Memories And Secrets

Chapter 7

The day finally came when I agreed to face my destiny. It was inevitable. Sabrina and I were playing escape games at school. We avoided each other at all cost. It was like a silent agreement between us. But what could we do, avoid each other for the rest of our lives. I could not live like this anymore. Since the divorce of my parents, I learnt not to dwell on the past. I understood I will have to do the same now and move on. Remaining in the eye of the hurricane only prepared me for the worse but I was just hoping that it won't be as bad as the first blow.
After 2 1/2 weeks I agreed to meet Clara on Saturday at my house, I mean the bottom half, and Sabrina would come along of course and her little sister of 9. Everything was settled. I had to dress nicely and be welcoming, seems easy till now. My mom said it would be preferable she doesn't come down because it will be weird that the ex meet the actual.
It was 3:00 p.m exactly when the doorbell rang. Raina came for this 'special' occasion. We were standing next to each other as dad went to open the door. He kissed Clara, Sabrina and Carla on the cheeks and went on to present her to us. Sabrina's face was as awkward as mine. She was constantly looking down. The presentation was pretty awkward in itself.
"Hello Hadriana!" Clara said smiling widely at me. I smiled back and she kissed me on my cheeks.
"I think Sabrina and Hadriana needs no presentation." She continued.
I looked at Sabrina, "Hi." I told her. She lifted her head, obviously very surprised.
"Hello Hadriana." She replied smiling. I might have broken the uneasiness, but I still didn't like her. My mobile was ringing and it broke my thoughts.
"Excuse me!" I said while removing my phone from my jean's pocket. It's Zoe. I couldn't take this call right now.
"Let's move to the living room!" My dad said, annoyingly cheerful.
As we all sat down, Clara, Sabrina and Carla sat opposite us, Raina, Aidan and me. My dad was between the two couches. Maria, our maid, served us tea and sweet treats. I took a cupcake and starred at it long enough for Raina to lightly hit my shoulder. I looked at her and Aidan, they both looked pretty fine. I was thinking that it was revolving around me, I felt that this all depended on me.
Clara sparked a conversation, breaking the tension that was weighing in us all.
"I have bought a little something for you all, I hope you will like it." She got up and began taking wrapped packages from her bag.
"I did not buy anything, I feel so bad." My dad began. But Clara turned to him,
"You have invited us in your house and it is enough for now." The way they looked at each other was so sweet, how could I break that?
She handed Raina a square package, "I hope it is your style" She said gleefully.
Aidan took the bright red package from Clara, smiled and thanked her.
My turn. She looked at me and gave me a small grey wrapped box with a blue lace ribbon tied around it. "I really hope you will like it Hadriana!" I took it.
"Thank you, you shouldn't have."
"Of course I must, I insist!" She flashed a very genuine smile at me. Sabrina looked at us, I could feel it.
"Thank you Clara! That is very thoughtful, and look at me, I am very bad at it! I haven't bought anything for your daughters."
"Oh, I wanted to gift your lovely children something, you should not feel like it is obligatory. It is my personal idea." I smiled at her uneasily and I was sure, at that moment, that this situation depended, not only on me, but on Sabrina also.
Neither of us brought the topic of conversation to the actual reason why we were all gathered here, in all awkwardness.

"It was an immense pleasure to meet you Clara!" Raina said as she kissed her on the cheeks.
Clara came to me and I couldn't avoid her. My dad accompanied Clara to her car and my mom got down as soon as my dad closed the door.
"Sooo?" My mum began while still getting down.
"Well it was fine, amidst the awkwardness." I said my hands in my back pockets.
"Great then!" She said looking at Raina. The eye contact that went on was obvious.
"Come on mum! You thought I will act like a little brat? I know I dislike Sabrina and all, but I cannot to this to dad or to Clara. They have nothing to do in this. By the way, I should find a serious and concrete reason as to why I hate her, in case dad asks me or something."
Dad entered at this moment, "What should I ask you?"
"Absolutely nothing." I responded coolly .
He shrugged, " So how was it?"
"It was nice but weird." Aidan said looking at dad.
"Oh okay! Great then?"
"Mmm...yeah I guess." I said shrugging my shoulders. "Well, nothing went bad so it's good." My dad's eye sparked. He looked at my mom and smiled.
"So, Raina, are you and Xavier staying for diner?" My mom asked Raina
"I think we will. His work here end pretty late today, so we will have time to dine here."