Enchanted

Chapter 28

Sabrina

Everyone was overstretched with preparing for the finals. Constantly being worn out by paper after paper of words and running against time as it slipped through the small hole of an hourglass. This was school life we hated but there was another side to it that was filled with wonders.

Cedric: Fun fact of the day: CuO + H2SO4 -> CuSO4 + H2O. Collected some copper (II) sulphate crystals for you :)

Me: Thanks, I really do need some lucky charms for calculus class

It is love. Beyond the three words. Something so small and fine like sand on the beach but look unique in mini bottles with cork. An invisible scroll inside written with the story of us.

I don't allow myself to think further this time. I don't want the future to be a hindrance in our relationship. I don't want to worry about the age difference, the college or university applications or the career pathway that will lead to bigger questions like financial and family plans because anxiety is the cause of my mistakes.

Afraid that I don't make enough jokes to cheer them up. Afraid that I don't laugh loud enough at other people's jokes. Afraid that I text them too many or too less messages.

Just minor thoughts that could lead to quicksand on the beautiful beaches I laid out in my imaginary world.

"I still don't understand why we must conduct an experiment and write a lab report for finals," Nicolette complained. "It's not beneficial to my future. I won't be using copper (II) oxide or pipette unless I become a chemist which I am not planning to."

"At least you're good at it." Cedric tried to make her feel better just like how he made me feel with his hands around my shoulders.

"We'll get through this together. Then, it's holi-yay!" I added.

The chilly December air created a thermal equilibrium with the heat in my body, causing the hair on my neck that is exposed to erect a little. Nicolette and I bid goodbyes before I turned my heels in the opposite direction towards Cedric's car. I like taking car rides with him, even though we both kept silent and listened to the radio. Nicolette doesn't want to join us so she came up with excuses like 'Walking is a great form of exercise that I need after sitting for long hours'.

Initially, I didn't want to burden Cedric for sending me back to my aunt's. He doesn't do that when he has soccer practice or when I simply felt embarrassed so I rejected his offer. I felt so desolate during those days like I completely lost myself in him and I cannot find any independence left in me anymore. I told Nicolette and she replied, "You have been on two feet for too long, Sab. But the good news is your journey had come to an end. He is your nirvana so let him take care of you." She was sincere. The words were promising like the rainbow after a thunderstorm. Hence, I believed in her and she couldn't be more accurate.

I would endure the examination stress on repeat if I were allowed to ride shotgun in his car every single day after school. This is a deal I would make with God if He were to punish me to do something unenjoyable.

"Be sure to eat a proper dinner and go to sleep by 11, okay?" Cedric pulled his car to a halt two houses before my aunt's.

"Yes, doc. I won't let you down." I saluted him with a solemn face.

"Good, see you tomorrow." He pushed his chest forward against the force of the seatbelt that held him back to hug me. His warm hands around me and a faint scent of vanilla.

Cedric made a U-turn and left. I took a few steps up and saw a car parked outside of the garage. Not just any stranger's jet-black car pulled up in a crooked manner. It belongs to my aunt. I quickly took a deep breath and masked on a mundane face like my boyfriend did not just drop me 'home' seconds ago. Will she suspect why I returned earlier than I would have when I take the bus? Ugh, of course, she won't. She was not even here to watch me come back after school on the other 364 days. Neither was she watching me today. She probably returned to collect something and leave. She has a better job than an unpaid babysitter and I have better things to do than hide outside in the cold.

I took off my shoes before opening the door as quietly as possible. The curtains were drawn like usual and the lights were not flickered on. Everything was still until I saw my aunt fumbling with the papers in the drawer below the television.

She must have felt my gaze like a shadow with eyes spying on her so she shut the drawer almost immediately before standing up. "You're back!" There was a strange look in her eyes but it was gone after a blink. I looked away and noticed the way she gripped the papers so tightly in her right palm that would leave creases on them.

"I got to go. No one can get a good rest during the holidays if they don't finish their work." She stuffed the papers into a file and went to the kitchen to pour a glass of water to hydrate herself. "The same goes for you. Finals are really important."

I didn't need her reminder. But does it show that she cared for me?

I shook my head as if my thoughts could be that easily gotten rid of. As soon as her Mazda CX-5 roared to life and faded, I went up the stairs to resume my routine.

Shower, revision, snack perhaps, workout possibly, dinner, revision again, sleep.

But something caught my eye. The door was left ajar. The office door.

This is my opportunity, I thought. My aunt must have forgotten to lock it so it would totally be fine to cross the threshold. I will not be charged under the law because I was not breaking into any private territory right? I was also considered as the co-owner as I have the keys to this property.

Shivers were sent down my spine as I pushed the door to open slightly bigger. More lights from the window crept into the dark hallway. The space was tidy as if it was untouched. There was no dust to be seen on the books arranged on the shelf and the floor was cleaner than other parts of the house. There was a beige armchair and a coffee table in the corner. At the side, the tempered glass office desk which has almost the same size as the dining table was placed with management files, unopened letters, draft papers and stationery in jam jars. The ergonomic chair that was shifted faced the window instead of being under the desk indicating my aunt was in this room a few minutes ago.

I have been inside this room couple of times to pass my aunt some things or to talk to her about something but I have never realised how similar it was to Arthur's office. Most likely because I was in the room for less than a minute and my eyes only focus on my aunt with her glasses on.

When I was inside Arthur's office for lectures due to my disobedience, my eyes always wandered around the room and never looked straight into his eyes unless I was told to. The blue and white antique ceramic vase, the coin and money notes collection in the transparent cabinet, the tea set on the marble table and 2 rosewood drum stools underneath the table.

Was it a dragon carving or a phoenix carving on his table? I can't remember.

The room was slightly smaller than mine but it looked spacious. It made me thought whether or not my search could be completed before she returns so I went through the files on the table first. Sometimes what you're finding is hidden in plain sight. I flipped through the pages as my eyes scanned the headlines, recognising the words through their shapes.

My aunt is a real estate attorney. Those papers containing mortgage documents and purchase agreements were printed and signed not long ago so it seemed like my aunt was doing a good business. If she had a high-paid occupation that could provide her with so much money, then what deal could she have made with her brother that involved me?

I took a few steps towards the shelf and bent down on my knees to search the compartments. My hope dimmed every single time I put the transfer documents that were dated almost 9 years ago back into their brown envelopes. There were some customised rubber seal stamps placed in a metal box that used to catch my attention when I saw my dad use them while we were eating breakfast at the dining table. But my dad was a businessman, not even close to a lawyer. I didn't bother to examine the embossed letters on them and moved on to the last drawer.

She might have burnt the papers so there will not be any traces left, I told myself. But part of me felt that she was not the kind of person who will get rid of evidence which was as important as a deal that have to do with a child. She would have made extra copies of whatever emails Arthur sent him in case she got sued one day for stealing someone's kid.

I inhaled air through my mouth and exhaled them slowly before putting force on the handle of the last compartment. But this time, it could not be opened. The other 3 drawers have key holes as well but none of them were locked except this one. I exerted more strength but it would not budge.

This was weird. I need to find the keys.