"I'll sleep in Seth's room. Let's go," Amaya replied, slipping her feet into the familiar comfort of her slippers, the fabric soft against her skin.
However, Fred abruptly halted her, his hand lifting her chin with a firm grip. His brows knitted together, and his fingers brushed against her cheeks, which trembled under his gentle yet intense touch. "Who?" he demanded, his voice a low growl, eyes dark and dangerous, jaw clenched tightly as if holding back a storm. Amaya held his hand, a playful smile breaking through her tension. "I deserve it today," she teased, sticking out her tongue, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes. Fred's gaze flickered upstairs, a surge of anger bubbling within him as he imagined confronting whoever had upset her. But he knew better than anyone that no one could touch Amaya unless she allowed it. And if it was an accidental slap, Amaya wasn't a saint who would forgive it easily; she wouldn't hesitate to break their hand if provoked.
"Fred, have you ever considered settling down with Elli?" Amaya asked, her voice steady as they strolled along the quiet street, the cool night air brushing against their skin. "Well, I was actually thinking of pulling a prank on her about burning her basketball tournament's form," Fred replied, a playful tone in his voice, though his expression remained calm, almost melodic. "I'm talking about the future, not pranks. Count me in on that one, though," Amaya replied with a slight smirk, her eyes glancing toward the supermarket as they walked inside.
Fred casually picked up a few cans of alcoholic drinks, the cool metal sending a shiver through his fingers as he placed them in the stroller. "I think it's better to focus on that after one of us settles down. Besides, she mentioned she doesn't want to think about settling until she's really ready," he said, showing her a bag of chips, the crinkling sound breaking the night's silence. Amaya nodded thoughtfully, her fingers brushing against the chip packets she wanted. "But she said that back in school," she replied, her voice calm as she moved toward the counter. "Before I left for Feather City, she was talking about how she wanted to settle down like other couples," she added, her tone reflective as she paid with her card.
*Beep*
"Sorry, ma'am, you don't have sufficient funds on your card," the cashier said, handing Amaya's card back with a polite smile, while taking Fred's card instead. "You're not pranking me, right?" Fred asked, a hint of amusement dancing in his calm demeanor as he took his card back, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Whatever you want to think, I said what I know. Don't come crying to me later saying I didn't tell you about it," Amaya shot back, walking ahead with the bags swinging at her side. Fred stood frozen, his eyes widening in disbelief, a grin spreading wider than his eyes. In a burst of excitement, he dashed after Amaya, jumping onto her back, which sent her into a fit of laughter that echoed around them.
"You aren't kidding, right?!? Did she really say she wants to settle?!??" he exclaimed, his voice bubbling with anxious joy, each second making his smile grow even larger. Amaya, still giggling, nodded her head in anticipation. "She did!" she confirmed, her eyes shining with shared shock and joy. In that moment, they both jumped in happiness, forgetting everything and everyone around them.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Fred pulled Amaya back, his face glowing with excitement. "But when should I propose?!? How about tomorrow?!? But I haven't brought the ring! No, tomorrow night!" His words spilled out in a rush, filled with a mix of excitement and panic, as he envisioned the perfect moment.
"Calm down! Are you just going to propose to her like this?! Shame on you!" Amaya exclaimed, yanking her hand from Fred's grip, her expression shifting to one of mock anger. "What do you mean?" Fred asked, confusion knitting his brows together. Amaya sighed dramatically, flicking his forehead playfully before replying, "How can you forget the fairytale dream of your woman?" Her smile was radiant, her eyes shimmering like stars as she continued, "Elli always wanted her man to introduce her to the world, to show everyone who she belongs to and who her man belongs to."
Fred's eyes widened as memories flooded back, and he nodded eagerly. "But, Ama, how can I possibly do that right now?" He lowered his gaze, disappointment shadowing his features. "I'm not in any match, and even if I were, it wouldn't be big enough for the world to notice. I'm not famous either. How can I possibly tell the world who I belong to?"
Amaya listened intently, her expression softening. "I want to fulfill every dream of Elli, every little single dream she has seen, but no matter how hard I try to give her the world, something always feels off. Sometimes, when I look at her, I realize how much I'm holding her back. She deserves someone great, someone perfect, someone… who can make all her wishes come true. You understand what I'm trying to say, right?" Amaya sighed, her voice warm and encouraging. "So, where do you envision proposing to Elli?"
Fred stood up from the ground and stared at the street, his eyes sparkling with dreams, "Imagine it, in the international football stadium… All the people from the world watching us! There will be crowds of millions, and right there in the front row will be Elli. And me? I'll be in the middle of the field. As soon as I score that goal, I'll drop to my knee, pull out the ring, and shout her name for everyone to hear: 'Elli! Will you please make me the luckiest human ever by accepting me as your husband!'"
