" Hey whats your plan for today?" William spoke from the other line of the call. " I am meeting Lia, why?" Wish said getting her car ready.
" Wait, i will come too."
Wish scrunched her brows, staring at the ended caller id.
---
Both of them reached at the hospital together and walked to Lia's room. Inside, he saw Lia was still resting on the bed.
" Sis!!" she called once Wish entered. They both hugged lightly. Then her eyes went to William. He nervously handed her the flower bouquet, " Hey....i am William Brent."
She smiled and took the bouquet smelling it. " Thankyou! so you are her fiance?"
Wish avoided eye contact and William nodded, " Are you feeling better?"
" Yes, i feel like i dont have any illness anymore." she said brightly. Lia seemed to be friendly and energetic. If it werent for her disease, she would probably be a bright child. The thought made him sympathise for her. " Its good then!"
Mrs.young barged inside the room, struggling to carry the water gallon. He quickly rushed to her and took the gallon from her. " Ahh, its okay William. I could carry it..."
" Where should i put it?" he asked looking around. " By the table, please."
He placed it right there and Mrs.young thanked him. " whoa, you are cool." Lia said which made Wish nudge her lightly. She was shocked herself how Brent went to help her mother instantly.
" Uhhh....thankyou i guess?" he gave a small smile. Her compliment was pretty unexpected.
After that, they packed the stuff, ready to leave the hospital room. William helped with carrying the heavy bags to their cars. they finished shifting the stuffs and Wish and Mrs.young left to pay the bills. William sat beside Lia on the bench. " How long have you been in here?" he asked.
" Hmm...for a year and a half? anyways i keep coming and going back often. The only time i can leave home is after i get the surgery but only for a few months. Then i have to come back again. Its a pain to take care after me." she gave a light hearted smile towards Brent.
Her words made William feel pity again. " You are not a pain to be taken care of." Lia looked back at him, " Do you know how much your mother and sister cherishes you? Wish always took you as her motivation to work harder. Whenever she talks about you, she always looks so happy and she doesnt really look like that, much you know."
Lia chuckled lightly, " Yeah, she can look cold but she has a very warm heart. You might know it as much as me."
" I dont know as much as you...." William sighed, " but i am trying hard to know her better so that i can protect her."
Lia opened the front pocket of her bag and pulled out a chewing gum from the packet. She handed it to William making him surprised. " I only share this with my favourite people." he slowly took it, a small smile appearing on his face. Favourite people? the gum was covered with metallic paper. He had only seen those in Tvs and always wanted to try it. After opening it, he chewed and it tasted good. A small thing like this made him really happy.
" Thankyou, for consoling me." she said to which he lightly nodded.
Shortly after Wish and Mrs.young came. " William! can you join us for dinner tonight?"
Wish quickly turned to her mother, " Mom, he is a busy guy-"
" I will come." he said to which she looked really shocked.
" Mom makes the best food." Lia added going to the car. Everybody went inside the car while Wish still comprehended the situation.
---
William looked around the house and Wish went to help her mother. The house was pretty small but decent and comfortable. He could see a framed picture of Mrs.young, Wish and Lia on the centre of the wall. They looked happy. Lia suddenly jumped to his side, " Wanna check Wish's room?"
He smiled , nodding sheepishly. Her room was even smaller. The bed took almost half of the room's space. There really were rooms this small? He thought going towards her work desk. Lia stood outside waiting for him to finish looking around.
The desk was clean with nothing much on it. Just a small frame of her and Lia. Above the table was a calendar with schedules written on the dates.
'job interview' 'lia's checkup' 'house bills'
There were normal schedules but the last one was written 'revenge'. He scrunched his brows seeing the odd one. " William!" Lia whisper-shouted. " I think the dinner is done. Lets go before she kills us."
---
Smell of delicious food filled the house. Mrs.young had prepared the table already and pulled William at one of the chairs. " sorry for me making you wait."
" Ahh.....no problem, Mrs.young." he said looking at the food infront. There was a seafood pasta and garlic breads. Salads were in the middle, presented beautifully. A plate of half-boiled eggs was right by its side.
After he took a bite, Mrs.young looked at him expectantly. " It....is very delicious." he genuinely said, " it reminds me of home...." he continued eating it happily.
" Thank god...i was really worried it might not suit your taste..."
" I told you...mom makes the best food!" Lia smiled at him. " I never doubted you either."
Mrs.young put one of the eggs on his plate. " Th-thankyou, Mrs,young..."
" Thought you would like eggs. Or if you dont??.."
" No! i love eggs. i will enjoy it to my fullest." he ate the food and mrs.young only gave a kind smile. " Actually..." he spoke, " my childhood's favourite dish used to be egg rolls."
" Me too!!" Lia said excitedly and the two high-fived. " Aww...then ill make egg rolls next time you come." Mrs.young added.
All this time, Wish was judging them quietly. Why wont they give me the same treatment? psh. But when he talked about his childhood, she felt like they really were getting closer.
After the dinner, William bid farewell to them and Wish accompanied him till they were outside.
" Umm...i had a great time. thanks." he awkwardly stood by the car. " Glad you had fun. goodnight then."
" So, we will directly be meeting on Golden party then? you better be ready." he got inside the car and drove away.
" Be ready?" she whispered to herself, confused.
---
Mrs.lennon opened the door aggressively and stood right infront Lisa's desk. " I just got a call from your teacher and you have been skipping classes again??"
Lisa stared blankly on the paper she had been scribbling on.
" In this way, no good colleges are going to give you any offer!!"
" Tch..." she scoffed at her mother, " so what, you are still going to let me in a top college with your connections."
" What did you say??" Mrs.lennon's eyes were bulging out. " I am doing all this for you and this is how you act??"
Lisa was starting to feel suffocated in her house again. All these stupid act of being the best family was annoying. " Is it really for me? or is it because you and dad dont want to be humiliated infront of others?"
Mrs.lennon sighed heavily, rubbing her forehead, " There you go again...its really for you!! you need to be competitive if you want all of these facilities that you have now."
" What if i dont want it."
Her mother became speechless with what she just said. Was she being like this because of exam pressure and stress??
" Reality is hitting me hard..." she said lowly, scribbling on the paper again. A month ago, she wanted to marry William anyhow so that she could inherit his money and disappear. Even thinking about it made her feel embarrassed of herself.
Suddenly, Mrs.young grabbed both sides of her arms and shook her, " THIS is your reality. THIS is where you were born. Accept it." Lisa gritted her teeth listening to her mother. " Dont dare talk about it infront of your father. Got it??"
Mrs.lennon left the room, now Lisa was alone again.
" I dont care about my reality." she whispered, controlling her tears.
.