DOUBT

She felt her mother press tightly on her hands pulling Laleen out of her trance. Looking into her grey eyes, she got the secret message her mother silently passed through her gaze.

Though still bothered about the blood she had seen, Laleen stood up gracefully as she turned towards the open door where Madam Victoria was still standing.

She was currently poking her head to catch glimpses at Mrs Lance as Laleen was obstructing her view.

With a smile, Laleen grabbed the door handle and began to close it.

"Mrs Victoria, my mother needs some rest now. Why don't you postpone your friendly visit till another time, hmmm?".

The middle aged woman immediately shook her head in disapproval as she held onto the door to prevent it from shutting completely on her face.

"No way. I can't leave after seeing my dear friend like this"

Laleen's smile didn't falter as she exerted more force on the door. "Another time, Mrs Victoria. My mother needs rest ".

With an air of finality, she shut the door with a soft click ignoring the deep frown etched in Mrs Victoria's face.

Only after that could Laleen let out an exhale in relief. Her mother's coughing broke the temporary silence that had settled in the room. 

"Mother" She called out as she rushed to her side but her mother was already on her feet wiping the last stains of blood on her lips.

With a face etched with concern, Laleen asked worriedly, "Are you okay?".

Her eyes settled on the white kerchief which her mother quickly slipped into her pocket. 

"I'm alright" Her mother said with a weak smile that failed terribly to convince Laleen. There was no way she was. That was too much blood!

"You are not" Laleen muttered, more to herself than to her mother. 

Something clutched at her chest. Why hadn't she realized?

Her mother waved dismissively, "I'm totally fine. This happens all the time. Your father knows".

On a bid to drift from the topic, she grabbed her daughter's arm. "That aside, you're home early again today. How is work going?"

Laleen could only blink as she let her mother pull her towards the cushion in the living room and had her sit down. 

"Work is going perfect. But that isn't the issue. Mother, what is wrong?". She asked in an almost panicked voice. Was she trembling?

She couldn't shake off the feeling that gripped her. Her instincts seemed to know that her mother was lying. She was hiding something from her. Something that wasn't good.

Her mother's expression immediately turned stern at her words.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I am perfectly fine?!" She snapped, her voice echoing through the walls of the living room. Even their nosy neighbor must have heard her scream. 

Laleen was beyond startled as she stared at the woman wide-eyed.

What was she doing? Why was she so scared?

She blinked once as she stared at her mother's grey eyes which had long softened considerably as the look on her face smoothened into an apologetic expression.

But Laleen was the first to apologize. "I'm sorry", she said softly. The room was quiet with only the ticking of the wall clock that could be heard. 

Quickly she stood up and with a small apologetic nod, she hurried towards her room.

Her mother just stared at her as she disappeared into the curtains and a small gasp escaped from her lips as she covered her mouth in shock. Tears filled her eyes as she whispered, "I'm so sorry".

***

"A bit too dull today, my sunshine" Her father said softly as he jabbed at her shoulder.

The father daughter duo were currently getting dinner ready. Their mother wasn't joining them. 

Laleen turned to look at her father and forced a smile. Her fake smile was met with a look of disapproval in his handsome face.

"Not the smile I know, darling" He commented as he reached out and pinched her chin lightly. A smile spread naturally on her face at his words. One of the things she'd always be grateful for in the new life she was granted was her father. It's only been a mere three months and yet she felt so attached to him.

With the exception of people of the same gender as herself and of course, the mysterious Mr. Degavon, her blood relatives were the only people who were immune to her spell. In other words, they were all she could rely on. And though she couldn't rely on her father in her past life, her new father was a whole different story. He knew just how to cheer her up. 

Placing plate after plate on the table, Laleen and her father finally took their seat on the table. Laleen's head instinctively turned towards the empty space reserved for her mother. Was she really not joining them?

As if hearing her thoughts, her father cleared his throat drawing his daughter's attention back to himself. "Your mother is out with a cold. I've given her some of the soup we made and she'll be fine by the next morning".

His voice dimmed lower as he smiled assuringly, "So stop worrying, okay?".

Laleen was quick to shake her head in denial.

"I wasn't...worrying" She mumbled as she took a bite. Her father hummed in agreement but his eyes danced with amusement like he could see right through her. 

Seeing his reaction to her words, Laleen glared at him feeling wronged while his smile widened.

They continued to eat their food in silence but then she suddenly whispered, "I just...I was just... checking".

Her father raised his eyebrows at her words but said nothing.

"I'm not too sure what I did wrong" She continued this time in a volume barely above a whisper.

"Huh?" Her father voiced in question, not completely catching her words.

Laleen only shook her head at him.

"It's nothing" she muttered with a smile and continued eating her food.

Her father just stared at her, something unknown flashing in his brown orbs.

This...wasn't going to work anymore.