Voice

Chapter 5. Rainbows are just colorful frowns

Ylona

The week with Chase was a blast. I'm starting to appreciate the town a little more. I've seen places I haven't even been to in the last years I've been living here.

I'd probably pass off as someone who lives in a rock.. with computers.. and gizmos.. and high speed internet. But most definitely under a rock.

Yep.

I also happen to befriend the neighbouring old lady beside our house. Apparently, Chase did some work on their house a few months back when he came to visit and ever since, he's grown attached to the loving French woman. Mrs. Louvre, although she prefers Merzia instead, absolutely adores Chase.

Even to the point of teaching him French. Imagine my surprise when Chase knocks on her door to visit her while shouting, "Ouvre la porte! It's me Merzia."

"Chase, my boy!" She engulfs him in a hug as he takes in Chase's appearance. She looks over to me and Chase takes the opportunity to introduce us to each other.

"Why, I'm surprised to know that I had such lovely neighbours." Merzia exclaims all too giddy about meeting someone new from the neighbourhood. Apparently she also lives under a rock like me.

"Right? Such beauty right here." Chase shows me off as if I'm some sort of barbie doll, pushing me against my will, spinning me around for show.

I purposely step on his feet as I twirl myself for Merzia and he screams in agony, immediately holding up his foot with one hand while hopping up and down using the other.

"Oops." I smile innocently. "I'm such a klutz."

Merzia, being the lovely old lady she is, strides up to Chase slowly and inspects his foot. "You'll be fine." She waves him off after seeing that there has been no damage. Just an overly exaggerated Chase.

I like this old woman already.

"Do you live alone Merzia?" I ask, seeming to notice the lack of companion Merzia has as we were lounging in the living room.

She smiles fondly to herself as she takes up a picture frame in her hand. "Giovanni passed away a long time ago honey." She looks at me and my surprised, yet sorry expression.

She brushes me off and continues. "Don't be. I'm already at peace with the fact that he's gone. Besides, my son and his family still comes to visit me every month. I'm more than contented."

I can't help but smile at her. Her compassion is unwavering.

"Losing someone isn't easy but life must go on. Right Merzia?" He asks her yet all the while staring at me.

Now I get why he's so attached to her. Chase always has a soft spot for broken people. Like me.

But unlike Merzia, I haven't healed yet.

"There's always a rainbow after the rain." Merzia smiles to herself.

But rainbows are just colorful frowns.

*****

After a dozen of cakes and cookies, we bid Merzia goodbye, much to ny dismay. I liked Merzia.

And her cookies the most.

"She needs to take her afternoon nap Li. Stop pouting at me like that!" Chase defends his actions. "Look. She even wrapped a few cookies for you."

I grab the bag from his hands, still pouting. Merzia was fun. Especially when she pokes fun at Chase. Good times. Nothing but good times indeed.

"You can always visit her Li. You heard her." He grins at me and I can't help the growing smile at my face.

Apparently the french words Chase was shouting before, turned out to be his password to enter the house. Now I get to know what it means and have the same password as Chase.

"How's Oni doing by the way?" Chase asks as he studies the photos I took from the walls. He eyes my favorite photo of all and smiles at the thought.

It was me and Onika when we were still young. Onika still had braces on and she sported her hair in pigtails. I made sure to put the picture in a frame to remember us of the time when we made a pact that no matter what happens, sisters before misters.

And also the fact that Oni hates this pic to such extent cause it reminds me her how ugly she was before.

Not for me she ain't.

"Busy as a bumble bee." I answer. I do miss hanging out with Oni.

Right now she's always coming home late and leaving early for work.

"You wanna do something crazy?" Chase asks, a sly smile forming on his lips.

"Oh hell naw." I couldn't even protest as he proceeds to drag me out of the house and shoves me, not so gently by the way, in his car.