Unraveled connections

As I started driving towards Ira's place, we chatted casually, the road stretching out before us. But then, out if nowhere, she fell silent, and the sudden quietness made me feel awkward. Not that I don't like quietness but Ira's seems different right now.

"Ira is never quiet like this." My inner voice muttered.

"Maybe something's bothering her." I replied inwardly.

"Why not ask her?" The voice suggested.

"Nah. If she's ready to tell me, she will. I'm not prying." I thought not wanting to intrude.

Then breaking the silence, she asked.

"Mela, do you think Erald would ever love me?" Her voice was small, carrying a tinge of worry, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Come on, Ira, you're beautiful, and your heart is as pure as crystal. Who wouldn't fall for you? And even if he doesn't, that's his loss." I assured her, flashing her a warm smile.

The voice in my head chimmed in sarcastically. "Ira seems to be so into that weirdo."

"But Ira," I said glancing at her briefly, "don't you think you're becoming obsess with this Erald guy, you barely even know him." I said teasing her, with holding my smile.

"I'm not obsessed, okay?!" She snapped, cutting her eyes at me.

"Alright, if you say so." I replied skeptically, keeping my focus on the road. It was obvious to me that she was in deeper than she wanted.

"She's so obsessed, crazy girl." The voice muttered again.

Before I could think further, Ira interrupted my thoughts.

"Let's go have some fun." She said, her voice brighter as she smiled. Taking away Erald from her head.

"No way. I need to read: I didn't read any for the day. Least interesting ones." I replied, firm.

"God, Mela, you're so boring! Such a buzzkill. How the hell are we even friends?" She whined sounding like a petulant child.

"I'm not boring, nor a buzzkill. If you want to party, go ahead, I'm not stopping you. And as for us being best friends? No clue. I just love my peace and privacy, that's all."

"Whatever." She muttered, turning her gaze to the window.

"But I am going to a party." She declared suddenly.

"Whose party?" I asked curious.

"One of Louisa's." She answered nonchalantly.

"Louisa? The one with the big attitude to match her big butt?" I asked trying to confirm.

"Yeah, that one." She said.

I sighed. "I am not going to that arrogant girl's party. We'll probably end up fighting." I said firmly, gripping the steering wheel a bit too hard.

"Angry tigress." The voice teased.

"Shut the fuck up." I hissed at it mentally.

"Please, Mela. Come with me, just this once. I promise I won't let you two cross paths." Ira pleaded, giving me her best puppy—dog eyes.

"Ira, you said same thing last time." I pointed out, irritation creeping into my voice.

"She's your fucking best friend, won't you do that for her?" The voice asked unhelpfully.

"I know Mel, but this is the last one, please." She said trying to convince me.

"Alright." I finally relented, rolling my eyes. "But we're not staying long. Deal?"

"Deal!" She beamed.

This best friend of mine knows just how to convince me so well or perhaps it's just me who doesn't want to hurt her.

"Now this, is how a best friend should be, not a cold hearted bitch like you." The voice said cussed.

"You're just fucking stupid and useless." I said irritated at the voice.

"Whatever."

*****

"We are here, Ira. Get down, let's go in." I said as we pulled up in front of her house.

"Alright." She replied, stepping out of the car.

"But wait, what time is this party?" I asked, closing the car door behind me.

"It starts at 9 p.m." She said with a smile.

"Okay, we still have a little time." I said as I grabbed my bag. "Is uncle Salvador at home?"

She shrugged, "I think he is but I'm not sure."

"Alright, let's check." I said walking towards the house with her.

As we entered the door opened to reveal Tessa, their maid.

"Hi, Tessa." I greeted warmly, it has been ages since I last saw her.

Opening the door I saw Tessa their maid.

"Hi Tessa." I said smiling because it's been so long I saw her.

"Hello, Mela! How are you today?" She asked, flashing her beautiful smile.

"I'm good, Tessa. How about you?"

"I'm fine, thank you. It's been so long since you visited! Are you staying for a few days? She asked with a pleasantly surprised expression.

"Yes, I am." I replied smiling back.

"That's great to hear"

"Tessa, is dad around?" Mira asked as we entered inside.

"No, he left for a business trip this morning." Tessa interjected.

Ira frowned. "He left without telling me? Typical. He'll get an earful from me!" She pulled out her phone and started dialling her father.

