Renaissance : Alliyah Bailey (English)

Chapter 2

We arrived at Brent's house at noontime. As I had remembered, Brent said that the party would start at noon by eating lunch that his mother prepared and his mother also prepared a program after lunch.

I didn't know what kind of program but according to him, his mother loved him dearly and because he was the only son of four siblings, his mother prepared so much for his birthday party. Yeah, literally so much.

Just by standing here outside their gate, I could still say that it was really indeed a big party. The side of the gate was covered with red and blue balloons and as we entered the gate, balloons filled the ground.

Was this a children's party? Oh, come on! His mother loved him dearly, please insert sarcasm. I heard Therese giggled and I looked at her immediately saying don't be so obvious! So she acted like she was zipping her mouth.

So after the program came what we called the after-party. Like disco and drinks. You knew what I meant.

Yes, maybe our town was far from the city but our life here was not that away from civilization. We also knew what city life was liked. Teenagers here were not that shy people, we also knew how to throw big parties even we lived in a town surrounded by mountains.

We sat down on the four-seated table with, of course, balloons. I really wanted to roll my eyes now, but I didn't want someone would saw me being rude. It was a no-no! I heard Therese cleared her throat and I knew she was controlling her laughter.

Don't get me wrong, okay. Brent, for me, was perfect. I was just his mother being so, yeah well prepared.

Brent was liked by all the women in town. He was a charming, blue-eyed hunk and walked like a model. Everyone knew that Brent liked me.

Yeah, it was not self-proclaimed. It was true. But I didn't get it. Up until now, Brent never courted me or at least confessed his feelings. He was obviously liked me. He gave me flowers, gifts, letters, and chocolates.

But...

I heaved a sigh.

No confession at all!

What? He wanted me to initiate the first move?

H*ll no!

I was raised being a modest woman and doing the first move, for me, it was kinda disrespectful. Maybe girls in the cities were much showier and liberated. But Mom and Dad raised me to be a woman with dignity. For them, respect from other people was what they said the most important thing that a man could have.

If you gain respect from other people, it would increase your self-esteem. It would boost your confidence. It would let people look up high on you.

So, Brent, I would never make my first move. Nay, nay!

"Hi, Alliyah and Therese!"

A girl with black hair and brown eyes approached us and sat down on the vacant chair beside me. She wore, ahmm, a red crop top and a black skirt.

I didn't think it was the right term for her clothes, maybe a two-piece would do. I looked down and silently rolled my eyes.

"Oh, hello, Cindy!"

Oh, Cindy the itchy.

I nearly bursted into laughter. I couldn't forget that term I and Therese created for Cindy. She was a girl that I could compare to a city girl. All girls here in Medison Vill wore it was either pants or dresses. But Cindy, she wore short shorts, skirts that one wrong move, her undies would be shown off.

Not that we didn't know how to wear trendy clothes, but of course clothes that were not too showy, you know.

Therese said that Cindy seduced one of her cousins and they made it throughout. You know what I meant. And there were rumors that Cindy made multiple relationships with all the young men in town. Like this week was Harry's time. Next week it was Michael's time. Yeah.

That was why we named her itchy. Her p*ssy is itchy, that was what I meant.

"Hey, Alliyah? Are you sick?"

I raised my head to look at her and gave her a furrowed forehead. Seeing you maked me sick. Of course, I didn't say it out loud. "Nope. Why?"

Even Therese looked at me with confusion on her face. I raised my eyebrow and looked at them with full of curiosity. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

"It's not so you!" Cindy answered in a horrible voice. It was not that horrible, it was just me. I didn't like everything about her.

Because...

She was flirting with Brent.

Even she was not showing it, I knew she was jealous of me being liked by Brent.

Maybe...

She was the killer.

Before I could lay my eyes on Cindy, Therese interrupted. "It's like you're not Alliyah, since this morning."

Oh sh*t! I almost forgot!

Though I dislike Cindy so much, I still smile at her and befriended her.

"You're a new you, remember?"

To my shock, I suddenly stood up. I looked around the people one by one. I was not mistaken, I heard the voice of that witch. She was here?

"I'm talking in your mind, id*ot!"

I then closed my eyes because the pain in my shoulder was overwhelming my whole being again.

"Hey? What's wrong with you?" Cindy asked with disgusting look in her eyes.

Why was she disgusted?

"Hey, girls? Are you okay?"

I turned my gaze to the man that just arrived in front of us.

Brent, wearing a plain black shirt and overlaid it with a polo, made my senses go wild. I couldn't even control the fast beating of my heart. A smile on his face made him look more manly.

"Yeah, we're okay!" Cindy answered joyfully and to our surprise, she then kissed Brent's cheek. "Happy birthday, lover boy!"

I wanted to pull off her hair right now. Could someone please restrain me?

But...

To Cindy's surprise, Brent slowly pushed her away and made his way towards me. He then held my hand. "You should sit inside the house."

I heard Therese giggled and some of our friends were now smiling. I bet they were now rekindled at what they just witnessed.

I shortly forgot that I came back to life because my mission was to find out who killed me. But here I am, savoring the moment that my hand was held by Brent.