Talented Me! 37

Avina rushed towards her side and scooped her into her arms. She dived down before tumbling in circles to the other side. The car passed only a nick against the edges of her hair before coming to a screeching halt. People standing close by screamed in horror before rushing forward to their side.

The young girl wrapped in her arms did not have enough time to process everything before breaking out into sobs. She repeatedly said thank you while grabbing the edges of Avina's shirt.

Avina felt her heart beating erratically while trying to catch her breath. It was nearly an act of instinct, but she couldn't fathom what would happen if she couldn't make it.

The car was just a few inches away from her face before she made it past. The gravel scraped against her knees letting her taste the fresh sensation of pain. She didn't need to look to know that blood was seeping out from the scratches.

'I really don't want to look at my knees,' Avina complained. She had already promised to become braver after the last world because she knew that being a puss when she had to go through multiple lives would do her no good, but it was still a shock to look at it.

It wasn't as bad as the neck one -that truly terrified her- but it definitely wouldn't leave her a pleasant feeling to see it flow down. Just feeling it, she knew it wasn't small cuts, but a big gash with skin flaking.

"Oh gosh!" a woman called out. "Are you girls okay? Does one of you need an ambulance?"

Avina attempted to get up but a faint pain from her ankle stopped her. It seems, yet again, the ankle has come back to curse her. "It's just a few scratches. I only have a small twisted ankle it seems. What of the little girl?"

They both looked over at the little girl who was sitting next to Avina. She clutched onto the corner of her shirt for dear life, not letting go, while her small whispers of thanks rotated around her.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," she said. The rims of her eyes were red with tears almost breaking to drop more.

Avina reached out her arms and wrapped them around her. "It's okay. Everything is okay now. We're safe."

Her gentle words of comfort seemed to have broken something in the girl. In the next second, she burst out into tears wailing nonstop. All Avina could do was hold her into her arms while hushing her.

"Shhhh, it's okay. It's going to be okay. We're safe now."

While comforting her, she asked the woman to call the police. Soon, the sirens arrived and a police officer walked over to them.

"Good evening," he greeted first. "Would you please go with us to the station?"

He escorted us into his car, and Avina said goodbye to the woman who helped them. The driver was in the other police car.

The three of them went through protocol and the police asked them several questions. Learning from the CCTV, the accident really was an accident. The girl was pushed and shoved by the crowd and accidentally landed on the road. The driver did not see her and almost hit her. Thankfully, Avina was there to save the girl, and the driver expressed profusely that he was sorry.

"I'm so sorry," he said while patting the sweat off his head. "I didn't see you and I-I don't know. I didn't know that I almost caused an accident. Thank you so much for saving her and thank you so much for both being safe. I- I'm so sorry."

His eyes were filled with guilt and his hands hovered in the air unsure of whether he could hug them or comfort them. He was nervous to know what had happened, but even more what could have happened.

A police officer walked over and told them that their family was coming to the station to collect them. In the meantime, they were asked to continue staying inside the room.

The first to leave was the little girl. Her parents came to pick her up and thanked Avina. Avina waved goodbye to the little girl who was clinging to her just a moment ago.

The second to go was her. Derrick had quickly come when the call was made. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Avina was bombarded with questions the moment he arrived. Derrick twirled her around finding all her injuries. "Your knees are scraped, and your ankle is twisted! We need to go home quickly."

Derrick dragged Avina by the hands and they went home. Mom and dad weren't home yet, but Derrick already said they were very worried when they received the call.

"You don't have to be a hero, Wilona," Derrick started. "You can-"

He stopped right there because he realized that if she hadn't stepped out, the little girl would have been hit. But if they were a second late, both of them would have been hit. And it was a huge confusing mess because he didn't know what to say.

"Don't worry," Avina comforted. "Look, aren't I fine? I would still do it again if I had another choice. I saved her life."

"But you could have lost yours!" Derrick yelled. Sure, she was fine today, but he didn't want her to continue thinking that she should risk her life every time for someone. Sometimes, the most important life was your own.

Avina's eyes went round at his shout but softened when she knew it was because he was worried. "Don't worry. How many times can I go out and save another's life?"

Derrick muttered something under his breath before sighing. "Fine, you were just a lucky girl who managed to save a life today. But be careful next time! You don't know the scare we got when we got that phone call!"

Avina laughed but got glared at in return. "Don't laugh! Nothing's funny here!"

"Okay, okay. So don't pout. You don't look cute," Avina teased. She poked Derrick's puffed cheeks.

Derrick smacked her hands and unlocked the door. The two of them ate dinner early before retiring to bed.

'Bandages are so hard to wrap,' Avina complained. Her hands were struggling to wrap the bandages neatly around her foot. They kept loosening and falling down. Finally, she managed to create a ball on her ankle.

'This works right?'

A huge ball of wrapped bandages laid onto her ankle making them puff out like a big balloon. 5025 could not stand to look at its Host masterpiece nevermind have the heart to lie and say it was fine.

'...How about we watch a video on the data web?' 5025 suggested. It couldn't bear its Host to live with a ball for an ankle.

How could Avina not know what 5025 was thinking? She may not be omnipotent and hear everyone's thoughts, but that didn't mean she didn't know a disappointed voice when she heard one. But yes, the two of them did go to the data web and learn how to bandage properly. And yes, that huge ball of disappointment reduced to a layer of satisfaction.

The next shooting wasn't expected until 2 weeks later. One, to marinate the viewers into becoming fans of the current contestants. Two, because the last event is always the biggest and preparations for it take much longer.

For now, Avina spent her week of luxury going to the cat cafe, gardening, making videos, making 5025 hang out with Toffee, and planning the downfall of the Witch. All was going good, very good, best, better -you know what, you got the idea- and Avina knew that after the third theme, the mission was nearly over.

She was currently monitoring the popularity Wilona was gaining from the show. Most people thought well of Wilona. After all, there wasn't much to dislike about her. She was nice and amiable and even Sandra liked her. But that's where things soured as well. Because Sandra was nice to her, a lot of people thought she was just another coattail rider. Which, honestly, she was, but- well, Avina can't deny it.

"Wilona! I'm so proud of you, sweetie!" Mom said as she rushed to hug her.

So many people were complimenting her daughter! They said she was so talented, pretty, and that she raised her so well. Only another mother would know how happy she was to hear all those compliments! Of course, her daughter was talented, pretty, and well-behaved! Our Wilona was any but!

"Did you watch the show?" Avina asked. She saw mom looking so happy, and she was happy as well. This may have started out as something to gain popularity from, but if it made her family happy, then it was all well worth it.

"Of course I did! I made all my friends watch it as well," Mom told her. "And let me tell you what they said about you."

Mom talked about what all her friends were telling her, how proud she was of Wilona and everything under the sun.