Love is War

Chapter 84

The sun is high and the rays are penetrating through my curtains, and hits my face. As my face heats up and get sweaty, I got irritated and I am forced to wake up from my sweet and deep slumber, and when I opened my eyes, I almost jumped out from my bed when I saw Alexis, sitting right in front of me.

“You scare the s**t out of me,” I exclaimed as I rest back on the wall behind me. “What are you even doing here, so early?” I asked her.

“First of all, it’s not early anymore,” she countered my statement, and I immediately looked at the clock besides me and saw that it’s almost 9 am. I usually wake up at 6 am.  “And your dad told me to pick you up for the measurement of the gown that you will use for your beloved sister’s party,” she added.

“Not beloved, wretched,” I corrected her terms, because even once in my life, I did not show any affection towards my evil sister, I hate her from the very core of my heart and I swear to God that the day of it happening in my life, will never come.

“Not my words,” she raised both of her hands as a sign that she is not looking for any trouble.

“I don’t want to go to that party in the first place,” I uttered.

“Well, you can if you want to,” I immediately looked at her, from hearing that.

“How?” I asked.

“By telling your father that you don’t want to and he will ban you from getting any participation when it comes to the gang related matters,” she answered me and my excitement hit rock bottom from hearing that.

“You know what, I hate you,” I told her and I am ashamed of myself for being fooled by her tricks.

“I know,” she replied back with her cold voice and I ignored her and proceeded to stand up from my bed. I folded the blankets that I used to battle the coldness of the night.

Once everything looked clean in my eye, and I shooed away Alexis for a moment because I cleaned my room, I went straight to the bathroom. I took a quick shower and wear my usual clothes, a pair of jeans and a shirt.

Then I went straight to Alexis who is waiting for me to finish my business inside my room.

“I am ready to go,” I told her and she just raised an eye brow and proceeded to lead the way towards the car, she is the one that will drive me today to that store.

We went inside the car quietly and I am still drowsy, then I remembered that I sleep late at night because Rei and I played games all night long.

I did not want that to end that quickly, because I am really enjoying his company and I am very grateful, for him trying hard. I can notice his awkward actions sometimes. He didn’t know that I am noticing that he is trying hard sometimes to not end the conversation between us and honestly, I find it adorable.

“Sometimes I am thinking of crashing this car,” Alexis mentioned and I was surprised. I looked at her with my wide eyes.

“What made you think of that?!” I exclaimed.

“You are too quiet,” she uttered.

“What’s the big deal about it?” I asked her.

“Because sometimes, I am starting to think that you are losing your self from deep inside,” she said and I did not get the message of her words so the best thing that I can do is to look at her with confusion, as in, I am so confused right now.

“What?!” I asked.

“Never mind,” she said and then she proceeded to drive the car quietly not uttering any word in our whole trip.

After an hour-long drive, we finally reached the store that Alexis is pertaining where I am going to get my gown that I will use for my sister’s birthday party.

When I stepped out of the car, I noticed my surroundings, it’s far from what I expected and fresh air soon greeted me.

“Are we in a province right now?” I asked and Alexis just gave me a nod as we walk towards the store. I expected it to be grand, oohhh, I felt goosebumps. I am starting to think like my sister.

Well, knowing my dad, I kinda expected it to be like that, because when it comes to dad standards, he is always an overkill. The word enough is less for him. I mean we can feel his love for us, and out of respect it is our duty to obey his request even it is against us.

I don’t think that calling this a*****e is not a suited term, what is standing in front of me right now, is a hut. A hut big enough for one family.

“Welcome,” an old woman welcomed us and she is not walking straight anymore and I am very worried that she might fall on the floor anytime now.

“Hello,” I greeted her with my sweet voice.

I am amazed when I witnessed her work inside her home, from just one look, people that’s passing by will just think that this is just a normal house with a normal family living inside it, but I was wrong. Inside her home she houses these treasures.

I never admire gowns in my whole life because I hated wearing them. It restricts my movements and it is itchy in my skin.

But these, these are exceptions, I learned to appreciate the hard work that she puts in these masterpieces that she had stored. No wonder why dad, chose her, because she possesses the skills of producing the most quality gown that we can see in our whole life.

I wonder why she has not the recognition that she deserves, because normally if a person is recognized, I will see her on my social media time feed.

“Come in,” the old woman invited us so we stepped in carefully and I noticed that she is barefoot inside and the slippers are left outside.

I managed to stop Alexis before completely entering her home.

“Remove your shoes first,” I told her as I remove my shoes to be an example for her. She did what I told her and removed our shoes before entering. I don’t care if we are well known or not, I decided to respect her etiquettes inside her house and she deserves the respect that I decided to show her.

After we removed our shoes, we entered the house and I looked around me and admired this work of art, displayed around her home. They deserve to be shown to the whole world, maybe putting them in display will bring reputation to our country, the no other could achieve.

“Are you alone in this house?” I asked the old woman because I noticed that the atmosphere of this house is very gloomy, and quiet.

The old woman turned around and faced me while wearing a smile on her face.

“It’s only me and my grandson living in this house,” she answered my question before turning around again and we followed her again.

“Where is your grandson?” I asked again and then she stopped on her tracks again and turned to me. I ignored it.

“Out there, harvesting some vegetables in our farm,” she answered and then she turned around again and continue to walk forward.

“If it’s okay to ask,” Alexis uttered. “Where are the others?” she proceeded with her question even not getting the permission from the old woman that she just asked. Then surprisingly the old woman stopped on her tracks again and turned around again to face us.

I am very confused right now, does she really need to always do that, when answering our questions? I mean, she can still answer our questions while walking right? I am just wondering, but I know that asking that to her will be rude.

“They are gone,” my heart dropped.

“Where?” Alexis is oblivious, and the old woman just looked up and I am deeply saddened right now knowing that they passed away, but Alexis just scratched her head seemingly, that she did not get the message of the old woman.

“The-“ I stopped her immediately when I saw her finger pointing up.

“They are dead,” I whispered to her ear, then I released my clutches from her and let her go. “We are sorry about that,” I apologized to the old woman while slightly bowing because what we showed her is disrespectful.

“It’s okay, they died on accident, my husband, my son, and his wife,” she said and I am surprised once again because this time we did not ask her. She willingly shared to us what happened to them, and that made me sadder.

“Deep condolences to you,” I told the old woman.

“My grandson and these gowns are all I have left,” she told me.

I did not speak one word, because of how sad this must be for her. I don’t want to say a word about this, because honestly, I am not good in this kind of situations and I feel like that every word I say will be wrong and insensitive.

“These gowns are made from high quality materials,” Alexis said and when I looked around, I saw her caressing one of the gowns that she made. “Where did you get the money to fund all of these?” she asked. I face palmed once again because there she goes again with her insensitive questions.

“Mr. Smith,” she answered. “He’s my only client,” she added and that surprised me again. So, all of these are for us? I can’t believe it.

“What deal you have with him?” Alexis asked again and her tone lacks respect, if the old woman don’t mind, I will tie her and cover her mouth. I am the one who is dying of embarrassment here.

“He said that I produce high quality gowns and he will support me and my grandson, even after I die,” she answered. Well, I am happy that they have that kind of deal because I know if the grandson is left behind, he will not be abandoned and helpless in this cruel world.

That act of kindness from dad, and knowing this gave me more reason to bid his will, and I will endure the hate and spite in her day. That will be my advance gift for dad. Knowing that this old woman lost her family in an accident. I must be thankful that I still have my dad, not my sister.