When he answered, she immediately began scolding him. "Dad! How could you leave without informing me?" She yelled into the phone, her voice rising like an angry storm.

As she continued arguing with him. I went to sit in the living room, trying not to laugh. Ira and her dad had the kind of relationship I envied—a close, playful bond that sometimes made me feel wistful. My own relationship with my father was complicated. If only things had been different.

Sighing, I decided to head to Ira's room to distract myself with some reading. As I walked, I tripped over my bag, which I'd left on the floor earlier. Pain shot through my ankle, and I winced.

"Ira! Help me, I think I sprained my ankle!" I called, out trying not to cry.

She rushed over. "Mel, how did you manage that?" She asked, helping me up.

"I tripped over my bag." I explained, bitting back my tears as she guided me to her room.

"I'll take care of it." She said, grabbing a spray bottle from her bedside table. She sprayed my ankle before telling me to rest.

"Thank you, Ira. Can you pass me my bag? I need to get my book."

"Books again? You just sprained your ankle!" The voice exclaimed in disbelief.

"We both know I can't sleep." I replied.

Ira, stared at me with disbelief but didn't say a word. She handed me the bag just as Tessa brought the rest of my belongings. A moment later, Ira said. "Oh, by the way, Brayan's coming over today. Dad told me he's on his way."

"Brayan?" I asked my mood instantly lifting. "It's been ages since I last saw him!"

"Fucking hells, Rayan is coming." The voice said excitedly.

"Yeah, that's what Ira just said."

Brayan is Ira's cousin, and he had always been like an older brother to me. Mischievous yet kind hearted, he was the type of person who could brighten any room he entered.

"Yeah, he'll be here any minute." Ira confirmed.

"Wait, does that mean Brayan is done schooling?" I asked.

"Yes, that's what dad said." She said smiling.

"I can't really wait to see him honestly." I said sounding impatient, like an impatient dog who isn't ready to wait for the fattest bone, which is unlike me.

"Yeah, I know right." Mira said giggling.

"Are you still going for the party again? Because as you can see, I just sprained my ankle and I wouldn't be able to tag along."

"Yeah, I'm gonna go cause I gave her my word. I would just take Brayan with me." She said sounding happy at the thought.

"I can feel that." The voice said in a low tone.

"Feel what?" I asked.

"Your happiness."

"You're crazy." I said, giving smile at myself.

"That's crazy. Two party freaks, are going to a party." I said laughing softly.

"I am not a party freak, Mel." Mira whined.

"I don't think so." I said, still laughing.

"Stop laughing ."Mira said, sounding agitated.

"Okay, you're not." I said, sarcastically.

"When is Uncle Salvador, coming back?" I asked her, changing the topic.

"He said, he would be coming back next week." She replied unbothered, like she was the one whose anger rose like storm when she found out he is out of town.

"I'll be back, in a jiffy." Ira said, going out of the room.

Picked out a book to read, before I could even grab the title, my phone began to ring.

"Hey mom." I greeted.

"Mela, how are you?" She asked.

"I'm okay mom, I just....."

"You can't tell her, you sprained your ankle or she might get worried." The voice warned.

"Right."

"You just what, Mel? Why are you quiet?" Mom asked, anxiously.

"I just miss you all." I lied, without a blink of an eye.

"I miss you too. We all do miss you." Mom said, accepting my lie.

"Mel, I'm thinking of giving your little sister a name and I thought maybe we should give her kaelyn, because we can't keep calling her Riddi till she grows up right?" Mom suggested.

"You're right, Momma. And kaelyn, sounds good. Just imagine a beautiful name for a beautiful baby, I just can't wait for her to grow up so I tell her lots of things. I hope, she doesn't irritate me too much, because chubby babies bugs alot but are pretty cute and sweet." I said to mom smiling at myself.

"Yes, you're right, chubby babies are indeed cute." She said, I could feel her happiness flowing effortlessly through her words. "So, I am going to talk to your grandma about it and also your dad."

When mom mentioned about that man, I decided to change the topic.

"So, how's grandma and Riddi's health?"

"Your grandma is already asleep, she said she was having a migraine and as for Riddi, she's feeling much better."

"Okay, that's great to hear."

"Yeah I know ri..." Mom's voice seized mid way.

"Mom, are you there, why are you quiet?" I called out.

