Rain’s Point of View
AFTER ENTERING THE ROOM, I sat on the bed. Annoyed, I opened the tumbler and drank. When I calmed down, I lay down again. I wanted to sleep, but it seems that my sleepiness has disappeared.I just went into the bathroom after a while and changed into my exercise clothes. I wore black leggings, a white T-shirt, and rubber shoes. I also brought my earphones and the phone itself. There is one room in the mansion that is fully equipped with exercise equipment. That room was big and spacious.I went in there to see that there was no one inside. I warmed up for a while before hitting the treadmill. I put on the earphones and then started playing. My full attention is outside. It made the walls of that room of glass. I can see the swimming pool from here.I had only been running for twenty minutes when I stopped because I felt thirsty. I smiled when I saw the mini fridge there, so I got something to drink from there. Carrying the towel, I wiped my neck for a moment when I felt someone enter the gym.I turned to the newcomer and saw Aga. It comes with a towel and a tumbler. Our eyes met, but I immediately took it back and got back on the treadmill.Aga warmed up for a while, then came closer to me. I didn’t pay attention to him. I focused full attention on what was being done while listening to music with earphones.Aga went to the elliptical bike, which was quite close to me, and started exercising there. He was wearing a blue T-shirt and jogging pants.I frowned when I realized and asked myself. ‘What is he doing here?’I was looking at him even though the treadmill was still running. It seems that Aga has no intention of looking at me because he just looks straight outside.I just ignored him. I stayed at the gym for about an hour. The equipment that Aga touched, I did not try.After drinking water, I picked up the towel and left the gym. It was only then that I noticed my cousin Aliona holding a cell phone. Looks like someone is talking.I had no intention of paying attention to this, but I was stunned when Aliona stopped talking and greeted me.“Good morning, Rain!” she greeted me.“Morning.”“Are you from the gym?”I just nodded.“Well, it’s obvious.” Aliona laughed. “Anyway, breakfast is ready in a bit. I just came from Auntie Cathy’s room and I told her and Uncle. Good thing I met you.”I nodded again. “Thank you. I’m just going to take a shower. Excuse me.” I heard Aliona’s weak ‘Okay’, but I didn’t pay attention to her. I walked back to my room to take a shower and get dressed.Aliona’s Point of ViewI was QUIET AND STILL in front of the dining table. My relatives are constantly talking, including my parents. I also speak from time to time, but only when I really need to answer their questions.“After eating, come to your granny’s wake and the guests might be looking for us,” said Auntie Merceditas to all of us.“Mommy, can we go for a walk later? I am with Aliona and Apollo. We will just go to the lake.” Azariah asked her mother’s permission, who frowned.“Why? What are you going to do there?”Azariah turned to the cousins, who were silent. The nervousness or fear is obvious on their faces.“I-I miss going there for a walk. Isn’t that where we used to go for a walk—”Auntie Merceditas told Azariah to discuss it later in the library while it focused her on cutting the meat. I couldn’t see how Azariah’s shoulders slumped. The redness of her eyes, as if she wanted to cry, did not escape my eyes either.Azariah turned to her mommy, who also had her eyes on her cousin. After a while, the cousin looked at me. She smiled at me sweetly. After a while, Azariah picked up the water and drank it. I don’t feel good about them. Azariah stood up and spoke, “I’m done. Excuse me,” she said and turned around.Rain’s Point of ViewI followed Azariah as she walked away from us. My eyes shifted to Apollo and Aliona with worried faces. They seemed to want to leave the dining area, but they just couldn’t.“Later, there will be a mass at Mom’s wake. We all need to be there. The bishop, who is a friend of Mom and the family, will also be there.”“Alright. No problem,” my dad answered.“I’ll go before you. I’m just going to take care of something,” said Auntie Merceditas after drinking water and wiping her mouth with a white cloth. She stood up and left the dining area.Apollo and Aliona sighed at the same time and leaned back in their seats.“Are you done? Let’s go?” said Aliona. She was whispering, but I could hear it.