The Shadow

Chapter -16 Reassurance

Cami attentively stared at her reflection in the mirror and subconsciously recalled how granny forcefully took a promise from her that she will say affirmations every day about her and her beauty. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly nodded her head, and said, "I'm beautiful, strong, and awesome.'

Though she repeatedly said the affirmations, somewhere deep inside her heart she didn't feel it internally. Unfortunately, leaving less to say, she had to admit to herself that the mere thought that her father hates her is not sitting well with him. Does he hate her wholeheartedly? This thought will completely crush her innocent spirit.

She came downstairs and scrunched her nose looking at plain pancakes. She picked up her lunch and went to Marina, who was silently reading a newspaper. Then, Marina carefully looked at her and raised an eyebrow, "What?"

Then Cami abruptly and innocently asked, "Do you love me?"

After blinking her eyes due to Cami's sudden mood, she smirked and instantly formed a "No" with her lips.

Cami after rolling her eyes, said, complaining "Ya.... you should say yes. Don't you know?"

Marina looked at her for a few seconds, scoffed, and got busy again reading the newspaper.

Cami rolled her eyes again and kept her hand on paper blocking her from reading it.

Marina immediately asked her, seeming a bit annoyed "What do you want?"

Then, Cami simply answered "Nothing specific."
She pauses for a moment waiting for her granny's answer, that she secretly yearns for "Say, You love me."

"What if I don't?".

There was no moment of silence, as Cami said quickly "Then I'll tell everyone that you visit church just to get a glimpse of Mr. Thompson." She giggled a little, taking her tongue out mockingly.

Marina chuckled and pulled her ear and "You want to die from my hands. Don't utter a word about it to anyone. He is going to be your new grandad. Don't you want to be rich? He has so many cars."

These granny's words clicked something inside Cami's heart, without her even noticing it. She giggled and got excited about getting rich, thinking of the new opportunity of having plastic surgery sooner than she expected.

She then proceeded, saying enthusiastically "Granny, I'll be your maid of honor. But what if Mr. Thompson didn't like me."

Marina wanted to tease Cami, kept saying "Hmmm, then I'll choose him."

Cami irritatedly said "What? You will choose your new lover over me."

Marina chuckled, pinched her chubby cheeks, and pecked her head, "I'll kill him if he makes me choose you. And to answer your question is, I love you. Now, go and don't disturb me."

Cami's whole face brightened and nodded her head.

Marina held her hand," Do you love me Cami?"

Cami immediately replies, "NO.." and left from there, laughing uncontrollably.
Marina started cursing her, "Brat".

Afterward, she kept the newspaper and went to the kitchen and found Cami asking the same question to Isabella. She was surprised by her granddaughter's behavior once again.

She stayed silent listening to them carefully "Of course Cami. I love you. Now, let me get ready. I'm already late."

Then, Cami immediately released Isabella's hand and help her packing her lunch. Marina looked at the scene and began thinking hard about why Cami is asking this question. This thought manifests itself over and over again inside her brain but soon got distracted when Isabella couldn't find her shoe.