Chapter 04

Her mind kept on wondering why her brother seems off the past few days, they rarely keep up with it at the table every dinner and it seems to avoid their mother.

"How's your day, Clarenz?" Her Mom asked but her brother excused himself even though he hadn't finished eating.

She heard her mother's deep sigh as if it was a big problem, as she looked at her Mom she was slightly taken aback to see her looking back at her.

She tried to look at her Mom's eyes, only to be confused when she saw those unfathomable emotions residing there. The only thing that is familiar with the emotions there is the way it looks with affection and love.

"Hija?"

She focused her attention on her Mom.

"Would you be angry with Mommy when I did something very bad and a mistake?"

Her forehead knotted, what does her mother mean? Did she make a mistake that she wasn't aware of?

"Not at first, because maybe there's a reason why you did that, isn't what you taught me not to judge anyone right away without knowing what happened first?"

She was shocked to see the tears falling in her mother’s eyes, her Mom flashed her infamous charming smile and it’s like she’s assuring her that she’s fine.

She just stopped thinking when someone knocked on her door and her brother's voice followed.

Immediately everything came back to her mind how Clarenz ignored their mother, she will surely scold him.

"It's open" she mumbles as she sat on her bed and leaned comfortably onto her pillows.

When the door opened, she waited for her brother to sit down.

"Clarenz, what's the problem ---"

"Your eyes, it's very similar to Mommy's eyes."

She kept her words to herself and listened to her brother more. Her eyes are just like her Mom's pitch expressive black eyes. It was easy to read her emotions through her eyes while her Mom mastered the art of hiding because the only thing that could be seen in her eyes was the emotion it wanted to show. He could not openly say that the mother was sad or hurt because every time she looked into her eyes the emotion we're always positive.

Her brother touched her cheek, "You're our father's mini version the only difference is your eyes. Your beliefs and perspectives resemble our Mom's. What you just didn't get was the courage and fortitude."

Her brother's statement caught her, it's like there's more to it. It's as if it wants to convey something deep to what it says.

She saw how her brother's eyes got misty, "Clarenz."

As soon as she approached Clarenz, he quickly moved away from her, "You will always remember that we love you so much. I love you so much, princess"

"Clarenz!!" She heard Ezriel's voice and its footsteps.

"I'm here in Alexxa's room" her older brother shouted back and her cousin quickly peeked at the door.

"Let's go?" Ezriel mutter to Clarenz before he looked at her and smiled.

She saw his brother nod and approach her to kiss her on the forehead which her cousin also copied.

"Goodnight," they said before finally going out and turning off the light in her room.

Confused by what was happening, she was completely overwhelmed by drowsiness but little did she know that something big would come and shake her whole being.

--------

After a week the result of the test taken by Alexxa came out. She was so excited to get and see the test result, she passed. It means a week from now she will be in her third year of college with her chosen course, Business Management.

She excitedly ran to the cafeteria where Holly was waiting for her.

She quickly looked around the cafeteria and when she saw what she was looking for she quickly went and sat down in front of her.

"Holly" she giddily called her.

"Hmmm?" She answered but her eyes and attention are on the book she's reading.

Even though her eyes are not focused on her she knows that Holly's listening, it's just that Holly needs to review because she will be having a long exam with the professor she hates.

"I've passed" she whispered as if it was just a simple thing.

She tried to contain her emotions but when she saw how her friend hastily gazed at her and squealed out of joy she also accompanied it, they didn't care if they got everyone's attention as long as the important thing was she passed and her friend was there to accompany her in celebrating.

"OMG!! My best friend's a business management student now!!" She happily squealed.

She smiled sweetly at her which was immediately erased by the rapid redness of Holly's eyes.

Just seconds after she saw the redness on its eyes, she silently cried and covered her face.

She didn’t know what to do because that was the first time she had seen her cry.

Hesitant to do so, she still moved her chair closer to Holly and slowly stroked her back until she could only hear a sob from her.

Holly turned at her and held her hands, "Don't you dare to forget and replaced me" she whispered in a trembling voice.

She muttered ‘yes’ and quickly hugged her and the latter cried again. Although they had only known each other for two years she already knew how deep her friend's wounds are.

Because behind the strong and resilient Holly hides a child thirsty for attention, love, and looking for an ally.

--------

She was excited to go home to share the good news with her mother and brother. Earlier when she had free time she called her father to let him know the news but according to her father's secretary, he was in a board meeting.

"Is Mommy already at home?"

When she saw their driver shaking its head, she just shut her mouth

"I'll just wait for her, then," she whispered to herself.

From time to time she looks at the result that she can't even let go of. For sure, her Mom and brother will be proud of her.

When they arrived, her forehead furrowed when she saw her Nanny looking worriedly at the car.

Maybe Yaya just had a problem. She told herself again.

She carefully got out of the car and was again surprised to see her nanny meeting her halfway.

"Hija," her forehead furrowed as she saw her nanny was anxious.

"Why?" She asked curiously and her curiosity grew even more when she saw tears in her nanny's eyes.

"H-how are you?" She asked in a trembling voice that she had not been able to notice.

"Nanny? The truth? You just wanted to say hello to me, but you're still in tears," she joked.

"What is it? How are you?" Her Yaya asked ignoring her previous question.

"Hmm. I'm super okay, I have good news for Mommy," she replied enthusiastically.

"What's the good news?" She asked.

"Nanny, do you remember the acceleration test I took?" She asked, trying to create a little thrilling vibe.

Her nanny nodded her head as soon as she was able to remember what she was saying.

"Ah, yes. You're even nervous because your Mommy might scold you?" Her Yaya tried to confirm which she answered with a nod.

"Guess what, nanny," she said as she walked into the house with her arm still wrapped around her nanny's arm.

"What is it, hija?" Her Yaya asked.

"I've passed, nanny. In a few weeks, I'll be a third-year college student and at the same time a business management student as well," she said with a hint of pride in her voice.

"I knew my favorite baby will pass that exam."

She giggled at her Nanny's words, "I'm the only one you took care of, nanny." She replied.

"As for you, you haven't let Yaya pass," she smiled at her nanny's answer.

"Oh, nanny," she whispered and forced her to stop walking.

"Why?"

"Do you have a problem? It's as if you were crying earlier when you saw me," she asked as she was bothered again by what she saw.

"Ah, is that it? Nothing it's just that my eyes kinda hurt. You know, Yaya is getting older," she replied.

She just nodded her head even though she didn't want to believe the reason. She knows that her Yaya will tell her whatever her problem is when she's ready. But for a while, she will not interfere first.