Beneath her Brightest Smile

[accuscripter]

Morning light bled through the curtains in tired streaks. Jay stepped in barefoot, her hair still messy from sleep, eyes puffy, mind sluggish. She barely felt the cold floor beneath her as she opened the fridge, reaching for the milk carton.

But before she could close the door, she heard voices low, intense drifting in from the drawing room.

"…You don't have to force her, Elyana," her father's voice came. Tired, angry and heartbroken. "She's a little girl. Why are you pushing her so hard?"

Jay froze, milk still in her hand, the door ajar.

"I know you love her too," he continued, his voice cracking. "Be soft with her. She's already hurt more than you know. We've neglected her enough… God, don't push her so far that marriage becomes an escape from us."

There was a pause. And then her mother's voice, sharp and defensive, rang out. "I've neglected her? You think I don't see her pain? You think I don't carry it in my own chest every night when I lie awake wondering where I went wrong?"

Jay's hands trembled slightly. The milk carton shook. She shut the fridge slowly, silently, leaning back against it.

"She wants to escape me?" her mother scoffed bitterly. "Then let her go. Let her go wherever she wants. It's not just you, it's both of us, remember?"

Her father didn't yell. But his voice, when it came next, was like a slow, heavy tide of guilt.

"Do you even know she had stomach pain until a few nights ago?" he asked quietly. "Did you notice the medicine packets in her room? The smell of peppermint? Do you even know why she keeps peppermint oil near her pillow? She's stressed, Elyana. So much that it's making her sick."

A silence reigned for a while. Jay could almost hear her mother's breath catch. She could imagine her standing there, stunned and shame-faced.

"She's suffering," her father said softly after a while. "And we didn't see it. I didn't see it either not until yesterday."

Jay felt a lump rising in her throat. She reached to steady herself against the counter.

Then came her father's final words low and firm. "And don't let her know that the marriage is scheduled for next weekend. Not yet. I'm not letting her be pushed into this. If she's not ready, I'll call it off. I swear to you. I won't watch her lose herself."

"But it's for her own good," her mother said, her tone faltering. "You know that. This family is wealthy. Influential. Respected by the whole city. She'll be… she'll be safe. She'll be taken care of. Maybe even… happy."

"Maybe!!! Do you even realize what are you saying? Maybe?" he attacked.

"I mean to say she will be happy… maybe in a sense like… if she accepts…ugh you father daughter! I am the wrong one … I know it now! You both hate me!" her mother blamed.

Jay stood there in silence for a few more seconds, absorbing everything. The pain. The realization. The deep, aching love wrapped up in broken ways of showing it.

Then, suddenly, with a quiet exhale, she stepped out from the hallway and was about to go into her own room, but then suddenly struck her and she walked straight into the drawing room.

Both her parents looked up in surprise.

She looked at her father, not her mother, and said in a clear, even voice, "Dad, I told you last night. I'm not weak-willed. And I'm not a child. I'm ready. I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

Her father started to rise. "Jay…"

"Why wait for next weekend?" she said, her tone quiet but firm. "If everyone's ready, let's do it this weekend. The sooner the better."

Her father stared at her, almost as if he didn't recognize the girl standing in front of him the girl who had once run crying from math homework, who had hidden under blankets after nightmares. Now she stood tall, still in her nightshirt, chin high, trembling but resolute.

He finally spoke, voice cautious. "Child… give it a rest. You don't have to rush. This is a major decision. You need to know if you two are even compatible. At least meet him first I suggest."

"I don't want to meet anyone," Jay said. "Just… let's get it over with."

Her father stepped toward her, concern flooding his face. "Jay…"

But she was already turning back. "Please. Just trust me."

And without waiting for another word, she returned to her room, shut the door, changed into jeans and a dark shirt, and grabbed her university bag.

She didn't say goodbye.

….

The greenhouse was quiet, its high glass dome fogged with early morning condensation. The smell of damp soil, jasmine, and fresh leaves wrapped the air in something comforting and timeless.

Jay walked through the green corridor toward the far corner where Vanelope sat crouched near a raised plant bed, misting a group of delicate, bluish-white leaves.

"Skipping class?" Jay asked gently.

Vanelope didn't look up. "Not skipping. Just… observing this new plant I'm working on. It's sensitive to temperature changes."

Jay crouched beside her. "Still. First class of the day?"

"I didn't feel like going."

Jay smiled faintly and leaned back against a wooden beam. "Then I won't go either."

Vanelope glanced at her, one brow raised. "You? Miss punctual? Skipping class?"

"I want to spend time with you," Jay said simply. "Honestly, I don't even know if I'll be coming back to university after the next couple of weeks."

Vanelope dropped her watering can.

She straightened. "Jay…"

Jay didn't meet her eyes. "Just being realistic. Who knows what kind of rules they have? What if they don't let me go out, don't let me study, don't let me breathe?"

Vanelope stepped closer. "Jay, if you don't want this if you're being forced just tell me. You know I meant it when I said you could stay with me. Move in. We can figure it out."

Jay turned to her, soft smile on her face. "I know. And thank you. But I'm not running. I'm just… preparing. I want to be mentally strong. I've heard they're rich, powerful. The kind who expect perfection from a daughter-in-law. I'm walking into a world I know nothing about."

She plucked a leaf and twirled it between her fingers.

"I used to think my mom was pushing me because she didn't care," she murmured. "But now I think… maybe she's lost herself too. Maybe she's been trapped in her own expectations for so long, she forgot how to love properly."

Vanelope narrowed her eyes. "That's generous of you."

Jay laughed lightly. "It's not forgiveness. It's just… understanding. Maybe it's her first time, too."

Vanelope blinked. "First time?"

"Being a mother," Jay said. "Maybe she never figured out how. Maybe she's still trying."

Vanelope stared at her. "Jay… you've grown up."

Jay smiled, but her eyes shimmered with something like pain. "I didn't want to. It just… happened."



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[accuscripter]

I created this video only for you, dont break my heart by skipping it, open it and let me know what do you think...
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[accuscripter]

Jay was sitting cross-legged beside Venelope, watching her trim the curling edges of a rare vine with small, silvery leaves that shimmered like dew in the light.

But Jay wasn't paying attention to the plant.

She was watching her.

Venelope 's brow was furrowed in concentration, her gloved hands careful and precise. Yet something about her movements felt… distant. Her answers had been short, her voice quieter than usual. Even the way she'd smiled earlier, it didn't reach her eyes.

Jay tilted her head. "venelope?"

"Mmm?"

"You've been quiet since yesterday," Jay said, her voice soft but clear.

"me? No…"

"Are you sure? "

"Yeah…"

"At the boutique, when I changed clothes… you were looking at me, as if you had something to say…"

"No jay, I was just a little emotional"

"And then in the car… again. It felt like that"

"Hahaha… jay you are thinking too much"

"Even now. You are feeling distant as if you are controlling yourself to say something to me…"

Venelope hesitated, still trimming. Jay leaned in a little, a bit of irritation was visible on her face.

"Are you avoiding me?"

The shears in Venelope's hand paused mid-air.

Then slowly, Venelope set them down on the bench beside her, pulled off her gloves, and turned to face Jay. Her expression was unreadable for a moment then it cracked, just a little.

"I was," she admitted. "I mean… maybe not on purpose. I've just been…" She looked down at her hands. "Emotional."

Jay's eyes softened. "Why?"

Venelope gave a sad, lopsided smile. "Because you're getting married. Because it feels like everything's about to change. And I don't know how to stop feeling… scared for you."

Jay looked at her friend for a long second, then placed a hand on her arm. "… I'm scared too."

For a moment, the two of them sat in a pocket of silence, filled only with the faint rustling of plants around them.

Then Venelope exhaled sharply and stood. "Okay! How about this if we're not planning to go to classes today, I'll be free in about an hour. Let's do something dumb."

Jay blinked. "Dumb?"

Venelope grinned. "Yeah. Like… no thinking. No worrying. Just fun. Come on, my sweet bride, let's celebrate."

Jay laughed, shaking her head shyly. "You're ridiculous."

"And you're glowing," Venelope said, pointing to her face with mock drama. "Like someone who's pretending not to be in love."

Jay rolled her eyes. "What?!"

Venelope winked. "Nothing. One hour. Be ready."

……

An hour later, they stepped out of the campus gates together. Jay in same dress with white sneakers, her hair tied in a high ponytail. Venelope had somehow already acquired a floppy hat and sunglasses and declared herself in disguise.

But just as they crossed the pedestrian path near the main road, Jay stopped in her tracks.

Venelope turned. "What happened? Jay?"

Jay didn't reply at first. She was staring across the street. Venelope leaned close, whispering, "Jay… is it someone you know?"

Jay blinked, shook her head slowly. "No. I mean… maybe."

Venelope followed her gaze.

Across the street, a boy with large spectacles in a grey hoodie was leaning against the pharmacy storefront. He had a paper bag in one hand, earphones in his ears, eyes on the street. He didn't notice them.

"He looks familiar," Jay said.

