Chapter 71
I took a peek from outside the door to check out Aedin who’s currently lying in bed. Laiza is with her in the room.
It’s been five days since the incident of me, fainting and Keian wasn’t minding me, so does the others.
Of course, that made me sad.
Why can’t they just hear out my explanation first before ignoring me blatantly like this?
“Nassandra,” I gazed up at Laiza who’s actually right in front of me.
“What are you doing here?” I lowered my head and thought of what to respond.
“Just came to pass by.” Laiza raised an eyebrow at me.
“Laiza? Who are you talking to?” Says a gentle voice of a woman from inside the room.
I don’t know why but I’m feeling annoyed at her even though she hasn’t done anything to me. There’s something about her, her face looks familiar, as well.
Laiza held my arm and pulled me into Aedin.
My eyes widened as I looked at her large smiling face.
She’s pretty, I could also say she’s tall despite her lying down in bed and she’s got an innocent face.
“H-Hi,” I greeted her. She waves her hand at me.
“Hello. You must be Nassandra.” My eyebrows creased.
“How did you know?”
“Kei told me a lot about you.” Just by hearing Keian’s name ultimately gives me a forlorn feeling.
“Ah, o-okay. I still have a lot of things to do. Buh-bye!” I said as I quickly walked out of her room.
Since she came here, all of the equipment she needs to use for her treatment is being moved here in the mansion.
They say she was diagnosed with brain cancer last January even before I had arrived here in the mansion.
She was just stage 3 at that time but now it got worse and became stage 4.
I still don’t know who she was for Keian and the others but I chose not to want to know.
So I went to the field and thought of contemplating my thoughts at the gazebo.
It’s quiet here and it makes me comfortable.
“Arf! Arf!” I turned to where the barking sounds came from and saw Leon trying to run towards me despite him wearing a leash that was being held by someone.
“Woah!” I went over to Leon and grasped his body gently.
“Bonjour, Leon.” He licks my face which made me pull away from him.
“Seems like he really likes you.” I smiled at what the man said as I focused my attention on Leon.
“Yeah… Well, I like him too.” I heard him laugh and I can’t help but look up at him.
My smile disappeared as I saw a familiar face.
No wonder the voice is awfully familiar to me.
He stopped laughing as he noticed me staring at him.
“Ahhh, ma’am?” He asked uncomfortably.
I slowly stood up while still staring at him.
“K-Khalil?” His eyebrows met.
“E-Excuse me?”
My eyes widened even more at the fact that he exactly looks like my brother!
This made me run over to hug him.
All I thought was that Lolo killed him but I am definitely sure the man before me is my Kuya Khalil.
“Ma’am, I’m sorry but Maître Andrew might see me and punish me.” He formally stated out.
I broke away from my embrace to him and stared right into his eyes.
“Kuya! Don’t you recognize me?” He steps away from me.
“No, now I need to do something so farewell.” He quickly got out of my sight along with Leon.
I gazed at his figure walking away and frowned.
Maybe I was just hallucinating because of all the stress that’s happened these past few days.
I sighed and went back inside the mansion.
“Nass!” I turned to Ema who’s currently holding a tray of food.
“Why?” I asked her, smiling.
She scratches her nape.
“Uhmm, just a favor. Could you bring this up to Maîtresse Aedin’s room? Maître Andrew’s presence makes me nervous.” I nodded at her and accepted the tray from her.
“Sure, I’ll handle this.”
“Thank you, Nass!” I watched her walk back to the kitchen before going up to Aedin’s room.
Keian and Aedin had been spending time together more often.
That’s okay for me since I understand how Aedin is doing with her situation.
I was already in front of her room as I saw the door was slightly open.
I took a deep breath and peeked through the small creak of the door to check if Aedin is awake.
But what I saw was totally unexpected.
My heart sank at what I’m seeing right now.
I smiled bitterly.
I had nothing to do about it, anyways. That’s just how life works.
I opened the door and it seems like they didn’t notice my presence so they continued on snogging each other.
I placed the tray on the table to create a loud noise which made the two look at me.
Keian and Aedin look at me with shock.
