When Fate Decided to Play its Part

CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE:

Burned Down to Ashes

--

The next day, Kai went to visit her again. Tyler only dropped him together with a maid, Kai said he has an important meeting to attend to. Althea could careless, she only let his words past her ears. The whole day, she remained idle. Jack visited at noon, after his classes. Becca went out with him after that, saying she has something to do in the shop. Maybe to attend the flowers, Althea thought.

It was only her and Kai left in the room when her phone rang. It was Melanie.

[“How are you?” She said, Althea can hear the tiredness in her voice. Becca already told her what happened to her parents, so she already knows her situation and has no plan to make her come back immediately.]

Althea was leaning on her bed; Kai was sleeping next to her. She looked down at him and gently runs her hand on his hair. “I’m okay now, you don’t have to worry.”

[She hears a sigh, “That’s good.” Silence. There was the familiar silence Melanie always has when talking to somebody. “Uhm, I- is it okay to not-“]

“Yes,” Althea said, sighing. She throwed her head back at the ceiling. “Yes, yes of course. It’s your parents. You should take care of them while you still can.”

“…” Melanie was taken aback, wondering why she can hear bitterness on her voice. Then she remembered what Victoria said in her birthday. Right; her parents are dead.

[Melanie nodded even though she knows that the other can’t see her. “Thank you. I hope you recover soon. I’ll be back after they discharged.”]

Althea also nodded. “No problem. I hope your parents will recover soon too, and you can take your time, just be sure to be back.”

Hearing her crack a joke, albeit lacking her usual energy, Melanie broke into a smile that made her father- that was sitting on a bed across her- tilt his head in confusion and asked-

[“Hey- is that your girl-“

Althea.” Then she hangs up. After putting her phone

drifted to sleep. Later, she was woken up by the doctor and nurses, after having a general check-up, both her and Kai were left alone again. Kai was already awake, eating the foods Tyler bought for them. Althea was silently watching him eat, while leaning on the headboard and

the apples before her thoughts drifted away. Her mind returned to her conversation with Charlotte. Kai noticed her

a pat on his head. “How are you fairing there, Kai?

gave her question a thought. “It’s okay-

“So, you like

But if you tell me to go home with you, I’ll

little boy to her arms. “Come here, son. Give your mom a big

-

didn’t tell her about what happened and only heard it after Melanie called her. Althea kept on sighing as she repeats her apologies. If Marjorie wasn’t there, it

Althea,” Marjorie said. She took the phone away from the other. “She’s just upset. She wants to help you with anything as long as she can, but she can’t believe that she was already

her to worry about it. I don’t want to bother her too, since she

managed to take the phone from Marjorie. “When did you became a bother? You have to tell me things- whether small or big, I don’t care- in the future, okay? Or else I’ll go there and smack you

geez.” Althea laughed. “Any ways,

[“Really?! Sure!”]

-

opened the door, Kai turned to look at him with

Tyler nodded. “Then I’ll take care

is comfortable with you, I’ll take it as you are taking him very well. After I get

her with his small, composed smile. Who could have thought that he will thank her with a smile he always gives her when they were still

smiled widely, his eyes turning into slits, but in the gap of those slits peeks

very long time. It was small, like a fire spark, as it was overwhelmed by fear. Especially as she can see his

Charlotte’s words loosened the gripping hand on her throat.

that corner again

“Althea?”