That One Eventful Night ✔️

1 - START

My life was so simple yet beautiful. Heh, that's what they always say. Sometimes, I agree with them...though sometimes, I don't. Still, I am contented.

"Veee, Veeeleett" young Sage called her favorite nickname of mine as she ran with her long hair swinging side by side. She was holding bangka de papel or a paper boat in her left hand. Her fingers were short so she held it quite tightly, making the sides look crumpled a bit.

I walked towards her direction and crouched in front of her, keeping my holly dress in between my thighs so the dirt would not get in touch with it.

The dress was from my older brother Axtell. He loves shopping. He once mentioned a brand named Madewell and Christy Dawn. I have never been inside a shop named like those. Shops here are local and never branded but it's okay. As long as we are able to wear it decently, it was enough. Axtell liked spending his money on his sisters.

I closed my mouth from smiling and looked at Sage who placed the paper boat on the river. We were sitting on the plain and fresh watered grass from rain. The rain had stopped after Sage prayed that God would prevent us from getting sick. She was having fun watching the paper boat sailed away on its own.

"Veee look, look!" she clapped her hands and jumped out of happiness before twirling. I immediately crouched down and held her side to balance her. "Careful, Sage," I warned.

"Veee, may I follow the bangka? P-pleath," I chuckled when she tried to say please. She couldn't pronounce it properly due to the loss of her few teeth. It was funny to me that she still tried to whisper the same word all over again.

She forgot her question and just sat on the bench, under the Banaba tree. That tree was a little far from the river so it was safe for me to let her sit there alone. Well, she was not entirely alone. Ruby was also with her.

Ruby couldn't walk because she accidentally tripped over the stairs. She was sitting on her wheelchair and I could see that she really wanted to stand again and swim by the river.

"Hi, Ruby. Wanna go there?" I pointed at my previous place. My eyes were still focused on Sage who's talking to the nature.

"Mama would scold us," she whispered, looking around as if mama was there with us. She touched her braided her for comfort. Ruby's traumatized.

"No, mama would not scold us. Besides, we would be careful. Come," I held the handle and began pushing her there. Once we arrived at the exact spot, I stood beside her and let her enjoy the closeness.

"Isn't it beautiful?" she paused, letting out a deep sigh. She smiled and stuck out her hand as if she was touching the water and the masterpiece. "When will I touch the water again, Veee?" she asked with a voice full of hope and with twinkling doe eyes.

"Soon, Ruby. God will let you walk again, in no time." my lungs probably felt happy filtering clean air here. It was refreshing. I felt great, especially because Ruby is smiling.

"Let's go back," I pushed her while Sage was holding my dress as we all went back to the manor. The terrace was still a little messy since my birthday, a week ago.

A week ago, we all celebrated my 20th birthday. Mama held a party for me and all the villagers went to greet and party with us. They all presented their little yet amazing presents for me that I truly kept. I mean, 'we' because I live in a big manor intended for the orphans. Yes, Sage and Ruby are one of them.

However, I am not one of them. I was used to calling the head care taker as Mama Tri. I was the youngest in the family, having 2 older sisters and 2 older brothers and having my both my parents, alive and well. My family owns the manor and the village land, literally the whole village and the outer forests surrounding our village. In simpler words, my family owns large chunks of lands around here. Well, money is the way.