January 24, 2021: Ilunga

"Have you calmed down?" Mina inquired to Syn as she patted the lady's back.

Syn was understandably upset on what Mina did. However, if it was not for the older woman's reassurance, it wouldn't register in her stressed mind that it was necessary to inform her mother regarding the current circumstance. Hence, with trembling hands, she took the phone out of Lohnmeyer's clutch.

As the device neared her left ear, Syn could harken the voice of her mother who was worried. She almost wanted to drop the call, yet Mina's hand that was gripping her shoulder amply encouraged her.

"Hi, Mommy. How are you?" Syn said, refraining from dawning the news on her mother right away.

Even though her mother was frantic, the lady always felt at ease whenever she's talking with Raeliana. Nevertheless, the actuality of the circumstance prevented her from seeking that relief.

{{ "I heard you crying, my baby. What is happening to you? Did you get hurt? Should I go there?" }}

Of course, Syn already anticipated such a reaction from her mother. After all, she did inherit this propensity of her mother - The ceaseless agonizing of a paranoid. She allowed a few seconds of quietude hung in the air before she responded to her mother.

"M-mommy, can y-you please, just please, listen to me?" Syn said, inhaling deeply ahead of continuing, "I have something important to tell you."

Syn glanced at Mina for one last encouragement, then breathed out to vent out her cowardice.

"Mommy, I'm currently under the investigation of the police f-"

"Mommy! Listen, please!" Syn desirously told her mother. The grip that she had on Mina's left hand tightened, making the latter flinch out of the constricting pain.

After Syn interrupted her mother, a strained silence emerged in their conversation. It heightened the young lady's misgiving in the idea of informing her mother.

"I-I'm not the one being investigated, but the two people who invaded my apartment. However, they found out that it was ordered by a person named Larry. Apparently, this man installed several cameras inside my room. That is why I assumed that he's also the suspect in the stalking that I've told you beforehand. He tried to- tried, uhm, to take me by force this morning."

Syn halted her speech to let her mother talk. Withal, the woman remained reticent, reserving her opinions to herself, so the young lady resumed.

"I was notified that I might be targeted. I'm afraid that Larry will aim for you and my brothers next. I beg of you, please do your utmost in keeping yourselves safe. The police have already tipped off the officers in that area to check on you."

Throughout the time she was speaking, Syn's hands were quivering. Withal, the lady repressed her desire to show weakness afore her mother. It was the last thing that she wanted to do at that moment.

At the start, Raeliana Rosenfeldt didn't say anything as a reply. Only after a while had passed did a sound reverberate from the other side of the line. Although, it was not a word but the woeful cry of a mother. It's not the sort of grieving that would resound within the spirits of those who would hear its anguish. It was the kind that would embrace one's worries into a warm hug, alleviating by letting them know that someone was sharing their burdens.

Syn's heart broke knowing that her mommy was shedding tears because of her. She didn't want their discourse to affect Raeliana that much, yet it had the opposite effect in the end.

"Mommy, I'm really sorry." Syn could merely apologize since the future was now out of her hands. She won't be able to change its course anymore. Thereupon, the young lady coveted to run into her mother's arms and cry her eyes out.

A window of pure lamentation occurred in the phone call, cut short by the sharp intake of breath by Raeliana. The woman proceeded to cough once ahead of replying.

{{ "You never told me anything, Syn. I have no knowledge at all on what you're doing in that place, far away from us. You haven't even enlightened me on what job you've taken. It's suspicious that you can pay for our debt and your university tuition fee at the same time. I am not a fool." }}

Every word that her mother uttered inflated the balloon of guilt in Syn's mind. Still and all, she had all the intentions to leave Raeliana in the dark, by virtue of the shame of being a prostitute. Albeit in an organized system, a woman who's ready to offer her body in exchange for money would be labelled as a prostitute. No amount of accessory would be able to decorate such a dirty industry.

Syn didn't dare speak of a retort to her mother's genuine accusations.

{{ "Part-time jobs? No, Syn, that's impossible. You are paying for millions of euros of debt and thousands for your studies. I won't be surprised if you tell me that you're engaging in prostitution." }}

Realiana ceased in expressing her sentiments, gasping for air apropos her lengthy articulation. The mother and daughter pair were absorbed in their own regrets for quite a while until the uncomfortable lull was broken.

{{ "My daughter, I'm not that weak. I can still help you. I don't want you to go around and exhaust yourself. You can trust me. I won't do the same thing that your dad did to us." }}

Upon the mention of a word that she didn't want to come out of her mouth, disgust took over Syn's emotions. She gritted her teeth, clearly infuriated. The topic of her father's debt was bound to arise in their conversation, but Syn was caught off-guard.

At the end of the day, it's the man who she would never be able to forgive, even if the world was pleading for her to do it.

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