Heated Hearts

The Will & Inheritance

||Aster's POV ||

I stood there, dumbfounded as I saw my friends cheering and wishing me. It was quite unexpected to suddenly see them here this way, after I've pushed them away every time they tried to approach me in school or via call or text, for the past three months.

Also, I had expected Emilia to do something but didn’t think it would include them. I thought she would mostly get me a cake and insist me to cut it and blow the candles.

A different kind of warmth filled my heart as my three best friends hugged me, and tears of joy rolled down my eyes.

It's been so long, since I've isolated myself that I had almost forgotten how soothing these three monkey's appearances can be.

The shortest girl in our group, and the sweetest one, with jet black hair and hazel eyes was the first one to look up at me and notice the tears I was spilling down my cheeks, through her round framed spectacles.

“Aster-rrr, No crying tonight.” Eva squeezed me tightly. I smiled looking at her, and her hazel eyes danced while she smiled back at me, forming a dimple on her left cheek.

She was the cutest, kind and caring one in our group of four. With the height of 4 feet 11 and a half inch, and long jet black hair which ended at her mid-thigh, tanned skin and a dimpled cheek, she was the definition of cuteness to me.

“I missed you guys,” I whisper closing my eyes as happiness takes over me, making me forget all the other things in my life. I can't remember the last time when I was this happy.

“That's enough. Aster, you got enough hugs, now please cut the cake fast, I am starving and my eyes can't take this torturous sight of yummy cake in front of me anymore.” Jenna whined while pulling away from the hug and I chuckled.

This is Jenna, 5 feet 2 inch tall, pale skin, fluffy as a panda and always hungry! She has a soft heart and is a genuine sweetheart but at times she is known for being short-tempered too.

“Au… Ouch...!” Jenna rubbed the back of her as Chandler tapped there.She looked at Chandler with her eyebrows up,as if asking 'What was that for?'

“What? You deserve it, we are hugging our spirited soul, Aster, of this damn crazy group after so many days and still, all you can think about is cake.” Chandler squinted her eyes at Jenna as she started scolding her.

Meanwhile, me & Eva shared a look and suppressed our laughter. These two are like a mom-daughter duo, Chandler is the mom here who scolds Jenna like a spoiled child and trust me when I say this, the puppy eyes Jenna gives her while getting scolded are worth watching.

Chandler's green eyes lands on me while scolding Jenna, and I can judge by her expression that she was trying her best to not burst out laughing.

Among Jenna, Eva & Chandler ;Chandler is my closest. We've been together since elementary school and basically has been inseparable for all these years.

Eva and Jenna joined us in middle school but still, it feels like the four of us have always been together.

I watched them with blurred vision as tears of happiness twinkled in my eyes. In all these months, I have never thought opening the doors and letting people in was even a solution but just now, I realized how much of a fool I've been.

“Whoa…girls. I thought I would see a scene where you all would hug and cry but here I see a different scenario!”

I looked back to find Emilia standing at the door, smiling as she eyed all of us. She moved in and closed the door behind her, and hurried us to the couch, where a cake with 17 candles were placed on the front table.

I sat in the middle, Jenna and Chandler on one side and Emilia, Eva on another. Emilia lit the candles and everyone looked at me, expecting me to blow them, but I couldn't stop the stubborn tears.

“They are here, and happy to see you happy, and I'm sure, they are wishing you too, trust me.” Chandler whispered in my ears as she gave my hand a squeeze and I smiled.

Wiping my eyes, I blew all the candles and cheers erupted in the house again as I cut the cake.

The rest of the time passed by me feeding each of them, then Eva started a cake throwing competition. What's funny was that Emilia joined us too.

Then we clicked lots of photos and dance, and for the first time Emilia let me drink.

“Congrats on being officially an adult according to the state's rules, Kiddo.” Emilia kissed my forehead and gave me a hug.

Loud music echoed in the house as four of us sang, danced, giggled and drank the night away...

“Ding... Dong...

Ding... Dong”!

My sleep is erupted by the continuous doorbell ringing.

I opened my eyes to be greeted by the unbearable amount of light and closed them again as fast as I could.

“Ding... Dong...”

Whoever was it at the door, I swear they were on a mission to spoil my morning. Urrgh...

Blinking a few times, I tried to sit while my head started aching from hangover.

“Woo ah... I'll get it,” Emilia said while yawning.

Jenna, Chandler, Eva all of them wake up too, judging by their face I can tell they are hell lot of annoyed as I am too. Jenna rubs her eyes like a baby while Chandler walks into the kitchen, Eva following behind her.

Emilia almost ran into us at the same time, I could hear her whining under her breath as she walked towards the couch and sat down.

“I told them to do it tomorrow. One day! They couldn’t wait even one day! Ridiculous!!” She complained leaning her head back on the couch, and we all gathered there instantly.

Chandler and Eva served us with glasses of lemonade as we sat down.

Emilia sipped from her glass and looked at me,” I'm sorry, kiddo, but you have to go to the Mayor's office and then to the bank for collecting your inheritance and signing some documents.”

“I had told them to spare this day and do it tomorrow, but I don't understand why they are stubborn to do it today itself,” Emilia huffed.

Four of us shared a confused look at each other as Emilia sipped her drink and bantered in between.

“What document? And what inheritance? “ I asked her looking all confused.

“Ahh!! I forgot I didn’t brief you about it earlier, I had thought of doing it tonight after you have spent a joyous birthday. Your parents left you some stuffs, apparently money, artifacts and some other stuffs that I don't actually know about and there’s also a will. They made a will for you to inherit all their stuff on the day you turn seventeen. So, you have to basically sign, the officials will do the rest and will explain what you inherited. All official stuff, would take most of the day I'm guessing!” Emilia spoke in one go and gave me an apologetic look after finishing.

I didn't move for a few seconds as my brain processed all the things she just said. The whole room went silent, and I could already feel 4 pairs of eyes on me.

Okay... Okay... Just signing and understanding my responsibility and assets... No big deal... No pressure.

I took deep breaths and calmed myself, though inside I was scared.

I looked up at them, trying my best to not show any sign of the turmoil I was feeling at all as I gave them a tight-lipped smile.

“I'll go get ready then,” declaring I stood up and quickly stormed upstairs, I needed some time to calm myself and get dressed before I leave for the Mayor's office.

Locking my bedroom door, I sat down at the corner of my bed, holding the photo frame where my parents are smiling brightly. Caressing over their picture, I prepared myself to try the method my mom taught me.

It was a trick she said she used to use when she felt afraid or less confident.

I held it close to my heart as I closed my eyes, imagining their presence with me and chant 'I can do it!' repeatedly, until I feel confident enough...