XXXI

True to what Laia told Brie, her mother was indeed waiting outside the university gates.

Upon seeing the two girls make their way towards her, she waves at them enthusiastically. "Come here, my actresses!"

Laia cringes at what her mother called her. Brie, however, grins even wider and ran towards the older woman with her arms spread wide. 

"Auntie!"

The older woman was quick to accept the hug. When Brie pulls away, the older woman showed her a thumbs up. "You were amazing, dear!"

Brie smiles and was unable to hide the flushing of her cheeks. "Thank you, auntie,"

"Your parents weren't able to come?" Laia's mother even scanned their surroundings for a while as if it would make Brie's parents appear out of thin air. "That's a shame. Were they busy again?"

"They're still overseas," Brie replies curtly, obviously not wanting the topic to continue. "It's fine. I'm used to it."