Olivia and Emma asked me to wait at the counter while they went inside the supermarket. Ten minutes later, they emerged with a sparkling parcel. It was very nice with a wonderful ribbon tied round it. I wasn't celebrating any birthdays so I wondered what this meant.
"La-la." Emma said in a sing-song manner as she waved the parcel over my face while Olivia walked behind her giving me a hearty smile. "We've guessed what you've been through, so we decided to encourage you with this gift." She added to her smile.
"Woww, what's in it?" I was eager to see what was inside, they wanted to encourage me with what? How did they know of my pains when I didn't say a word to anyone about it? Well, they guessed! They wouldn't be accurate about that, right? My heart was filled with happiness, so they were still angels to walk you through the hurdles and pains of life?
"Open it," Olivia gestured for Emma to hand it over to me. I tore the ribbon and the packaging, I felt reluctant to do so. Someone must have spent time to do all the careful decoration, it was as beautiful as what would be inside, I supposed.
"Oh my God!" I exclaimed. "My favorite color." This was the best gift I'd ever received. 'A fashionable pink hoodie.' The pink was a clear baby pink, it was adorable and I fell in love with it instantly. Pink could wipe away even the greatest pain from my mind, its very tender nature brought a glimmer of hope to me.
"You haven't even taken it out. Take it out and read the inscription at the back." Emma urged.
It was more amazement for me as I read what was written at the back
'We are always there for you, sweet Lucy. Never let life's challenges overshadow you. If you got no one, you got us.' The words were inscribed in black. I jumped in great excitement, I think the first time Emma and Olivia had seen me do this. They were in fact surprised. Little act of love could actually bring the greatest perils in a person's life to their knees. I realized this from the kind gesture of my friends.
"Can we go home now, let's go together? We wanna spend the last part of our evening at her house." Emma was actually referring to me. I smiled in joy, within a few seconds I forgot I was the Lucy that was burdened with the sad occurrences of the past.
"Hope you got food for us there?" Olivia said jokingly.
"Of course," I had food to share with my friends, they had really done much. I can't wait to welcome them into my house and sit them down for a delicious dinner.
Olivia took my left hand with my gift returned back into the package on the right, Emma wrapped her hand round my shoulders from my right. We got into Olivia's car and she drove us.
It's been a long time since they visited, perhaps because I told them I loved solitude. Now I realized the sweetest moment was being with people who truly loved you, for who you are deep inside and not what you've got to offer.
After they settled down, I brought chilled orange juice in two glasses from the refrigerator. I intended for them to use this and wait while I warmed the turkey soup I prepared. It's better served hot.
We ate and drank afterwards, making merry and sharing in the euphoria. Our evening wouldn't be complete without music as we played a series of country music that talked about the good old times in my music box. The good old times were here and the moment we were having together. It was kind of something to remember in the future.
To me, country music was my top priority, I preferred it to contemporary secular songs. I know some would see it as old-school but I loved it, and my friends could agree with me on this.
I looked at the clock and it was eight, the evening was ticking into the night. Emma and Olivia should be gone by nine, as they planned. Only one hour was left to spend with them.
"I heard our real CEO who's gonna resume work this week is harsh and rude?" I kicked the conversation on, I really wanted to know about this man with a strange character. I sensed that now we were at ease, Olivia especially could let out any secret he knew about him.
"Who said so? Emma responded frightened just like I was earlier.
"This shouldn't be a case for fright," Olivia cut in sharply. "Let's not spoil this nice evening with such thoughts. Actually no one knows anything about him either the way he looks currently because he's super private. I had the opportunity to see him two years ago, he was slim and tall."
"Then he was a cadet in the United States Airforce Academy." Emma directed her gaze towards me like she was getting me more enlightened on some new facts I didn't know, but I knew this anyway. I knew he was a cadet and now had graduated.
"How about his character, I heard he's so aloof and a real asshole of a boss."
"Who told you that?" Emma enquiried smartly, she was also concerned about this new CEO that was coming to head us. Not new actually but new in the fact that we never got to work under him before since he was facing his studies and training at USAF leaving his inherited fortune, Illuminex to his young cousin, Albert.
"Albert."
"Really?" Emma's eyes widened in shock.
"That's true." Olivia confirmed coldly. "We will surely handle him, first and central rule, do your work properly and avoid him."
"Sure, that's the only remedy." I confirmed. If you don't get into his way, how would he show you his bad side? He can't just sack you without doing anything.
With this the remaining minutes left for Emma and Olivia to depart was wild in the utmost joy and pleasure of three good friends who wanted each other's good.
With the best remedy discovered, I was prepared for the next day. I wouldn't rest till I discovered who Edmund was, I wished to see how the claimed monster actually looked in person. Was he handsome like most CEOs or fierce with some stony face?