“Here’s your food, Maître, Maîtresse,” I said to them in a flat tone and started striding out of the room.
“Nass,” I felt Keian grabbed my arm tightly which caused me to stop walking out of this place.
I turned to him with a smile but it seems more of a grimace.
“It’s okay, Keian.” His expression turned cold and he lets go of me.
With my head down low, I went down to go to the kitchen.
But I was just in the living room when I ran into Theo whose eyes widened the minute he saw me.
Huh?
He immediately walks over to me.
“Hi, Nass.” This got me confused.
“Hello?” He grabbed onto my hand and almost sped up to take me out of the mansion.
“H-Hey! Where are we going!” He stopped walk-running as he sat on the grassy field while catching his breath.
His eyes shifted to me.
“Nothing. Come on, just sit here.” He pats the space next to him.
Even though I was so confused with all of his sudden actions, I chose to follow and sat beside him.
He nervously smiled and started typing on his cellphone.
Since I was curious to know why he’s acting this way, I slowly leaned over to him, making myself not obvious as possible.
But he noticed me and also leaned to his right so I wouldn’t see what’s on his cellphone.
I pouted.
“Ah, hehe.” I frowned and just decided to stare at the grassy field.
Sooner or later, I’ll know what he’s up to anyway.
I placed my head on his shoulder. He stiffened up and I can feel his eyes on me.
Later, he relaxed and placed his head on my head, as well.
—
“Surprise!” I blinked several times as confetti was thrown all over at me.
Right in front of me were Zeke, Theo, Katie, William, Ema, Jane, Tiya, and Brylle.
Brylle immediately runs over to hug me.
“Happy Birthday, Mama!” There were decorations everywhere in the dining room. There are also a lot of food on the table.
I smiled and returned the hug from Brylle.
“Thank you, baby.”
“We were not yet done setting up that’s why I had to distract you,” Theo says, shyly.
I turned to him.
“That’s alright. I really appreciate this.”
“We know that some things, for now, are still not clear, but let’s forget it today. Happy Birthday, Nass.” I flashed a smile at Katie as she and her brother hugged me at the same time.
“Thank you.”
“Anne told us that it’s actually your birthday and accidentally, Sir Zeke heard it.” I also went over to Tiya and William to thank them.
I faced Zeke who’s got his head lowered.
“I—”
Before he could even speak, I also gave him an embrace.
He smiles and gladly returned the gesture.
We weren’t speaking but I guess we both know what the other has to say.
“Let’s eat.” I carried Brylle and went near the table with food.
All of these are my favorite!
“Jane, Ema! Come on over!” They shyly went near me.
“Sorry, Nass. We don’t have a gift”. Says Jane.
“Oh, that’s right! We forgot, too. We were also surprised at the sudden celebration.” I furrowed my eyebrows at them.
“It’s alright if I don’t receive any gifts. What’s important is that I got to be a year older.”
“Hey! What’s up?” Our heads turned to Steven and Maxence who just entered the dining room. Zeke nods at me.
“It’s Nassandra’s birthday.” The two widened their eyes as they glanced at me.
“H-Happy Birthday, Nass.” I smiled at Steven.
“Thank you.”
I wasn’t that surprised at their reactions. It’s been like six days since they started ignoring me.
“Go get yourselves some food.” They quietly went to the table to help themselves.
A few moments later, the others arrived all except for Keian.
The tension earlier when we were just a few lessened because of the playfulness of our companions here.
“Wah Nass! It’s Brylle!” Steven pretends to hide behind me because of Brylle chasing after him.
Brylle furrowed his eyebrows while tilting his head sidewards.
“Let’s play, Tito Steven!” Steven shook his head from behind me.
“NO!” He rather said loudly.
Brylle bit his lip till his eyes are getting watery.
“I just want to play! Wahhhhhh. Huhu. Mama!” I knelt down to properly embrace Brylle crying due to Steven yelling.
I threw Steven a glare who’s now pouting.
“But I don’t like children!” Brylle tightens his arms around me and his cries got louder.