Venelope's face slowly lit up. She leaned closer to Jay's face with a mischevious expression that said, "go on".

"Remember the peppermint accident on the bus?"

"He gave me the peppermint," she said quickly, trying not to sound like it meant anything. "He works at the pharmacy. Then I saw him again at the library. I was just… glad to see someone I recognized."

Venelope raised both eyebrows dramatically. "Just glad, huh? Not… butterflies?"

"heyy!" Jay yelped and swatted her arm.

Venelope laughed and bolted ahead. "Aha! Gotcha! You're blushing!"

"Come back here!"

Jay chased her down the street, their laughter trailing behind them like music.

…….

The open market was a riot of colors and sound. Strings of lights danced above stalls filled with jeweley, scarves, sunglasses, knock-off perfumes, and dazzling shoes. The smell of sweet corn, fried potatoes, and sizzling noodles swirled in the air.

Jay and Venelope threw themselves into the madness.

They tried on neon wigs and posed like pop stars. They tasted everything: strawberry ice cream with sprinkles, golden potato rings, fiery street noodles, creamy shakes, fizzy drinks that tickled their noses.

They tried on heels too high to walk in. Danced barefoot in a quiet corner of a clothing stall. Jay even bought a cheap pink tiara and wore it like royalty.

And for once she didn't think about the wedding.

She didn't think about her mother's cold silences, or her father's worried eyes, or the strange unknown waiting for her at the end of the week.

She just lived.

And it felt like the first time in forever.

……

By early evening, the sky had turned gold, melting into soft purples on the horizon.

Venelope looked at the time and hesitated. "Should we… go home now?"

Jay glanced at her phone.

Her face fell.

Her screen showed a missed call. Her mother's name. Twice.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she locked the screen again.

Venelope saw the change immediately.

"Hey," she said, gently. "How about we… go watch a movie?"

Jay blinked. "Can we?"

"Of course we can. You're with me."

Her voice was light, but her eyes were kind.

Jay's shoulders eased just a little. "Then… yeah. Let's go."

…..

The theatre was cool and dark. The scent of buttery popcorn hung thick in the air. Jay held a bucket of caramel popcorn in one hand, a chilled drink in the other. Venelope led the way to their seats, still wearing her floppy hat.

The movie began, a quiet, tender film about two childhood friends who reunite by chance as adults, only to realize they had always loved each other but never said the words.

Ten minutes in, Jay was silent.

Fifteen minutes in, she wiped her eyes. And by the twentieth minute, tears were trailing down her cheeks.

She hugged the popcorn to her chest, eyes shimmering as the characters on screen whispered words too familiar words about fear, about time, about never saying how you felt when it mattered most.

Venelope, without a word, reached over and gently took her hand.




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[accuscripter]

Jay's shoulders shook as silent sobs rippled through her, and she barely noticed the soft rustling of people around them shifting, glancing at them. A few turned their heads to look at them. Someone even whispered.

Venelope leaned in sharply, elbow on the armrest, and hissed out of the side of her mouth, "Enough, Jay! You're embarrassing me."

She yanked her ridiculously floppy hat down over her face, trying to hide. Her voice dropped lower, more urgent and she paniced. "I swear to God Jay, you're going to get us kicked out for emotional disturbance."

Jay tried to stifle her crying, biting her lip, but it only made a hiccup escape.

Venelope groaned. "Bro…" she muttered, half into her hat. "If you don't stop crying, believe meI'm out. I'll leave you here in this puddle of strange people."

Jay let out a broken laugh in between sniffles, her breath catching mid-sob. She turned to Venelope, eyes shining with tears, mouth trembling with a grin.

"Oh Lord," Venelope mumbled, peeking at her through the brim. "This woman has officially lost it."

Jay giggled again, quietly now, brushing the back of her hand across her cheeks. "I can't help it. They're just so…so…stupid! They loved each other and never said it! And now he is dead…" she motioned wildly toward the screen!"

Venelope sighed dramatically. "And now you're crying in the dark like an idiot over his death more than his lover!?"

Jay laughed more freely this time, her voice muffled. "I swear, I'm okay. This is just… emotional purging."

"Yeah, yeah say whatever you want…well, my purging doesn't involve public weeping and drawing the attention of six unamused men in the back row," Venelope replied, peeking behind them. "Seriously, the man in the maroon vest is judging your whole existence right now."

"You want something?" she hissed at him… and he feigned ignorance at her reaction.

Jay laughed again quiet.

Venelope reached into the popcorn bucket and offered her a caramel-coated piece like an olive branch that took with a sheepish smile.

"You okay now?" she asked, softer this time.

Jay nodded slowly. "I think I needed that."

Venelope tilted her head. "Crying over fictional people because you don't know if your real-life story will end like theirs?"

Jay blinked. "Something like that…"

Venelope leaned back in her seat. "We'll write your ending. It won't be tragic. But, girl, next time just wait for the end credits to break down, okay?"

Jay wiped her face with her sleeve, took a deep breath, and whispered, "hmmm."

…..

They stepped out of the cinema, the cold of the night settling around them. The world felt quieter now gentler like even the streets had paused to let them walk undisturbed. Arms still linked, they laughed softly, walking aimlessly under flickering streetlights and the golden haze of store windows closing down for the night.

"What's next?" Venelope asked, her voice teasing, her eyes bright.

"I don't know," Jay murmured, a wistful smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Just then, her phone buzzed sharply in her pocket. She pulled it out, squinting at the screen as it lit up with missed calls and unread messages.

"I think…" Venelope said, nodding toward the phone, "we should probably head home. Your folks must be thinking the bride has run away."

Jay chuckled under her breath.

"And without any doubt, I am the prime suspect and the culprit," Venelope added with mock gravity. "it is no surprise if I find your mother on doorsteps in a while with police, if she doesn't hear from you in a while"

Jay snorted, still staring at the screen, but she said nothing her smile dimming a little. Venelope caught the shift, the hesitation, and her teasing fell away.

"You want to come over to my place tonight?" she asked quietly, "Like… for the night?"

Jay turned to her, startled. "Can I?" she asked, her voice almost too small.

Venelope grinned. "Of course you can, silly. It's just for one night. I've already told you I'd help you run away if it ever came to that. This is nothing."

Jay's fingers danced across her screen, ignoring her mother's messages entirely. Instead, she typed:

Dad, I'll not be home tonight. I'm staying at Venelope's. I'll share my location once I get there.

She hit send, locked the phone, and slid it back into her pocket with a sense of quiet finality. "Shall we go?" she asked.

Venelope simply nodded, and together they began walking toward the edge of the market, the city thinning into stillness.

They walked in sync, arms swinging gently between them, steps slow and unhurried. It was one of those rare nights where the world didn't rush them nor did it seem to demand anything at all.

"Hey," Jay said after a pause. "Can I call you V?"

Venelope smiled, amused. "Hmmm," she murmured, tilting her head.

Jay grinned.

"V," she tried again, savoring the shortness and the closeness of the nickname. "What do you think of life?"

"What do I think of life?" Venelope echoed, her brow furrowing in curiosity. "In what sense?"

"Like… what is it to you? What do you enjoy in life? Like … what do you think overall of it?"

Venelope didn't answer right away. Her gaze lifted toward the sky. The moon was high, soft and full, wearing its brightness like a crown.

"Tell me," she said suddenly, "what do you think of that moon? And the sky?"

She rolled her eyes playfully. " I asked you first."

"Yes, yes, I know. But I'm questioning to answer you," she countered, eyes still stuck on the stars. "Tell me."

Jay sighed and looked up, letting the silence stretch for a moment. "I think… it's beautiful," she whispered. "It's calm. It's soft. But… I don't know what horrors or storms it's hiding in its black parts. I only know that for now… it's peaceful. And that feels enough."

Venelope looked at her with something like reverence. "Exactly," she said softly. "That's how I feel about life. I don't know what it holds. The pain, the heartache, and the things we can't even imagine. I don't know if I can even handle them. Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. But right now… I feel calm. And I think… that's all I can ask for. That's all any of us can do. Just… be calm, be still… and do our best." She continued.

Jay said nothing. She just listened. And then, without a word, she gently leaned her head onto Venelope's shoulder. Walking under the dark of the night, unaware and unrelated to what might come their way.



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[accuscripter]

"I will sleep on the floor you can sleep on the bed."

Venelope and jay were fighting over who will sleep on the floor.

"My lady, don't make it hard for me… you take the bed I will take the floor…"

"No no this is not good… this is your house I should be the one taking the floor…"

"Ugh….girl…. in what language do you want me to tell you? I can take the floor go sleep on the bed…"

"But its…."

"Jay! For heaven's sake its ….! Its next day already! Look at the time!"

"Its already 12o clock?!" Jay asked innocently

Venelope pushed her on the bed, spread her blanket on the floor and lay down finally. Soon sleeps came into her eyes. And she couldn't see clearly because of the sleep.

"V… your apartment I really like it…"

"Hmm? Hmm…hmmm… "venelope tried to asnswer

"Are you sleep?"

