"I am so sorry for your loss"
A woman whispered. Caressing the back of the girl who was dozing off while staring at the picture of Irena. The funeral was covered in deep silence. Tranquil was loud. There was no one other than the woman and the girl in the room. Everyone had left the place already.
Veda's gaze was dull. Dark circles under eyes screamed out loud how much she lost sleep because of these sorrowful situations. First, her father, Luke. Now, her mother, Irena. The world truly was cruel. How dare it take away her parents when she needed them the most?
Silently, the girl complained. "Veda, you should go rest and sleep. Aunty will handle the rest" the woman named Marianne, voiced from the back. She was the closest friend of Irena. There was no fake between their friendship. So Veda did not try to push away this woman.
Since Marianne was a good friend to Irena indeed, the girl let the woman controlled over the restaurant. But all the money flowed into the bank account of Veda Amos. "Thank you, Aunty. Please tell Aria that I am asleep" Veda expressed gratitude.
Standing up from sitting as the woman nodded in response. "Your friend will understand you. Just go take a rest" Marianne smiled. Aria was the daughter of hers who's also the close friend of Veda. They two attended same school and shared secrets to each other.
More likely to describe best friends.
They two girls even vowed to follow after the one who passed away first. Promising to die together. "Excuse me" Veda promptly pardoned herself and headed to her room. She made the funeral in her own house since she could not even find energy to walk outside.
"Mom.. Dad.." a murmur escaped between her lips as soon as she entered the room. The sight of the bed brought memories of Irena and Luke luring her to sleep. They both tried their best to make her fall asleep because it was the first day of them having a child for first time.
Every memory flowed into the head of the girl. Making her shed tears again. She got into her bed and laid down with shut eyes so tears would cease. Silently, Veda wished to die. But of course, she only fell asleep. Death was not willing to take her. She had to live no matter what.
"Veda.." in a whisper, Marianne stroked the cheek of the girl who was asleep peacefully. Attempting to awake the girl as gentle as possible. "Sweetheart.." the woman repeated the name. This time, Veda's eyes widened in shock. Sitting up on the bed in hurry.
As usual, migraine entered her body. Causing her to press temples in disappointment. "Ugh.." she let out a groan. The way the girl sat up in speed then suffer from headache perplexed the woman entirely. What just happened? She questioned quietly. "Are you ok?"
Marianne asked out of concern.
"What brought you here, Aunty?" in impatience, the girl queried back. Could not even bother to reply. Squeezing her eyes tight still while lowering her head slightly. "You have been asleep for two days, dear. I was worried about you" Marianne informed with a frown.
Surprising the girl wholly. Two days? She was asleep for forty eight hours? How was that possible?! This was unfeasible! Veda's head lifted. Meeting the concerned gaze of the woman. "I was asleep for two days? You must be joking me, Aunty" The girl voiced in disbelief.
Tilting her head as the woman gave a gentle smile. "I guess you were exhausted" Marianne replied. Making Veda furrowed her brows. "Did many things happen when I was dozed off by the way? Did something break out at the restaurant?" she questioned.
Pondering if she missed something important. The query from the girl stunned the woman wholly. Look at this young teenager worrying about the things which elders should be concerned. She must have been through a lot more than people see. "Everything is doing fine, dear"
Marianne answered. Causing Veda to let out a sigh of relief quietly. "I am starving now, Aunty" in a low tone, the girl disclosed while rubbing her stomach. The scene made the woman chuckle out loud in amusement. "I have already made the dinner for you"
Marianne notified.
Bringing a beam up on the face of the girl. "Thank you, Aunty" Veda expressed gratitude. Getting out of the bed to brush her teeth. "Oh, by the way, is Aria doing well? She must be concerned" With a slight frown displayed, the girl expressed her worries for her best friend.
"She truly is concerned. She was the one who pushed me to awake you. You can go downstairs since she has been waiting for you to join the dinner" Marianne informed. A grin tugged at her lips. Revealing how much she adored the friendship between her daughter and this girl.
"Then I will be there in ten minutes" Veda stated. Earning a nod back from the woman as response. And so Marianne left the room while the girl observed herself in the mirror of bathroom. She just peered at her reflection. Her dark circles had disappeared, not completely.
