"What's with you? Are you having any stomach ache?"
"Aza, why do you think she is feeling discomfort as I can't see anything wrong with her...To me, she looks perfectly fine."
"Well, I know she is healthy and she doesn't have any pain. But the look on her face is similar to constipation. I had seen the exact look of some patients suffering from severe constipation in hospital."
"Pft…..Hahaha…"
"Hahaha….Aza, I regret asking you. Hahaha… Aaaah our poor Livia."
They laughed until their belly hurt. They had tears in their eyes from laughing too much. Aza and Livia didn't join the other three in their laughter show.
Aza merely raised her eyebrows at the weirdness of her friends.
Livia's face flickered with bitterness. She didn't want to confess that those laughing monkeys had any relation with her.
"I am glad that it's happening inside our room, otherwise our whole hard work will go to waste into the drain," Livia murmured as she hid her face with her palms. She felt low key embarrassment.
Aza glanced at her. She giggled out a little.
"Haaa….Enough….I can't laugh anymore…"
Ines fell on her bed. She huffed and puffed. She held her abdomen. She inhaled a few breaths and it helped her to stabilise her breathing which she had a hard time after laughing like a maniac. The air inside her lungs got used up by her for laughing and hence she had difficulty in breathing.
The other two, Serene and Diana faced a similar situation. They also clutched their belly with their hands.
Diana sat upright and peeped at their friend, Livia, covering her face with her hands. She could conclude why she did as she glimpsed at the redness of her neck. It only happens with Livia when she is extremely embarrassed and shy. Diana didn't need a scientist to help her know about her shyness.
"Someone got red ears. She should hide them first." Diana said in a loud and clear voice, sufficient enough to be heard by everyone.
The rest of the girls swirled their heads towards Diana and then they saw her giving a sneaky gaze at Livia only then they noticed how their babbling and chattering pal stayed tranquil like the calm and still lake.
Aza already had her eyes stationed at Livia though she didn't make it as obvious as Diana.
The girls marched to Livia and surrounded her. They thought she would lift her head and look up at them, however, she proved them wrong as she didn't give them any importance and maintained her position.
Now, they got the red signal warnings inside their minds. Their faces showed concern and distress for their friend. They couldn't digest the fact of their friend being silent and quiet.
"Livi, what happened? Are you crying?" Diana had to confront the angry and unappreciative gazes of her other friends.
Diana mentally cried out, "Sorry." She mumbled. The girls ignored her and looked at Livia again.
Ines soothed Livia and encouraged her to tell them whatever is making her feel upset, "Livia, during times like this I wished to have powers such as mind-reading as it would have made the job a thousand times easier than now when we know you won't open up until we force you. But shouldn't you also be considerate? You are aware that we had to encounter a lot in a single day and at this moment, all our mental power had been consumed. Nothing is left."
Ines confessed what she felt at that moment without hesitation. With your trusted people, one doesn't have to think over and over to let out. It happens on its own. Trust is the foundation and building block for successful relationships be it with anyone: your family, your friends, your colleagues and your partner.
The only thing the girls don't prefer is to keep things behind the curtain among them. All five of them had this bad habit and they never truly tried to get over it. And when the others will ask them why they did, they will get the exact similar response. They had attempted at some point after getting nagged to get rid of it yet somehow they couldn't. In the end, the girls took the vow binding them with the promise to not endure suffering alone.
Ines's abrupt outburst of words reminded Livia about that promise. She felt guilty as her friends cum sisters for making them misunderstand.
Livia lifted her head, "Girls, why do you love to overthink? I am perfectly wonderful and I am not upset. Rather I am all hyped up for tomorrow. I have finally met her. Now it's the time for payback. She should understand how Karma works and why people use this quote, ' Karma is a bitch'."
She ended her short speech on the note of taking her long-awaited revenge and making her culprit feel the actual distress. She gave out an eerie laugh. The current Livia could be said to be the stark opposite of the past one. The present Livia oozed out deadly vibes. She appeared to be a girl out to avenge and burn whoever dared to confront and disrupt her plans.
The girls could only sigh and let her inner demon calm. Aza sat on her knees, "Is that really what you desire? To see her under the bulldozer of pain and anxiety? Do you want to see her ruined self? Would it give you peace and help in letting go of the past? I want you to think with a rational mind and your brain, not with your emotions. Don't let your emotions cloud you. You will be the one to bear the torture. So think carefully and give me your answer when you are sure about it. Sure as in I meant, that you won't feel regret or any kind of pity. Neither you nor us would like it if you change your mind at the last moment. Your previous words had a deeper implication, when you announced your wish to have revenge, you should also imagine the end that you desire; will it help to extinguish the igniting flame of fury and outrage?
Livia, I could perceive what is going on within yourself but I want you to trust me, trust your Aza, I only want the best for you. I would never be at ease if you are the one to feel the pain again. Nor would anyone from our loved ones prefer it.
Therefore, If I have to say it again and again until you understand my statements, I will. Remember to think carefully but also don't forget to ask for help if it becomes overwhelming for you. We are always here with you. I will wait for you." Aza smiled as she caressed Livia's hand. She could see the turmoil of emotions and bafflement in her eyes and she felt the trembling of her hand.
Livia swirled her head to her other friends. She stared at them with glassy and watery eyes. The girls gave a soft nod to her. It reflected their trust in Aza's beliefs more than herself.
Feeling choked up and unable to form any sentences, Livia nodded her head vigorously to give her response to Aza.
Aza's lips curved up again. She stood up and patted Livia's head and even ruffled them a bit.
Livia pouted at Aza for messing up her hairstyle yet they could see the brimming respect and trust from her for Aza.
"Let's catch some sleep anyway it's way past sleeping time here." Aza yawned and tucked in herself under the soft and warm blanket.
Her friends gazed and then laughed out for a while. They felt themselves to be immensely lucky for having Aza as a part of their life.
They couldn't visualize how many sides their youngest friend had. Every day she would make them conscious of her different characteristics. This helped in strengthening their friendship bond as Aza only exhibited her real self around her trusted ones.
'God, I hope that our golden heart Aza gets her deserving happiness. I want you to give my share of happiness and joy to her.'
'I pray for Aza to be strong-willed and powerful to face her life's obstacles head-on nonetheless sometimes I want her to depend on us.'
'Dear, God, I wish for Aza to get a partner who would have his eyes only for hers, would love her without limits, would make her his topmost priority, would never dare to make her cry, would only love her and only her. The guy who will have his heart exclusively reserved for her. The guy willing to cross miles and over miles for her happiness. The guy, ready to fight the world for you. The guy, making his enemies pay for every single drop of her tears. I want him to make Aza his world. I want him to provide her with all the happiness and joy.'
'My only pray to you is to keep my Aza happy and smiling all the time. I don't want her to cry unless they are tears of joy. My heart breaks into pieces whenever I see those beautiful eyes of hers, shedding her invaluable tears. I want her eyes to shine brightly and hope she greets us with her grin that displays her pearly white teeth.'
They prayed, wished, hoped and aspired for the bestest of the best for Aza before going to their beds.