FLASHBACK
"Back here so soon. I don't assume you've discovered the identity of the paranom already".
Since Agent Sky was the head of the branch, he was usually involved in countless paperwork. This time, he was trying to approve a spy on this mission, given their capabilities. He was still quite surprised to see Irene inside HQ proper.
"It's called a high ranking mission for a reason"
Irene crashed into his comfortable couch, resting like a patient in a therapeutic session. Her gaze was fixed intently at the white ceiling. She squinted her eyes to get a better view of it. She was transported to the pure world of the ceiling. Neither any blemish nor spot, displaying perfection. She stretched out her arm, trying to reach in for the perfect world.
"Can anything be so perfect" Irene blurted out unconsciously, making Agent Sky wonder.
"Irene", he called out in a low voice, more like a whisper. Still, she continued engulfed in her own world of thoughts
"They desired it, unfortunately fate had other plans". At this point, Irene's blurts were reduced to inaudible mumbles to Agent Sky.
"Earth to Irene!", He said a little bit louder snapping his fingers attempting to do anything to get her attention. This was immediately followed by a furious blinking act demanding what the problem was
"Yess??", She uttered audibly this time
"You really are fond of spacing out, you know that?"
"With parents like mine, you're bound to escape reality every now and then", Irene replied. She got up from the couch and changed to a sitting position. Without warning, Irene flung an object to him. As it flew across the room, he caught it with his hand without any documents. He raised a brow shooting her a puzzled gaze when he realized what it was
"A video cassette?".
Irene nodded in response, which earned a brief questioning look from his side. He was curious as to why she didn't just go to the computer lab to watch the video. Still he didn't press on further and just went with the flow
"That~, she paused, pointing to the casette
"...That may reveal the paranom and mark the end of my mission ", Irene smiled with confidence
***** PRESENT TIME
IRENE'S P.O.V
The unfamiliar servant let out a cough, clearing his throat.
"Miss Irene, Mr and Mrs Dolce have safely arrived back from their trip", he said with no hesitation at all, regardless of what could happen. I let out a sigh which was evidence of my fatigue. I stood there looking at him with no spark of enthusiasm. He was probably new since he was informing me about them
"And?", I queried
"Mr. and Mrs. Dolce are finally back home and demand you come meet them downstairs", he replied almost immediately
Irene certainly hadn't expected them or even thought of them ever coming for a while. This was the worst bombshell that could be dropped on her. A mix of emotions were running through her head all at once. Just from a few words, her mind was seemingly disoriented , prompting her almost instant reaction to the news--slamming her door in his face.
Irene finally with a pokerface left her room, soon after. She was no longer wearing the floral dress. She had on a brown and cream jacket above a top with jeans. She travelled down the "endless"as she called it, spiral stairs at her own pace. Right now, she wished the stairs were actually never-ending. With each step her glamorous blue and white sneakers covered, she was one way closer to the source of all her problems. Eventually, she reached the last step stopping as planned. In the central and largest living room, at the other end, the great Mr. and Mrs. Dolce were sitted on the luxurious couches like people who just came out from a perfect family magazine. Every aspect of their appearance up to their dressing and down to their composure just screamed perfection. Irene's eyes instantly landed on them
"Are you just going to stand there young lady or welcome your parents as you ought to do?", Mr. Dolce questioned, turning to see the grown Irene well. Mr. Dolce, one of the wealthiest men alive, always in a suit who has no patience for any sort of reluctance
Irene let out a small chuckle which was noticed by her parents. She turned her gaze to Mrs.Dolce waiting for her contribution. Mrs.Dolce's had a stern look on her face with an aura of strict boss lady.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I really don't see anything funny here.", She glanced around her acting perplexed
Irene witnessed those familiar blue orbs suddenly change. To Irene, it was like looking in a mirror, a mirror she wanted to shatter but couldn't.
"I guess you didn't learn any manners from that organization you were sent to?", Mrs Dolce ruthlessly fired at her in a very calm soothing voice.
Irene had been on the last step all the while, holding on to the spiral step banister ever since she laid her eyes on them. Were these the people she'd wanted to please for more than the first half of her life?. The people that practically disowned, manipulated, sold, and ignored her all the years. Eventually letting go of the step banister, she got down to the living room walking closer to them.
"They say seeing is believing. The servant wasn't just pulling my leg", Irene finally said, ignoring all their remarks while adjusting her jacket
"You haven't seen your parents in more than six years and this is the first statement you utter?" Mr Dolce berated her.
