Sofia.
After an hour I finished organizing everything in its place reminding myself that I won't be staying long and was going to find some way out. I shut the closet and turning to discern a tray-making me know that someone was here just a few seconds ago.
A glass of apple juice, a bottle of water with a plate with medium cooked stake exactly how I liked it and some veggies. On the other side of the tray a sticky note was attached to its handle.
I plucked out the note reading it.
Baby girl,
We had to leave for a work matter. We'll be back later also we left some lunch for you. If you need or want anything, call us.
Behave little one.
Enjoy your food, Love.
I laughed at their attempt in writing me a note with each of their handwriting and the nicknames indicating who wrote what.
It was cute, not gonna lie.
Sofia stop-
I plopped the note on the nightstand and sat grabbing the tray to devour the food while it was still warm.
Thoughtfully annihilating the delicious meal and putting everything on the tray. I thought of going downstairs to place the dishes in the sink and wash them since I hated messes and having dirty dishes near me was messing with my OCD-ed ass.
I made my way down the stairs wondering if Camille was around to chat and keep my depressed self from resuming to self isolation.
Being lonely royally sucked.
I heard a faint feminine hum of what I thought was Wake up by NF coming from the kitchen.
I bit back a smile when I noticed a short brunette seemingly a few inches taller than me and noted how she hadn't spotted me giggling when she abruptly stopped humming and turned to face me holding a knife in my direction in a threatening gesture.
I cracked an amused smile receiving a frown in return.
"Кто ты?" She snarled menacingly, her dark brown orbs swirled with hostility.
(Who are you?)
Plopping the empty tray on the counter, "I don't understand Russian," I stood strong not showing my internal but resurfacing panic.
"I said who are you? What are you doing in my house?" She spat out, her voice thick and laced with a Russian accent, the slight undertone of fear, present.
"I'm Sofia and I-uh live here?" I stated a question at the end not knowing how to answer her.
She hastily pulled her phone out of her back pocket, her gaze not leaving me as she dialed a number but the person didn't answer.
A curse left her lips.
"No, you don't! Who brought you here?" Her hands shook and her eyes welled up with unshed tears as she glared at me with clear distrust.
I lifted my hands in surrender trying to get her to calm down not wanting to be the cause of a panic attack she might be having.
I sighed, Look, the triplets brought me here, okay? just-just calm down and breathe, please," I softened my voice keeping it steady and calming.
Her eyes widened a smidgen then relaxed but her guard was still up not putting the knife down.
"Inhale, exhale," and she obliged calming herself down and putting the knife away along with her phone.
I slowly outstretched my hand for a handshake and she took it hesitantly discarding the knife.
"I'm sorry for scaring you," I apologized bestowing her a small smile.
"It's okay, I'm Ivana Alexeyev," I raised a tentative brow."Their cousin," she introduced herself and a polite smile graced her soft features.
"Nice to meet you, Ivana."
"Likewise, Sofia, do you know if my mother or anyone is around?" She asked, slight suspiciousness lurking its way into her voice that I caught.
"I honestly don't know where Anastasia is but the guys left for work or something," I rolled my eyes, "And I think Astrid might be around though," I confirmed with a nod.
She sighed and I raised a brow in question.
"Oh, okay, would you like to sit to have some lunch with me?" She carefully questioned, "if you'd like to course," her uncertainty and slight suspicion in not fully trusting me was palpable but understandable.
And I didn't blame her for it.
I understood her guardedness and the loneliness her eyes emitted. She didn't want to be alone but she was not trusting people just like that.
But I couldn't help but think if she would be like her mother and interrogate me at some point.
"I'm sorry but I'll have to wash these dishes first then I'll be with you," I declined softly and she looked at me as if I have said that One piece was the shittiest anime.
Which it was NOT.
She suddenly laughed making me furrow my eyebrows and a frown making its way to my face at the irritable act.
"Look, Sofia we have people and a dishwasher for that just leave them there," she said giggling ridiculously, the guardedness leaving her completely.
"Then, I'd rather place them in the dishwasher myself. It's my mess after all," I stated already starting to rinse the plate and empty glasses as I put them in the dishwasher setting it.
A small laugh reached my ears and I felt my lips twitch at how genuine and soft her actions were.
"You're stubborn as hell. I like it."
"So do I."
She rolled her eyes humouring my ego boosting self and we burst out laughing.
And I laughed harder when she almost choked on her food and sent me a playful glare afterward.
I wiped my hands with one of the paper towels as I met Ivana's kind eyes that shone with humor.
Taking a seat across from her on one of the stools as she finished her food. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to text the trio what I had been wanting to ask them for a while now, hoping that they would say 'yes'.
Rolling my eyes as I got into the group message that they had created yesterday to type in with hesitancy.
Me: Hi?
Their responses were immediate and my heart thundered in my chest with anticipation.
Caveman/Angry bird: Hello little one, did you have your lunch?
Russian golden retriever: love, Do you need anything?
Nial: baby girl, are you okay?
I hid the smile crawling its way up my face at their texts.
For the love of Gods, Stop Sofia-
Me: I want to call Carter.
Caveman: No.
Russian golden retriever: Fuck no.
I sighed frustratedly expecting a 'no' from Nial too but to my shock, it didn't come.
Nial: Why?
Caveman: Are you fucking serious?
Nial: shut up dumbass
Me: I just wanted to-
I was cut mid-sentence when a call came through with Nial's name popping on the screen, my hands trembled as I picked up, anticipating rejection.
"Hello, Lyubov,'" he greeted.
"Hey?" I answered back, embarrassed.
"About what I-I said?" I drawled softly.
"You can call him but don't try anything alright? I'll know," he warned but reluctantly agreed.
"Thank you," I muttered masking my genuine emotions.
"Anything for you, my love, we'll see you later," and with that, he hanged up.
My feelings and contradictory thoughts hit me like a ton of bricks.
Sadness clawing at me for getting into this inescapable situation with my desperation to go back to that peaceful and simple life that I built, to the friends I made and the freedom that I had.
My anger towards myself rose at how I was starting to get used to this living situation with the trio.
Gods, I was starting to really like it here.