"Hmm.."

"Are you listening to me?"

…

"I think you are sleep now…"

After a few minutes she again said softly near her ear…

"v… are you really sleep …? Or… just pretending? "

" FOR GOD SAKE JAY! You scared the shit out of meee…. I just lost my child!" Venelope suddenly took a turn and cried when she heard and saw jay right next to her on the floor smiling back at her.

"You had a child!" Jay sat up on the blanket with surprise in eyes.

"Nooo… it's a metaphor…"venelope said while holding her head.

"So you didn't lose a child?"

"YEAH ……."

"Then whose child were you talking about …"

"Yours! I was talking about your child! Now go to sleep… QUIETLY!"

…. Venelope lay down again and covered her head with the blanket.

Jay lay down right next to her. Looking up at the ceiling and smiling.

"I don't have a child… you must be dreaming I think..."

"JAY!"

Jay giggled as she heard muffled voice from the blanket and soon sleep took her away too.

Next morning she woke up to the sizzling sound of the oil and clinking of the pots and ladles.

She woke up and saw an unrecognizable surrounding and looked around her.

"Where am i?"

"What is this… she looked at her cloths."

Then she looked down.

"I am sleeping on the floor?!"

It was a cozy looking small apartment. With a room a bath and a living room with an open kitchenette.

"Ah… I was with venelope"… she remembered while massaging her temples. She was having a headache.

Before she could think more, venelope's voice cut through her thread of thoughts and called, "jay I am here… fresh up and come out."

"Venelope?" Jay was still not wake. She was scratching her head and tried to get up from the floor. But as she got on her knee and other leg on foot, her foot slipped and she fell on her face.

THUD….

Venelope ran into the room and fell into a deep laughter, holding her stomach and clearing her tears.

"Don't laugh! get me up!" Jay cried with pain

Venelope went up to her and tried to pick her up…

"Aooo.. ouch… ufff… ugh…. "

Her back was strained from sleeping on the floor and now her face had bumped into the floor, bruising her chin.

"Come here let me put a pain patch and cover this bruise! Otherwise your parents will kill me!!! I told you to sleep on the bed! Now how are you feeling now? Must be feeling good right?! Must be feeling cool down the throat now!"

Venelope pulled jay to sit on the couch.

"Why are you scolding me! I am injured!"

"And whose fault is that?!"

"Mine!? "

"Is it mine then!?"

Jay gave a sheepish smile. Offering her face to her to get the antiseptic on her chin.

"don't act innocent with me! Damn its mine…its all my fault I shouldn't have bought you to my home!"

"hey…don't scold me, " jay was acting coy trying to cool her anger.

"Stop this! go wash your hands, and see there is disposable toothbrush there in the cabinet, take that! And be quick I have made the breakfast it will go cold."

Jay sat on the couch looking at venelope in a beige apron cooking something in the kitchen, and working in all that smoke coming out of the pots and pans, looking like the perfect picture of a luxury life.

"What a rosy life…jay exclaimed silently while looking at her."

"What? Did you say something?"

"Nah… just …rosy life... nothing… "jay put her chin her hand as she looked at venelope feeling solace and calm.

"UGH…" she forgot she had just injured her chin earlier and as soon as she put her face on her head all her fantasy turned into painful cry.

"What happened NOW!" Venelope ran over to her… ladle still in her one hand and salt in other hand…

"What happened…" she cried.

"Nothing I just forgot I had hit myself." Jay said with a painful giggle, her eyes were shut with pain.

"JAY MILLER!" she couldn't help herself but laugh at her and be angry at her at the same time.

Jay suddenly pulled venelope by her apron towards herself and hugged her tightly by her waist.

"MS. JAY MILLER … I AM STRAIGHT! LET GO OF ME!"

Jay hid her face in her apron, "i wish you were my mother…"

Venelope's raised hands dropped lower, she didn't know what to say …then to normalize the situation she cried, "if I had a kid like you, believe me I would beat the shit out of her every day!"

"Now let go of me! Be ready" she said in between laughs.

Jay slowly loosen her grip around her waist and let her go and simply nodded, venelope felt as if she had done something to hurt her. But thought to not to ponder over that and said, "be quick I am pouring the food into the dishes, be quick."

Jay stood up and again a painful cry escaped her lips, but now the pain was in her back due to sleeping on the hard floor.

She barely made it to the bathroom, took out the tooth brush, applied the toothpaste and put it in her mouth. Then opened the tap and cleaned her face without removing the antiseptic on her bruise then gargled and went out.

"You said, you are pouring the food in the dishes!"

"Yes… yes almost done … just a few more minutes!"

Jay sat on the kitchen counter looking at venelope working like a robot here and there.

"where are you sitting, go sit over there", she pointed to the dining table.

"Nah I want to sit here."

"My counter wont be able to bear your weight, Lady!"

"You are saying I am overweight!"

"nah... i dare not say... I didnt say anything, !" she said with her hands raised over her head, gesturing to spare her.

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[accuscripter]

Jay smiled but didn't say anything more and kept looking at her.

"Jay, there above your head, take out the barley cereal out of that cabinet."

"Here…", she handed her box

"Also get me the jam from the box next to this one…"

"Here…"

"do you know how to make milk shake?"

"Yeah…"

"Come down then, help me…here I have already washed these strawberries, use them, milk is in the fridge." She instructed. "Open your mouth… hmmm… how does it taste?" She continued.

Jay's eyes widened. "This is so tasty! I have never tasted such tasty strawberries before!"

"I know right! I grew them!" Venelope said with proud …

"You did! ?"

"Ahmmm… yeah… I have a little farm … I go there every weekend to grow and collect fruits of the season."

"Hmm I see…Where's the grinder machine? "

"There in that box down there."

"Got it…"

Venelope placed stew, ginger bread, vegetable omelet, jam, choco butter, and utensils on the table and sat down.

Jay poured the shake in 2 glasses, leaving enough for refill and brought it to the table.

"Yeah!!! Lets eat", venelope exclaimed and jay smiled back.

Jay was about to pick up bread when suddenly she saw venelope holding her hands together in front of her and smiling. Embarrassingly jay pulled her own hand back and holded her hand just like venelope.

"Dear lord, we thank you for this meal… thank you lord, for everything you have given us…" she stopped.

Jay opened her one eyes to see if she had finished, but she continued instead, with her eyes till close…

"thank you lord, for allowing us to eat this healthy food, with best of health and spirit and ease of mind… thank you lord, for letting us sit together…" a pause again

Jay again opened her eyes but shut them again. She was feeling more hungry by the time.

"thank you lord, for giving us best of people around us… it is all your favor that we are able to sit together like this, and eat without any difficulty or effort. Thank you lord… keep us under your greatest blessings… again a pause…

this time jay didn't open her eyes…

"Ameen"

Jay exclaimed, "that's it? Done?"

"Why? you want to say more?" Venelope laughed.

"Nah nah … you have said everything" jay replied.

"Lets eat now", venelope said with a solemn expression.

As she took the first bite, she felt her throat tighten and tears coming to her eyes. It had been so long since she had a meal like this. Without any commotion, without any fights, without any issues… without any stress… and this moment right now it felt really short lived…

"Aww…. Why are crying?! you don't like the food?"

"Food is good". She said in between sobs… she couldn't control her tears any more. Bread still in one hand; a piece of it in another and arm covering her eyes.

Venelope didn't say anything more… she knew what was going on and she knew this wave needed to come and pass for her to feel calm. And she was right. In a few minutes jay was smiling again and eating with great valor like a hungry child.

"So what did you mean by rosy life?" venelope took jay by surprise who thought she hadn't heard her earlier.

"Rosy life?"

"Yeah … it was really ambiguous ... didn't you say what a rosy life when I was in the kitchen and when I asked you … you said its nothing."

"Ah… I just felt you have a really luxurious life."

"Oh really?" she laughed as she heard jay's unexpected answer.

"I am not one of those elite classes jay, who are not even happy after having everything in life. I have seen and suffered too much… I have faced too many restrictions, too much incidences, and have lost so much that now I just don't have it in me to be bothered about them or be jealous about them or even worry about them. I am content with what I have, with those who chose to stay with me… If you think that's a rosy life well then yes I have a damned rosy luxurious life…" she laughed as she ended her fantastical statement with a low tone.

Jay was just looking at her. Then sipping the milkshake she said, "if you trust me… I want to know about your life V"

"Haha… my life is not worth mentioning… there are just so many icks that I better don't get started"

"Hahaha… icks… my whole existence is an ick in itself… well its your choice… but yeah… I do want to know if you ever want to open up…" she said with a wink.

"Why do you want to know about me?"

"Curiosity…"

"I must hold it upon myself to alert you that curiosity kills the cat ms. Miller." Venelope said with an eccentric british accent.

Jay was feeling amused, "I must take it upon myself to let you know that I will have no regrets dying in this path to enlightenment Ms Smith"

"Isn't it I must hold upon myself?" She asked

"I think its I must take it upon myself?" She replied

Both laughed their hearts out. Raising their milkshake glasses to clink cheers to each other. And drinking to their fill.

