"Asteria!!! Asteria!!!, honey, please open the door"
"Ma'am, are you okay? You've been sitting inside the bathroom all night "
"Honey!! Please open the door, love. Look Mama is here. Just tell me what happened?"
"Ma'am!!!" "Asteria!!".....
The alarming voices coming from the other side of the door stirred me up. The vibrations created due to the constant bangings of the door arouse a sensation of cephalgia inside my head. The excruciating pain in my body made it difficult for me to stand up. Due to the severe headache, my brain wasn't functioning properly and I couldn't figure out what to do.
It seemed my mom had arrived back from London. Both my mom and Charlie were constantly calling out my name and there I stood unable to respond, unable to speak, completely sank in the despondency. I slowly crawled towards the door, trying to stand up with wobbly steps. I unlocked the door just to fell in my mom's arms.
She squeezed me in between her arms and rubbed my back. She tried to ask me the reasons while caressing my hair but not even a letter was ready to come out of my mouth. Charlie quickly brought a glass of water for me. I gulped the entire glass in just one breath. They let me sit on my bed and my mom sat next to me, her hands clutching mine.
Mom: Honey!! What happened? Please tell us, dear.
me: ahm ahm!!(I cleared my throat as to make my words clear) Nothing, Mom.
Mom: Of course, we are fools here.
me: Huh
Mom: Tell us, love. We all are with you.
me: Okay. ( I took a deep breath)
Mom: Good. Now go on. ( a childish smile popped on her face)
me: Mom, do you remember Carsten?
Mom: Yeah, I do remember. He was your first love, wasn't he?
me: He is.
Mom: Oops, sorry. Did anything happen to him?
me: No.
Mom: Then?
me: Lemme tell the full story to you.
Mom: Yeah
Charlie: Oh! I think I should leave now. ( He spoke up after a long silence)
me: No, it's okay. Stay here.
He smiled.
And I said everything to my mom and Charlie. Everything that had happened till then. My eyes were already filled up with fresh tears by the time I had reached the end. Both of them listened to me without uttering a single word. After I wrapped up the story with a sniff, my mom pulled me into a warm hug.
Mom: It's alright, honey. I will let you cry. After the storms, the sunshine returns, and crying is much the same, so let it out, dear. Let it out. ( resting her chin on my head)
me: Thank you, mom. (I said in a quavering voice)
Charlie: Ma'am you should take a rest. Don't worry about the business. I am there to handle it.
me: Thank you so much, Charlie.
He greeted me and made his way out of my room. I felt tired and sleepy of all those happened the night before. My mom tucked me in the bed to rest. I pushed away all the thoughts and closed my eyes.
I woke up when I felt someone was holding my hands and looking at me. At first, I thought it was my mom but then when I opened my eyes, I was staggered.
It was Reece, who was had embraced my hands and was staring at me with his exquisite eyes. My mom was standing beside him, smiling at both of us.
Mom: You two look really adorable together.
me: Mom what is happening? ( I sat up on my bed, my hands still held by Reece)
Mom: Do you remember about that guy, I was speaking to you yesterday?
me: Yeah...
Mom: He is Reece Chandler, the son of one of my closest mates.
me: What? ( I gasped and turned my gaze at him)
Mom: Reece told me that you know each other very well. And that's indeed a piece of great news. Oh, I should bring two cups of coffee for both of you. ( She hurried down towards the kitchen.)
Reece: Are you alright?
me: Yeah.
Reece: Didn't I tell you to be ready?
me: Be ready for what? (I was baffled)
Reece: Be ready for getting betrayed by Carsten.
me: I don't want to talk about him. And he didn't betray, Anna did everything.
Reece: Stop defending him. You aren't able to realise that you have lost yourself amidst this mess. ( He cupped my face with his hands)
me: Don't touch me... ( I forcefully dragged his hands down)
Mom: Oh don't do this, Asteria. He cares for you and he loves you. ( She carefully walked in with two cups of coffee)
me: But I don't...
Mom: Don't say me, you still love Carsten. How could you forgive him, for everything he did to you? I can't see you breaking again. Be with Reece, you will be happy forever. Start a new life. ( She handed one cup to Reece and the other to me.)
Reece: I promise, I will always keep you happy.
me: Hmm ( I tried to smile hiding my tears which were building up)
Mom: Okay, I should leave now. You can have your private talks. ( She waved "bye" at us and left my room)
I turned towards Reece and found myself lost within him. For a moment, it felt good to be with him. Of course, I couldn't forget Carsten and what he did to me. But it felt somehow nice. Reece leaned towards me to close the gap between us but I pushed him gently and moved away.
me: Huh hmm. Oh, Charlie, office, must be tired. I-I need to go. Yeah, I need to go. ( I gabbled)
Reece: It's okay. I think you aren't ready. Some other day maybe. ( He winked)
me: Uh actually, Reece. How did you know before, that Carsten was going to do something horrible to me?
Reece: It was quite predictable. I always knew he wasn't the one for you. I just happened to tell you and it just happened to occur this soon. ( He said casually)
me: Oh okay.
Reece: So, are you sure? Are you willing... to marry me?
me: Oh... I.... ( but my mom barged in)
Mom: Oh! she totally is. She is totally willing. I should be making the wedding plans for my daughter soon. ( She clapped her hands like a small kid)
Reece: Are you? ( He asked looking into my eyes)
me: Y-y-eah. I am. ( I nodded with a smile)