

"I know my sis is such a nut who doesn't know what she is upto at times...." Mia laughed out loud hitting my arm. I pulled her ear as I grinned my teeth at her. 

"Ouch. It's hurting.." 

"That's what you were waiting for." I said grinning at her for the second time.

"Mom.... you don't worry about my job.. I'll find a new one..." next I said turning my gaze to my mom.

"Sian... Yeah..I---I.. know... It's your willingness..... I know about you. You are a brave girl.... But you know, You are still young and I can't put this burden on you further more. It's time for me to help you... I'll do a job..."

"Mom! Why are you talking like this? It's my responsibility as the daughter of this family. Both of you have done so many things for me. So how can I let you do this.? No mom... it's not that good... I'll manage this mom. You don't need to be worried.... You just take care of dad. He needs you the most..." Said I interlacing my fingers with mom's.

"Yeah.... I agree with you Sia.... Oneday I'll too be able to do something for my family after my studies and then I will take care of you all.. " Mia too added.

"See who talks... Will think about it later. But do study first... okay?" I teased at Mia.

Later, I went to my dad's room carrying his food and medicine ss well. But he was in a deep sleep that I felt too greedy to wake him up. So after staying a few minutes beside him I came back to my room. 

I raked my fingers through my already dishelved hair as I moved here and there in my room thinking about looking for a new job.

How can I seek a new job now..? 

It's not that easy to find a job this soon.

Hmmm... What shall I do now?

Something suddenly ht my mind out of the blue...

Jenny...

Yeah... She is the only one who can help me out at this moment.

Jennifer Thompson is the only one who I associate as a friend after coming to this new place. She is such a lovely and an incredible friend I have ever met in my life. Without thinking further, I picked my phone up to dial her number. 

Ring....Ring.... Ring....Ring

But to my surprise, suddenly my phone started to ring. 

"Who is this? A private number." Thinking of it, I perched myself on the edge of my bed as I answered the call. 

"Hello...."

But there was a stunned silence on the other side of the phone. "Hello...." again I addressed the caller. But again there was no reply much to my irrtitation. 

Why do make phone calls if the person can't talk?

Stupid fellows!

I instantly hung up the call and made a phone call to my friend Jenny. Fortunately she answered and I could relieve the stress which has been brewing inside me for the past few hours. She promised me that she would find me a new job and tomorrow I'm gonna meet her up in her work place. I was happy in a way that I'd be able to find a fine job with the help of Jenny.

After the phone call I got into the bathroom as I had not taken a wash since morning.... I was sticky like sticker... Taking all the pieces of my clothes off my body, I turned the shower on and let the water run over my tired foem. I felt a relief enfold my exhausted body when the water touched my bare skin.. At this moment, I just wanted to feel the warmth of the hot water more than I had imagined. Because it gave me such a relief and a freshness to both my body and mind. After having my body soothed for half an hour I changed into my nightdress.... 

I felt so tired as I went through many issues today. From my neck to my feet were pricking like hell as if I had just laid on a thorny bush... So I reclined against the bedhead adjusting my body and sank into the deep thought of my family. 

Ring....Ring....Ring....Ring

I was startled away from my reminiscing when my phone started to ring.... I picked it up off my night-stand and gave a brief glimpse at my phone to check on the caller ID. Much to my utter surprise it was again the same number which I received a call an hour ago. 

Who can be this? I thought to myself. 

"Hello..." without thinking I answered the call. 

"Hello..." This time I could hear a somewhat familiar male voice from the other side. 

"Is this Miss.Chloe?"

I was bewildered for a second....

"Chloe?" I was stunned to hear my Alias from the person who talked to me. Because I never received a call from anyone on this name. 

How did he get my number?

That was the question rose in my mind. Though I resigned from my position in "Channel X" I did not want them to reveal my true name instead. So I hope they had not done such an irritating thing to me....

"I'm sorry... wrong number." Eventhough it was a familiar voice I did not want to let the cat jump out of the bag. 

"But the voice is same...." I heard him say with a chuckle when I was about to hang up. 

"Sorry.. What did you say?" 

"I can presume that you are Chloe Andrea." With his tone I was kinda able to recognize the person who it was. But I can't presume anything at once.

"Excuse me. May I know who you are.....?" So I politely asked as I wanted to confirm who it was. 

"I'm Reece...." he shot the bullet all at once making me sit up on the bed itself...

Reece! 

Damn, I was right. It's him.

"YOU?" Astounded I yelled but closed my mouth as I would be heard by my parents....

An illusive smile had immersed in his voice instead of a reply....