" Alright dear. . . your grandmother loves you, now don't misunderstand her. okay."
" Okay, Dad." She nodded slowly and sighed inside. Isn't that what he had always been telling her.
" Clara, quick wash your hands, they're waiting outside for you." Her mother came out of the kitchen and started helping with the fish.
' Urgh!' Clara groaned inside then washed her hands and stood up. She had totally forgotten about the festival after the incidents that have been happening since they returned.
She hurried out of the small gate and walked to the small crowd that had gathered in front of her house.
" Sis Clara, what are you planning to play this year?"
" Yes, and where's Sis Maya? new year's eve is tomorrow. we should start practicing."
" I bet Sis Lily's going to help with the decorations and props."
" It's so much going to be fun."
" Sis Clara, which princess are you going to choose?"
" Brother Drake had already volunteered to be the prince."
She was instantly bombarded with questions immediately after she reached them. " Wait everyone calm down." She sighed exasperatedly.
" Wait, what is wrong.... aren't you prepared?" a teenage boy who seemed to be their leader suddenly asked with a frown and the other kids nodded as their anxious gazes were fixed on her.
" Huh? " " No no we're prepared, all prepared. Maya will take care of the costumes. don't worry, hehehe, " She replied hastily and scratched her neck, wondering if Maya had already finalized the issue with her father and made a mental note to immediately call her after the kids leave.
" Alright, we'll also go and practice, we'll meet at the riverside tomorrow night." The boy added and the other kids also bid her goodbye and left.
Clara sighed again while waving back at the kids then rushed back into the house to wake her sister up.
She barged into their room and met the girl taking breakfast on her bed then sighed in relief.
" Big Sis, what's wrong? " Lily frowned slightly and sipped the tea in her hand while watching as her sister sat beside her.
" Lily, about the play. I totally forgot. can you please help with the props and decorations? I'll give a call to the organizer later to make sure everything's ready," Clara said hurriedly then turned back to her phone to dial Maya's number.
" Oh." Lily slowly nodded then carefully put down the teacup with a small smile. " I took care of the decorations before you return, they're ready in the storeroom. And the props, the guys had already taken care of it."
" Huh? Really! " Clara's eyes lit up and she instantly hugged the girl. " Thank you so much, Sis, you're the best."
Lily nodded and chuckled after breaking from the hug then picked up the teacup again and continued sipping as her eyes lingered on her sister who had now turned back to her phone.
" Oh, Lily, your birthday is also tomorrow, don't worry I've got the perfect gift for you," Clara said excitedly while dialing Maya's number again and the girl nodded.
" Clara! Can you believe what just happened!?" Maya suddenly barged into the room with a furious expression.
" What is it, did something go wrong? Where's Ken?" Clara stood up with a frown and wondered if the meeting with her father did not go well.
" Clara!, He just forced us to sign a marriage certificate. I can't believe my father would do that. And that crazy Ken, I've told him I'm not pregnant but he couldn't believe me. Do I look like I'm pregnant to you? well do I !!!" the room was filled with her outburst as she stared at Clara whose mouth and eyes were wide opened.
" D..Do you mean Ken and you are now married?" Clara stammered, then her eyes instantly lit up. " Congratulations bestie, I'm so happy for you. Wow, this is great." Clara grinned and engulfed her in a tight hug.
" Stop it, Clara." Maya shoved her away then slumped down on the bed. " We're going to get a divorce as soon as we go back to city X. Clara, his family is going to kill me if they find out. They'll think it was all my scheme to take their 'oh so precious' son away from them."
" Oh no." Clara also sighed and sat down. " It's alright Maya, you have to take it easy. I think Ken is just shocked, he'll soon come to terms with it."
" Argh! this is all twisted." Maya sighed exasperatedly then her eyes snapped to the other bed. " It's all your sister's fault. We should have come up with another plan." She glared at Lily who had been staring at them calmly with the teacup in her hands.
" It's alright, calm down." Clara patted her shoulder and sighed again. It would have been great if Ken's family had agreed to their relationship in the first place.
" Sis Maya, don't worry. everything will be fine, " Lily said in her usual soft voice then stood up and carefully put down the teacup on the bedside table then went inside the bathroom after removing her glasses.
" Maya, about the festival. . . are you sure you can do it?" Clara looked down at her gloomy friend and sighed again.
" Yeah... of course.. that way, I can get all these messy thoughts out of my head, " Maya replied slowly with a half-hearted smile then looked down at her phone which she had put on silent.
They started discussing the activities that would take place and after a while, Lily came out of the bathroom and changed into new clothes.
" Are you going to tutor the kids today?" Clara frowned and watched as she took her bag then put on her glasses.
Lily shook her head with a soft smile then replied, " I'm going out to get some fresh air." She bid them goodbye then left the room.
" Clara, don't you think your sister is acting weird?" Maya said as her gaze was fixed on the door where the girl had just left.