Forlorn Girl

Chapter 7

Alice
        The next few days passed in boredom. I'm under 'house arrest' for the next month. The butlers and maids have become extra vigilant around me. Damn you, Samuel Ming! If I wanted to go to the washroom or go around the house, they put me on a wheel chair. And if I have to go out of the house, it's either Samuel or Lara who takes me out. I even tried the lingerie store excuse when Lara was off. But he remained adamant and came with me into the lingerie store. I have to admit, it was quite funny to see him standing awkwardly in the store with the ladies staring at him. I purposely took him towards that section of the store where women would buy extremely seductive lingerie for their husbands. I could swear that he choked on his coffee when a woman was recounting her 'exciting night' with her man to her friend. I was snapped out of my trance with  Samuel knocking the door and giving me a weird look. Oh yeah, I was cackling like an evil witch just now.  "Oh, I feel so honoured now. Your Highness has graced me with his presence. I can die in peace", I droned sarcastically from my sofa. "Not so fast. There is a charity ball tomorrow evening hosted by the Du family. Since your feet are much better than before, Charles has invited you too", he deadpanned.

      Charles Du... isn't he one of the 4 guys whose proposals I had mercilessly rejected in the second year of high school? Let me give you a little insight of why. When I was about 8 years old, I had saved 4 boys. Let me briefly tell how:-
1) Charles Du: I pulled him back with his suspenders when he was about to fall off a cliff.
2) Jake Lee: I chased a snake away from him, which happened to be a king cobra.(I have to say though, I didn't come out of my room for 4 days when I came to know it was a king cobra.)
3) Mason Ling: I tricked his assailant into getting locked in a room and escaped with him.
4) Ryan Gu: I pulled him out of a rapid current river with the help of a branch.
       Unfortunately, they fell in love with me and vowed to marry me when they found me. But I liked Samuel. I, Samuel and Sierra joined St. Florence's High School after we graduated in middle school. They joined in year 2. So I spent the year being wooed and chased after by them. I told them that I wanted to finish my high school without getting involved in a relationship. They left the next year and I've only kept casual contact with them ever since. I didn't want them to lose their familial brotherhood chasing after the love which will never become theirs.

"Wait, wait, wait. Can I please feign sickness and not go?", I whined, flailing my arms and legs. "It would be really rude to them. I knew you would try to say no so I already had your outfit prepared. So sleep now and don't even think about running away", he said, folding his arms. "Bohooooo...... I'm screwed."

Samuel
       "Hey, let me see your leg", she said, inching closer. "No, I'm fine", I said, trying to move away. She ignored me and took hold of my leg. "It's bruised so badly. It's a miracle you moved so much. Come, I'll take you to the hospital. It's nearby", she said, helping me up. She managed to take me to the hospital and got me treated. "...... Thanks", I said, looking down and fiddling with the bed sheet. "No problem. By the way, you look very familiar. Did we.... meet in Aunt Molly's house?" "..... Yeah. Are you Al?", I asked curiously. "Sam? Whoa, it's been so long. How have you been?", she said laughing. We chatted for a long time and decided to stick together for the ceremony. Suddenly, the whole hospital room began to sink into a spiral abyss. Alice got up from her seat to help me but a huge rift appeared between us and she lost her footing. I lurched forward to grab her hand but she was already gone.

         I woke up drenched in sweat. What a messed up dream. I looked at my bedside clock. 1 a.m. I went to the kitchen and made some coffee for myself. That dream again. After the shoe incident, I've been dreaming about our childhood days. Since middle school, I always stuck with Alice and Sierra because they knew that I had difficulty in mingling. Sierra was headstrong, brash and blunt. Alice, on the other hand, was outspoken, soft and could not stand watching anyone get hurt or wronged.

     I still remember the first day of middle school. She was standing under a cherry blossom tree in full bloom, admiring the petals swaying in the breeze . She smiled as the petals fell softly onto her outstretched palms. Her rosy pink lips formed into a smile that looked so angelic yet forlorn and melancholy. Her beautiful black hair swayed in the wind. Her green eyes shone like emeralds. The cherry blossom petals caressed her lovely face. She turns her beautiful garnet eyes towards me and smiles yet again. I realised that I had been holding my breath all along. All I could think of in the moment was, "She is lovely." I felt an inexplicable, warm feeling whenever I saw her laugh or when she used to talk to me. But those times can never come back. All those emotions have withered away.

           "Why are you awake? Are you not feeling sleepy?", a groggy yet familiar soft voice asked me. I turned around to see Alice rubbing her eyes sleepily. She was wearing a lacy blue nightgown that reached her knees. She looks innocent in that. "Yeah.... you go back to sleep", I replied. "No! Let's cuddle! It'll help you sleep", she said with a pout. Hah?!! Has her brain come off it's hinges? "Come on, let's cuddle", she stretching out her arms like a child. I'm so tired. I guess a cuddle wouldn't feel so bad. "Alright, fine", I gave in reluctantly and followed her. She is so persuasive. I switched the lights off and laid down beside her. She curled her hands into fists chest like a foetus and snuggled her back into my chest. I slowly relaxed and put my arms around her waist and pulled her closer. It feels good to cuddle with her. So relaxed. I buried my face into her neck and slowly breathed into her scent. Vanilla and roses. "Good night, Samuel", she whispered. "Night", I murmured and placed a small kiss on her neck. She smiled and we drifted off to sleep.