CHAPTER 2: TWO PERSONALITIES

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The night went on peacefully. Xia woke up early to prepare breakfast for her grandparents. Mrs. Vanderwood could be seen walking down the stairs dressed in a long slim dress with long sleeves in light colors of blue, pink and purple. "Xia, it's the weekends. You should be waking up to go shopping with other girls than doing these things" Mrs. Vanderwood is always concerned about her granddaughter's social life thus she often pushes Xia to go out and do what girls normally do at her age.

"Well if you insist... Ann is already bugging me earlier about going out" Obviously Xia really don't want to go outside, she has other plans for this day. Helpless, Xia can't help but give in to the majority's choice. Xia came out of her room dressed in a plain T-shirt with a round skirt with lenght that's just above the knee, her hair is tied in a high ponytail. Because of the hair style it made her face clean and slender. Her purple eyes shimmered like amethysts. Simple style but it definitely looks very well suited to her.

"Grandma, your breakfast with grandpa is ready at the dinner hall please make sure that you eat" Xia reminded them before exiting the mansion. Outside the vicinity, Xia once again have an indifferent look at her face. It almost felt as if there are two people inside her. Entering the cafe, a girl with blonde hair that is tied into a bun. Her choice of clothes are brightly colored, seems like she's looking for someone inside. "Ann! over here!" Xia waved at Ann to catch her attention. Ann noticed and rushed at the table where Xia is at.

"How come you took so long?" Xia said with a bit of irritation. Ann shrugged the question "If you didn't told me about this in a short notice, I would've been here earlier" Xia looked at Ann with a cold face. She clearly doesn't want to do this but had no choice.

"You know, fighting this request off is an easy deal for you.... So why bother?" Ann said with a low tone. She knew that Xia didn't came here on her own accord but simply because of her grandparents. Sighed Xia stood up and held Ann's hands. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this you can go back if you want to" "Are you kidding me?... It's so rare for you to go outside so might as well take advantage of it" Ann pulled Xia of the cafe leaving without any room for arguments.

"Xia come on this place is beautiful" Ann said while she skipped around the park happily. Xia walked behind Ann slowly, carefully enjoying the scene that lies before her. She gave off a gentle smile as she carefully raise her head while her eyes are closed, the wind blows softly against her face. Truly a beauty to be seen.

"Ms. Vanderwood, it's a pleasure to meet you" A voice called Xia back into reality from her daydream. "You seem to be following me all the time, don't you have anything to do?" Xia brushed off Vincent's greeting "Ms. you misunderstand me, it's just pure coincidence" Xia just rolled her eyes and dragged Ann who was playing with children. "Xia?" "We're going somewhere else" Xia said, with haste they left the park and boarded the car. "Do you hate him?" Ann asked Xia. She just got a sigh for an answer, knowing what she thinks is hard even for the people close to her. The car stopped in front of a manor, it is quite old but well preserved. "Greetings Miss" a maid welcomed the two girls while entering the front yard. Xia and Ann walked into a long hallway with a door at the end of it. The manor is old fashioned, there are many antiques and paintings displayed in every corner giving a decent impression to those who goes inside.

Xia took out a key from her bag and unlocked the room at the end of the hallway, inside is filled with old bookshelves that reaches the ceiling. The room is a bit dusty depicting no one comes in that often. At the other side of the room lies an office table with s few of fabric meterial on top of it. Xia picked up a picture frame from the table and gently wiped off the dust, the picture shows a lovely middle-aged woman holding a sweet and charming little girl that maybe four to five years old. The fabric on the table has an unfinished embroided design. "I'm sure aunty is now in a good place" Ann placed her hand on top of Xia's shoulder. Xia smiled gently "Its a shame that father refuses to visit this place, it holds so much memories" "Perhaps it's because of that reason that he don't want to come" Ann said "A lot has happened here, no one would like to remember sad memories right?" Xia nods in agreement with Ann's words but moving on also includes accepting what has happened than running away from it.

The manor is located outside the city near the woods, "Ann would you like to take a walk in the forest?" Xia and Ann used to play at the meadow when they were young but is forbidden to go in the woods. "I don't know we've never been there before" Ann and Xia haven't entered the woods because they migrated inside the city to continue schooling only when the accident happen did they came back to cosarcasm .. "Xia going into the forest is strictly prohibited" Ann warned, Xia grew up to be decent and proper but she has this side that makes her break a few rules in the household but her talent as a reason for her to be doted on by her grandparents helped her get out of trouble. "Ann that was then, we're practically grown ups, what's there to lose" Xia said with confidence. If there is a quiet and cool girl inside her there is bound to have a little side to oppose those traits for Xia's condition.

"Our precious lives of course" Ann said with sarcasm. Xia chuckles with Ann's response "We've been doing this job for years and I never heard anything from you complaining everday about our lives yet with just a simple walk you've already become a coward" Xia maybe a bit harsh with these words but it's true, Having a career of killing people is full of risks so one must be prepared for the worst. *Sigh* "You're still gonna go there even if I still refuse you right?" Ann muttered "Well, I'm not gonna force you but if you wanna come" Xia walked out of the room following whatever she has in mind leaving Ann with no choice but to follow her dear friend.

"Xia, what if we get lost? or a wild animal attack us?" Ann kept mumbled since they entered the forest but Xia pay no attention about Ann's worries. Xia stopped to face Ann and flicked her forehead "You're being way to paranoid, don't worry if you're worried about your safety, I am here to protect you" She held a sweet smile to help Ann calm down and continued walking. After walking a few minutes they happened to come across a creek. Crystal clear water with fish swimming pass, the trees gave shade from the sun. It was in the afternoon, the sun is still bright making the scenery overflow with vibrant colors of green and yellow. Lush green leaves swaying in the cool breeze, the sound of water flowing makes a relaxing place to sit and sleep. "When I was young I always come here even though it's prohibited" Xia started. Ann was shocked, she didn't know this truth. "When I need to clear my mind I come here and just carefully watch eveything that goes around me" Xia stated her story "When I'm bored of just watching, I bring paint with me and paint the scene that unfolds in front of me" Ann suddenly remembered that there is actually a room inside the manor dedicated only to paintings and the paintings themselves are framed personally by Xia's parents though she didn't knew that it was actually her bestfriend who painted the landscapes. Ann realized that not only did Xia inherited her mothers grace and beauty but also her talent in arts. "Aren't you afraid about the wild animals here?" Ann asked even though she already have Xia's answer in mind.

"No, to tell you the truth I may have become their friend" Xia replied with slight cheer in her voice. Ann just smiled and respected her friend's word *she is unique from all others* "We should go back" Xia said as the both of the hurriedly gone back to the manor. Ann looked at Xia *it seems that her cold face is gone temporarily*. A maid came in the room with her head slightly low "Miss, dinner is ready" Xia nodded then the maid left. Xia looked around her room, *what seemed to be a big world shrinks as you grow up*. Xia walked toward balcony, she can see the city stretch beyond the horizon but still remained peaceful. She closed her and feel the cool wind brushed across her face.

"A pretty girl like you will catch a cold if you don't go inside now"