In between laughs, phone rang.

"I think its your phone…" jay said

"My? I don't think so… Its been ages since I got one!" Venelope rushed to the room to get her phone.

"here…Its yours," she said with a rather disappointed tone and handed the phone to jay. It was her father's call.

She looked up at venelope who nodded her to pick it up. Jay cleared her throat and finally picked it up on the third ring.

"Hey dad… yeah… I will be home today…"

"Yeah… we are going to the university will be back to home at the usual time."

She looked up at venelope while on the phone who was playing with the bits of bread crumbs on her plate silently.

"Dad, can I stay with venelope for 1 more day."

"Yeah… I want to…"

"Yeah…"

"Yeah …"

"Okay…?"

"Okay… will see you tomorrow then…"

"Hmm… will let you know… goodbye…"

Venelope was looking up at jay.

"Well… I don't think you will mind me staying for one more day here will you?"

Venelope teased, " I will mind very much…"

"Then how about you come over to stay at my house today?"

WHAT?

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[accuscripter]

"I can stay at your house???"

"How come?"

"Didn't you say you will stay here?"

"Yes I did… but then dad said, if you are willing you can come stay over with us."

"Venelope face was visibily disturbed and in deep thought."

"Otherwise its alright… if its not possible for you." Jay said looking down into her plate.

"Who said Its not possible…I am thinking what cloths to bring with me…"

"You are ready to come over?"

"Of course I am … its not daily that someone invite me over." She giggled.

"Yesss….. we will have fun don't worry about cloths you can wear mineee!!!

You said it! Don't back off later! She said with a laugh. "we will have fun… now quickly finish up we need to go to university."

"Hmm…" jay nodded with her mouthful. And venelope laughed at her childish behavior.

The day at the campus went as usual except that jay and venelope were closer than before. Clinging to each other, going everywhere together.

After the last lecture they got out of the building holding hands. Jay moving ahead.

"Jay…are you sure…"

"Sure about what…"

"Taking me over…"

"What are talking about?!"

"Like… I don't know… I am feeling a little reluctant… "

"Don't think too much about anything… yeah my house is really dry like we don't really bother with each other… just people living together but yeah don't worry about anything… I think your presence can make it feel like a home if anything…."

Venelope silently looked at her and let jay pull her to the bus stop… They took the bus sitting together sharing piece of handsfree with each other…

The song playing was Helium by SIA…

I am giving my all

But I know peace will come

I never wanted to need someone

Yeah I wanted to play tough

Thought I could do this all on my own

But even superwoman sometimes need a superman's soul

Help me out of this hell…

Your love… Lifts me up like helium

Your love… lifts me up when I am down down down

When I hit the ground… You're the only one I need.

…..

Soon they reached their stop and got out of the bus.

How far is your house?

Just a few minutes' walk.

Soon they reached her house. Jay held the handle and twisted it open, the door opened with a loud creak as if it had been barren for some time. The house was bathed in darkness. It was already evening but no sign of lights was visible.

Jay tried to ease the tension with a formality vibrance…

"Welcome… to the house… this is where I live… make yourself at home", and immediately turned on the lights, of the living room with the help of her phone torch..

"Where is everyone?"

"Everyone?"

"Yeah… your parents?"

"oh… they must be in their room."

"Ah…then the lights?... "venelope looked at jay with a questioning look…

Actually it was just casual the house to be drowned in the darkness every evening, but today in the presence of venelope jay actually felt embarrassed of her ritualistic usual dark.

"Yeah… usually I am home early so I am the one who turn on the lights…sooo"

"Hmmm…" venelope didn't seem to take this excuse from jay.

Seeing this confused expression on venelope's face, jay shout in the house, "dad are you home?"

"Dad?"

Soon she hear her father coming down the stairs and let out a sign of relief under her breath, saying thank god in her heart…

"Love, you are home!!!"

"Oh look who it is no other than ms venelope smith gracing us with her presence, today." Her father said while hugging jay. And jay trying hard to pretend to be normal like other families was trying to look happy, calm and as much casual as she could be. But the awkwardness was pretty obvious.

"Love, take your friend to your room, I will quickly fix something for you to eat."

"Come v let me show you my room…", holding her hand she took her to her room.

"Whats this smell?" Venelope exclaimed as soon as she entered her room…

Jay entering her room after a day also felt a strange smell, and was embarrassed. She immediately opened the window to let the cool air in…

"Jay.. I am asking what is this smell?"

"I … I don't know… maybe because the room has been closed for a day?"

"Do you know what smell is it?" She asked crossed.

Jay wanted the earth to open and bury her as she shock her head looking down….

But before she could say more, venelope hugged her tightly..

"I didn't realize you were this much sick… it smell like medicines..."

"Sick…. No I am not sick…." She replied surprisingly…

"Then why do you think you never realized your room smell like medicines? Mixed with the smell of the peppermint… !"

Jay was answerless… she had no answer.

Venelope took her to sit on the bed, and sat beside her…

"breath… calm down… you don't have to pretend in front of me… I didn't mean to embarrass you with this smell thing… but what shocked me was the fact that you yourself didn't know…"

Jay didn't say anything… just tears were falling from eyes in her hands.

"Show me where is the medicine…?" After a while venelope asked and jay pointed her finger towards a direction. Venelope went over and looked inside the bag and found many packages of medicine… all empty…

"What is this?" Venelope came over and squatted in front of her…her eyes wide with surprise…

"Med…medicine…", she replied with exhaustion.

"I know this medicine… but these are so much… and all empty!!! when was the last time you had medicine?"

"Last week…"

"What sorts are these all?"

Jay looked at her with question in her eyes…

"Like I am asking why were you taking these? I know about your stomach ache…. But this?" She held up a tablet.

"Why do you have this?" She asked again.

Jay was silent…

"Jay … all of these are not available without prescription….!!! Medicines for sleep? for depression…? For pain? And what is this????"

Jay still didn't answer… venelope stood up and sat right beside her throwing the packges into the bin and holding her face with her hand… looking at jay curiously…

"Jay … answer me honestly… will you…"

Jay was looking at her tired swollen red eyes…

"Did you want to take your LIFE???" she whispered in a soft cautious voice.


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"Did you want to take your LIFE???" she asked in a soft, cautious voice.
"Here girls, I have some appetizing soup for you. Food is coming right up."

Her father entered before she could answer the question. Seeing their tense expressions and his daughter's strange look, he couldn't help but ask, "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, Dad…" Jay nodded with a smile, and Venelope followed.
"Yeah, Uncle, everything's good. We were just talking about university and stuff."

"Ahh… are you sure? Both of you don't really look that good…"
"We're fine, Dad."
"Okay, if you say so…
"Well, here, take this." He handed the bowls to both of them. "You can come out in 30 minutes dinner will be ready by then. I'm cooking Jay's favorite spicy shrimp fried rice. You'll love it too. You don't have any allergy to that, do you, my dear?"

"Ah… shrimp?" Venelope looked at Jay, who was looking at her father.
"No, I'm not allergic… but Jay… aren't you allergic to shrimp? You don't even like shrimp…"

Her father stared blankly at Jay.
"Yeah… I mean, yeah… Dad cooked it for you. He's making something else for me… There was a time I loved shrimp fried rice…"
"Yeah… you'll love it too… I cook really well…"

And without saying more, her father rushed out of the room.

Venelope was watching after him… then she broke the silence first.
"He didn't know you're allergic?"
"No…"
"Why?"
"I don't know…"
"But he's your dad…"
"Yeah, he is…"
"Your mother doesn't know it either?"
"Yeah…"
"Do you eat seafood every time they cook it?"
"Not really… but yeah…"
"Huh? Like they cook it and you don't tell them and you don't eat it… how does that work?"
"I tried telling them once…"
"Then…?"
"Then what…?"
"I am asking…what happened when you told them you cannot eat seafood?"
"Nothing. Mother said I was being superstitious, that I was overthinking. I used to love seafood, after all…"
"You didn't try telling them again?"
"I tried not eating seafood again…" Jay laughed. "I don't even know if I really am allergic… or if I'm cured or something…"
"Hmmm… well… you're dangerous… Instead, it's really reckless and careless on your part!"
"You think it's my fault?"
"Whose fault is it, then? It's your condition. You should clearly define your needs, your problems, your stances… Instead, you've caught yourself in your own jumbled situation…"
"Hahaha… I guess you're right… it's my fault… everything is my fault… Being sick is my fault, not wanting to get married for others is my fault, and now getting married is also my fault…"

Jay stood up and put the bowl on the side table.
"Jay, I didn't mean that!" Venelope stood up with her.
"I don't blame you… but yeah, I need time… I'll be back after I freshen up…"

Saying this, she took her pajamas and went to the bathroom, bolting it shut loudly.

