Rain’s Point of View
I could barely step inside the Butterfly Haven. The garden, according to my daddy, is my Granny Aitana’s favorite place. Everything is in order. It covered the floor with a red carpet, even though the ground was coated with grass. There are chairs that are decorated with flowers and other plants. The place is clean. They shield the said area. Only the sky blue net is the barrier on the side and roof to prevent the butterflies from flying and escaping.
If I hadn’t known that it was a hill, I would have thought that a wedding would take place there. Well-wishers and people wore white and had roses. No one wears black.
“Mommy, why is Granny’s wake like this? It looks like a wedding venue. It’s beautiful!” I said while smiling and looking at the flying butterflies. I cannot believe that the place looks like this.
“Because this is your granny’s favorite insect and place—well, except for the floral garden that you and grandma often hang out in. She has been very strict since then and when she dies, she doesn’t want to be buried inside the mansion or anywhere else. It’s just here. Because, according to your granny, her butterflies will take her to a true paradise in the company of God.”
“Wow!”
“Then he said he didn’t want the people he was leaving behind to feel sad. Did you, when you first met me? Were you sad?” Mommy asked me.
I shook my head. “Mommy. Actually, it felt good when I saw this place. It was relaxing.”
“That’s what your granny wants,” she said to me with a smile.
We walked to the center. Only then did I notice that there was a big cross at the end? They placed a white coffin in front of it. It has many flowers stuck around it. When I saw my granny’s face, I felt a strange sadness. I tried to stop the tears from falling from my eyes, but I failed. Tears poured from my eyes because it was hard to accept that it was gone now. I said a brief prayer to Granny with tears falling.
‘Rest in peace, granny.’
ON THE FIRST NIGHT of the wake, many other relatives on my daddy’s side recognized me. I say the rest of them have talked or played with me before, but I really remember. I am just on the side and sitting holding a book I’m currently reading. I know that the attention of our other relatives often goes to me, but I do not look at them.
I also had earphones on both ears, so I couldn’t really hear anything from the surrounding people. My full attention was on the book I was reading.
I turned to the person holding my shoulder and frowned as I waited for her to speak.
“A-ay... Sorry if we bothered you. What... We were just going to invite you to eat.”
I looked at cousin Aliona. She smiled at me, but I didn’t even reciprocate and showed interest. I shook my head without emotion. “I’m busy.”
Aliona seemed to nod shyly, then turned away and returned to the behavior of the other cousins.
My mommy’s look turned around me. Mommy smiled at me narrowly while Daddy shook his head. I secretly shrugged, then resumed reading the book.
It was eleven o’clock at night when I approached Mommy and whispered, “Are you sleepy, Mommy? Let’s go now?” I asked him.
She nodded, then addressed the people she was talking to. “Rain and I will go first, huh?” She turned to Daddy. “Dad, your son and I will go to the bedroom first.”
“I’ll take you.” He was about to stand up, but I immediately spoke.
“I can manage, Dad,” I said, then carefully grabbed Mommy’s wheelchair. I slowly pushed you inside the mansion.
“Oh, Ember, we should agree with your daddy. No one will pick me up.”
I just looked at Mommy before taking a deep breath and picking up the cell phone. I was about to call Daddy’s number when someone approached us.
“Excuse me, Ma’am. Is there a problem?” asked the man, who couldn’t make out his appearance. Its voice is full.
“Is that you, Ali?” Mommy asked the man.
I frowned when I gradually saw the man walking towards us. I was wondering who it was, but when a little light shone on it from the light on the pole, my brow furrowed even more. “Y-you!?” I asked.
The man just smiled at me, then crouched down to talk to my mommy. “Yes, it’s me." He look at my mom. "Do you need help, Ma'am?”
“Oh, I hope so. Rain’s daddy is busy.”
“I’ll take care of you, Ma’am.”
My mommy smiled. “Oh, thank you, Ali.”
“Mommy, wait!" I look at this man. "You’re going to lift her up?” I asked in disbelief. My eyes were still wide as I looked at the two of them.
“Yes, Ember. Don’t worry, Ali is really kind.”
“But—"
The man stood up and approached me. There was no reason for me to back down to give him the way. The man took a position behind Mommy’s wheelchair, but his eyes couldn’t take his eyes off of me.
I looked away.
“I’ll take care of your mommy, Miss Ember.”
I looked there, but he wasn’t looking at me anymore. I want to ask him to call me by my middle name. This is the only person who called me before, apart from my family.
‘And what right does he have to call me by my second name, right?’ I asked myself.
The man slowly pushed Mommy’s wheelchair to the bottom of the stairs. I just followed and silently watched the two. Ali carefully picked up my mommy, then started to climb the stairs.
I just shook my head. I thought it was necessary to move my mommy and daddy’s room. There are many rooms in the mansion. Maybe they can move to the room that is only on the ground floor.
Rain’s Point of ViewWhen my mommy was laid on the bed, that’s when I stared at the man whose name was Ali. Unlike before, the man was wearing clothes. But his muscles and biceps are still scarred. I shook my head at the thought. I want to hit my head. I looked at the door when it opened. It was Daddy, who obviously ran.“Oh, why? Is there a problem?” Mommy asked.My dad seemed surprised because Ali was in the room. He seemed to be breathing a sigh of relief. Later, he shook his head. “Nothing. I’m sorry. I forgot that our room is on the second floor.” He approached the bed and kissed Mommy’s forehead.I, on the other hand, just sighed as I was simply stunned. After a while, I went to the window and adjusted the closing.“Thank you very much for helping my wife, Ali,” was my daddy’s voice. I can feel the sincerity.“That’s okay, sir. I’ll go out first. Excuse me,” Ali said goodbye to my parents.I didn’t move to look back at Ali, but I only looked at my parents.“I’ll go first, Miss E
Rain’s Point of ViewAFTER 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
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