"Sorry baby, I just I heard a car's horn. I guess, your dad's back." Mom said sounding happy.

How I wish, she knew what sort of monster the man she loves so much is. A beast in a human form, a human clothing, I just can't withstand hearing his voice, so I hung up.

Immediately, Mira walked in. We continued chatting until we heard footsteps in the hallway. Ira left to greet Brayan and soon after, he walked into the room. His hazel eyes sparkled mischievously and his reddish brown hair framed his face perfectly.

"Brayan!" I exclaimed, opening my arms for a hug.

He hugged me tightly and kissed my forehead. "Mela, you've grown even more beautiful. And sexy too." He complimented, laughing at the latter.

"Brayan looks so hot!" The voice said.

"And you're as charming as ever" I teased.

"That I am." He accepted, proudly

As the evening unfolded, the three of us laughed, argued and caught up. Brayan's humor and antics filled the room with energy, but when Mira brought up the party, Brayan's mischievous grin returned.

"I already told you, let me get a date or am not gonna follow you." He pressed forth his condition.

"Rayan, that's crazy you know. If uncle Salvador was around you wouldn't dare bring any girl into his house, because he's th

strict person he is, and wouldn't take something like that, and Rayan you're all grown now, behave like an adult that you are." I said laughing.

"Yeah, I know Mel, but he isn't around right, so am gonna have fun before he get's back from his business trip. As for growing up, I won't at least not now, because if I don't have fun now, I won't do that later, I would've grown so old that no girl will wanna have fun with an oldie." He said laughing hard at the latter.

"Let's go down so we could go get something to eat, am really famished." He added

"Sorry, I can't come along, Mira would bring the meal here."

"Why can't you come along?" He asked, with a curious voice.

"Uhh...I tripped over my luggages downstairs, so my ankle got sprained. I can't walk right now but, Mira has already massaged the foot."

"I know she didn't do it well, let me get the spray, so I would massage it for you again, after all my magical hands can perform a great magic you know. You would be fine in a jiffy, wait and watch how the magics in me unfold." He said proudly, as he got searching for the spray.

"You're crazy Rayan." I said chuckling. I turned over to see Ira staring at him like she was on the verge of taking his life out of his.

I don't know whether it's because of the condition he declared or because he said she didn't massage my ankle well.

"Both." The voice stated.

"I would just go get us some meal." Mira said, walking out.

"So, how's aunty doing? Mira told me she gave birth to a baby girl right?" Brayan spoke, smiling walking over to me holding the spray.

"Yeah, she did give birth to a baby girl, she's pretty cute too."

"What's her name?" Brayan asked.

"She hasn't been giving an official name yet, but mom just told me this evening that she's thinking of naming her kaelyn but as of now her pet name is Riddi." I replied.

"Kaelyn, sounds gorgeous. I know she would be as beautiful as aunt and you, and also grow up she would be hot like her sisi." Brayan said, with a flirtatious smirk.

"Here we are, with the, dirty yet hot Rayan." The voice said.

"Absolutely."

"Brayan, she's just a baby?" I said, laughing.

"Don't underestimate babies growth." He said, smiling briefly.

"How about uncle, how's he?" Brayan asked, he started massaging my feet.

"There we go again."

Thankfully, Mira walked in. So I didn't have to answer. She came in with some meals in a tray for us. And it contains grilled cheese, tomato soup with some sweet potatoes. Then she kept some juice and water also.

"That looks yummy, Ira." I said with an impatient voice, waiting to feast on the meal because I hadn't eaten all day long.

"Yeah, I know." She said with her beautiful smile.

"I need to eat quickly and dress up for my party. Brayan I really need you to tag along, please but, that condition of yours can't be accepted." Mira said pleading with pride.

"Well, you have no choice or rather you do have a choice, either you accept my condition and we go together or you go without me or you stay home without going to the party." He replied, as he got up to go wash his hands in the bathroom.

Eventually, she gave in and they left for the party, leaving me to rest and read in peace. Or so I thought.

*****

Hours later, I heard voices in the hallway, Brayan and Mira were back. And the noises fro the next door suggested Brayan had brought someone home after all.

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head with a mix of exasperation and amusement. Typical Brayan. But before I could dwell on it, a car horn sounded from outside.

"Who could that be?" I wondered aloud.

Is uncle Salvador, back so soon.

Moments later, Mira returned with someone I least expected to see.