The Seed of Hope

Chapter 20: Over the Waters

-"Kate!! Hurry up! We're gonna be late for the ship!!"- Ivee's voice rang from downstairs as Kate frantically put her shoes on in her room.

Naoko and Logan were already outside loading their bags onto Leena's cart.

Rai waited for Kate in the foyer holding his bag pack, nerves causing his muscles to tense up. He didn't approve of them going to his hometown. He hated that place and he promised himself to never go back.

Kate ran down the stairs and Rai turned to her, he lightly smiled at her, admiring her pureness, he truly loved her and just the thought of having her in the filthy city made him recoil.

-"Ready?"- Kate smiled at him, overly excited about her adventure.

-"Not really but yeah..."- Rai exhaled.

-"Oh come on, babe! You know how much I've wanted this!!"- Kate whined.

-"I'm just worried, okay?"- Rai ran his fingers through his hair. -"That place has been such torture for me and not to mention an eye sore."- He added.

Kate looked at him before lowering her gaze.

-"I can understand if you don't want to come with me—"-

-"No! Wherever you go, I go!"- Rai interrupted Kate.

Kate smiled wide. -"Then stop complaining!"- She laughed as she ran out the doors.

Rai smiled as he sighed, following Kate out the doors.

Leena was on the wheel, looking back and noticing the amount of bags Ivee brought.

-"How long are you all going to be there for?"- She asked.

-"Maybe three to four days..."- Kate answered.

Leena glared back at Ivee.

-"You better put some bags back in that building, Pinky, stop exaggerating!"-

-"But Ma! I need to be prepared!!"- Ivee pushed back.

Leena glared at her, intensely.

Ivee groaned and proceeded to empty the cart.

After leaving with two bags in the cart, Leena started the cart and slowly made their way to the port.

She occasionally threw a glance at Kate who was sitting next to her. Leena felt something was off, her daughter's expression was muted and her way of speaking was softer, timid, and should she dare to think, depressed.

As they drove, Ivee was blasting music from her mini speaker as she loudly sang, sitting in between Logan and Rai, they both were slightly annoyed. Naoko and Kate sat in front and laughed at the two men's faces.

They arrived at the port and they noticed a cruise ship, just like the one Rai arrived in nearly a year ago.

Rai slightly frowned at the sight of the familiar ship. His hands tensed up, gripping his bag. Logan glanced over at him with a cold expression.

His thoughts ran a marathon, reminding him of the stomach-turning moment he heard them have a few nights ago. A stew of emotions rampaged in his being, anger, and disappointment was the strongest two, but his defense mechanism caused him to feel these emotions as if they were covered up by a layer of dried wax. They were there, just numbed out. Leena's soft voice called to them, urging the gang to not forget anything.

-"Thank you so much, mom! We'll be back soon!"- Kate swung the bag over her shoulder and gave her mom a hug and a kiss.

Logan observed this, eyeing how Leena motherly held Kate's face and looked at her daughter so tenderly and caring. The way she brushed her hair out of Kate's face to see her better, how she gave instructions and advice despite not being asked.