Maxwell was sitting on the couch, head bowed, elbows on his knees, as he recalled all these memories. He remembered he could hear voices that day, but they sounded quite distant. He could hear Miriam calling out his name. But darkness was slowly consuming him that time, and he was trying to fight it, but the more he fought, the deeper he was swallowed by this darkness.
After a long while, Oliver, who looked like he had been struck by a bolt of lightning, was the first to speak, breaking the deafening silence.
"That was what we were all made to believe! We thought she pushed you!" He said, and Maxwell shook his head.
"She tried to stop me. She told me not to go near the pool. But..." He paused and took a deep breath, close his eyes and lolled back in the couch lazily, "...looks like what will be will be."
"Oh, Mhen..." Oliver growled as he raked his fingers through his hair frustratedly. That was too much information. "So was she the reason why your mom insisted that you're sent to North city?"
Maxwell just nodded. He really didn't want to talk now. Reliving this whole thing had made his mood very sour. And he felt like going back in time to listen to her and not go near the pool. Maybe she had a gut feeling about it. Just maybe...
Oliver sighed heavily. "I really don't know what to say." He said.
"You don't have to say anything." He said. There was some few minutes of silence, which was broken when Maxwell said, "I really need to find her. I need to know what happened to her after all that. I mean, thinking about it, she had to witness such a terrible scene at that age. I know it's been a long time but, honestly, there's no single day I don't think about it, about her. I feel really sorry for what I put her through."
He sighed, and continued.
"Mom would always be cussing her and her mother for what happened. She always blamed her for what happened and when I tried explaining to her that it wasn't her fault, she thought I was just trying to cover up for her. And you know what she said?" Maxwell asked and looked back at Oliver. Without waiting for a reply, he added. "He said some kids actually told her they saw her push me into the pool."
Oliver frowned. Why would some kids lie about something like this? And for what? "Some kids? Did she tell you who?"
"She wouldn't tell!" Maxwell snapped. "No matter how much I asked she wouldn't tell me who said that. And I'm beginning to think that she was just saying that to make me think she's right."
"Could be true." Oliver muttered in thoughts, and Maxwell shot him a displeasing look.
"What?"
"I mean, it could be that she's just trying to like jinx the whole thing to make it believable that she pushed you."
Maxwell sighed and nodded. "Same as I thought."
The room fell silent again. They both didn't know what to talk about anymore. This topic was quite a depressing one. They had to end it now. So Oliver changed the topic.
"Should we go out for dinner? Or should I tell the cook to make us something?"
"I think it'd be better if we eat out tonight. I need a breather, honestly."
"Sounds swell to me. Alright let's get ready. Its almost getting late."
With that said, they both went into their separate rooms to get ready and in about an hour time, they drove off in Maxwell's Lexus to a restaurant.
...
Miriam was preparing for her part-time job in the restaurant. She had been supporting herself and her family for years now with this job. And she really liked it there because of the high pay and the cool working environment. She had been promoted to the line cook a year ago, and her boss talked to her about a due promotion, to become the main chef, but she politely declined, with the excuse that she didn't want to become too burdened as she was in her final year and was readying herself to graduate. Her boss wasn't all that pleased, but her excuse sounded very plausible, and so he didn't press further.
In fact, the meals Miriam cooked had brought his restaurant to a 4-star rating, and he couldn't be more grateful. With this reason, he had awarded Miriam the pay of a main chef even though she declined the offer of promotion. Miriam was not having it, at first, but her boss was not backing out either, saying that was his only way of thanking her for her help. He wished she would help him after school, if that was possible.
After making early dinner, she took a quick shower and dressed up for work. It was a weekday, and she worked part-time on such days, from 5pm to 9pm, and full-time on Saturdays, from 8am to 9pm. Sundays were always her days off. She sometimes got the whole weekend off, as part of her privileges, depending on the calendar. If there were to be important personalities visiting the restaurant on weekends, then she was supposed to be there.
She went to Janet's room to inform her about leaving. She was busy watching a movie on her laptop when Miriam peeked through her opened door.
"I made dinner." Miriam said. Janet paused the movie and turned to her.
"That was so thoughtful of you...wait, are you leaving already? What says the time?" She asked when she saw her all dressed up, and turned to her laptop and screamed. "It's past 3??" Miriam chuckled.
"Its almost 4pm, Jane. Why? What's up?" Miriam asked, still peeking from the door.
"Oh, nothing. I just didn't know the time is running that fast."
"Right. I'll be leaving now. Take care."
Janet bid her safe work and she soon walked out and got a cab to work.
She got to work about 30 minutes before time, so she got enough time to relax a bit. She took her phone and busied herself with some articles on food and nutrition, and some of her school work. She suddenly remembered something and quickly placed a call to someone. After the second ring, the call got connected.
"Hello." A male voice from the other line came in.
"Hello? Really? Am I a stranger or something?" Miriam ranted and an audible sigh was heard at the other line.
"What do you want me to say?"
"Seriously? Am I really your sister?" Miriam said with a small giggle. She was clearly messing with her junior brother.
"Please don't start a fight. I really missed you." Lordy said in a calm tone, like he was trying to pacify her.
"Missed me, huh? It's been how long? Like 2 years since I heard from you. And you are saying you missed me? Should I laugh, or cry?"
"I'm sorry, Mimie. I've been super busy." Lordy explained and Miriam scoffed. But Lordy didn't wait for her response and added, "And don't exaggerate. Its only been 2 weeks since I last called you."
"Can you hear yourself? It's been 2 whole weeks! You know, I deliberately decided not to call, just to see if you would. But looked as if you were busy looking for another sister. Hmph!"
"Oh come on, you know you're my one and only sister. My cupcake and cutie pie and honey bunch and my sweet little..."
"Duh uh! Your sweet talks aren't working on me today. Save that for your numerous girlfriends." Miriam said, cutting him off. "And I'm not little. I'm older than you, like 2 years. That's quite a distance, you know."
"Sigh, I know. And I'm sorry. But you gotta listen to me."
"Okay okay, what is it? It better be a reasonable excuse."
"There's good news!"
"Really?? What happened?"
"I got a project!"
"Uh...and how is that good news?"
"Okay, let me explain. I made a paper craft one day, like I was just there and was doing it. In my room and..."
"Ugh...I can already imagine how you messed the whole place with those stupid papers you cut all around."
"Mimie! Are you listening at all?"
"Yeah sorry. Uh huh?"
"So I made this sunflower-like thing, I don't know, it looked like a sunflower but that wasn't my intention. And my roommate loved it and snapped a picture of it and posted it online. And guess what?!!" Lordy paused.
"What? Just tell me already."
"Someone saw it and liked it too. And I'm sure he's no ordinary person. Because he asked for my contact and called me and told me he had a project for me because of that!"
"Okayyyy." Miriam tried to understand. "So what project?"
"Its a textile business project!" Lordy sounded so excited. But Miriam was yet to get the whole concept. So she waited for more explanation. "Look, he told me he saw a great potential in me. With how I am able to come up with designs in my own idea and all. So he wants to help me put up a textile industry and design my textiles and bring them out for sale."
Miriam was getting it now.
"Wait. So he, whoever it is, wants to open a textile industry for you? Like for real?"
"Yes! And he has given me a project, to come up with as many designs as possible within a month. Then he would see where we go from there. That's the reason why I've been super busy lately. I want to do this, Mimie. This is a huge opportunity I can't let it slide without trying. So I'm going all in on this one."
"Honestly, that is great news!!"