Venelope sat down, staring at the bowl in her hands for a long time… Soon Jay came out.
"You haven't had the soup! V, it's all cold now!"
"You feeling better?" Venelope got up.
"Yeah! I am… just some pent-up frustration came out. I'm sorry…"
"You don't have to be sorry.
I strongly believe… in anger, people are truthful…"
"Leave this… here, freshen up and change into something comfortable." She said while giving her pajamas. "Let me heat it for you as well." She took the bowl from Venelope.

Jay took the two bowls and went out, then came back with sizzling hot, sour and spicy soup. Venelope had already freshened up and changed. The cool air through the window hit her wet hair and face while the warm bowls in their hands brought comfort to the chilly evening.

They sat down together on the bed and started gossiping and chatting, the warmth of the soup calming their souls.

…

As soon as her father rushed out of her room and into the kitchen, he stumbled around the corner of the counter and nearly fell. He was breathing heavily. It felt as if there was a weight on his chest and head. He couldn't think, couldn't breathe, and felt a surge of irritation, he literally wanted to break everything and create a lot of noise around him all this quiet was pinching him.

There were no tears in his eyes, and no words in his mouth. Finally, after a while, he opened the tap and put his head under it, drenching himself with cold water. As he took his head out of the tap and steadied himself over the sink, arms supporting him, he tried to think about what was happening to him but all he could do was pant.

During all this commotion, he didn't realize Jay was standing near the oven, putting the bowls in. Instantly, his anger disappeared and a wave of disappointment surged through him as he saw his beloved daughter not even asking him if he was alright.
"You need something, my dear?"
"No, Dad…"
"Soup was no good?"
"It went cold as we freshened up, so…"
"Ah… you can also take those snacks we have biscuits and chips in the cupboard."

That, Jay accepted happily and walked away. Her father kept looking after her, his expression instantly shifting as he watched her go. As if… as if he wouldn't be able to get hold of her ever again…

…

Soon, dinner was ready.

There was chicken curry, bread, shrimp fried rice, nuggets, custard jelly dessert, and drinks to go with it. Her father called them from the kitchen:
"Girls! The food is ready! Come out!"
"Food's ready, let's go!" Jay told Venelope and went out.

The table was beautifully set, and Venelope was in total awe. She looked at Jay as if wanting her permission to sit and enjoy.
"Ohhh… please don't be like this. Sit! You must not have had warm homemade food like this in a while!" her father said when he saw this.
"Dad, Venelope can cook really well. We had homemade breakfast this morning. If anything, I'm the one who hasn't had homemade food in ages."


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[accuscripter]

The time seemed to have stopped.
Jay, who was filling her plate, looked around her… Venelope was frozen, staring at her, and her father was standing, about to pull his chair to sit with them, looking at her with guilt and pain.

Finally, after a minute of this dead silence, her father said,
"Haha… you are absolutely right. That's why I'm saying, eat all you want. It's not every day you get to enjoy my best world-class cooking."

Venelope added, "Yeah, yeah, Uncle! I'm especially honored today. Jay must have enjoyed your delicious recipes before, I'll also savor them wholly."

Jay was silent, looking down… thinking, I am the most dumb person… but why am I the dumb person? I'm right, after all… Still, I shouldn't have said this… then you wouldn't be able to say it ever. But still… Venelope was here! Who cares, she already knows more about you than any of you parents…

Jay…
Jay…
JAY?!

"Y-Yeah?" Jay exclaimed suddenly, snapping out of her train of thoughts.

"What are you thinking?"

"N… Nothing…"

"Then why weren't you listening?"

"I was just… randomly…"

"Don't think here and there just eat."

Her father placed a water jug on the table and pushed the chair he had pulled out earlier back into its position.

"Uncle, you won't sit with us?"

"Oh… I have something to do. I won't disturb you young people."

"Oh, we won't be disturbed, Uncle! Let's have a meal together…"

Her father untied his apron, took it off, and hung it on the wall hook.
"You eat. I'll eat later. And take more if you wish there's much more left in the kitchen. Okay?"

He looked at both of them and then left, rushing upstairs.

"Where's your mother?"

"Don't know."

"She won't eat?"

"No idea."

"You won't ask her?"

"Why would I ask her?"

Venelope looked at her crossly, to which Jay replied,
"What?! She can eat when she wants to eat."

"Go, Jay. See your mother. Otherwise, if you don't go believe me I will go back to my own house right now! I don't want to become a villain in front of your mother. Go ask her!"

Reluctantly, Jay got up and started to go up the stairs. Her parents' room was open.

……

"Did you know Jay is allergic to shrimps?"

"Who said she is allergic?" Jay heard her mother saying angrily.

"She told me herself!"

"When?"

"Earlier…"

"In front of the outsider?!"

"That doesn't matter, does it?! We are her parents and we didn't even know she's allergic to seafood!"

"I already have a headache don't talk to me! I don't want to hear this gibberish"

"Do you know how I felt when I told her I had cooked her favorite shrimp fried rice, and her friend told me she's allergic?"

"I don't know, and I don't want to know! If she's allergic, she should have told us!"

"Do you know what I felt when I realized we almost daily cook seafood because we think all of us like it?"

"Are you blaming me for this?! Don't you like seafood?!"

"I'm allergic to seafood!"

"What?!"

"I thought it doesn't matter… As long as my love and my daughter enjoy it, I love it too…"

"Miller do you even realize what you are saying?!"

Jay could clearly hear her mother's sobs and her father's painful sighs.

"Why didn't you tell me?! That you didn't like it, and that you were allergic?! What if you had died!"

"What if my daughter had DIED, Elyana…she was taking poison everyday! We were feeding her poison by our very hands!? Do you know what I felt when right in front of my eyes she was going back to her room, without even looking at me?"

Her mother was silent now.

"Have you ever felt disappointment?"

…no response

"Elyana I am talking to you…"

Still no response came.

"Let's say… there is a thing it's necessary for your existence. Necessary for you to live.
But you cannot touch it… You cannot go too far from it, because you won't be able to breathe otherwise.
And you cannot get close to it, because then again, you won't be able to breathe and it will also cause that thing to perish.
And you don't know what to do… You feel miserable, tired, alone, and stuck in one place…
And then, because you can't go close, can't go far you want to die right at that very spot, so you won't be called a coward…"

"What are you even talking about, Mil…" her mother was crying now.

"Jay is that thing to me Elyana… i cannot get too close to her because I fear I will suffocate her, I cannot go far from her because then I will suffocate without her… I don't know what to do…"

Jay's face was red and she couldn't stop crying. She had her mouth covered with her hand to keep her voice from echoing in the empty corridor. She didn't know what to do… She knew if she went down, Venelope would see her… And if she didn't move from here, her parents would see her…

She started taking deep breaths… and immediately went into the guest bathroom on the floor.

There, she opened the tap and started drinking directly from it.
Suddenly, she felt a pang of pain in her stomach. She bent over the sink with pain.

It was again one of the most severe more severe than the last time.
And this time… she lost consciousness.

The tap was still running, filling up the sink, because she had forgotten to remove the sink cap.
She fell on her knees on the floor.
The water from the sink started to overflow. It left the bathroom and started following an unknown trail down the stairs…

…..

Venelope was waiting for Jay to come and eat together.
But suddenly, she heard the fast rush of water and turned her eyes toward the noise.
The scene struck her.

She immediately left her seat and ran upstairs. She was following the trail of water and saw the closed bathroom door. She started knocking but to no avail.

Venelope looked around, panicked, and then saw the open bedroom.
Without any warning, she went straight in.

Her mother was still crying, and her father was holding his head…

"Uncle! Auntie! Jay is not opening the bathroom door…"


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[accuscripter]

"Uncle! Auntie! Jay is not opening the bathroom door…"

He immediately ran out of the room, pushing Venelope aside. He was looking here and there.

"Where is she?" Then, as he looked down and saw the water trail coming from the bathroom just a few steps ahead, he ran to it Venelope following him, with Elyana, her mother, staggering out of the room, setting a shawl over her shoulders.

"JAY!!!!"

"Jay!! Open the door! Are you alright?!"

Her father was shouting as he banged on the door. Venelope was also calling after her, but to no avail.

Her father looked here and there in panic and then looked at his wife, who was white with fear.

"Elyana! Where are the master keys???"

Elyana seemed dumbfounded and wasn't responding to anything.

"Elyana! For God's sake! You woman! I am talking to you!"

"Uncle! Calm down! Auntie" Venelope put her hand on her shoulder. She gasped with a shudder and looked at Venelope.

"Auntie, where are the master keys?"

"The what?"

"The master keys!"

"UGH!!!" Her father gave a loud roar.

"Auntie!"

Her mother, as if possessed, pointed into her room. "Drawer… lower…" she said in between panting breaths.

There were six drawers three on each side of the bed and the wardrobe. She opened the lowest drawer on the left. It was filled with Socks and handkerchiefs. The Wrong one. She darted to the other side, yanked open the bottom drawer and there it was, a bunch of keys. She instantly grabbed them and sprinted out.

Her father snatched them from her and started trying every single one. The water kept pouring out from under the bathroom door. There was still no movement inside. The bunch had at least 25 keys and he was trying them all in desperation.

