CHAPTER 3
823 Words
It had been a silent one hour drive from the airport; a continuous silence even after arriving at
our new home and a more heightened silence while we were being warmly welcomed by my
aunt, her suspiciously feminine husband and my sweet cousin Kiki, who happened to now live
just beside us as neighbors. While the atmosphere was quite good and filled with the happy
feeling of reuniting with them one again, all I could do was mourn the life I had left behind, and
no matter how hard I tried to look on the brighter side of things, I just wasn't prepared for a
change so drastic.
Immediately I was introduced to my room, I shut myself away from the empty chuckles and
pitiful welcome pleasantries done by my mom and her sister's family and curled myself up into
bed. I missed my cousin Kiki so dearly but I had full trust in her to be understanding enough to
know that I pretty much needed some time to myself. We did not expect our next reunion to be
this way but life comes at you pretty fast.
Calton Valley was a pretty famous town known for having several tourist attractions such as its
beautiful islands, large beaches which had crystal blue waters, and other breathtaking sceneries.
It was indeed a breath of fresh air, which made the ride from the airport to our new home pretty
healing and I knew already that I was going to take advantage of its serenity to continuously
heal the ache in my heart.
The long nap I forced myself into, a few minutes after being introduced to my room did not
come to an end until it was really dark. I was surprised to wake up to the presence of Kiki who
looked like she had been busy all the while, unpacking my bags, arranging my clothes and doing
everything possible to wait beside me while I slept.
"Finally our sleeping beauty is up... not gonna lie...almost thought you've gone into a coma," She
joked, immediately getting into the bed to lay beside me. I was sure she had a lot to say but I was
grateful she knew me well enough to understand the fact that I was tired of the never ending
pitiful comments and so I appreciated her skillful act of pretense as though nothing was wrong or
had gone wrong.
"My mom specially prepared your favorite, she has been looking forward to impressing you with
the special new seafood pasta recipe she learned in her private class with a five star chef, you
know very well the extent to which she can go. Although, you don't have to go out now if you
don't want to, my parents are still out there with the never ending consolations and they don't
seem like they are ready to live anytime soon. At this rate, I'm pretty sure your mom is going
bunkers in her mind," She laughed and I joined in which finally ushered in the much needed ease
from the engulfing air of downcast.
"Kiki?" I whispered.
"Nella?"She turns herself completely to face me, matching my whisper and we both chuckle at
that.
"Do you think we could play our favorite little game right now?"
"What game? Wait!.. you mean our game of hide and sneak?" She asked and I gave a little
approving nod.
"But you should rest and take time to take everything in, you just arrived at Calton today,” she
continued, speaking more sternly. “You know I am always down to get crazy with you but this?
no i don't support, its bad timing!"
"Oh wow who are you and what have you done to my cousin? where is she?" I teased, still
slightly frustrated she wasn't giving in to my wish. I really needed some air as I was already
missing the healing outdoor air I felt on our way down from the airport.
She smiled sweetly at me about to say something else but instantly got distracted by a text she
had just received and I knew right away, I just may have gotten an answer to my prayer when
she lifted her face back up with a familiar grin.
"Alright that's it, I have been influenced and I think I may just have to succumb to your wish
right now... Let's play our little game, but this I must warn involves a lot of drinks, are you
down?"
"Oh you know damn well I am down," I responded sharply. I wasn't down, I wasn't in any way
down but I had just responded with a pretty high spirit which was entirely fake as I was in no
mood for a house party, guessing that was what she meant by ‘a lot of drinks.’ However, I would
do anything just to be away for a moment from the choking air of my new bedroom.
****
- Writer
