The devastating news of her mother

Glory Institution wasn't like any other school. The teaching was customized based on the individual's strengths, needs, skills, and interests. However, to enroll in the institution wasn't easy. There were rumors saying that apart from the test result, students were thoroughly investigated behind the scene before the letter was given to them. Those with negative records usually got rejected by the institution.

Still, no one could deny that whoever graduated from this institution would be well-known in and out of the country. Mostly were prominent figures that became the talk of the town. The best thing? Parents should no longer worried about choosing the next direction for their children because the institution covered the whole steps of education itself.

Ava was listening to a more lengthy explanation compared to the one written above. She almost yawned but held it when Miss Jackeline talked about something unexpected.

Earlier, as soon as they reached the main building, Ava was brought to Jackeline's office for some briefing. Then, after some time Jackeline felt that Ava was too quiet and the only talk when necessary. What she didn't know was that the little girl had just gone through a life and death experience a few hours ago. All she wanted was to have some more rest.

Jackeline thought that talking about something in common would open the key to Ava's chatterbox, hence, she decided to talk about Jenny Anne, her once favorite students as well as Ava's mother.

"Your look a lot like your mother. She was an alumnus of this school and one of the most brilliant students I ever have. Although she was with me only for two semesters," Jackeline talked with pride in her eyes.

She couldn't help but smile the moment Ava's eyes showed some spark of interest.

"Miss Jackeline, have you met my mother recently?" Ava's voice finally echoed in the room. Curiosity filled her eyes.

Ava's reaction made Jackeline happy. But soon, her face darkened as a sorrowful smile appeared on her solemn face.

"We met three months ago," Jackeline's eyes fell on Ava's face. Ava could tell that she was about to hear the devastating news of her mother. However, what shocked her the most was the time frame Jackeline had met her mother. It was only recently.

Ava was about to ask something when all her hopes went down the drain when Jackeline spoke again.

"And that was the last time I saw her. After that, I received news that she was involved in an accident oversea,"

"That..." Ava was speechless. The last two words seemed to echo repeatedly inside her mind. She swallowed her saliva several times, trying to comfort the feeling of ache that was starting to develop inside her.

Jackeline stood up from where she was sitting, walked toward Ava and when she got closer, her hand started to stroke Ava's hair. She thought Ava was simply saddened by the old piece of news.

"I know your family must have it difficult. I regretted not stopping her from looking for your uncle oversea," she said regretfully. Then, she told the entire story of her meeting with Jenny Anne; Ava's mother.

"The time I met your mother, I remember she told me that she needed to find your uncle oversea. I had actually asked her to postpone her flight but she was adamant to go. If only I insisted, she wouldn't be involved with the accident," the woman ended her tale with a long sigh. She didn't notice but her hand kept stroking Ava's hair.

When she met Jenny, she actually requested her to help with the thesis she was doing. Alas, Jenny rejected her for she had an urgent thing to do. Jackeline felt that she could make a difference if she insisted on Jenny to help with her thesis.

While Jackeline was busy explaining, Ava wasn't sure how to process the information she just heard. Before arriving at the Glory Institution, she was indeed hoping to find some clues about the whereabouts of her mother but now, it seemed that it was all unnecessary. Simply because she had found one.

And the one she found was devastating news.

Her mother was no longer alive.

The more she tried to sink the words within her, the ache she felt grew intense. Ava clenched her fists alongside the edge of her torn blouse. That was when she heard Jackeline's voice.

"I'm sorry for not coming to her funeral. It must be hard to not see her body," Jackeline reached for the box of tissue on the table. She took one and wipe the tears that started to form at the corner of her eyes.

"I..." Ava could only utter a word before Jackeline pull her to a hug.

"My mother's death. Is it really true?" Ava pushed Jackeline's hands who were still encircling her shoulder. Her wet eyes were looking at the woman only to see Jackeline's panicked face.

"Ava, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have talked about your mother. Sorry for being inconsiderate," she said. When she listened to Ava's doubtful question, she thought she was still unable to process the death of her mother.

At the same time, Jackeline felt like an idiot for bringing the topic about her mother. Her intention was purely to talk about something they knew in common. What she didn't know was that Ava was left in the dark about the whole thing. This was the first time she heard of this news!

"Did my grandpa knew about this?" Ava who barely able to stop her tears finally asked.

Jackeline frowned, confused by Ava's question. Then, she simply shrugged it off as something fleeting. She really thought Ava was merely asking these kinds of questions to comfort herself. Nevertheless, she still answered it by slightly nodding her head up and down.

Ava who saw Jackeline's response felt her tears rolled down violently. The back of her hand was used to wipe the wetness away only to be exhausted by such action.

"Ava, I'm really sorry. But, you still have me and the Willow Residence as your support," Jackeline tried to comfort the crying little girl in front of her.

'What have I done to make a student cry on their first day!' she sulked inside her mind. As an unmarried woman and one that wasn't in a good relationship with her mother, Jackeline knew less about the deep bond shared between a mother and a daughter. Moreover, she actually wasn't aware of Ava's life after birth, She thought she had been living with the Willow the whole time, for that was the background story written on her report.

If only she knew about what Ava had gone through, she wouldn't approach the issue about her mother' s death so carelessly. Blame the report who said that Ava was mature beyond her age. All she saw now was a kid crying for missing her mother.

Jackeline sighed full of regret. Her good intention was now deemed to be useless and heartless. She recalled again the time she met Jenny. She remembered her rushing out of the building after rejecting her request. What her business was, she had no idea.

Yet, if only she knew that the day Jenny came to the institution was to request that Ava's after birth history to be altered by the force truth that Jackeline knew of, then today would definitely end without Ava's tears.

Sadly, Jackeline was always a reckless person and was well-known for his blabbering mouth. Even to a kid, she actually believed that the death of a family was a good topic to discuss.

After fighting the conflict inside her mind, Jackeline noticed that her office seemed quieter than earlier. She looked at Ava only to see her head already on the table, sleeping soundly. Her whole face was red and exhausted. Once in a while, she hiccupped and mumbled illegible words.

Slowly, Jackeline went closer. She wanted to wake her up. With a slight shake on her hand, Ava was awakened. But her depressed brown eyes were no longer there. It was the eyes that were full of determination.

Ava wasn't actually sleeping, instead, she was simply resting her head on the table while thinking about her next plan. She knew crying would not bring her anywhere. Her goal was now clear. She wanted to become someone that able to get back to those people who harmed her and the people closest to her. And, to do that, she knew, sulking was the last thing she needed to do.

If her mother's death was premeditated by someone, she would make sure that those people would receive their retribution.