Chap_8

Kathleen's POV

I woke up pretty early in the morning like always but then I kept laying down on my bed and tried to get some sleep in a futile attempt only to get up being unable after a while.

I got freshen up and then went downstairs to get a cup of coffee. Taking the cup, I went outside of the mansion and walked towards the garden which I always looked at from the balcony of my room.

While standing there, I kept thinking about random stuffs and sipping my coffee. I was lost in my thoughts when I heard someone uttering my name, "Kathleen?"

I turned around and found Mary, our maid standing there.

I looked at her as she spoke up, "What are you doing there?"

"Nothing. Let's go. I will help you making breakfast today." saying this, I walked inside the mansion.

Mary tried to stop me and spoke up, "It's not necessary. I will make it."

"It's okay, Mary.", saying this, I entered the kitchen. When breakfast was prepared, it was almost 8:30 by morning.

I went upstairs to take a quick shower. When I entered my room, I heard my phone ringing but before I could reach it, the call got cut.

It was Jeni. I was about to call her back when I got a message from her.

"Let's meet at 11 AM at same place."

I replied to her text as

"Okay."

Then I went towards washroom. After taking a shower, I got ready and went downstairs.

I helped Mary in setting the table. By the time we were done, Dad and Nathan came at the dining table. They were looking somewhat tensed. They didn't gossip as usual.

For once I thought of asking what's the matter but my mind started chiding, "As if they would answer you!"

I got totally silent at that and finished my breakfast. When they were done, they also left the dining table as well as the mansion and went towards the office, I guessed. I kept looking at them until they were out of my sight.

When they were gone, I again entered the kitchen. Seeing me, Mary spoke up, "Kathleen, you need something?"

"I am going to meet Jeni later. I want to make her favourite sweet dish for her." Saying this, I started getting the ingredients.

Mary came to me and said, "Okay. Let me help you."

I politely refused her saying, "It's okay, Mary. I will make it. You continue your work."

After making the sweet dish, I went back to my room. Getting freshen up, I got ready and went downstairs. I took the sweet dish in a box and left the house to meet Jeni.

Jeni's P.O.V.

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When I entered the cafe, Kathleen was already sitting there and sipping coffee. She was staring at something with a smiling face. I followed her gaze and saw two girls who seemed to be friends gossiping happily while eating Pizza.

Looking at that, I remembered our past time when I used to take Kathleen here forcefully and eat my favourite fast foods. Pizza is one of them. I got near Kathleen and seeing me, she spoke up, "Look Jeni. They made me remember our past times."

With a sad smile, I took a seat beside her and tried to speak up, "Kathleen, I want to tell you something."

Interrupting me, she spoke up, "Let's talk later. I have brought something for you."

Saying that, she took out a box. She handed it to me and spoke up, "Open it."

I knew what was in the box as it's not for the first time. Once I visited her house and she made some sweet dish for me.

I liked that very much and said, "I just love it, Kathleen." From that time whenever we met other than campus, she brought it for me.

I opened the box and took a spoonful and said as usual, "Loved it, Kathleen.". Hearing me, she smiled heartily. I gave her few spoonful and finished the left all by me.

When I was almost done, she asked me, "Now tell me. What's it that you want to tell me?"

Hearing her, the smile of my face faded instantly as I spoke up, "I am leaving this country, Kathleen."

The smile of her face also got wiped off but she didn't say anything.

I spoke up again while expecting something almost impossible, "We are going to shift to London. Kathleen, if possible let's go together. We can get higher studies there. It will be good for our career. What say?"

Kathleen was about say something but I interrupted her and said again, "I know about your family but still I want you to give it a serious thought, Kathleen."

Kathleen just nodded at me but didn't say anything. I knew what it meant.

I befriended with Kathleen after giving a great deal of effort for it. I remembered her saying, "I don't want to get close to people as at some point they will walk out of my life no matter how close we got."

Remembering that, I apologised to her and said, "Kathleen, we might be at distance but don't think that our friendship is over. We are friends and always will be. Don't hesitate to tell me if you ever need my help. I would love to be able to help you in any way I can."

Kathleen's P.O.V.

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Jeni was going on saying but nothing was getting through my mind as one line was echoing in my mind.

"I am leaving this country, Kathleen"

I don't really get along with people. From school days I just had one friend who already left the country 6 years back. After that Jeni became my friend in varsity but now she is also leaving.

But I can't stop her or go with her. It's just impossible for me. But if I look upset now, Jeni will be hurt.

Thinking like that I smiled a little and spoke up, "It's okay, Jeni. It will be good for your career. I am really happy for you."

She was looking at me blankly but I continued, "Don't worry and we will stay in touch, won't we? By the way when are you leaving?"

After staring at me for a moment, she spoke up, "In a few days."

I looked at my watch and uttered, "We should leave now, Jeni. And by the way I am going to tutor Rose."

She asked me hesitantly, "But Kathleen, your father?"

"I didn't get to tell him but I decided to go anyway." saying this, I stood up and paid the bill. I left the cafe and Jeni followed me out.

Getting out of the cafe, I turned to her and said, "Let's meet one more time before you go who knows will we ever meet again." and left from there with watery eyes.

I came back home with a heavy heart and directly went to my room. I got on my bed. While thinking about Jeni, I drifted to sleep. When I opened my eyes, it was already afternoon.

I found my lunch in a tray on the table beside my bed. I was feeling hungry but didn't feel like eating.

Getting down from the bed, I went to the washroom and getting freshen up, I got ready and taking the card that Mr. Ace gave me, I left the house.

It was pretty late in the afternoon when I reached at their address. The house was beautiful. When I reached the entrance of the house, I saw Rose standing by the door.

Seeing me, she shouted happily, "Mom, Aunt has come." and got near me.

She gave me a toothy smile and said, "Thank you for coming."

I smiled at her and saw her mother coming towards us. She greeted me with a smile and welcomed me to their house.

It was a beautiful house with a sophisticated interior design and organised accordingly. I sat in the living room with them. Mrs. Alina thanked me heartily.

When I spoke up, "It's okay, Mrs. Alina", she interrupted me and said, "If you don't mind, call me Alina."

"But_" I hesitated for some reason. Maybe she felt that and spoke up, "Or you can call me Sister if you want."

I was about to say something but Rose spoke up, "Aunt, let's go to poolside. I will read there."

Hearing that, I looked towards Mrs. Alina and she spoke up while nodding, "Rose, you take your aunt to the poolside. I will bring some snacks for you."

Hearing that Rose came to me and while holding my hand, she spoke up, "Aunt, let's go."

Nodding at her, I got up and went to the poolside with her. Alina brought some snacks and some books. I took the books from her and we took seats around a table. She put the snacks on the table and Rose spoke up, "Aunt, I will read this book."

Alina smiled at her and then looked at me and said, "You two continue. I am coming back after a while."

She left from there but forgot her phone on the table.

I was teaching Rose some words from her English book and she was following my direction cutely.

She was reading with full of attention when the phone left on the table by Alina started ringing.

I looked at Rose and she without looking at the phone spoke up, "You receive the call, Aunt. I am reading."

I tried to say something but Rose again spoke up, "Please. I am reading."

I attended the call and spoke up hesitantly, "Hello?"

The cold voice from the other side of the line made me go all silent, "Who are you? And why in the world you are answering this call?"

Hearing the voice, I didn't get to utter a word and the person yelled at me again, "Answer me, damn it. Who are you?"

And I started stuttering at that, "I..i.. a..am.. Kathleen"