Marg was troubled.
In all her life, people just used her like a tool. No one was there for her, but they always wanted her to be by them, whenever the need occurred: Her family, her so-called friend, were all the same. They just used her and discarded her once the job was done.
But that was why she was troubled when Helio acted like she was doing him some wondrous favor. Helio didn't demand things from her, rather he requested. And more importantly, in her time of need, Helio was always present. It wasn't the same give and give relationship, rather it was now a give and take relationship between the two.
Was it just friendship, or was there more? She didn't know. But she did know one thing, she was troubled.
That's why when Helio asked her out for dinner- according to her memory, she was more than flustered. But she didn't know a way she could respond. Did she even have emotions anymore? After all, all her life, she was nothing more than a tool. But now she was a friend and someone Helio depended on. She was treated as a human being, rather than a disposable tool.
So with a smile, she said yes. After all, she was free to choose.
She spent almost all her time just dressing up properly for the dinner. She'd already been to Helio's house more than a few times, she'd already met his family too but even so, she felt a bit nervous.
She wasn't like this before. So what happened now? Was it because of that deadline? Was it because she'd have to leave soon? She didn't know: she was troubled.
But she finished dressing up and made up her courage. She teleported to Helio's room and before she knew it, she was in the ninth dimension. She really hated this place and she wanted to escape as fast as possible. But when she saw the look on Helio's face, she slowed the teleportation.
Helio's question kind of saddened her. After all, it was her fate to be in this place just like those things- her predecessors. There was no escape. But Helio's answer surprised her even more. Of course, she knew it was futile to resist, but for just this once, she had hope.
'Maybe… just maybe….'
But it all changed when they arrived. Everything was covered in debris and this was the second time she saw Helio so troubled.
Things only got worse over time. She learned more about Helio and more about his past. All this time she assumed this family was a bit weird and perhaps too touchy-feely: and Helio was probably just another arrogant teenager. But now she understood, outside appearance wasn't everything.
She was jealous and hurt at the same time. She was jealous because she didn't have someone like Helio's grandfather in her own life. And she was hurt because Helio didn't have that man in his life anymore either. This was probably the first time, she felt pain for someone else's sake.
And as Helio finally got up and left the room, she just stared at the two on the chair. The two were totally silent now. And so was the girl right next to her. The girl was younger than her and she could feel intense hate coming out of her as well as longing, and a bit of fear.
This whole thing had nothing to do with Marg and yet, she felt powerless: she was troubled.
But at the last moment, she took a leap of faith and gave the girl next to her, a bit of a push.
***
Elsa stared at three while staying by Marg's side.
Her father- the same father she never saw, was right next to her mom and beloved brother, and yet, she couldn't get close. She was both frightened and enraged at the same time.
She was also scared of the outcome. After all, she already knew about everything.
On that day eleven years ago- on that day her grandfather died, she saw everything. The adults tried their best to hide it, but they couldn't: not from her.
And when she learned the truth, she couldn't tell it to anyone, and she couldn't just keep it in her either. She was young, but even so, she didn't, she couldn't just tell it to anyone. Definitely not to her brother.
She knew all of this wasn't her fault, and yet, deep down she was scared. 'What if father left because of me?' She was scared of that thought.
After all, back when the catastrophe happened, she was just an infant, and if it weren't for her, her mother wouldn't have stayed at home, and maybe, just maybe things would have been different.
And that was why she feared to get near the three. What if that man- her father, left again if she were to get near?
But even so, she made up enough courage to put a hand on her brother's shoulder. "Stay calm." Her voice shivered, she almost cried, and yet, for her brother's sake, she controlled her emotions.
As things got worse and worse, Helio got up and left.
Her parent's gaze was now on her.
But she could only take a step back only to be shoved forward by Marg. "Go," Marg whispered.
She was scared and yet, her body moved forward.
She looked forward and saw both of her parents calling her, smiling ever so slightly.
She slowly moved and took her seat, the same place where her brother was seated even just a minute ago.
They finally got to have a talk.
When was the last time she felt this much warmth? When she was born?
That night Elsa cried, and she finally knew, her life wasn't like this because of her.
It wasn't her fault.
***
"Why are you here!" The woman screamed, and all the glass in the house broke down.
"I'm just here to talk. Is Jintel and Elsa home?"
"That's none of your business!" The woman sped up and kicked the man in the stomach.
The man didn't dodge or defend. He took the blow with a smile. He didn't have much time left. So he wanted to meet his family one last time.
The town was busy and life moved on outside. But inside, inside this house, everything was chaotic.
Someone did hear all this ruckus from upstairs, but she was too afraid to come down.
"WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU ALL THIS TIME!" The woman punched the man again and again until the man didn't have something which resembled a face anymore. Leaking bright red blood as a consequence.
The furniture broke down, debris scattered everywhere, but it didn't stop. The woman didn't stop.
And yet, the man never said a word. He just smiled like a fool. Maybe he was one because all of his thoughts were nothing but, 'I finally get to meet you guys... again.'
***
Helio got back from his exercises. He had no idea if Marg was still in the house or not but he just hoped she'd be. After all, he had no way of getting back to the academy on time, if not.
He'd probably end up in detention for not going back, but he didn't care. He had better things to worry about.
He got fresh and took his seat in the dining room. It wasn't cleaned yet and from the looks of it, things wouldn't have been cleaned any time soon.
"So mom, would you mind telling me more about grandpa?" Helio had only three things on his mind.
One, to find out more about his grandfather. Two, to get strong enough so that the catastrophe never happened again.
And three, live out all his dreams so his grandfather could be proud.
His mother smiled from the kitchen. "Of course. But we'll need a lot of time. Why don't we head over to grandma's house this vacation and have a nice talk?"
"Sounds good. Oh and I kind of wanted to spend a few days at the beach too. Can I?"
"Are you implying I'm not invited?" Helio's mom had a ladle on her hand.
And seeing the ladle, Helio gulped. "Won't it be a bit awkward to see you or Elsa in a swimsuit?" He didn't look her in the eye.
"Why? It's not like you haven't seen me naked before."
Sweat covered Helio's face. "That was an accident!" He screamed but a second later he wanted to die of second-hand embarrassment.
He didn't dare to remember that certain X-Ray incident.
Helio's mother giggled stirred the soup. "Sure, you can go."
"Thanks." Helio didn't say another word. He was too embarrassed to even look towards the kitchen anymore.
Eventually, Elsa and Marg came down.
'I guess she was still here.' Helio felt a bit bad for doing this to Marg. After all, she'd probably be in detention too, just for him. And not to mention she had to witness all this drama.
"Sorry."
"For what?" Marg took her seat.
"Everything."
"No, apology, necessary. I wouldn't mind if you forfeited if you fought me though." Though Marg didn't show any emotion, she was definitely a bit happy, and her speech didn't betray that sentiment.
"Hey, that's not fair play!" Helio chuckled.
They all laughed.
But it was hollow.
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