The Commoner

Chapter 2: Thunderwood

I arrived at happy cafe at exactly 7:30 since bailey and I agreed that we will be meeting here. she insist that she will just pick me up at my apartment but that doesnt sound good to me. I have started to be independent and I am used to it atleast for now and maybe till I get old.

"Okay, ready to go. anyway, can you drive and have a license with you? 8 hours is long ride so maybe you could drive if I ever fall asleep." Bailey said

"Oh yeah, dont worry about that. I can drive then you can take a nap." sounds that I just repeated what she said.

Happy Cafe is closed for a week since I be going on a trip with the owner. I put a sign board that we're temporary closed. though nobody cares about it if we're permanently. I Carried my bag and headed to the car.

we were silent for whole 10 minutes when bailey decided to broke it.

"So, Ari.... We've been together for almost a year but I didn't hear anything from you. like, where you from, why you came here in Algona, your parents and everything about you." Bailey said in a sad but nice tone.

"I'm sorry, It's just.. maybe I am not ready to talk about it." I answered while looking out at the window to hide my teary eyes from her because It made me sad just the mention of a word parents.

"Oh, I understand if you're not ready but I hope you can tell me, maybe I can help even just a little. you know." she responded. I just kept silent, because if I open my mouth it's gonna be a sob not a word.

The moment of silent made me fall asleep that I haven't notice it's already 10:30. I do enjoy road trip a lot and at the same time it's annoying. instead of enjoying the view I ended up sleeping during the ride.

"Hey, sorry I fall asleep. Let me drive It's your time to rest." bailey parked the car near the sushi house. I dont know why there's even a sushi house in the middle of this forest. I tried to get the phone on my pocket to ask bailey the location of our destination so I dont have to wake her up if there's a crossed road out there but bailey headed out of the car and rushes inside the sushi bar.

"Bailey, my dear.. Long time no see. I am glad that you'll gonna be on morreth's wedding. everyone misses you a lot." the women around her late 20's said as she hug bailey while I just stood inside the car. I dont know how rich or big is the family of this bailey but all care is that atleast she's nice to me.

"oh, you bring someone with you my dear." the women said as she's walking toward me.

"yeh, she's a good friend of mine, audrey. and she likes adventure that's why I invited her to join me." Bailey said while looking at the menu outside the door.

"Come here my dear, you should taste the sushi here for your first stop. you'll gonna love being around bailey if you love adventure. I assure you that."

I get out of the car and I was surprise because she hugged me with a motherly hug.

"I am audrey, Bailey's aunt." She introduced shortly.

"Arya Edwards, just Ari." I introduced myself shortly also.

We walked inside the bar, I was surprised that the bar is full of people but only 2 car parked outside. and nobody if making a noise. They're just silently eating.

"Oh, I didnt expect that there's a lot of people here since it is in the middle of the road and trees. Is there any small city near here?" I whispered to Bailey.

"Not a city, it's like a teritory here. this place is belong to someone and they have their own rules here." she whispered back.

"Like a werewolf pack?" I said and Bailey eyes widened so I broke a smile and tapped her shoulder.

"What's with that face? im just kidding about werewolf, dont be afraid." I said to assure her that I am really just kidding. but you never know there might be really werewolf out there.

We sat at the very corner of the bar. after a while aunt audrey came back with a lot of different sushi on the tray.

"Thanks, audrey. I missed this, really." Bailey said and I was just silent there looking at the sushi with an amazing expression.

"Enjoy your sushi, Ladies!" Audrey yelled at us.

"Thanks, Audrey! This all looks delicious!" I said while picking one and put inside my mouth ay once.

When we were done, bailey head to the bathroom and audrey sit beside me.

"Thank you for coming with bailey my dear Ari! I'll see you at the wedding."

Bailey came out from the bathroom and we headed out from the bar and walked to the car.

"Thank you so much, audrey!" bailey said while waiving bye bye too.

Now, it's my turn to drive and it turns out that bailey still awake talking to me. well, thanks to that coz if she fell asleep then we might get loss on this long empty road.

"So, you also love sushi, huh!"

"well, im in love with any kind of food." I chuckled "Everyone in your family has their own businesses just like your parents."

"yes! almost eveybody loves to make food that's why everyone's business revolved around food. restaurant, groceries and the list...."

"That's nice! What about you, any other dream aside from what you are right now?" I asked Bailey. I know I cant even tell her my story but here I am asking hers. So if she will return that question to me, I dont know what will be my next rationale.

"Already got my degree in Architecture and Design. no other plan yet. Just enjoying life while still young and free." She exclaimed in excitement maybe that means yes i've got what i want and now im enjoying my life. Hopefully, Im gonna be like her. after the grief, I will be able to enjoy my life to the fullest. after all, we'll gonna die and meet everyone that we loved in the hereafter.

