DOLCE MANSION
IRENE'S ROOM
I have been on my mini detective blackboard trying to figure who could have done that to Mr. Ryan. Laying down the suspect's names, pinned surrounding the victim. They were the people that I encountered earlier today. Principal Elrod, Miss Cassy, Jason, Bexley or her minions. It could probably be the girl that screamed, alerting us, I thought. That would be a nice way of clearing up her tracks. Just then my eyes darted towards my room's computer on my faraway desk. Suddenly, my original curiosity popped back into my head. I went to my computer, with one aim in mind. After browsing, clicking and sieving through, as many useless information I could find, I finally found what i was searching for. I clicked on the page. While scrolling down, my eyes scanned through the profile meticulously.
"GISELLE CHAMBERS"
Teen superstar actress and model, dominating hollywood with her remarkable role as Julia in the new english drama series, "Mirror of me"... a true reflection of ourselves.
...
I continued scrolling down till I finally saw a picture of her. My gut feeling wasn't wrong, I knew I had seen her before. Though in the picture, she had short pure blonde curls with blue contact lenses. She was definitely the girl from the hall . Her unique facial features and star shaped birthmark said it all. I wrote her name on a paper, then pinned it to my board, as another likely suspect. Still browsing the internet, I heard a soft knock on my room door.
"Miss Irene, it's me", she said.
It was Gift, one of our house maids. She was always my favourite for some reason.
"Come in", I said while still working with my computer.
She opened the door and said
"Miss, you have a visitor, in the living room"
I stopped browsing and turned to face Gift
" First of all, Gift, I've told you many times to stop calling me Miss"
"My apologies.....M--Irene", she stuttered
"That's better"
"Second, we hardly ever have visitors, who would that be now?", I asked
"May I bring the person in?", she asked
"Wait....I hope it's not them?", I asked , while rolling my eyes in disgust
"It certainly isn't them", Gift assured me
"As long as it isn't the likes of them, anyone is welcome"
"I will be right down soon"
"Okay.... Miss Irene"
I sighed, Gift just enjoyed calling me that. She left my room immediately. I wore my black hoodie over my dress, then went downstairs to the living room.
I was mid-way down the almost endless wavy flight of stairs, when I saw who the "visitor" was.
"AIDEN!!!" I screamed almost running down even faster now.
I missed the last few steps and just jumped down. He got up from the couch and I pulled him into a long warm hug. We began chatting like it would be our last. Truth be told, we really didn't know when we were going to see each other again. Suddenly, we got so carried away, that we found ourselves in the mini café. I was brewing myself a cup of hot coffee, when I finally decided to ask him
"Not that I don't want you here, but why exactly are you here?"
"I thought you had a mission at Florida"
"Well, my current mission, is here in California", he replied
Aiden laughed softly
"I assume I do not require permission to visit my favorite sister", He said while folding his arms, as he leaned on the numerous drawers for support.
I covered my mouth as I chuckled. For something so thoughtful, his tone sounded out of place. Like a serious business
"You're not my sibling, you are baby cousin", I said in a cute way, ruffling his hair in the process.
"Yeah yeah", he said removing my hand from his hair, so he could put it back together.
"It's really nice that you came to visit"
"Coffee?", I asked him stretching a blue, stripped with gold mug to his face
"Sure", He replied taking the mug from my hand.
We sipped our coffee for a while in silence, until Aiden inevitably broke it"
"So...."
"So what?", curious I asked him.
Aiden sighed, while dropping his mug on the counter. His expression instantly changes from bright and funny, to uncomfortable and desperate. Well, maybe I just perceived his aura like that. I could be wrong
"Irene
"I also came here to discuss something important with you"
Aiden had just cleared my doubt, now I knew something was definitely up. Aiden never calls me Irene. I was suspicious, I raised a brow and gestured him to go on.
He visibly looked uncomfortable now
"It's about your parents"
On hearing the last words, I dreaded, my face fell instantly. I bowed my head, hiding my face under my hair. My heart hardened almost immediately. I couldn't show it.... I won't show how weak and vulnerable it made me feel. I dropped my cup and said slowly.
"I have no parents", I said indifferently while casually drinking from my mug.
Aiden responded
"I know they really miss you"
I just scoffed
"Well I can't say the same about me. Took them.... hmmm about seventeen years to realize that"
Aiden placed his palm on my shoulder
"But you did crave for their love and affection once"
"Yeah"
"But now I realize, I was just a fool. Nothing but a young, naive fool"
I replied trying to keep my true emotions locked within. Aiden already expected this behavior, but it still looked like I shocked him.
"You guys can make it right, he said
Discussing this, made me overwhelmed with certain emotions, I never wanted to unlock again. If only Aiden could see that there was no way, this family would ever put together all the broken pieces. This time, I couldn't just put a bandage on my scars and pretend, everything is alright.
"Aiden...
I sighed, my voice diminishing, as I called his name
"And Irene, you can finally have the happy family you always longed for.
"aiden...
"Could you please put the past behind you and forgive them?
"AIDEN!!!
My voice resounded through the café and the living room. Instantly, my breathing intensified, as I tried dropping my mug on the counter, almost smashing it. Aiden finally heard my voice. His words had forcefully pierced through my cage. I had reached my breaking point.
"renei", Aiden called my name worriedly
"No Aiden"
"They despised me, practically disowned their only child, because I wasn't perfect, instead I was flawed"
"To them, I was like a stain that soiled their white garment. Blinded by their STUPID reputation, they hid their sick little embarrassment of a daughter from the world"
"When they saw an opportunity to get rid of me, they took it without a second thought. They gave me up to the spy organization at 9 years old!!!
At this point my burning anger had turned to pure sadness. I tried to hold back my tears as I spoke, but failed myself. Immediately, tears started streaming down my face as I continued
"They abandoned me Aiden, they abandoned me. You don't know how much I suffered at HQ's training base"
"Aiden, do you know the part that hurts the most?", I asked gazing intently into his eyes
He nodded his head, trying hard to avoid my melancholic gaze
"Despite all they did, a place in my heart still loved them and yearned for their love while training.
"Hoping for them, to tell me it was all a mistake and... they really..... love... their... little girl. No, that never happened, it never will. I finally realize that now"
My tears had dried on my face. I had gotten a hold myself. But I could hardly feel anything again, just the feeling of emptiness.
"My only regret is ever loving them"