He paused, a grin spreading across his face, "Can you picture it? The cheers, the excitement, and her face lighting up with joy. It'll be the moment of a lifetime, Ama!"
His voice trembled with excitement, painting a vivid picture of the moment that danced in his mind. The energy of the crowd, the thrill of the game, and the love he felt for Elli all intertwined, creating a dream that seemed almost within reach. But then, his smile faltered as he realized it might just be a wistful wish.
"But… Ama, I messed up everything. Actually I haven't told you about it, I remembered the wrong date and missed the day we were supposed to fill out the form," he whispered, his shoulders slumping with disappointment and regret. "I can't even fulfill her such a small dream…"
"You can."
"No, I can't, Ama. It'll take four years—"
"It won't take."
"It will! What are you…" Fred froze, his breath hitching as he caught sight of Amaya's radiant smile. "No, it can't be... Ama, please tell me it's exactly what I think it is!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with disbelief that quickly blossomed into a flicker of hope. "When I was coming back, I ran into Cheetah and their leader. He was just about to go and fill out his team's form. I remembered what Seth said about the date, and it hit me—you guys messed it up! So, I teamed up with Cheetah's leader and filled out both your and Seth's form with him."
"Ama!" He couldn't contain his excitement any longer; he lifted Amaya off the ground and let out a joyful scream that echoed around them. "You're incredible! I love you! I love you! I love you the most!" He spun her around in a whirlwind of joy, his heart racing as if it might burst from happiness. Amaya laughed, her eyes sparkling with delight, as Fred twirled her around like a child, the world around them fading away in the sheer bliss of the moment.
"Okay, Aunty, we'll leave now. Please rest." Elli waved goodbye to Alex's mom, her voice soft yet firm, as she stood up from the chair. Her eyes drifted to Sophia, who was completely absorbed in a game with Alen, her fingers tapping rapidly on the screen. "Where did Ama go?" she inquired, her brow furrowing slightly as she turned to Alex. "To buy some medicine," he replied, a hint of guilt and regret creeping into his voice.
"Thank you." Amaya bowed her head slightly, her expression a mix of gratitude and weariness as she accepted the bag of medicine. Just as she started to walk away, a couple approached her, and the lady's eyes widened in disbelief. Tears streamed down her cheeks, glistening like raindrops on a petal, as she covered her mouth with trembling hands, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions. "Ama... it's really you! A-Ama, you've lost so much weight. What happened? Is everything alright? What are you doing at the hospital?! Is Sid okay? Did something happen to you or— or your friends?" The lady's voice trembled, each word spilling out in a rush, thick with desperation and concern. Tears glistened in her eyes as she gently cupped Amaya's face, her hands trembling with a mix of tenderness and fear, as if she were afraid Amaya might vanish like a dream.
Amaya swayed the lady's hand away slowly, confusion etched deeply on her face. Her brows knitted together, and her lips parted slightly in disbelief. "I'm sorry, but do I know you, ma'am?" she asked, her voice soft yet firm, but her eyes were nothing but an abyss, reflecting a profound emptiness that seemed to swallow the warmth of the moment.
The lady's heart sank at the words, a wave of sorrow crashing over her. She searched Amaya's eyes for a flicker of recognition, a sign that the bond they once shared still lingered somewhere beneath the surface.
"Maria!" The man beside her stepped forward, grabbing his wife's arm as she swayed dangerously close to the ground. His eyes were darkened with pain and concern, filled with a fierce protectiveness. He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching as he glared at Amaya, disappointment and anger mingling in his gaze. "Ama! Can't you see what state your mom is in?!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the sterile hospital corridor, a raw edge of hurt lacing every word.
Maria, her hand weakly resting against her husband's chest, shook her head slowly, a faint smile breaking through her tears, her eyes shimmering with longing and pain. She reached out toward Amaya, her fingers trembling as if trying to bridge an invisible chasm. But Amaya took a step back, her heart racing, her voice was cold and unforgiving, "Please, I don't like being touched by strangers. I'm sorry, ma'am, but I think you've got the wrong person."
With that, Amaya turned and walked past them whereas Maria's breath hitched as she watched her daughter walk away, the weight of her brokenness settling heavily on her shoulders. "Ama, please!" she called out, desperation lacing her voice. But the distance between them felt unconquerable, and Amaya's silence echoed louder than any words could. The air was thick with unspoken pain, leaving Maria feeling utterly shattered, her heart aching for the daughter she longed to reconnect with, while Amaya remained cold and distant.
"Mom! Dad!" A young lady's voice echoed through the halls of the hospital, sending a jolt of fear through the couple. They turned sharply, their hearts racing, as they glanced back at the back of Amaya who suddenly stopped at her track.