She didn't get to finish her word when the doorbell suddenly rang and her eyes lit up. "I think it's your Mama," she muttered to the twins then stood up and hurried toward the door.
"Clara..." Lara instantly hugged the girl after the door was opened.
"Huh?" Clara was baffled for a second then she chuckled softly and also hugged the woman back.
Then after some seconds, Lara released her from the hug and walked into the living room while trying to control her emotions.
Jack had informed her about the girl's condition and she sighed inside again then sat beside the twins on the couch.
"Your apartment is really beautiful," She said after some seconds with a wide smile.
"I know right..." Clara chuckled and sat down on the adjacent couch while glancing around, as she couldn't get enough of the beautiful place.
Lara's eyes lingered on the girl who is now busily admiring the place and she sighed again. "Clara... what are you planning to do now?" She asked softly and carefully watched the girl's expression.
Clara chuckled again then glanced at the babies who are busily playing. "Lara, I want to make money... I mean, a lot of money... Hehehe."
"Huh?" Lara was baffled for some seconds. "Clara, aren't you making enough money already? I think you should start planning on settling down."
"No Lara, marriage is not in my mind now, besides I'm still young." Clara shook her head with a small smile. 'And besides, I don't think I can fall in love again.' She added inside with a sigh.
"Oh." Lara nodded while watching the girl's serious expression and decided to probe further. "What if you find a very rich guy?"
"Well, if I find a very rich guy, then I'll work harder to reach up to his status," Clara replied while laughing at herself inside. "As if I'm ever going to fall in love again," she muttered subconsciously and Lara gasped.
"Clara, what is wrong with you? Don't you want to have a family?. She couldn't believe the girl. Had the hypnosis have so much effect on her that her logic is now twisted. But the girl is also right, making money is a good thing.
Clara laughed at the woman's astonished expression without answering her question.
Lara also decided not to probe further and they chatted more for some time before they bid goodbye and she left with twins, after saying that they have afternoon lessons to attend.
Clara took her time to explore her new apartment, from the moderate kitchen whose appliances were all new to the dining area then the small storeroom.
She lazied around all day and when it was almost nighttime, she took her bath and changed into her new pajamas.
Walking toward her luggage, she took out a laptop with glee as she had bought it just yesterday. It would be perfect and easier for her comics, she thought with a chuckle then sat down on the bed.
Her phone suddenly start ringing and she picked it up from the bedside table then sighed at the sight of the contact name before answering it.
" What now Maya, " she muttered lazily as she lay her back on the bed.
"Hehe, Clara... can't you reconsider? the guy is very rich." Maya's persuading voice came from the other end and Clara scoffed.
"No Maya, I'm Still not interested."
"Argh! What is wrong with you?"
"Hehe, Maya... This young lady will only focus on her future."
"Tsk tsk tsk, what future?... Clara, you're crazy." Maya was agitated on the other end and she scoffed.
Clara chuckled and slowly shook her head. "Just you wait and see my dear friend, I'll prove it to you one day?"
"Yeah, whatever." Maya sighed exasperatedly then rolled her eyes. At least she had tried her best.
They continued chatting and after sometimes bid each other goodbye.
Clara turned her attention to the laptop again and after switching it on, she immediately got to work.
Still engrossed in designing her comics, her phone started ringing again and she sighed exasperatedly.
"Maya?" She snapped after picking up the call then frowned slightly as she heard another voice from the other end.
Glancing down at the caller's name displayed on the screen, her expression brightened. "Oh, Mira it's you." She chuckled and Mira laughed from the other end.
"Clara, will you be free tomorrow?" Mira asked hopefully.
"Ehmm... yeah..." Clara frowned and glanced at her laptop. She would be free because it's still the weekend, however,__
"Perfect, can we hang out... I mean, do you want to visit my place?"
"Huh?... Mira, I don't think I'll__"
"Argh! Come on Clara, it's my birthday, " Mira whined from the other end and sighed exasperatedly.
"I thought your birthday is like six months later." Clara's frown deepened.
"Oh... no no, not my birthday... I mean my boyfriend... Hehe, It's my boyfriend's birthday party. Please don't say no Clara... as my best friend, you have to be there," Mira pleaded hopefully.
"Oh... Okay." Clara nodded with a sigh. Seems like her comics have to wait.
********
** The Basement **
Men and women, all dressed in black rushed past each other with different kinds of guns in their hands.
Everyone was enraged at this sudden announcement.
"Boss, they're still outside."
A guy in black leader outfits ran to Zach who was busily fixing different parts of a gun together and striding through the hallway.
"How many are they?" Zach muttered as they neared the basement entrance, and you could hear the sounds of continuous gunshots nearby.
"They're many in number, unlike the last time, " Mark replied hurriedly as he retrieved a pistol from his pocket. One, week ago, they were taken by surprise when several men in masks suddenly appeared in the forest, and even though they were outnumbered, they managed to get rid of them. Although they couldn't capture anyone among them, as they had scurried away.
Zach chuckled darkly with a nod as they walked out of the basement, then they hurried in different directions as several of their men were already outside and battling the dumb guys who dared to intrude on them and even twice for that matter.