SERENDIPITY

~30~ The Letter And Awkward Relationship ✔️

"Oh, I understand," I nodded, my brows furrowing. "So, I suppose she had a change of heart?"

"Yeah, they showed up just a few minutes after you left for work," she replied, her gaze fixed on the stew as she stirred it. "They were surprisingly patient because Mia wasn't ready to face them, and neither your grandpa nor I wanted to rush things by barging in on her."

"Ah, I see," I said, taking another bite. "So, did she just listen to them then?"

"Well, they didn't come here seeking forgiveness," she explained, a hint of sadness in her voice. "I think they believed they didn't deserve her forgiveness. Mr. Oliveira had this guilt-ridden expression on his face. They simply wanted to explain everything to her and beg her to go with them tomorrow to see her mum."

"And how did Mia react to all of this?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

"She retreated to her room right after they left and hasn't even come out for lunch," she replied, her voice tinged with concern.

"Alright," I sighed, hopping off the counter. "I'm going to change and maybe check up on her. She's had enough time alone, I reckon." I rolled my eyes playfully at my own remark before making my way to my room.

I changed into a simple tank top and slipped into a pair of comfy shorts. Sweeping my hair up into a messy bun, I headed out of my room and made my way towards Mia's.

As I stood before her door, ready to knock, I paused and clenched my hand into a tight fist. Why was it always my responsibility to mend things between us? I understood she was going through a tough time, but that didn't mean I had to constantly coddle her.

I turned on my heels, about to retreat, when her door creaked open. I spun around, only to find Mia standing there, her eyes swollen and red.

Had she been crying all day? In that moment, a pang of guilt washed over me for my previous thoughts.

"I-I was coming to your r-room," she muttered, avoiding eye contact. "Can... can I talk to you?" Her voice trembled as she looked down, her hands clasped together and shivering.

"Sure," I nodded, mustering a forced smile.

She silently slipped into her room, and I followed suit, gently closing the door behind us.

She nervously bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with apprehension. Taking deep breaths to steady herself, she began speaking again. "I'm sorry for whatever I said this morning. I didn't mean any of it. I was confused and overwhelmed by everything that was happening," she admitted, her voice tinged with vulnerability. She paused for a moment, reaching out to her bedside table.

With shaky hands, she retrieved a brown envelope and emptied its contents onto her bed.

"After you left, I couldn't stop thinking about what you said and my own decisions. Deep down, I knew you were right, but I didn't want to admit it. I wasn't ready to face them until Grandma gave me this envelope," she explained, pointing to the brown envelope. "Would you like to see what's inside?"

I nodded, making my way to her bed. I spread the items out before taking a seat beside her. There was a letter written on pink paper, a photograph of a mother cradling her newborn baby, and a delicate necklace with the name 'Maria' engraved on it.

Her voice filled with a mixture of emotions, she continued, "I was initially hesitant, but I couldn't resist the urge to open it. Inside, I discovered a letter written by my mother to me, unaware of my whereabouts," she sighed, her gaze fixed on the letter in her hands. "I was torn inside, battling with conflicting thoughts about what to do. But as I read through the letter, the truth hit me like a lightning bolt. To put it bluntly, I already had a sense of the truth before I went out to meet Adrian and his family. If they hadn't brought this letter, I would have made a colossal mistake today." Tears streamed down her cheeks, betraying the weight of her emotions.