GRIEVOUS VENGEANCE

CHAPTER 23

"Hi," Nurse Jen greeted Mark and Marvin. They are currently in the clinic. "Are we leaving now?"

"Yes, let's go," Janine said.

Nurse Jen stood up and picked her hand bag. "Who are we picking up again?"

"He's Marvin's friend. You will know him later." Jackie naughtily smiled.

"Okay, you say so." They all went out of the clinic and proceeded to the parking lot. The girls sat at the back while Marvin sat in the passenger seat.

"Where you able to buy the unit you like?" Jackie asked Marvin.

He nodded. "Yes, and Mark got the other one on the same floor."

"You also bought a unit?" Janine said. "You're moving out?"

"Unfortunately, Mama and Papa will move to our rest house soon for fresh air, together with Marvin's parents. They want to stay there for now while Dad's health is in bad shape.' Mark sighed. "I can't stay alone in the house with just our household helpers."

"Is he doing okay?" Janine asked.

"Yes, he's okay while having regular check-up and taking his medication," Mark said. "His immune system is a bit weak recently due to pressure at work and after Mina's death, but we're glad he's fine."

"That's good to hear." Janine looked put of the window. She remembered the time when Mina was still appearing as a grievous ghost. "I'm also glad Mina's okay wherever she is now."

They were stuck in the traffic jam but they still have a lot of time before Steve's arrival.

"Let's eat dinner later," Jackie said. "I want a full meal."

"Demanding, girl?" Janine laughed.

"I'm hungry. We just ate burger and fries for lunch."

"What? You didn't eat full meal for lunch?" Mark asked. He looked at the rear view mirror to see Janine.

"I had no appetite earlier." She let out a deep breath.

"We'll all have dinner later." Mark smiled at her.

Janine can feel her stomach full of butterflies. It was a simple gesture but it's enough to make her feel special.

Jackie cleared her throat. "Okay, so Steve will arrive around seven." She looked at her phone. "It's six thirty now and we're still one hour away from the airport. Maybe his flight is delayed." She grinned.

"Poor Steve," Marvin said. He shook his head.

It took them almost one hour before reaching the airport. They checked Steve's flight and it was delayed.

They all looked at Jackie, scratching her head. "What? I just thought it was delayed."

Marvin laughed. "It's normal."

They all waited for him for more than thirty minutes. It was announced that his flight just arrived and the passengers are boarding out of the plane.

A few minutes later, they saw a tall guy approaching them at the waiting area. "Marvin!" He has green pair of eyes and blonde hair. Almost the same feature on video call.

"Steve!" Marvin hugged Steve and tapped his back strongly. "It's nice to see you again."

"Right," he said. "It was a last minute packing for me. Buy the stuff I need. I forgot a lot at home."

"Don't worry, we'll buy all the stuff you need," Mark said. "I'm Mark." He offered his hand for a shake hands and Steve accepted it.

"Nice to meet you." He looked at the girls. "Hi," he said to Nurse Jen, waving his hand.

"Hello," she greeted back.

"She's Nurse Jen, our school nurse," Marvin said. "This is my girl Jackie, and she's Janine, Mark's girlfriend."

Jackie was shocked on Marvin's introduction about her. She and Janine looked at each other, mouths were wide open.

"Nice to meet you, everyone. Are we going to start working now or what? I'm kinda hungry." Steve rubbed his stomach. "It was a long haul, delayed flight."

"Let's all have dinner, guys. We can fit in the car, I guess.' Marvin laughed. They put Steve's luggage and hand carry bag in the trunk before hopping in the car. The car is spacious enough for three girls and Marvin. He sat beside Jackie. Janine is in between her and Nurse Jen at the end. Steve seated in front. He's quite big to sit at the back.

Jackie wants to ask Marvin but she'll do it later, while they are alone. She doesn't want to shame him in front of his friend.

"Let's have our dinner here." Mark pointed at the eat-all-you-can restaurant.

"That will be perfect!" Marvin and Jackie said in unison. They exchanged glance at each other and laughed.

"Food buddies? That's cool!" Steve commented. "I think I will have a good time staying here."

"How long are you planning to stay?" Marvin asked.

"I was planning to stay for a month or so, but my plan changed. I'm staying indefinitely." He grinned.

"That would be nice," Jackie said. She grinned and glanced at Nurse Jen. "I'm sure you will really like it here."

Mark parked the car near the restaurant. They all went out of the car and walked towards the entrance.

"I like the smell of the food!" Steve said.

"Table for how many?" the receptionist asked.

"Six," Mark replied. "Give us a place where we could have a privacy." They were brought to the far end of the restaurant, and was given a private room to dine in. There was a black leather sofa surrounding a huge dinner wooden table.

"This is absolutely amazing!" Jackie said. She threw her bag on the sofa, held Janine's back pack and threw it also on the sofa beside her bag. "Let's go ladies," she said to Janine and Nurse Jen. They all laughed while storming out to get their food. They all enjoyed the food and chatting all night.

"I'm so full!" Jackie rubbed her tummy as she stretched her body.

"We can eat like this again next time," Marvin said to her.

"S-sure why not, as long as it's food, I'm in!" She grinned.

"Let's all go home now so I could rest." Steve stood up while stretching. his arms and body. He accidentally hit Janine's bag and it fell on the floor. Her bag was opened and her stuff were all spread out. "I'm sorry." he picked the things one by one.

"It's okay." She smiled and helped Steve picking her things.

Steve saw her notebook with full of scribbles and shapes. "midnight later." He glanced at his wrist watch. "What time is it now?"

"It's nine o'clock." Marvin replied.

"Did you draw this today?" Steve asked Janine.

"Yeah. I was just scribbling it without thinking. Why?"

"There was a shadow of a woman in long dress standing and two people lying. It was all scribbled but you can see it clearly. Then a number 12:00 written on top."

They all looked at the notebook and Steve was right. "Are they Cathy and Luke?" Jackie said. "Let's go to their house!"

"Wait, what's happening? We're not going home yet?" Nurse Jen asked.

"I'm sorry, Nurse Jen, you'll be part of this. We're in a hurry. You'll see it later." Janine held the nurse's hand and pulled her while going out of the dining room. They all rushed to the car after paying their bills.

"I won't have any rest for tonight." Steve shook his head.