Alena Ramos

Alena skipped down the road into the street that leads to her house. She had just completed her education at the Arcadia University. 

She was still trying to secure a job at one of the biggest Architectural firms in the country but she wouldn't be able to do that anymore. Why? Because her dad has decided that they all take a forced vacation back to the countryside to say hello to her grandmother...

Though Alena loved her grandmother for all the fairytale stories she always told her as a kid, she felt like she was dropping all her life just for a vacation...

“Here comes the latest Architect in California'' Layla Page's loud voice brought Alena out of her trance. She turned to smile at her best friend who was calling out to her from the balcony of her house.

“Wait for me, I'm coming over,” Layla screamed, making a ‘wait’ signal for Alena. She jumped down the balcony and balanced effortlessly on the ground.

Alena screeched, she didn't see herself doing that without making a fool of herself but Layla was a gymnast, she could do all kinds of sprints that Alena often wondered if she was alright..

Layla walked over and wrapped her hands around Alena as they both walked into Alena's house which was beside hers though separated by a white picket fence...

Alena went straight to the kitchen to gulp down a glass of water, she was thirsty after her trek under the hot California sun..

“Were you able to submit your application at Walia's Architectural Firm?” Layla asked Alena as she turned to watch her friend.

“Yes, though I doubt it will be useful anymore” Alena's eyes saddened. She scanned the almost empty room which was bare safe for a few furniture. Her dad wasn't kidding about this vacation. He had packed almost everything even to the smallest detail...

Layla followed Alena's eyes as she also took in the almost bared sitting room“ Damn! Your dad is taking this to another level. I'm going to miss you. When do you think you'll be back?” Layla asked Alena, her eyes finally coming to settle at Alena. 

Her friend was what everyone called a natural beauty, with the height of a model and a curvaceous body which she was always envious of. Her emerald green eyes dull in sadness, her messy long Auburn hair rests behind her back as she lifts her hands to straighten it back.

“I don't know, with the way he's packing stuff, I doubt will be back in five months” Alena replied shrugging. She walked to the chair across from Layla and sat down..

“No, don't say that. I'm sure he's only trying to protect the furniture from rusting before you come back” Layla pointed out trying to reassure her friend.

 They've been together ever since they moved in here six years. They were inseparable that Layla couldn't help but be sad that she was going to miss Alena when she left for the countryside tomorrow...

Alena opened her mouth to reply to Layla's opinion but stopped as soon as she heard her dad's voice calling out from the garden“ Is that my angel's voice?”

Alena rolled her eyes, ever since the death of her mother five years ago, her dad has been over protective of her always calling her pet names that she felt she had out growned them but her dad won't have any of it...

“Yes dad, I'm in here. What are you doing out there under this hot sun?” Alena exclaimed as soon as she saw her dad bending over to uproot some grasses around a water Lily flower...

Layla gasped as she rushed to pull Alena's dad from the sun“ Come on Mr. Ramos but I did tell you that I will watch over your flowers until you return” Layla protested firmly as she fixed Alena's father a hard glare..

Mr. Ramos smiled as he gave up, he knew he could never win against his daughter and her bodyguard of a friend“ Fine, let's all go in. Moreover, I was only trying to while away time until Alena arrived from her job interview. How did it go honey?” Alena's father turned to stare at his daughter. 

He wrapped his hands around her shoulder and walked her into the house while Layla followed behind them.

“I only submitted my application letter. The boss wasn't available for the interview” 

Alena replied shrugging, though she doubts it will be useful anymore as she is about to waste her entire life in a countryside free from civilization.

Layla and her both took the chair across the kitchen's cabinet, her dad put on his apron and got ready to prepare dinner for them...

“I hate bosses like him, how could he pull out a schedule after asking all of you to come? ” Layla exclaimed bitterly, her loud voice echoing through the kitchen..

“I know right. I was so angry, he should be thankful that he didn't show up. I would have given him a piece of my mind” Alena replied as she and her friend shared a knowing wink...

“You both need to be careful with your temper. I don't know how two different people can have the same attitude” Alena's dad commented as he turned to look at the two girls in his kitchen. 

He wasn't annoyed with them but rather he was thankful to Layla for being there for Alena after the death of her mother.  

Things have been getting harder recently for him, he didn't know how to tell Alena that he was in a huge debt, he had used the house as a collateral after he had borrowed a huge sum of money from the bank. 

Today was the last time she would be seeing Layla. He hopes that with time she will be able to forgive him but for now he won't say anything..

“Okay girls, time for dinner. Alena has to rest earlier for the trip tomorrow, hope you won't mind Layla?” Oliver asked Layla who nodded, her red short bob hair bouncing with the movement of her head..