Mrs Dolce duality was certainly mind-blowing. The way she transitioned to calm her husband. She said, her voice overflowing with sweetness, it was almost sickening for Irene to hear
"You can't expect this problem child to understand anything we do, nor the sacrifices we made. Look at Aiden dear, just perfect in everything. Someday he's going to take over the Dell empire"
Irene tried her best to keep her cool. She couldn't let them break through it, after all they had done, they didn't deserve to receive anything from her side. That is exactly what they want. Slowly, with each passing second she spent in their presence, her anger got closer to the edge.
Mr Dolce eyed at Irene, with utter disappointment.
"But as for this, her future is clearly smeared. A sick child who was the supposed heir of the Dolce empire", he completed
"Unloved all her life and hidden away by her parents and forced to live in the shadows", Mrs Dolce smirked with a devious glint in her eyes.
She clutched onto the staircase banister tighter and tighter, making her fist almost purple. Irene was aware of their sick manipulation. Self disgust, self hatred and loneliness, without laying a finger on her, their words were like spears, inflicted with these poison. Just like before, they wanted her to be so desperate to do anything for them. From the moment, Irene was born with an imperfection, they were disappointed but they found a new purpose for her; she was nothing more than a puppet to control at their own will for their sole amusement. It was repeating itself again and unfortunately it was close to working. Irene finally let go of it and took a deep breath. She walked towards them remembering everything that had happened before. She replied all they have been saying with one sentence. In a very calm way, she smiled and said
"You may have given birth to me, but I know I have no parents"
Mr. and Mrs. Dolce were stunned. Irene didn't give them a chance to continue. She turned back and started walking to the front door. When Mr. Dolce saw what Irene was going to do, he stopped her.
"If you walk out of us, we'll certainly do the same, out of your life", he threatened
Irene stopped abruptly with her fingers on the door handle. Her back was turned against them. It looked to them, that she was coming back to her senses. She paused for a few seconds, closing her eyes and let out a sigh. She redirected her gaze back to them and uttered with a smirk
"For the first time ever, we both agree on something"
With that, she turned back and left the house, slamming the door behind her.
IRENE'S POV
I slammed the door behind me and dashed away, with uncontrollable tears streaming down my cheek. I hated myself for actually believing that they could change. I didn't know where my legs were taking me, I just wanted to run. As I ran, the cool breeze brushed past my skin, trying to resist me in any way it could. But I couldn't care less, I wanted to get away from those manipulators, my past in HQ, my stupid condition, away from the world, away from everything. House by house, block by block, square by square I passed not caring whichever, I just wanted to get away from all of it.Finally my pace slowed down, I started walking. I assumed I had run many kilometers but I couldn't feel the wear on my body. I gazed at my trembling hands, my lips quivering as I spoke
Was I still this broken inside?, "Shattered beyond repair?". I had just walked a few steps forward when I bumped into someone. I didn't look up to see who it was at first, instead I sunk my face back into my hair. I just stood there waiting for he/she to leave my way. The person didn't speak immediately, until
"You!!", a masculine voice cried out
I finally raised my head and a blurry face in the midst of my tears, I could still make out the face. Though he was dressed in house clothes but I was sure it was him. Why was he here of all places?
And why now?. I sunk my face back into my her, pushing past him. As I walked past him, something tugged on my arm, preventing me from walking further. I looked back and our eyes met, he was grabbing my hand back.
AT THE PARK
While walking Janice was still seemingly surprised that he agreed to go to the park together. Being cooped up all day was spirit consuming. She was eager to bask in the sun while inhaling the sweet fragrance of the outdoors. He was the first person that came to mind. Though she didn't expect him to accept, here they were, walking together in the park. She looked over to his side. He had been silent for a while, but his cold expression warned "don't you dare approach me!"
"What the heck is a wealthy, dumb but kinda brilliant 18 year old thinking about?", Janice thought while having a creepy-scheming smile on her face
"I do not want to find out what that look is for", He said giving me a side glance
"Don't worry about it. I totally get your mood"
"My mood?", he asked raising a brow to indicate his evident confusion
"Yeah", Janice nodded with understanding placing a palm on his shoulder. This time his curiosity grew even more.Janice with a serious face leaned in to his ear, whispering
"Alex, I know that time of the month is really frustrating to everyone including you", it took everything within her not to burst out laughing as she told him. His expression transitioned from confused to sudden realization to really annoyed in a snap of a finger. He glared at Janice as she finally burst out laughing. If looks could kill, Janice would probably be vaporized instantly. Since that couldn't happen, he just popped his headphones back on. He started walking away in the opposite direction leaving laughing Janice. Soon after, Janice just shrugged and headed to explore.