“I don’t feel like it anymore. Do you think Auntie will scold Azariah?”Aliona shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m nervous. Maybe later...”“Aliona, Apollo... You’re still eating, aren’t you?” Uncle Eliseo asked the children.“D-dad, I am done. I’m just waiting for Apollo.”“I’m about to finish, Dad,” Apollo said promptly, then hurriedly finished what he was eating.Until the end of that breakfast, I just remained silent. I pushed my mommy’s wheelchair to the living room.“Ember, I’ll take care of myself here. I’ll just air in the garden first,” said Mommy while holding my right hand.I looked around. “Where’s daddy? Do you want me to go there with you?”She shook her head. “Your daddy will follow you there in the garden. We will go to Butterfly Haven together later. Your Uncle Eliseo had just talked to him.” The brothers had only met now because Apollo and Aliona’s dad were very busy with his business in Japan.“I’ll just accompany you there until Daddy is finally here.” I pushed the wheelchair until we reached the garden where there were many flowers.Rain’s Point of ViewI still remember when I was young. My granny Aitana and I often go here. I help her every time she waters the plants or otherwise; we get flowers and arrange them to be placed on the altar or in flower vases throughout the mansion. I sat on the steel chair near my mommy’s place. I smiled when she pulled out a book hidden on the side of the wheelchair.This is where I inherited my passion for reading books. We are also both introverts and Mommy’s personality is quiet. A lot of people say that I copy the likeness of her face.I took out the cell phone and started taking pictures of the garden. I stood up and slightly approached a pot with a rose flower planted in it. I smiled when I saw that I had taken a pleasant picture. I stepped closer to the other plants there. I was having fun taking pictures of them but it stopped me when suddenly someone spoke to me.“Do you also like flowers?” Aga asked. He wasn’t looking at me, but his eyes were on the plants.In a quick w
Rain’s Point of View“I’m sure you’ve talked before. He’s smart, isn’t he? Besides, his body is beautiful. He’s hot!” said Azariah who seemed to be still thrilled.I frowned. “Is he your crush?”She suddenly slapped my shoulder. It’s like a worm, salted with thrill. “You’re terrible! Is it obvious?” her language is weak.I looked away. Now, I can say that Azariah is indeed kind. It seems that she does not see Aga’s state for us. I took a deep breath and smiled when my cousin said goodbye to me.Azariah left me in the room alone. I lay there on the bed for a while before deciding to go downstairs to go to Butterfly Haven.I was in the living room and was about to go out the big door when I spotted Aga outside. This guy is talking to someone I don’t know. They seemed to be talking seriously.I don’t know how long I stood there and just kept looking at the two. I can’t be sure what they are talking about. I almost jumped in shock when my cousin Aliona suddenly appeared behind me. She smi
CHAPTER 9Rain’s Point of ViewThe two of them didn’t move, and I was suddenly troubled by what was happening. I don’t want to be scolded. I don’t want to be involved in things that have nothing to do with me.“Are you really like that?” Apollo suddenly asked me. I must admit that I was surprised, but I did not show that I was affected.I looked at Apollo. There was a trace of annoyance on his face. His eyebrows are also raised, and he is obviously holding back. “Because I don’t tolerate the things you do, okay?”“What did you say?”“Apollo, that’s enough. Let’s just follow Azariah,” said Aliona.“That’s very good,” Apollo said before looking at me again. “And you, go home! We don’t need you! Let’s go.” He said and already walked. Aliona gave me a hesitant look. I ignored that and started walking back. I just sighed. Fortunately, it was a little overcast, and the sun wasn’t that hot.I turned back to where Aliona was earlier, but they were gone now. I just shook my head. I am disguste
