Porcelain behind Glass

Chapter 4: Determination

Rachel drove past the imposing entrance of the mighty Vivera Tower and took the ramp down to the parking. Marisa continued to silently sulk in the backseat after having been mercilessly teased by her friends on the long drive back from the university. As Rachel skilfully backed into her assigned parking slot and turned off the car engine, Monica removed her seat belt and turned to Rachel.

"Rache, shouldn't you change out of your university clothes before leaving for your dad's place?" asked Monica concerned.

Rachel shook her head in denial. "The traffic will get worse if I delay any longer."

"Then drive safely and stay the night there. Don't drive back alone so late at night," cautioned Monica.

"I swear Monks, you are beginning to resemble a mother hen day by day," groused Marisa.

Rachel broke into laughter and with twinkling eyes, winked at Monica. "You know she is right, don't you? Now go. Otherwise, I will be late. Thankfully the classes finished early today."

Monica frowned, "I miss the dorm room the three of us shared last year. It was so cozy there while it feels so lonely here".

"Why couldn't we have gotten apartments beside one another instead of us being shoved into the 12th floor and Rache being banished to the 32nd floor," pouted Marisa.

Monica rolled her eyes, "Maybe they were all the apartments available at that time. This is a highly coveted tower."

Rachel cleared her throat, "The apartment across mine is still empty. Besides there 8 apartments on each floor, if Dad wanted, he could have arranged for us to be on the same floor. But he wouldn't want that would he?"

"Over-fraternizing with the staff," mumbled Marisa under her breath.

Rachel was shocked. "What?"

"Of course, I and Monks have heard him say it several times. No big deal."

Exasperated Monica facepalmed. "Nothing stays in your stomach, Mars."

Looking straight ahead, Rachel tightened her grip on the steering wheel. "Both of you should get going now". Her voice was devoid of the earlier humor.

Monica threw a worried glance her way. "For God's sake Rache, don't do anything impulsive. Else Mars and I will also have to pay."

Rache merely turned on the powerful engine of her car.

The two friends sighed and alighted from the BMW. With identical worried expressions on their faces, they watched Rachel pull out of the parking and speed up the ramp.

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When her father's imposing mansion came into view, Rachel was startled out of her thoughts. Unconsciously her distracted mind had followed the right route and brought her back to her childhood home.

Even though the gate had silently pulled back, she sat awhile at the entrance taking in the elegant columns and French windows, the graceful lines of the imposing white structure, the sweeping gardens adorning the front.

When a worried guard came peeking into her car and knocked on her window, she broke out of her revere and drove past the gates. As she navigated the long driveway adjoining the blooming front garden, she remembered the last time her 9-year-old self had played with her mother here. Her laughter had echoed loud and free in these mansion walls till the sudden death of her mother in an accident.

Later under the adage of her overbearing father, she had grown silent and her home had turned cold and unwelcoming. She had been desperate to graduate from school and move out. Her dad had been insistent that she study law but when she secured admission to Bangkok's top engineering college, he had grudgingly acquiesced.