But could not be seen obviously. She truly gained energy back after sleeping for two days straight. After checking her own reflection in the mirror for a few minutes, Veda prepared to brush her teeth and wash her face. Then she headed down to the dining room.
"Veda!!" As soon as the girl stepped into the dining room, the shout welcomed her. Along with wide grin on her face, Aria rushed into the arms of the girl. Embracing her friend tightly. It made Veda smile in amusement. "I can't breathe, idiot" She complained under her breath.
Attempting to push the girl.
"Shut up, you little bitch. How dare you pass out for two days without alerting me? You scared me to death" Aria scolded in a grandma's tone. Breaking the hug as a frown appeared on her face. It caused Veda to chuckle in joy. She raised her right hand into the air.
Ruffling the black colored hair of Aria. "Sorry" "Shut up. I told you not to treat me like a kid" Green colored eyes shot the slight glare to Veda. "Alright, kid" Veda shrugged while wearing a smirk. It annoyed Aria entirely. Making her gritted her teeth in exasperation. "Sit already, girls"
Marianne voiced from the behind. Calling the two girls to settle down at the table at last. And the two obeyed. "I made some soup for you to gather your energy back" Marianne informed when Veda grabbed the spoon. "Thanks a bunch" The girl responded.
"Welcome" A reply came up back from the woman along with a warm smile. "Mom, are we going to leave Veda behind in this house alone by herself?" Out of the blue, the question escaped between the lips of Aria. Capturing the woman and the girl's attention fully.
"Well, we can call her to stay with us till the end. But I feel like Veda would refuse my offer" Marianne pouted with a hint of sorrow. Causing the girl to feel guilty somehow. "I truly appreciate your request, Aunty. But I prefer to stay alone here. I am at the age to stand on my own"
Veda sharply stated.
"No! I refuse your refusal. You have to stay with us. I won't let you sink in the memories and give up on life" Aria affirmed with a serious expression. Causing her friend to laugh out loud. "I am not going to give up on life, Aria. At least, I still wanna enjoy the memories"
Veda disclosed, "Just for two more years, let me drown in the memories. I will move out from here once I am ready to step out. After that, I will walk into the career that can feed me and make me happy" she added up. Hushing down the woman and the girl who were listening.
The sorrow could be heard in the tone of Veda. She was trying her best to conceal her pain with a big smile. Her grey colored hazel eyes were starting to form tears. The bond between her and the couple must be strong and hard to break. How heartbreaking to see.
"Then.." Aria's voice quieted down. "I can still visit you, right?" She questioned with a frown. Staring up at her friend with a sad expression. "What kind of silly query is that? Of course, both you and Aunty can step in and out of this house anytime you want" Veda confirmed.
Bringing up a wide grin onto Aria'a face as Marianne smiled. "What career path do you require to walk on, dear?" The woman asked in curiosity. "At first, I thought about being a lawyer. But it is not going to work out. So I chose to become a model instead" Veda disclosed.
"A model?!"
In shock, Aria raised her tone. Startling her friend a bit. "Yes, why?" Veda tilted her head in puzzlement and asked back. "Man! Let me be your manager! I will shape you into a fucking supermodel and do every fucking work for you from beside! Let's work together!"
Aria dropped the spoon from her grasp and begged. "Aria Scarlet. Behave." Along with a glare, Marianne alerted when she heard the swearing words. It was when the girl noticed she fucked up. "Hehe, I got hyped, mom. Sorry" Aria beamed sheepishly and apologized.
The view caused Veda to chuckle in amusement. "That's a cool idea. That way will make us stick with each other. Be my manager, Aria" with a smile tugged at her lips, Veda requested to her friend. Stunning Aria wholly. "Yes!! I knew you would accept! Let's work together, bitch!"
Again, the girl cursed out loud in joy. Only to upset the woman. "Aria Scarlet. I told you to BEHAVE." Marianne voiced. Her tone commenced to sound serious which frightened Aria. The words slipped from her lips without her permission! It was not her fault!
"Hehe. I am sorry, mom"
Aria could only smile.
While Veda chuckled from the side.