Regrets and sorrows

Chapter 48: If only...

"Madame Grace," Nathan started, wiping his face with a handkerchief the peeked out of his pocket. "Yes?"

He took out a small folded piece of paper to reveal a picture of Alyana swinging. She looked happy. Her dimples appeared whenever she smiled, and he giggle was as cute as it could ever get.

Grace just stayed silent, taking the photo out of the little boys hands. She tilted her head to the side, giving the picture back. "She looks lovely. Is she your best friend?"

He thought for moment, nodding as he glanced at the picture. She was beautiful. A familiar blonde-haired girl, snatched the photo out of his hands, smirking.

"Ooh, do you like her?" Alessia teased, gazing down at the picture. Her smirk immediately turned into a frown, slamming it on the table and storming off.

Nathan looked back and forth at where Alessia used to stand and the door. "What's her problem?" Grace had tried her hardest to stifle a laugh, but it was ridiculously impossible due to this boy's obliviousness.

Grace then took the plates on the wooden table, clearing it off with a little soap and a "used" sponge. She was starting to think it was unsanitary to use.

"Just give her a little time, Nath." One of his new friends, Owen, perked up, nudging his side. He couldn't possible like Alessia, right? "What if she's upset?" Owen giggled.

He took a small sketch out of his shoe, showing it the red-head. "It's a picture of Alessia's room. She has tons of sketches of you. She made me draw them!" Owen snitched, scrunching his face.

The look on his face only meant one thing.

He knew she liked him. Grace's face finally relaxed once she realized he knew. "Nathan, come along. We have to go to the-"

"Can I go to the farm, Madame Grace? I promise Wen and I will behave!" Grace just nodded, leading the boys outside and into the open world.

It felt good to be outside. He would rarely go since well... The air was polluted. They had an amount of time to stay outside. "C'mon Wen!" Nathan shouted, jumping over the fence that separates the two areas.

The two boys jumped into a HUGE mud puddle, getting it all over their clothes. Madame Grace is going to kill me! "That was awesome!" Owen told him, splashing more mud on himself.

Nathan rubbed his eyes, squinting. "Madame Grace is going to scold us, Wen!" He scolded his friend, attempting to take off the mucky, yucky mud.

Meanwhile, back at Grace's...

The woman had just finished taking a bath, tying her hair into a messy bun. She put a small tad of cleansing cream she had bought a week ago, covering the scars.

Her light brown hair shone as the sunlight hit the window pane, blinding her. She missed Tibet. If only... If only it didn't happen. (Not that you dirty minded people!)

What did she ever do to deserve that?

Him.

He played her. She had thought she had found true love. Guess there's no such thing.

If only... If only her parents knew where she was. If only she didn't throw her life away and get an arranged marriage to a man she didn't know.

Only to get broken-hearted. He left her for someone else. That's what she thought...

Maybe.

That was her only hope.

"Madame G-Grace?" Alessia interrupted her thoughts. She quickly covered her face with a fan, hiding the tears that had spilled. "Y-Yes?"

Dammit.

"Nathan isn't here, is he?" She shook her head, motioning the young girl to sit down. "Now what's got you down?" The blonde took a deep breath, before speaking in a soft tone,

"He's in love with her, right?" Grace's eyes widened. These children were not old enough to think about love. About love lives. What was she supposed to say? Yes?

Grace sighed, praying quietly in her head. "Alessia, sweetheart, You do know it's too early to be thinking about that, yes?" She didn't bother to speak knowing that Garce knew the answer.

"I know. I know it's hard to not have a father to come home to. To a complete family to come home to." Now this set Alessia at the edge. She was on the verge to tears hearing about her father that passed away.

No, she shouldn't be crying. She promised. She promised her father she wouldn't be upset. "I-It's just that... I get where he's coming from, Madame Grace. He barely knows me!" She cried, hugging the brunette.

Grace gasped at her sudden reaction, calming her down by patting her back gently. "Madame Grace! Madame Grace!" A voice called out, knocking violently on the door.

She pulled away from Alessia, opening the door to reveal her neighbours and a young girl passed out in their arms. She looked as old as Nathan. And her face...

It was her.

It was the girl Nathan missed.

"Come in. I'll grab a rag. She must be burning hot!" Grace exclaimed, taking a warm, wet, rag from the kitchen counter and placing it on the young girl's head.

She bent down, putting a thermometer in her mouth. "Huh? What's this?" Grace questioned, looking at the small locket dangling from the girl's neck. She unlatched it and found a name engraved.

'Alyana'. That must be her name...

Grace dropped the necklace on the counter, sitting back down on the chair with Alessia. She looked like she was going to cry.

She must've figured it out.

"I'm sorry, I have to go..." Alessia quickly ran out of the house, trying to hide her tear-stained face. "Alessia, wait!" Grace screamed.

She groaned and looked back to Alyana who slept peacefully on the couch. "Nath... N-Nath..." The brunette mumbled, stirring in her sleep.

Grace thought it was cute. It reminded her of her little sister. Except she had blue hair.

"Sweetheart? Please take your sister upstairs." Her mother commanded, smiling. She nodded, carrying her sister up the flight of stairs.

She snores so quietly, only she could hear it. Once her sister was on the bed, she kissed her head and lied down next to her.

"Goodnight, Little bug." Grace whispered, starting to drift off to sleep. Her sister turned to the brunette, hugging her.

"Goodnight, Bridgette."

Bridgette... She missed her real name. Why did she change it? It wasn't her. It was-

"Hello, babe." Her eyes widened as a shadow came close to her, wrapping their arms around her waist and kissing her passionately. She just stared at him in disgust.

"Felix."

This... This was NOT in my plans. Hehe, I guess plans change?? Idk, I love this idea TBH to incorporate the anime version of Adrienette. Anyways, happy reading and stay tuned for the next chapter!