A fate for love

Chapter 25: Her Past (II)

The burial process was complete by now, followed by a heavy downpour, as if the sky shared in their grief. All of Elina and Sia's family members had come to pay their respects, including Mrs. Mallie, who now stood at the doorway of their home, ready to leave. She pulled Elina into a warm hug, offering her words of comfort. "Take care, dear. We're just a few doors away, so don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything," she said, gently placing her hand on top of Elina's head. Elina nodded silently, appreciating the gesture, while Mrs. Mallie cast a pitying glance toward Sia, who sat by the window, staring blankly at the rain.

Sighing softly, Mrs. Mallie turned back to Elina, offering her one last comforting pat on the head before stepping out. Jason, standing by her side, exchanged a sad glance with Elina. She gave him a small nod of acknowledgment, and Jason, visibly sorrowful, followed his mother out.

Once the door was closed, Elina felt her throat tighten, the overwhelming urge to cry threatening to break her composure. But she held back, reminding herself that she had to stay strong, at least for Sia's sake. She slowly approached her Sia, resting her hand on her shoulder, her gaze searching for any sign of emotion. But Sia just stared out at the falling rain, her expression blank.

Suddenly, Sia's voice broke the silence, cold and distant. "You know, Elina, mom and dad's last memory won't even be of their daughter."

Elina's heart sank at Sia's words. Confused, she sat beside her, taking Sia's hand in an attempt to offer comfort, but Sia didn't respond, her hand stayed in Elina's grip. Sia continued, her voice laced with bitterness, "Their last memory will be of you."

"What?" Elina frowned, unsure of what Sia meant.

Sia pulled her hand away, standing up as she spoke, her words harsh and accusing. "I was on the phone with Mom, and suddenly your favorite song started playing. Dad turned up the volume, and in that moment, he lost focus and lost control of the car."

Elina's world seemed to freeze as she listened, her mind trying to process the weight of Sia's words. "So don't come near me," Sia continued, her voice growing colder. "If you hadn't come into this family, my parents would still be alive."

With that, Sia walked away, leaving Elina sitting in stunned silence. The words echoed in her mind, each one cutting deeper than the last. Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered to herself, trying to fight back the fear growing in her heart, "She's just upset... She doesn't mean it, right?" But despite her efforts, doubt crept in.

The memory of her parents' tragic death, right before her eyes, resurfaced—a nightmare she had never fully escaped. After losing them, she had feared being responsible for anyone else's pain. And now, Sia's words planted a seed of guilt deep inside her. 

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Weeks passed, and the atmosphere between Elina and Sia remained tense. Sia had barely spoken to Elina, and although Elina understood that Sia needed time to grieve, it hurt her deeply to see the distance between them. One day, Elina came home from university to find Sia standing at the door, suitcase in hand. Surprised, Elina rushed over.

"Where are you going?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern.

Sia ignored her and walked toward the door. Elina grabbed her arm, gently stopping her. "Sia, what's going on? Where are you going?" she asked softly, trying to keep her panic in check.

Sia sighed, avoiding eye contact. "I'm moving out. I don't want to stay here anymore."

Elina's heart raced. "What? Why? Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice rising in desperation as she followed Sia outside.

Sia stopped in her tracks, turning to face Elina with a cold stare. "I don't owe you any explanations," she said before continuing to walk away.

Elina's eyes filled with tears as she rushed after her cousin. "Why are you doing this, Sia? Why are you treating me like you hate me?" she pleaded, her voice breaking.

Sia finally turned to face her, her expression hard and unforgiving. "I've hated you from the beginning," she said, her voice sharp. "I only stopped because I pitied you."

Elina felt the words hit her like a slap. She had known that Sia didn't like her at first, but she had hoped things had changed. She had hoped their relationship had grown beyond those early tensions. But now, hearing this, the old wound reopened. She remembered that painful day when Sia had left her stranded in an unfamiliar place.

By now, a small crowd of neighbors had gathered, whispering amongst themselves, watching the scene unfold. Jason arrived just then, but Elina was too caught up in her emotions to notice.

"Do you think you're the only one hurting? I'm in pain too, Sia!" Elina cried out, her voice trembling with emotion.

Sia's anger flared, and without thinking, she shouted, "No you're not, because they were my parents!"

The neighborhood fell silent. The revelation hit everyone like a bombshell. Some of the neighbors who knew whispered quietly, while others were stunned by the news, including Jason, who stood frozen. Elina stood there, tears streaming down her face, unable to believe what she had just heard.

Sia, realizing the weight of what she had said, fell silent but didn't apologize. Instead, she turned her back on Elina and walked away, leaving her standing alone in the middle of the road. Elina's tears continued to flow as the whispers from the crowd grew louder.

"She was adopted?" one neighbor whispered.

"Didn't you know?" another responded, explaining, "Her real parents died in a car accident, where she was the only survivor; Mr. and Mrs. Charles adopted her since they were her uncle and aunt."

"God, even they died. She must really be cursed," another neighbor murmured. "Good thing her sister left."

Elina heard every word, each one cutting deeper into her already fragile heart. Jason, overhearing the gossip, immediately intervened. "Don't you all have something better to do?" he scolded, glaring at the nosy neighbors. "Go, before I lose my calm and do something even worse"

The neighbors quickly dispersed, leaving Jason to focus on Elina. He approached her gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, but Elina, with tear-stained eyes, shrugged him off. Without saying a word, she walked back into the house, leaving Jason standing by the door. He called after her, but she didn't respond, so he decided to give her space, waiting patiently outside in case she needed him.

Inside, Elina was greeted by the suffocating emptiness of the house. Every corner seemed to echo with memories—the day she first arrived here, the warmth and love she had once felt. Now, it all felt like a cruel reminder of everything she had lost. Collapsing onto the floor, she wept uncontrollably, every sob filled with the weight of her grief.

Amid her tears, her phone buzzed with a notification. Blinking through her blurry vision, she saw the message: "Date with Kevin 🙈❤️"

The notification only made her heart ache more. How had everything in her life changed so drastically? She felt an overwhelming urge to throw the phone across the room, but a memory flashed in her mind.

"You must never throw things when you're angry," Mrs. Charles told her gently.

Elina clutched the phone to her chest, holding it close as if it were the only thing tethering her to the life she once had. "I have no one left," she whispered through her sobs. "Everyone's gone. What I feared the most... it happened."

And with that, she cried even harder, feeling more alone than ever.

-To be continued