CHAPTER 14

" I can't believe I'll be resuming with my best friend," Anna said excitedly.

" I'm glad that you feel that way Ann," Deloise muttered, clearly not as excited. " Help me zip this up." She said, struggling with her bag.

" Last time I checked you didn't help me when I was getting packed so why should I?" She sassed, having way too much fun seeing Deloise sitting on a clearly overpacked luggage.

" P-please Anna, I don't want this to-"

RIPPPP!!

The horrible sound of her luggage tearing apart filled the air, and Anna looked like a deer in headlights.

" Maybe I stretched that a little bit.." She cringed at her friend's deranged look.

" This is so fucked up! We leave tomorrow, what am I going to do? Where do I start?" She growled, her hand combed through her hair and she took in the damage.

Anna saw the turmoil in her eyes and immediately sourced out another option. Her eyes caught a box deep inside the closet and before Deloise could protest, she dragged it out.

" Anna, don't open-"

" It's alright. This should do, I'll just swap whatever's inside with this one-" she opened the box and felt worse, " I'm sorry. I didn't know-"

" I've had enough! I need some air." Deloise pushed past Anna and her mom, picked up her phone and sprinted out the house.

Esther witnessed the scene and moments later she walked into the room- where Anna stood, looking confused.

" She's been like that for two days." She placed a palm on her shoulder, " I think she's trying to get used to the idea of leaving. She just needs some time, okay?"

" I don't know why she's so pissed, I thought she got over it." Anna remarked, hurt at the way things panned out.

" I know. I'm the mom, remember? Give it sometime and she'll be back with an apology. Don't take it to heart, okay?" Ms. Esther requested and Ann nodded.

" Great! Let's get her prepared for tomorrow, then?" She clasped her hands, " you know she'll worry if things aren't packed up by nightfall."

" I know right." Anna shook off her mood, " she probably pulled that stunt to avoid packing up herself!"

Esther laughed, happy they were on the same page. " Where do we begin?" She stated, and together, they packed up, and prepared for dinner.

Deloise sat in the park, beating herself over her nasty attitude towards Anna. No doubt, her accumulated frustration on what was fast becoming her life influenced her decision.

In a moment of self reflection, she realized her childishness and determined to let go of everything. She was leaving tomorrow, and it was about time she embraced her new life.

With newfound strength, Deloise walked home, she met them having dinner, apologized and joined in. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonades.

******

The girls were finally leaving for school. Esther drove them to the station while Karen accompanied the ride.

" I'm so excited!" Anna said as they sped past the community sign.

" Feels liberating to finally get out, huh?" Deloise smiled, " I'm looking forward to a new experience."

" I can't believe my girls are finally all grown up," Karen cooed, sporting a glum look. " My favorite girls are going off to College."

Throughout the ride, Karen wasn't herself. She was unusually quiet and overly emotional. She hadn't been separated from Anna, and they could tell she wasn't handling it well.

" Mummy… we aren't at the bus station yet." Anna whined, " Don't be so gloomy."

Deloise and Esther connected eyes via the mirror, withholding the laughter that threatened to expose their inside joke.

" What's funny?'' Anna and Karen chorused and the floodgates were opened.

After a fit of laughter, Deloise spoke, " I'm sorry, okay? Let's not get all grumpy and enjoy the ride."

" Let's get to the darned place before the waterworks, Karen." Esther chided playfully.

" Silly." She chided, and they all laughed. Soon, they were in the station.

" Stay here while we get your tickets, okay?" Esther instructed the girls, then left with Karen.

" The station's filled with young people. Maybe we can meet someone that attends with us." Anna remarked, " ouuu, take a look at him. He's so cute!" She fawned over a guy standing a few meters away.

Deloise deadpanned." You think everyone is cute, Anna."

" Nope, I do not think every boy is cute," she corrected, " I could actually pursue a relationship with him. I mean, have you seen those arms?!" She scanned him shamelessly.

Anna was very unfiltered. Most especially with her thoughts on the opposite gender. She was most likely to ask a man out or walk up to said person to profess how hot he looked.

" I think he's interested! He just checked me out." Deloise suppressed an eye roll.

" Probably to check who's behind the stare. Anna, we don't have time for this."

" You're such a kill-joy." She murmured, watching him walk away. " I can't wait to see your first relationship, so I can pick on it."

" Yeah, right. Unlike you, I have a peculiar taste. I doubt there'll be anything to pick on, meanwhile, our mothers are here, so get ready for the waterworks."

The mother's duo bought the tickets, and handed them over. On cue, the system goes off, calling passengers to board.

" This is it, Darlings," Esther said with a smile, and Deloise groaned, sensing the waterworks.

" We love you both so much, and we believe you'll make us proud." Karen started with a sniff, " I can't believe it's time."

" We love you too, mum. Group hug!" Anna said and they got into a hug.

After a while,

" Okay, we're going to be late..." Deloise said, warmed up from the tight embrace.

They dispersed with a laugh and in no time, the ladies were on their way to board.

" Deloise!" Esther called and she stilled. " Make me proud." She mouthed to her.

Deloise nodded, and swallowed a lump. She wasn't allowed to cry. Not now. Not ever. Instead, she smiled, hoping to alleviate whatever doubts her mother had.

*****

Daniel was in a luxury car, headed to see a childhood friend- Elvis. He ran a multi-million dollar business in transportation and Daniel was determined to surprise him at work.

Elvis and Daniel were friends who knew each other from the roots and despite their different life paths, their relationship flourished despite being continents apart.

Daniel's decision to visit him at work turned to be a hassle due to his public personality- causing him to place a call across for assistance in his transition.

" Are you really here or are you joking around?" Elvis asked him over the phone,

" What do you think? " His tone was smug, " I'm at the station. You've done quite well with yourself," Daniel couldn't deny, his friend was doing great.

" Thanks. Come in through the back, I notified the security, there wouldn't be a problem." He directed with a smile.

" Go in through the back." Daniel instructed his driver. " I'll be there soon." He added, and ended the call.

His eyes crossed the windows and he crossed eyes with a woman. Shocked, he blinked and couldn't believe his eyes. The next moment, she was gone! Vanished to thin air.

" Stop the car!" He roared and immediately got out with his shades. Determined to get to the root of it, he wore his coat, trying as much to shield his face while he sought her out.

He scavenged the area, hoping for more time before the people recognized him but no such luck. It didn't take long before whispers began, fingers pointed in his direction with cameras and the like.

It was only a matter of time before they approached him and all hell could break loose. Begrudgingly, he returned to the car, giving up on his search for the time. As he proceeded to his destination, the wide blue eyes of a certain someone burned in his consciousness.

The eyes of a woman that haunted his dreams for eighteen years.