“I don't mind at all. Can I sleep over tonight Mr. Ramos?” Layla asked Alena's father, her mouth pouted together as she waited for his response.

Oliver was skeptical, he felt the earlier they were separated from each the better but a quick glance at his daughter's excited face cause changing his mind in seconds“ Fine, you can but no late night chatting. Deal or ___”

“Deal” The girls replied giggling, cutting him off. They both rushed their food and ran down to Alena's room after kissing Alena's father goodnight on the cheek...

Oliver stood up from the kitchen's cabinet and put the dirty dishes in the sink for Alena to wash tomorrow before he put off the light and walked over to his room to retire for the night.

                                  ***

Alena glanced out of the car into the road surrounded by green vegetation. She wasn't settled, something was bothering her and she didn't know how to ask her dad about it. She shifted on her seat beside her dad for the hundredth time.

This time wasn't lost on Oliver as he turned to stare at his daughter before focusing on the road“ What is it Alena?” 

“ Dad what was that man telling you about our furniture?” Alena asked her dad before she changed her mind.

Oliver's hands froze on the steering, he wasn't aware that she saw him conversing with the new owner of their house“ Nothing honey, I ask him to watch over them until we return” Oliver explained slowly as he pulled over at a gas station to refuel his car..

“But the Pages could have done that for us effortlessly” Alena protested. She still couldn't believe why her dad has refused to hand over their house keys to Layla's parents.

“That's enough Alena. You won't be able to understand even though I explained. Save the remnant of your strength to greet your grandma when you meet her” Oliver scolded Alena as he pulled off the gas station and took the narrow road leading to his wife's mother house. 

Alena slumped down on the couch and soon fell asleep. She wakes up as soon as her dad pulls into her grandmother's tiny house. Alena got down from the car just as the door opened and grandmother Slyvia walked out balancing a cane in her hands.

Oliver immediately walked over to greet her, Selena's mother was just as he remembered. Her once grey hair was turning whiter and her face was frail as she walked with shaky legs to where they stood by the car.

“Get the stuff from the car, Alena. I'm going over to say hello to your grandmother” Oliver gave instructions to his daughter before he took the long stride to where grandmother Slyvia was.

Alena grunted under her breath as she opened the booth and took out their bags and started moving them to the house. 

“Coco leave that and come over here, Max will take them into the house” Grandmother Sylvia called out to Alena in a shaky voice.

Alena was excited to oblige, she let go of the bags in her hands and ran to hug her grandmother who couldn't stop giggling..

Even at twenty three, Alena still like to behave like a kid all thank to her dad who had spoiled her since birth“ I can see that you are excited by seeing me”

“Of course though I wouldn't want to stay here for long. I have a job to get to in California” Alena replied, she saw her dad and grandma exchanging a knowing look but she shrugged it off like it was nothing.

“Come let's go in, I'm sure you must be tired from such a tiring trip then we could talk tomorrow after you've rested” Grandmother Sylvia told Alena as she led her into the house.

It was just as she remembered, the last time they were here was before her mother was diagnosed with cancer.  The floor cleak as Alena stepped on it, her eyes caught the portrait on the wall, it was a picture of grandma and her mom when she was much younger. She could see the resemblance between them. They look more like siblings than a parent and child.

“Nothing has changed here in six years” Alena suddenly exclaimed after sometime “ Grandma, don't you get bored?”

“Of course not honey. I have the nature here to keep me company”  Grandmother Sylvia replied laughing softly, she settled on her chair and motioned them a chair each across from her.

“Don't you like it here? I remember you telling me once that you will love to stay here with me. What changed now?”

“Well back then, I was still very young, probably a child but now I'm an adult. I have a dream which is working at Walia's Architectural Firm which won't be possible if I stayed here with you” Alena replied, she didn't know why her dad decided to come over here but all she knows is she won't be staying more than a month..

“That's good, I like it. Let's go and eat dinner so you could rest earlier and by tomorrow you can explore the mountains. I'm sure you might be able to change your mind after then” Grandmother Sylvia said, she leads the way off to the dining room with Alena and her dad following closely behind.

Alena rushed through her food and ran up to her room. Though her grandmother's house was tiny on the outside, it was enormous on the inside. It was a five bedroom with Max occupying the vacant one by the garden.

Alena quickly took a shower and retired to bed as she was extremely tired after the journey, her thoughts were invaded with how she was going to tell her dad to let her go in a month's time?. 

She couldn't spend her entire life hidden away from civilization and most especially, she isn't going to drop her dream job for  anything. 

Alena rushed through her bathe and changed out of her clothes and went to lay on the bed.

She fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.