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?"

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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."


i know you Want to know more than ever what happens next before anyone else?.....and right now my hands are tied, only way is accuscripter's Patreon, but i can make in exception for you!!!! you can try it FREE for 7 days! shhhh our little secretYour support helps me keep writing. patreon.com/accuscripter