CHAPTER 10Azariah’s Point of ViewAn hour had passed, the rain had eased a bit and we could walk home. I said goodbye to Felix first and my cousin and I did not hesitate as we made our way back to the mansion. It’s five o’clock in the afternoon. It was getting a bit dark, so we sped up our walk. When we got to the mansion, they passed behind.“Azariah?” Aga called me.I turned there. “Hi!” I said.My cousins also stopped and faced our gardener.“I was just going to ask if you have seen Ember. Her mommy has been looking for her for a while now.”The three of us looked at each other. “I-isn’t he here yet?”“Not yet. You are the ones I saw with her earlier in the living room. I thought she was with you,” he said.Anxiety rose in my chest. I looked at Apollo and Aliona, who I knew were nervous too.“Azariah, where is my son?” asked Auntie Cathy, who was next to Aga.“Ah... B-because...” I looked at Apollo. Asking for help.Until my mommy also entered the kitchen. There is a trace of anno
CHAPTER 11Rain's Point of ViewI was still a little surprised when Ali stared at me. He was serious and I could clearly see how his face darkened. His jaw also clenched. We both looked at each other but he avoided looking at me."I saw her on the way to San Simon.""The short cut? Isn't the road there paved?""Yes. There is a big rock that is the boundary of San Simon. That's where I saw her."My daddy turned to me. "Rain, how did you get there?"Mommy put her hand over her mouth."You said you were going to Butterfly Haven next but w-why did you go there?"I couldn't answer. My eyes searched for my cousins but they were not there."Maybe it's better that Azariah tell you about that later, Sir. Right now it's better for Rain to see a doctor," Ali said seriously.I felt my mommy's tight grip on my hands. "Rain, can you walk?"I shook my head because I really couldn't. My leg hurts a lot as well as the hip that hit the rocks earlier."I will take her to her room upstairs," said Ali.I
CHAPTER 12—ApologyRain's point of viewThe sun was high when I woke up. I didn't get up because I felt myself first. My head doesn't hurt anymore; I just have a bodyache. My foot is still in pain.I slowly sat on the bed. No one else was in the room I was in. I carefully removed the blanket from my body until I could see the foot that was really swollen.I sighed. I leaned back on the pillows and closed my eyes again. I still wanted to go to the bathroom.It looks like I really have to get up on my own. Even though my mommy is here, she can't support me either.That's when I suddenly remembered Ali. I remembered again how good he was to me from yesterday until his vigil this morning."What time did he leave?" I asked, dumbfounded.I smiled involuntarily, but it immediately disappeared when someone knocked on the door. "Come in!" I answered immediately.I smiled widely, thinking it might be Ali, but I was wrong. It turned out that it was Aliona with Azariah. Aliona was carrying a tray
Rain's point of viewAli was always with me while I was healing my leg. Aliona and Azariah were busy because Abuela's funeral was coming up, and they were the ones dealing with the sympathizers.I really wanted to go to Abuela's wake at Butterfly Haven, but Ali wouldn't let me. He said it was bad because I was sick. That's why I feel so sad because I'm here at the villa but I can't see Abuela."Can't I really take a peek? Let's just wait a moment," I said as I put down the book I was reading.I'm about to finish reading that book, but I don't understand anything. Because my mind is occupied. One reason for that is Ali's presence, because he never leaves my room.He only comes out when he gets my food, when I take a bath, or when he takes a shower.But all the time, he was inside the room and sitting on the sofa. Ali was facing the laptop and was reading something on it that I didn't know what it was."You can't. Your feet are still a little sore," he said without even looking at me.I
CHAPTER 14—Who is she?Rain's point of viewMy parents went to my room after Aliona left. But they were not with Ali. My dad helped mommy, and that's why I'm a little sad."Is your leg okay? How are you feeling?" Daddy asked me, sitting on the edge of the bed."I'm feeling okay, Daddy, but my foot is still a little sore, although I can walk," I said."Good to hear that. Do you want to peek later at your grandmother's wake?"I nodded immediately. "Maybe it's okay, daddy, since I don't have a fever anymore. I'm feeling okay."Daddy and Mommy looked at each other. Mommy smiled at me and then held my hand."Yes, Rain. Let's go."I immediately smiled at her. "I would also like to stay there until tomorrow? Aliona said tomorrow is Abuela's last night." Sadness was on my face as I spoke."Rain, you're not feeling that well yet. Even on the last night, you probably stayed up."I snort and ask mommy to look at me. "Mommy, I've only been here in the room for a few days. My abuela might sulk wit