Bumping Accident | Englot

Chapter 30

Charlotte's POV

I'm outside Engfa's house right now. It's about 7 PM, and I've been agonizing over whether to knock or use the key she gave me. If I use the key, she can't really kick me out, but if I knock, she might slam the door in my face. Finally, I decide to go with the key. I slowly insert it and open the door.

"Chompu, if that's you, the answer is still no. I'm not buying you a freaking monkey, I don't even think that's legal," I hear Engfa yell from the living room. She sounds different. I quietly step into the living room and see the TV on. Engfa hasn't noticed me yet. She's lying under a blanket with the hood of her hoodie pulled over her head.

"Hey," I say softly. Her head snaps in my direction, eyes wide. Just as quickly, she looks away.

"What are you doing here?" she asks, eyes fixed on the TV.

"Can we talk, please?" I venture, stepping further into the room.

"That's what I wanted before you walked out, remember?" she retorts. "I'm so sorry, Engfa. I should have stayed and listened," I plead.

"Well, the assault charge is still not my story to tell, so you're wasting your time by coming here," she replies, standing up.

"Can you look at me for a second, please?" I ask, moving closer. She slowly looks up, and her eyes are puffy and red that it breaks my heart.

"Nudee told me everything," I blurt out. She closes her eyes for a moment, and when she opens them again, tears are shimmering in them.

"You could have stayed. I would have asked her if I could tell you, and I know she would have said yes. You didn't give me time, you just walked out on me like I was nothing," she says, her voice rising slightly as she wipes her eyes angrily.

"Well, since you were so desperate to know where I was that year, I was in Italy. Happy now, Charlotte? Tell me you won't have follow-up questions. Why is it so hard to understand that I'm not ready to talk about it?"

Ouch. She's never called me by my name before. It's always been Char or cute eyes.

"Fa, stop," a voice interjects. I look to my right and see a woman standing at the top of the stairs.

Engfa glances at her, then back at me. "I'm sorry, I'm sick, so I'm grumpy," she mumbles.

The woman walks down the stairs and stops a few feet away from me.

"You must be Charlotte," she says, extending her hand.

"Charlotte, meet my sister, Plaifa," Engfa gestures towards her. I shake her hand. Now that I'm looking closely, she does have similar features to Engfa. Her eye color is lighter, and her hair is a bit brighter, but they still look alike.

"Please, just call me Pdaad. No one calls me Plaifa," she says with a nod.

She heads to the couch and sits down, turning to fully face us.

"What are you doing?" Engfa asks her.

"Oh, nothing. I just want to watch you guys argue. I live for drama," she answers.

"We are not arguing, and besides, you have somewhere to be."

"Nope, nothing to do," she says, stretching out.

"I called Mom while you were showering and told her I convinced you to come back. She's expecting you in about 30 minutes," Engfa says with a wicked smile.

"No, you didn't. That's evil."

"You haven't even heard the best part yet," Engfa continues, smiling.