Now and then, keys slipped from his trembling hands onto the flooded floor, mixing the water with his panic.
"DAMN… DAMN… DAMN!" he shouted again and again, voice raw and trembling.

Finally, one key turned and the lock clicked.

As he reached for the handle, Venelope grabbed his arm.
"Uncle! Let Auntie go in."

"WHY?!" he roared, the volume making Venelope flinch but she held her ground.

"Jay is a girl!"

"She is my daughter!" he snapped.

"BUT SHE IS A WOMAN! AND THIS IS A BATHROOM!"

Her father froze. The rage drained from his face and his grip loosened from the doorknob as embarrassment settled into his features.

"She won't want you to see her like this…" Venelope added gently, pushing her mother toward the door with one hand while pulling him away with the other.

Her mother, still half-catatonic, opened the door wide.

Venelope gasped in horror.

"JAY!"

Her father rushed forward, unable to stop himself.

Jay was collapsed on the floor in a prostrate. One hand clutched tightly at her stomach, the other splayed across the wet tiles.

Water from the sink was pouring down over her head, drenching the floor, streaming down the hallway stairs. It lapped against her face, some slipping into her open mouth. She was only partially conscious if conscious at all.

Venelope dropped to her knees and pulled Jay's soaked body into her arms, cradling her limp head.
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she brushed Jay's wet hair from her face.

"Jay! Wake up! Are you okay?! Please say something…"

But there was no response.

Elyana stood at the door, unmoving, shocked. Her father had disappeared only to return moments later with a thick towel.

He stormed in, shut off the tap, opened the sink hole, and with Venelope's help, lifted Jay's lifeless form from the floor. He wrapped her in the towel and carried her out the door.

They were soon in the car, Venelope was sitting in the back with Jay, her father gripping the wheel like his hands were stone, driving in the maximum speed.

When they reached the hospital, he carried her into his arms, covered with the towel, and ran into the emergency.

"LOOK AT MY DAUGHTER! PLEASE, LOOK AT HER! SHE'S DYING!" she shouted at the top of his lungs.

A nurse rushed to intercept him.

"Sir! You can't do this… please put the patient down. Please Let us take care of her! Sir…"

But he wasn't listening. Then two to three sturdy male nurses arrived. One gently took Jay from his arms and the other two pushed him aside to clear the way.

Meanwhile, Venelope was frantically talking to the female nurse:

"She has a history of stomachaches she uses peppermint and all sorts of painkillers to cope. She eats too little. She's under too much stress. That's why she sniffs peppermint all the time… She's allergic to seafood. The last medicine she took was maybe a week ago. Today she hadn't eaten anything nothing. Ah!!! I remember…we had breakfast together this morning at 7 a.m. it was soup, dessert, milkshake and bread… Since then, she hasn't eaten anything. We found her lying on the bathroom floor, soaked. The sink was running. Water was overflowing. It was falling over her, going down the stairs. Her hand was on her stomach."

"Ma'am! Please calm down," the nurse interrupted. "The doctor's here. Don't worry we've got her now." And with that, she gently but firmly pushed Venelope aside and drew the curtain around the stretcher.

Her father sat nearby, hands on his knees, trembling.

Venelope came and sat beside him.

"I didn't know she was allergic…" he murmured.

Venelope said nothing.

"I didn't know she'd been taking all sorts of medicine…"

Still, no reply.

"I didn't know she wasn't eating. I didn't know she kept peppermint with her… that she even bought peppermint… I didn't know she had stress issues."

Venelope's lips parted, then shut. But finally, as his voice grew softer, she couldn't stop herself.

"Stress Issues? Uncle… you've wronged her."

As soon as she said this, tears ran down his eyes and he started crying like a baby. He covered his face and turned his back against her.

As this was going on, a young man in his mid-twenties came running into the emergency. He was looking here and there hysterically. Finally, as he saw him, he ran up to him and cried,
"WHERE IS SHE?! WHERE IS MY WIFE?!"


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[accuscripter]

"WHERE IS SHE?! WHERE IS MY WIFE?!"

Her father instantly looked up. Before he could say anything, the young man approached him, grabbed him by the collar, and said in a low pitch, "I asked where is she?"

Venelope barged in between them and tried to push him away. She was holding his arm, but before she could make him loosen his grip, he pushed her aside and shoved his hand into the old man's neck. Her father coughed at the sheer force.

"Who is she?!" he shouted.

"UGH!" The young man pushed him away and cried, "Where is JAY?!"

Venelope, who was helping Jay's father to the seat, asked him,
"Sir, do you know this man?"
He shook his head.

"Look… don't waste my time. Tell me where is Jay!" the young man cried again.

Venelope shouted back, "You just shoved an old man and are asking about his daughter without even introducing yourself! Who do you think you are?!"

"Who do I think I am?!" he cried, his voice cracking with emotion.
"She is mine! I have every right to know everything about her! What about you all?! You couldn't even take care of a little girl—you nearly drove her to death!"

As he was speaking to Venelope, he didn't see her father coming until he punched him hard across the face, knocking him to the ground.

Before the young man could get up, her father had already sat on him and began punching him over and over.

"YOURS? SHE IS MINE! SHE IS MY DAUGHTER!"
In between the punches, he roared,
"YOUR DAUGHTER? YOU NEARLY KILLED HER! DON'T YOU SEE?!"

At this, her father hit him even harder. Some male nurses and guards rushed in to stop the fight, but the young man raised a hand, signaling them to stay back.

He didn't hit back. He let the old man vent every ounce of his fury.

Finally, when all the rage and strength had drained from him, her father collapsed to the floor beside him. The young man had a bloody lip and a few bruises. Though her father had struck hard, he didn't have enough strength left to damage his handsome face but his arms were covered in bruises from shielding it.

"She is your daughter," the young man said, panting,
"And now, she will be my wife. I can't let her suffer like this. I can't wait until next week. I want to take her in…right now. From this very instant."

Her father buried his face in his arms.
"Why didn't you tell me it was you… I didn't recognize you…" he muttered, suddenly going off-topic.

"It doesn't matter," the young man replied, sitting up.
"Where is she?"

Her father didn't respond.

"Hey! You!" he turned to Venelope, who sat frozen on the bench, white with horror.
"Where is she?"

Venelope hitched a breath and looked away.

"Very well…" he said, rising to his feet. He marched to a nearby nurse and said firmly,
"I need records for Jay Miller. She was admitted a short while ago."

"Yes, sir. Coming right up," the nurse replied and hurried away.

He turned to the people staring.
"What are you all looking at? Never seen a circus before? GO AWAY!" he bellowed.

The crowd quickly dispersed. The stunned guards and nurses began pushing people back to their rooms and duties.

Soon, the nurse returned, slightly breathless.
"Sir, follow me," she said.

Her father stood up, stumbling from exhaustion.
"Not you, sir," she said gently.

"I AM HER FATHER!" he cried.

"I OWN THIS PLACE," the young man replied coldly, not even turning back as he followed the nurse with quick steps.

He reached a glass window and looked through.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked in a trembling voice.

"We suspect appendicitis and are preparing her for an ultrasound," a senior doctor answered.

"Is she in danger?"

"She's not in immediate danger," the doctor replied, "but yes… it's admirable how long she's been silently suffering through this pain."

"Can I go in?"

"Will you stop if we try to stop you?"

"No."

The doctor sighed.
"Well… on your way in, young master."

He put on the medical kit and stepped inside the ward. Jay was lying on the bed, tubes connected to her body, with the steady beep of a monitor sounding in the background.

He held her hand and looked at her for a moment then let go, and sat beside her, staring at his own hands.

A faint voice interrupted him.
"Who are you?"

He looked up. Jay's eyes were half open, and she was staring at him.

He stood instantly, took her hand, and gently stroked her head.
"You're alright. Everything's alright. Don't worry."

"Dad?" she whispered.

"You want to see your dad?" he asked, then ran out of the ward without waiting for a reply.

Jay watched him go and slowly shut her eyes. One sentence drifted through her thoughts like a whisper from the past:

"This smell… I know this smell…"

A few moments later, her father came running in, Venelope close behind. But the young man was gone.

Her father sat by her side.
"Jay! My child, are you okay?"

She nodded weakly.

"Jay, you gave us a fright, girl!" Venelope cried.

Jay, still not fully conscious, smiled faintly. She looked at the door, beyond both of them.

"Are you looking for something?" Venelope asked. Her father looked at her too, concern in his eyes.

"There was a man…"

"Where?"

"There was… a man… before you…"

Venelope looked at her father. He met her eyes, and with an unspoken understanding, Venelope said,
"Must've been a doctor, Jay… what happened to him?"

Jay didn't look convinced, but before she could say more, she fell unconscious again.

A nurse entered.
"You have to leave now we're taking her for the ultrasound."

Her father watched her with teary eyes as the nurse gently pushed him out and closed the door behind him.

Venelope, still standing beside him, asked quietly,
"Uncle… are you sure you don't want to tell her about him?"