“Hey, Steven! Don’t be a shag and just play with the kid.” Steven narrowed his eyes at Dale before looking back at Brylle.
“Look, I’m sorry. I’ll play with you, just please don’t cry, please, Brylle.” Steven says stuttering as if he was about to cry too.
Brylle peeked through my shoulders to look at Steven.
Almost immediately, Brylle pulls away from me and beamed.
“Yehey!” Brylle dashed over to Steven and held his hand.
Steven was frowning but he insisted on going with the child.
“Even the kid can win against you.” Devon teased. Steven doesn’t mind him and just went on to entertaining Brylle with a frown on his face.
We all laughed.
Till the room fell silent and they all turned their heads to me.
“Hahaha!— why? Why are you *sniff* guys looking a-at me?” My voice breaks and I felt a tear falling down from my eye.
I smiled while wiping away the tears but I still kept on crying anyway.
Don’t blame me, I’m also confused as to why I’m crying.
I looked at them who are either staring at me in shock or with lowered gazes.
“Sorry, I also don’t know why I’m being emotional. *Sniff*” I felt Brylle hugging me.
“Mama, don’t cry. Are you sad?” I shook my head at Brylle’s question.
“No, baby. Mama is just happy.” I pressed our foreheads against each other as I tried calming myself down with his presence.NôvelDrama.Org owns all © content.
“Hey, guys!” I felt something eerie as I heard Aedin’s voice.
I pretended not to see the smiles of my companions.
I observed her from my shoulder and saw that she’s in a wheelchair with Keian pushing her from behind.
“Nass, is it your birthday? Well, I wish you a happy birthday— wait, are you crying?” I bit my lower lip before facing her.
“This is nothing. I’m just happy. Thanks, by the way.” She flashes a smile at me then down to Brylle.
Recognition filled her face as she stares at Brylle. She was a bit frozen and Keian noticed that.
“Aedin?”
I furrowed my eyebrows as I saw her tearing up.
“I-It’s Brylle.”
“How did you know his name?” She didn’t answer me and just covered her mouth to keep on weeping.
For some unknown reason, I hid Brylle at my back to protect him from Aedin.
I don’t know what’s happening anymore…
“Aedin? What’s the matter?” Keian kneels in front of Aedin and held both of her cheeks.
“Kei. It’s Brylle! M-My Brylle.” I may not fully know what’s happening, but I’m starting to step away from her along with Brylle.
Because of what I’m doing, Brylle looked scared and he holds on to my shirt while I was stepping backward.
Keian thinks for a while before he put two and two together and finally gets what Aedin was saying.
His eyes widened while looking at Brylle and me.
And that confirmed my suspicion.
“No,” I stated.
I don’t care if I’ll look like a villain here.
“Nass?” Keian calls with a pinch of anger in his voice as if he were warning me.
“I-I left him at my friend so he’d be taken care of but I never thought that she’ll abandon him like this.” I gave her a sharp look.
“I found him on the street ALONE when he was just 2 years old! Why didn’t you find him?” She shook her head and tried going over to us but since her body is weak and fragile, she ended up falling on the floor.
“Aedin!” Keian immediately assists her back up.
“I never got to handle Kayden’s death that’s why I imprisoned myself. Please, I just wanted to hold my child.” I narrowed my eyes at her.
I can’t understand what she’s trying to say.
I don’t know how long exactly Brylle has been living on the streets but didn’t she ever bothered looking for him?!
All I know is that Lolo died a year after I left his household. That means Tita Karina died almost 8 years ago.
I raised an eyebrow at her.
“How long have you been living without Brylle?” My face showed no emotion.
I can’t point a finger as to what I’m feeling but I don’t want to hand Brylle to her.
Her face is so familiar, I just can’t remember where or when did I last saw her.
“Nass! She just wants to hug Brylle!” I turned to Theo as he shouted.
I shook my head, carrying Brylle in my arms real tight.
“Answer me.” Pain filled her eyes and she moaned in pain.
“A-Almost 5 years now.” I smiled bitterly at what she said.
“Nass! Just give Brylle to her.” I flashed all of them a glare and ran outside the mansion…