After an hour, I saw a sign board that reads 'Welcome to Thunderwood' With a background of a lot of trees, I mean forest.

"Here we go. Turn left Ari! You drive fast huh! no afraid on the road!" Bailey giggled. maybe she's just excited to see her family. another 30 minutes drive before I get to see the Large mansion. wait, is that even a mansion. coz in my eyes it's look like castle!

"Wait, Is that your aunts house? you must be a billionaire!!" I exclaimed as I was really surprised to see that huge mansion.

"No, that's not that. Morreth's house is behind that mansion." Bailey answered.

"oh, okay. but still you're related to the owner of that."

"everyone in thunderwood is related to each other."

"Nice. It must be peaceful here, no crowd, less car, no factories! Is there any property here for sale? Im gonna save up to buy one. I wanted to stay here." I dont even know why those words came out from my mouth but i am just really amazed of what I witnessed. There's really a place in the world away from civilization. away from crowd, from buildings, cities and so on. the place that I am dreaming of to settle down.

"There's a school for Medical student here. If you want we can go visit. and if you want to continue your study, it's a good place for you." Bailey said

She's right. this place is so calm..

"I should send an application to that uni..." Seems like I am just talking to myself not a respond to Bailey.

We arrived at Morreth's house and parked the car where bailey instruct me to park. everyone in that house gush outside shouting 'Welcome Home, Bailey!!!' wow! this families are amazing. everyone loves each other. I cant helped but think about my aunt's back home.

I was just there standing while they are hugging bailey when they finished bailey turns to me and intoduced me to her Family.

"This is my friend Ari! Ari, this is Morreth, and my cousins, niece and nephews Cali, George, Barbara, Morgan, Alex, Marrel, Adams, Ellaine, Carl and so on. I know you'll gonna forget their names so just asked them when you bump in one of them." Bailey said while laughing. she has a lot of relatives there so it's really hard to remember all of them plus they are all good looking. gosh why is everyone here looks so healthy.

"You are more than welcome here, may precious Ari!" Morreth said while walking towards me. and hugged me tightly. She's just like Audrey, well she's her sister. but they are bailey's aunt and they all looks like on the same age. why?? are they immortal?

"Thanks, Morreth! You people are so beautiful inside and out. This place is so blessed with a lot of beauty in it." I cant believe i said that because as far as know myself, i am a shy type and dont like to talk to stranger but im just very amazed to this town so called Thunderwood.

We went inside the house. Bailey's cousins carries our luggage to our room. but before going inside the room Morreth insisted that we should eat first coz we might fall asleep and will not be able to eat dinner. When we entered the Kitchen Im more than surprised. it's a huge table but full of food. everything is there. so means all family members will eat together. Again, I cant help but think about my life. when my parents still alive, it's only the three of us but we were happy until that day.

I was loss with my own thought that I didn't even noticed bailey on my side till she tapped my shoulder

"Hey, are you okay? you tired? or dont like the food? I can ask Cali to bring what you want, tell me?" I was surprised with bailey's thoughtfulness. I know how nice she is and my conscience is knocking on my head to atleast be fair to her.

"No, Im just thinking about something. Like my mum and dad? seeing how happy when your family sees you reminds me of them" I managed to voice it out. I cant hold on to this any longer. If there's no bailey, I dont know what could happen to me when I arrived in Algona maybe untill now I am still jobless.

"You're tired Ari. Let's eat up now then we can talk about it later or tomorrow. until you're ready. I am just here, willing to listen. okay, little one!" She called me little one. what does this lady think, she a big warrior that can beat me up easily.

"Thanks, Bailey. for everything." I manage to say without crying.

"Come on. stop that thanks thing, it starting to get on my nerves. you're not just anyone here. you're like a long lost sister to me. So enough with the drama. we need a good rest the wedding will be on the next day and we have to help the preparation." Bailey said.

"Right. We need a good rest." I responded

"Guys, come on let us not let the food waiting!" Another women of late 20's came in. And the moment she called everyone run inside the kitchen.

"Hey dear, my name if Olivia. Bailey's aunt. Older sister of Morreth and Audrey." she introduced while offering a a welcoming smile. then turn to bailey.

"oh dear bailey, it's been so long. I've missed you my dear!" she said while kissing bailey's cheeks.

"I've missed you too Olie. how's everyone? is Lu-- Kiara in good condition?"

"Of course, she is. A-- Jackson is still worried about their son. you know." She said. Since I am out of the topic I just decided to focus on food so I didn't hear anything anymore until a bright light stuck my eyes. The vision but I ignored it the moment I hear a footstep.

"I heard that Bailey is home, why on earth you guys didn't inform me that she's coming." I heard a voice that sounds music to my ear. again, I just ignored it coz the vision is starting to get inside my head and I have to destruct it.