Same day.
"Hope I didn't keep you waiting."
Dia heard from behind her and then felt a slight hug from behind then a peck on her cheek. She must have been held in the depth of her thoughts for her not to had heard someone coming.
"Lancy."
She muttered as Lancy hurried to her seat, dropping her bag hastily and holding Dia in her concerned face,
"Aww, my baby."
Lancy said, reaching her hand across the table to hold Dia's. Dia let her and said,
"I'm sorry I was rude to you on the phone."
She started. Lancy squeezed her hands gently and smiled,
"I would never be mad at you. I brought it upon myself."
Dia sighed, trying to hold back her tears. That obviously wasn't what she needed at that time.
"Were you busy when I called you? Twas too impromptu, I shouldn't had, but I had no option."
Dia said again as Lancy came on,
"Stop talking about me. You seem worried to
Somewhere in Seattle."You think we will be safe here."Zoe asked, looking at Alex who was busy with his phone. They had just returned to Seattle and needed to keep their head very low for the meantime. And Alex had gotten them this little bungalow, which of course was well stuffed inside.You know, if don't-judge-a-book-by-its-cover was a house, that bungalow which looked pale and unkempt outside, was the right definition for it. The inside of it was like every five star hotels they had been too.There were bathtubs and king size beds, with fluffy bedsheets and comfortable couches with stylish cushions. The wall well painted, and the floor 3D animated ocean life. Though sudden as it seemed, she was beginning to get used to it. Alex was sweeter than she thought."Even my father doesn't have an idea of where we are."He replied her, looking up from his phone. She nodded her head slightly and walked away fr
Dia's apartment."I'm already on my way out, ma."Dia said to the door, turning the knob to lock it. Then she turned away from the door of her room and began to walk through the passage which led to the parlour, the sitting room."Mma?"She called, standing in the middle of the parlour and looking towards the kitchen. She couldn't find her grandma. Her face became contoured."I'm sorry for being a bitch these past few days, not getting to check on you. I'll make it up to you today. I'll come home with the best food you like. The same you've not had --"She stopped talking. It seemed as though she had only been talking to herself."Mma? Where could she had gone this morning?"She stood at that spot for a while thinking. She was running late for work. Twas already past 10 and her student would be waiting for. She had some preparations to make for them. There was a new contest."Maybe s
In a restaurant."Dia, I love you but you don't love me enough. I know that already. If you do love me enough, you wouldn't --""Excuse me."Max looked up suddenly from the meal he should be eating. A simple dish of pork fried noddles. But all he had been able to do was just keep tapping the fork on the plate, playing with the handle before the distraction."Sorry?"He said, looking at the blonde standing before him. She smiled and said,"You were talking to yourself. Not just talking, but talking loud. I thought it would be nice if I let you know."That was rather polite. More polite than he had ever heard Dia speak to him, yet he couldn't see her, all he could see was Dia. And even if he wanted to do a thing, twas just too late. Next week was the big day."Are you listening?"The lady came on again and he snapped back to reality,"Sorry, I was creepy. Didn't know I was think
Same."Max."He heard the weak call and looked up from his phone. Twas Mma, she had just opened her eyes again. He looked quickly at his phone again, twas 5:03Pm."You're awake."He said, meaning to stand."No, sit."She said again, looking at him. Her face with based wrinkles tuning to the eyelids. He asked hastily, but quite with demands and concern,"Is there anything you need me to do for you?"He wasn't sure if that was the right question. He hadn't really gone to sit by anyone in the hospital. Never in his life. But he was ready to play the role as best as he could."No... Wh-here is Dia?"She asked. He had expected that to be her first question, yet there was no cause for being jumpy."Oh, Dia. Yea she went home to grab few things. And she needed to change too. She wanted me to go but I insisted on staying here with you till she arrive. She should be back i
The Saturday of that week before the wedding."Have you had all necessary things in place? I wouldn't want any problem at all? Nor a mistake."Claire said, looking sternly at the slender but good looking lady in red gown seated beside her on the two seater couch. They were in the second parlour. The parlour you've never heard of.The lady was the one in charge of the planning of the wedding ceremony. And she ought to give account of the things which were in place or ought to be in the proper place.Rowe was seated too but was sliding his finger through the screen of his apple iPad. He occasionally looked up from the phone.Max was seated opposite Rowe. He was seated in the position where he could hold all of them in his gaze. He heard the lady say after sorting out some of the packages before her."Yes we have. I've gotten to all who need to be available. Do not worry, like we agreed last week, the vendor
Rowe's apartment."Do you have a plan?"Lancy passed Dia a tissue, which she folded and used on the side her lips. She dropped the used tissue on the makeup table and peered into the mirror. Thinking probably her presence, that annoying portrayal of herself in the mirror would come alive that day. At least twas her big day. The most anticipated day. Her wedding. Call it a nuptial shindig.She looked at Lancy through the mirror and shook her head in denial, then she wielded words to complement the expression,"Not really. But I already have papers booked. I'll go to Grandma firstly then leave Seattle for the meantime. Till all the shit dies down."Lancy made a sound of agreement deep in her throttle and resumed the make-up routine. She was almost done. She had applied the foundation and was going with the overlay, before the finishing touch."You don't really have to be this serious on the make-up thing. It's b
On the way."I'm thirsty."Dia let the words out finally. Amidst all the ranting of Rowe and unnecessary strays of subjects, that was the only thing she could think of. She couldn't believe that she forgot to drink water after eating three cupcakes."Is that all you would say to all he has been saying?"Claire attacked, though trying to tame her gaze which had almost melted into a glare. Rowe came on,"Com'on Claire, don't be like that to our bride. I don't know why you two don't get along real smoothly. But I'm certain that as soon as she bears our grandson, you wouldn't help fancying each other."There was a brief but unusual silence. Then suddenly, Rowe glared at one of the henchmen seated opposite them in the limo and raised his voice,"Do you need it to be formal!"The fellow scrambled to his feet and hurried to the back side of the limo. He grabbed a bottle of wine from one of the numerous basket
Some place."Wakey, Wakey."The familiar voice came, still, but urgent. Dia could feel her eyes hurt and tried to reach her hands to the eyes but she couldn't. She resolved for opening the eyes to see why.Her weak eyelids flickered open, then closed again as the ray of the sun from the neighboring window messed with her sense of sight, the retina. She gave it another try and she got the best judgement.She looked down at herself firstly, she was tied up with strong ropes. She was seating on a metal dinner-like chair. She tried to relate with the new state and figure out how she ended up there.Then the memories began to assemble in the depth of her consciousness as she tried to sort them out; she getting into a car, talking with Rowe, then a halt, gunshots, she entered into another car, then gloom.Her effort to weave all the memories into a scene gave her no choice but to look up at the voice she