 

[accuscripter]

As Jay was rushed out of the house to be taken to the hospital, her mother remained standing next to the bathroom door, still with a ghastly expression, without realizing what was happening. Her father draped her with the towel and took her out, and until the car left the garage, she kept standing. And only after the car was gone did she realize what had happened. She fell to her knees on the wet floor and, while sitting by the door, kept looking into the water. Finally, tears fell from her eyes.

"Is it my fault?" she cried. Her voice echoed in the bathroom.

"She says she is suffering… he says he is suffering… Am I not suffering? Am I not rotting because of them?! Haven't I destroyed my future, my life, my body, my health my everything for them?! Still, they say they are suffering?"

"Am I to be blamed if they are suffering?! What should I do if they are suffering?!"

She was wailing hard in the empty house, and her voice was echoing back to her with even higher pitch. Finally, after a while, she stood up and went down the stairs, following the water trail. She was coming down with slow, deliberate, yet proud steps.

"What can I do if they are suffering… I don't care… I am suffering too… and to end my suffering, I only have one way out…" saying this to herself, she headed into the kitchen.

There she took out a knife from the set and tried to check the sharpness of its blade on her finger…

"It's too weak," as the blade failed to cut her finger in one strike. She picked up another.

"Poor…"

Then she picked up another. It looked pretty small yet had a shiny edge. As soon as she put it on her finger, without realizing, it was already bleeding.

A wicked smile came on her face, and she moved it to her wrist…

"Should I cut the wrist or my throat?" suddenly a question popped into her head.

She turned the other side of the knife and moved it to her throat…

"No, no… not the throat… I won't be able to breathe… it's so awkward… I think the wrist is better…"

She again put it on her wrist, closed her eyes… and as she was about to cut it, she opened her eyes…

"Should I cut close to the hand or away from the hand… where it can prove to be fatal?" she thought, while moving the knife up and down…

"Hmm… I think near the hand is better… okay… I will cut now…"

She closed her eyes and was about to cut it, but then again opened her eyes.

"When will they return? What if they don't come back for a week! Will I be lying here on this cold floor, all exposed?"

"No, no, no, no… I should go up to my room." And again a sinister smile came on her face.

She went up into her room and laid straight on the bed and was all ready to cut when she thought…

"Will they even be sad at my death?!"

Then answering herself, she said…

"I don't care… it's my suffering after all. I am the one who wants to get away from them…"

"Hmm…" she lay down again and was about to cut herself when another thought hit her…

"Yeah… I am doing it for myself…. shouldn't I look good? To let them know that I am dying happily… I am happy to die rather than live with them… Humph…"

Saying this, she got up and sat in front of the mirror.

It was already 20 minutes since Jay had been taken to the hospital.

She took out the darkest shade of lipstick she had and put it on. Then blush, mascara, eyeliner, foundation, base, and shades. She saw it and she put it this was her situation right now. She quickly did her makeup and got up and was about to lie down when another thought came to her mind…

"I am looking so beautiful, I should dress beautifully too," she said, looking at her half-drenched clothes.

She opened her wardrobe, took out a black velvet robe, and wore it. Opened her hair, looked at herself in the mirror, gave herself a wink and said,

"Well… now I am ready to die."

Then she lay on the bed and was about to commit the act when she realized that it's not fair to go to heaven without letting her grievances be known to the world.

"I should write a death note. A letter that tells all my sufferings to the world… what I have suffered all these years and how this father-daughter have been a bane to my existence. I only think good for them and they blame me for everything…"

She got up and started looking for a pen and paper. She found the pen, but she couldn't find the paper. She had diary pages, but she thought that the A3 page is too small to pen down her pain. So she was looking for a large paper from a copy or anything, at least A4.

But even after all the efforts, she couldn't find a paper. She sat down exhausted. Now it was 35 minutes since Jay had been taken to the hospital.

As she sat down, Jay came to her mind…"She must have a paper in her room!"

As she entered her room, she realized a strange smell in the room. Ignoring it, she started pulling out the drawers and everything to see if she could find a paper. There, she saw Jay and Venelope's bag.

"They embarrassed me in front of that wench, didn't they? Now I will embarrass them in front of her as well!"

She opened the bag to look for the page, but as she was looking, she found a small picture.

There was a quiet little girl that seemed like Venelope herself… kissing a beautiful young woman.

 

[accuscripter]

that If you're enjoying my content, but not supporting me on Patreon, you're basically letting me eat ramen noodles for the rest of my life

 

[accuscripter]

Elyana turned the picture over and saw the letters: M A M A.
"Everyone loves their mother! Why am I not blessed with that kind of love?" Saying this, she threw the picture back in the bag, found a big enough paper for her use, and rushed to her room.

She sat on her bed with pen and paper… she was about to start writing when an idea struck her.
"I should cut the wrist and write the note with my own blood! That way they will realize how much I was hurt!"
Another sinister smile came to her face, and her eyes sparkled at the mere idea.

She sat comfortably with pen and paper in front of her on the bed. She held the knife in her right hand… and was about to cut the left wrist. She closed her eyes tightly, flinching her face… ready to put the blade her breathing stopped… well, now there were no excuses left to not kill herself, it seemed…
She was about to do it when the phone rang.
Tring tring tring…
Elyana opened her eyes with relief and ran to pick up her phone.

"Hello?"
"How are you?"
"I'm good…"
"So what's the situation… did you discuss it with your husband?"
"Yeah… but " Before she could continue, the person on the other end interrupted her.

"Well… I have to tell you, Ms. Elyana Miller, that your answer will help our company decide whether we want to offer you our help and whether your company will survive or not. And for your information, I'd like to remind you that the chairman is not a very patient person. It's either a yes or a no. Don't linger too long and create a mess like this."

"Assistant Waller… I'm trying, but the situation right now is a little pessimistic… I won't beg you to save my company… right now my own family circumstances don't allow me to intervene in anything else… even right now, my husband took Jay to the hospital, leaving me alone in the house… I have no support or anything… I don't think I'm even eligible to be leading such a large company, based on my own incompetencies…"

Silence. No one spoke.
"Hello?" Elyana questioned.
No response.

She took the phone away from her ear to see if the call was still connected, and against the odds, it was still ongoing.
She again put it to her ear and said, "Hello?"
This time, there was a hushing, swishing-like sound, as if someone else took the phone, and then the next second, she heard a loud roar
"Where is she?! Where is Jay?!"

Elyana got scared. She took the phone away from her ear and looked at it with surprise, then putting it back on cried,
"I don't know!"
"What happened to her!"
"I don't know!"

"You know how to talk, but you don't know what happened to your daughter?! Or where she is?! What kind of a mother are you?!"
The caller on the other side cried, taking Elyana by surprise…
And then, without waiting for her reply, the call was cut short, leaving Elyana to interpret the conversation on her own.

"What kind of mother I am?! What kind!"
"Now other people will tell me how to be a mother!"
She said while stomping her foot on the floor.

"Ugh!!!" she exclaimed, sitting back on her bed and looking at the scattered pen, paper, and knife.
"The universe does not yet want me to die… not yet…" she said while looking at them.
"I've been interrupted too many times to call it mere coincidence… If the universe wanted me to die, it would've made me fall down the stairs, or the first knife I picked up would've worked… All the things I've done to prepare…they all came to my mind just to stall for time. The universe doesn't want me to die yet. Not yet…"

She hid her face in her hands… then looked at the clock.
"Who was the other person who just made my ears go numb?!"

Then, after a while, she again said,
"Would they have reached the hospital? Well, the nearest is 20 minutes away… so maybe it's already been almost 45 minutes…"
"Look at them! They didn't even call to tell me what they are doing or ask how I am doing! I was also sick! But no one took me to the hospital!"
And then she cried again,
"I want to die! I don't care if the universe wants it or not! I must end my suffering and write my will my pain with my own blood!"
She held the knife tightly in her hand and was about to cut when she suddenly realized,
"I want to go to the bathroom…"

……

Meanwhile…
The person on the other end of the call, as soon as he cut it, dialed a number and said,
"Uncle, it's me… help me! Help me find a person named Jay Miller. She was taken to a hospital a while ago…"
Then he tells Jay's address.
"Please, first check the closest hospital in the area. I'm also going to check. No, don't worry about me. I'm alright…"

Saying this, he threw the phone on the table and said,
"Dad, I need your car. Allow me to drive."
"You are not mentally stable right now to drive!"
"Don't worry. I'm good… I ask of you to allow me to take your car."
"Go ahead, and stay in contact with me…"
Saying this, his father tossed the car key out of the drawer towards him, and he rushed out of the room to the parking area.

He turned the key and got out of the house, a surveillance car following after him for his protection, and he turned the steering toward the closest hospital near Jay's house the one he had taken her to before, too.

 

[accuscripter]

"I don't want to tell her now… she'll be scared. I don't want to do that to her," he said quietly, as if trying to convince himself. "And he has such a ridiculous wish, too. He wants to take her with him upon discharge! How can I allow that?"

