Chereads / Starting With The End / Chapter 8 - The part slowly making it's way in her(III)

Chapter 8 - The part slowly making it's way in her(III)

"Ah, let me get that." Mrs. Arne got up from the table to pick up the phone.

"Yes? Oh, how are you? … Yes, we are all good... Yes, she is here, just a moment hum? Airi, it's for you, Maria is calling…"

'Maria? Is it her friend? How am I gonna talk to her?'

"Airi, you want to talk?" Mrs. Arne asked her again, getting no response from her.

"Oh… yes I do."

'Well here goes nothing. Maybe talking to her is gonna help me know Arne better.'

Airi got up to take over the telephone from her, "Yes…?"

"Woah, bro! you got totally missing! You at least have to talk to us, right?"

"Ahaha, yes. I am sorry I was just caught up with…"

"Yeah, of course, it should be pretty tedious to fake such a thing, as you recovered that fast."

'Recover? Oh, come to think of it, the first time I woke up was briefly at a hospital. That was indeed her parents back then.'

'That figures the headache and tiredness I feel.'

'But fake? I don't think anything was fake in it, from the way I still feel.'

"Thanks to that guy, who knows from where he came running. But if he didn't come in time, there would be no way you would be still alive. But can I ask you a question, if… you don't mind that is?" Maria continued to talk without even waiting for Airi's response.

"Um?"

"What did you do to you that made this much ruckus? I mean, c'mon, you are not the type to fall sick, unless you cause it yourself. Seriously, you try so hard to garner attention, geez. That could be dangerous someday if you suddenly go on jumping from the roof or such."

'Seems like she isn't that of a nice friend of hers… and someone saved her… wonder who is that.'

Airi wanted to cut the call short, as any kind of slip-up might mess things up, so she made herself sound in a hurry as she said, "I am getting a meal right now, so… will talk to you later."

"Yeah, yeah. See you after summer vacation."

And she cut off the call.

Airi put down the receiver and came back to the dining table.

"What did she say?" Arne's father looked up to her while taking some more rice into his bowl.

'I really don't think saying the actual fact would be a good idea here…'

"Nothin' much, just checkin' up on me. Let's finish eating."

After that, the dinner ended rather peacefully.

------

The next morning, she woke up when the sun's rays fell on her face. As always, she loved it.

"The only thing this room got the best is its windows. It's so wide! I can get to enjoy the sunshine to its fullest! "

She got up and freshened up. She checked the time on the clock, "Aish it's only 7! I woke up that early?"

She wondered for a while if she should've gone to sleep a bit more.

"There's no way the breakfast is gonna be ready by now... I guess I can have a walk around the neighborhood. Gotta know the area well too."

She went through the cupboard to find anything suitable for a walk.

"Gash, all of 'em are some flowery girly dresses! Girl, have you ever thoughta' goin' for a walk or somethin'? How can you not have a hoodie or a T at least?!"

"Guess gotta ask the old man for somethin' to throw on."

She climbed down to the living room, finding Arne's mother in the kitchen.

She is at it already…

"Umm... I wanted to go on a walk, but guess I don't have anything to wear. Are there any T-shirts or jackets he has I can wear?"

The lady looked towards her as she replied, "Yeah I guess he has something you could use. Let me see. Come with me."

Airi followed the lady as she entered their room. She searched her drawer to find something that would go well with her, and by the time she found something, the room got messy to the point it was no longer recognizable as something it was just before.

She handed Airi a black sports jacket. "I'm sorry... I should've bought you something, but you never liked to go for a walk, nor this kind of clothing... I am going to take some time today to go shopping…"

"It's okay… this is good. If I need some, I will let you know."

"Okay... sure."

"Then, I'll go get changed."

After changing into those jackets, she found it somehow looked fitted to her.

"Old man got a pretty skinny figure. I wonder if he does eat well. Though he looks strong despite this figure."

She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked so much younger than it was still hard to believe that reflection was her own.

She wasn't that pretty or anything like that, that is, she never was. But by the collection of skin care products on that dressing table, and the way her skin looked, "she did make efforts to look her best. She looks decent enough."

'Geez, that sounded so narcissistic…'

"Guess I'll look up for some clothing myself on my way back. I wonder if she does have any part-time to do for her own little expenses." She made a mental note of that and got out of the room.

------

"I'm leaving."

"Be careful on your way."

"Yes, oh by any chance, I got any part-time jobs on my plates?"

Mrs. Arne was so shocked that she couldn't respond to her just in time. She took a while to process what she wanted to say.

"Why would you do something like that! Just tell me what you need, I'm gonna buy those."

So Arne is a spoiled brat…

"It's okay. It's normal to carry your own little expenses by now, right? And it's time one should practice being independent. So dontcha... I mean don't worry. And I'll be a bit late for breakfast, so don't wait for me."

Airi went out without waiting for her to reply.

'Somehow, hearing to be safe on my way out, felt nice... it was long I suppose…'

"People are lucky to get love from their parents, eh?" Airi's vision got a bit blurred as tears filled in her eyes.