Venelope stayed quiet. But deep in her heart, after watching the chaos unfold, she secretly thought if the man was good, maybe it would be better for Jay to go with him. Still, seeing her friend's father's reaction and knowing she was technically an outsider, she swallowed her opinion whole.

As they stood near the waiting area, the man approached them silently from behind.

"How is she?"

Venelope turned, startled by his voice.
"They're taking her for an ultrasound," she replied calmly.

"Who are you?"
"Me?"
He gave her a sharp look that screamed: Who else would I be talking to?

"I'm Venelope. Jay's friend," she said, holding out her hand in a polite instinct.

He glanced down at it and replied coldly,
"I'll pretend I didn't see that."

Venelope pulled her hand back, eyebrows raised.
"You don't have to pretend anything. I haven't done anything shameful."

"You're shy. Just say it. No need to be rude to me," she muttered, not really expecting a response.

"I don't touch strangers," he snapped.

"Yeah, whatever…" she said, rolling her eyes.

He brushed past her with the grace of a bulldozer and stood beside Jay's father.

"Have you thought about what I said earlier?"

Jay's father narrowed his eyes.
"What did you say? Did you say something?"

"Mr. Miller, don't act like this. You and your wife you're both hurting Jay. Don't you see that?" the man said, voice laced with frustration. "Let me take her. I'll never hurt her."

At this, her father exploded.
"You keep saying we, her parents, are hurting her! Then how am I supposed to believe that you, a stranger, won't?! You don't even know her!"

"I do know her."

"Lies!"

The man's voice grew sharper.
"Cowards lie. I don't lie. Because I'm not afraid of anyone."

That caught her father off-guard. He blinked, stunned. Liars are cowards. It was a phrase he'd never heard before and it hit somewhere deep.

But he shook it off and snapped back.
"How do you even know my daughter?"

The man's expression darkened.
"I don't wish to share."

Another slap to the face. Jay's father clenched his fists, but before he could respond, the man cut in again.

"Well, Mr. Miller, I've arranged the best VIP room for Jay. She'll be moved there after the procedure. I advise you to make your decision quickly. Preferably a yes. Truth is, I don't really need your permission at this point. But I'm asking for it, not out of respect for you but out of fear she might be hurt if she finds out I went against her guardians."

Jay's father raised his voice.
"We are her parents!"

"No parents are like this," the man said sharply. "And don't debate me. Even though I'm not a parent myself, I know what it means to love and protect what's mine. Unlike some people I could mention."

He looked toward Venelope.
"At least she has the guts to show she cares."

Jay's father looked down, jaw tense, while Venelope stiffened, not expecting to be dragged into the middle.

"And one more thing," the man added, turning back, "I'd suggest you check on your wife, too. I spoke with her earlier. It seemed like she didn't even know Jay was in serious condition. That says something, doesn't it?"

With that, he walked up to the window, looked through the glass at Jay, his eyes locked on her for a long, still moment. Then, without turning around, he said in a calm, cold voice

"I'll be back in a little while. Till then, make your decision. And don't try to run from the hospital. Let her have her rest… for once in her life."

Jay's father scoffed.
"you… you…You don't have to tell me what to do."

The man turned his head just slightly and smiled.

"For God's sake…" he muttered this time in a surprisingly polite tone and disappeared from view.

venelope saw him disapprearing around a corner. and with an instinct she walk after him. jay's father cried after him, "where are you going?"

BATHROOM!" she said with the same negative energy and ran away. following him closely. as he got out of the building she cried after him, "Mister! can we talk!" she said in between breaths.

"i dont talk to starngers", he replied while sitting in the car.

"its about her.." she said

as he heard this, his stiffened on the steering wheel.

"speak..."

As always you can support my work by following me on patreon accuscripter and read ahead.

 

[accuscripter]

"Speak..." Venelope said.

"Why are you so persistent about taking Jay?"

"Taking her where?" he asked crossly.

"To your home...?"

"Yes," he said, straightening.

"Yes?" she echoed, raising a brow.
"I'm asking why you're asking."

He gave a tired sigh.
"Ah... well, you see, her parents won't allow it unless you give a logical reason. They're not going to just hand her over to someone they barely know."

"She's my to-be wife. Isn't that a good enough reason?" he replied, moving forward and slamming the car door shut behind him.

"She is to-be wife. That is not wife." Venelope shot back. "That's the difference you're forgetting. I'd suggest you learn the meaning of both terms."

"Don't talk to me like this!" he snapped. "Don't you see how they've been treating her? You do know what they're doing, and you're still standing here trying to argue with me? They've been totally neglecting her, leaving her to suffer on her own! Do you know this isn't even the first time she's ended up in the hospital like this?"

Venelope's face twisted in shock.
"Wait... what do you mean, not the first time?"

He gave her a hard look.
"Exactly what I said. And you her so-called friend don't even know that? You say you're her friend, but you didn't know she's been suffering this badly for a while?"

Venelope flushed with guilt.
"That still doesn't give you the right to try and take her away without even asking her."

"I'm asking her parents on her behalf "

"Do you think she'd like that?" Venelope cut in, voice rising. "You think she doesn't know her parents are neglecting her? You think if they agree to send her off to you like some unwanted package, she'll accept it without questions? Without hurt? Without feeling completely betrayed? You're thinking too highly of yourself and way too little of her!"

He stood there, stunned, quiet for a moment. The words stung, but they were true.
She was right Jay was already at odds with her family. And now, if he swooped in and whisked her away under the guise of rescue, even with their permission, she'd feel wounded. Angry. Maybe even more alone.

"So... what do you suggest?" he asked finally, voice softer.

"Talk to her." Venelope replied, arms folded.

"Talk to who?" he asked, alarm creeping into his voice.

"Jay. Who else?!" she snapped.

"No. I can't." He turned away abruptly.

"What?" she cried. She moved in front of him, nearly grabbing his shoulders in frustration, then stopped herself, placing her hands on her hips instead.

She exhaled deeply.

"Do you like her?" she asked at last.

He froze. His hand was on the car door handle, but he didn't move.

Venelope reached out and placed her hand over the door.

"Stop acting like a child. Do you like her?"

He didn't answer. His mouth opened slightly, but the words refused to come.

"Ugh! What's so hard about saying you like her?!" she cried. "Now I get your problem. Listen this isn't how it's going to work. You've planned so much, you've done so much, and you've imagined a future with her. But if you don't tell her if you don't speak to her yourself she'll think you're some creep. A controlling, selfish, disrespectful guy who made choices for her without ever asking what she wanted."

"It's not like that!" he protested.

"Then what is it like?" she challenged.

He was silent again.

"Don't tell me," she said more gently. "But tell her. Tell her everything. Meet her. Confess whatever you've planned."

"How can I? She won't believe me." His voice cracked. "She doesn't even know me."

"Exactly!" Venelope said, nodding. "That's why you don't just say 'I like you.' You tell her that you believe in her. That you believe she is the one person you want beside you on the road of life."

A small smile crept onto his lips. A flicker of hope.

Venelope smiled too.
"Well… that's good. At least you can smile."

"Show her your respect, your love your faith in her," she said softly. "That's the only way she'll trust you. And never be hasty. Give her time. Space. Let her think. And when you tell her 'everything,' I mean everything. How you know her. What you've done. What you've imagined. Lay it all out."

He nodded slowly, taking it in.

"You clearly have some sort of edge over her parents," Venelope added. "And she's stuck between resentment and responsibility. She thinks marrying you is some kind of martyrdom. That she's destroying herself for them."

"No way!" he gasped, hurt twisting his face.

"Yes way, brother," she said, smirking. **"You were about to screw up real bad. If not for me…" She shrugged, smug as a cat.

He blinked.
"Why are you helping me?" he asked, voice low.

"I'm not helping you, I don't even believe you but I from what I have seen about you I think connection deserve a chance" then she scoffed and added. "I'm helping Jay. I don't want her stuck in a sad, suffocating relationship. So. Let's recap. Tell me what I just said."

"Don't force her parents..."
"Don't force her..."
"Don't act hasty..."
"Tell her everything how I know her, what plans I've made..."

He hesitated. Embarrassed because he was acting like a student in front of his teacher.

"And...?" she prompted sternly like a teacher.

"Give her time and space," he said finally.

She grinned. "Atta boy."

"What if she rejects me?" he asked, shutting his eyes.

"She might," Venelope said bluntly. "But she might not. And even if she does, she'll come around. You want to know how I know?"

He nodded.

"Because she's my friend. And nothing gets to her more than loyalty, respect, truth and protection. If you're all that for her, she'll come back to you. So yeah… way to go, kiddo."

"I am not a kid!" he shot back.

"Yeah, yeah. That's why you were about to throw a tantrum to get a toy that wasn't even yours."

He fell silent. But now, the silence was different calmer. Reflective. Her words had landed. Hard.

And oddly enough… they made him feel just a little more sure. Even if he got rejected… maybe it wouldn't be the end of the story… he just need to show her what he is willing to do for her and leave the rest to destiny.