Kapitel 33: amongst Secrets
"Mom really be leaving again?" asked Maria, looking worried as she sat on the sofa.
"Yes, there's another call," replied her mother, rushing to put on her shoes and carrying a bag that was quite heavy for a woman.
"It's unusual for you to take it, Mom. Usually, you only accept the Academy's requests when you need extra money. What's going on?" asked William, who was right next to Maria.
"You say it like Mom works for them just for the money," her mother replied.
"You're not?"
"No, you're right."
"So why is Mom leaving again this time? You already received the money a few days ago, right?" asked Maria, looking worried.
"Yeah."
"Then why?"
Ready to open the door, her mother briefly smiled and replied, "This case is quite interesting."
"Is it still related to the rat from yesterday?" asked William.
"I don't know, that's why I have to find out. Both of You don't need to worry, even though it's like this, your Mom is pretty good at taking care of herself, you know!"
"I know, that's why I'm confused why Dad has to stop working and visit you at the Academy," William replied.
"Isn't it normal for a husband to worry about his wife?" her mother said confidently and without hesitation. After that, she paused for a moment, looking at William to see his response.
Feeling that his mother didn't want to tell him what was going on, William sighed and said, "Let's just say it's like that, I give up. But can you promise us one thing?"
"What?"
"Contact me as soon as possible if something happens beyond your expectations. My family's safety is the most important thing, I will go there without hesitation," said William without hesitation.
"Me too!" Maria shouted enthusiastically.
Their mother smiled at that, then opened the door without hesitation and said, "Yes, I promise. See you next Sunday, you two."
After the door closed tightly and the sound of their mother's footsteps started to fade away, the house became very quiet, even the sound of the television became the loudest sound there at that time.
"It's so quiet," said William.
"Yeah, you're right," Maria replied.
"What do you think?"
"Mom's hiding something."
"I suspected it."
"From the beginning, our current situation is very strange. Dad said three days ago that he had work out of this city for a month and would be very busy. And now today, Mom is leaving for the Academy because of something unknown. Do you think this is related to the strange movements of the Monsters inside the rift?"
"Most likely, but so far all we know is information about the rat from inside the rift that was caught. But it seems like there's more to it."
Maria looked at her hands and asked, "Brother, can I use my ability?"
"No, we don't know if there are any side effects or how it works. I'm afraid your ability is something more complicated than we think. If it's the ability to predict the future, it's better to ask Clara for help. Her ability is very clear how it works and the risk is only temporary headaches because of information that is not from reality."
"Clara... Honestly, I don't like that woman."
"Why?"
"She became rich because of her ability, right? It's so unfair, you know! Do you agree, brother? What do you think?"
"If you ask me, maybe I feel sorry for her."
"Why?"
"Her ability is a curse, just like my ability that I couldn't control before. She looks like me in the past right now."
"...," Maria fell silent, she was confused about what to say.
"So if you want, be her friend."
"But she always says she doesn't need a friend. That's one of the reasons why I don't like her, you know!"
William, seeing his little sister's stubborn nature at that time, could only watch. Because it was an absolute truth that could no longer be reversed. But William, who knew Clara's past, felt that he had to straighten something out with his sister. He didn't want his little sister to grow up to be someone who easily interpreted someone's actions just by looking at them once.
"Do you know she has a little brother?" William asked suddenly.
"Really? It must be hard having a sister like her."
"Her little brother is already dead."
"...," Maria fell silent, she was confused about what to say.
"Her brother had cancer. Clara cried every night since that day, non-stop, and on that day I met her in the hospital because of her crying.."
"The hospital? Why were you in the hospital?"
"Ah, it's because I was visiting Dad. At that time Mom lied to us and said Dad had work out of town with a client. But I found Dad's lab results. He had a very serious internal injury that even required more than two months of hospitalization at that time."
"Ha? How could Dad get so badly injured?"
"It was the first day I started to doubt Dad's job. But Dad explained to me that he was just hit by a truck and luckily survived."
"Suspicious," Maria said, thinking hard about it.
"Yeah, there's no point thinking about it, I choose to respect Dad's decision if he really doesn't want us to know anything."
"Then what about that woman?"
"Ah, you mean Clara?"
"Yeah, you want me to know about Clara, right?"
"Maybe it's more accurate to say I want you to understand her."
"Understand?"
"Yeah, I want you to understand why she always acts like a porcupine."
"Mwahahahaha, porcupine... Yeah, that's true, if you look at it again, she is a porcupine."
William smile then said, "Before her brother got cancer, she actually used her ability unintentionally. She saw her brother lying on the hospital bed clearly. But she didn't understand and felt that it was just an illusion. But when she realized that her vision at that time was a vision of the future, she started to blame herself for being too stupid and for not being able to do anything."
"Was his cancer very bad?"
"Liver cancer, and they couldn't even operate."
"Why?"
"Because they were a poor family, it was actually me who suggested that she use her ability to gain wealth. I taught her how to invest, and she was happy with it and succeeded. And after that, she got enough money for her brother's surgery."
"Then why did her brother die? Did the surgery fail?"
"No, actually the surgery was successful."
"Then why?"
"At that time, her brother was already in the final stage. The surgery could only increase his life expectancy. It was like slowing down his death so he could live longer."
"It was too late?"
"Yeah, actually I think not doing the surgery was the right choice. Preventing his death only made him suffer longer from his illness. But Clara is human, in the end she wanted her brother to live longer. Her brother was also grateful for his sister's decision. I also have no right to interfere in that, so I chose to be silent and just observe them."
"...," Maria fell silent after hearing all her brother's story.
"Do you believe me?"
"Of course I believe you, brother. You would only lie to me when it's needed, and that must be for my best. So I will definitely believe anything you say."
William smiled at his little sister's answer. Then he patted her head and said, "Now you know why Clara is the way she is now, right?"
"Yes."
"Good, that's enough."
"Aren't you going to ask me to be friends with her?"
"I don't have the right to force you to do that. I just want you to know that, because I don't want you to grow up to be someone who judges just from what you see at a glance and without thinking. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I'm sorry."
"That's my little sister! Admitting mistakes is a very brave act! You should be proud to be able to do that on your own, Maria."
"Ihihi, thanks brother."
"..."
"..."
"The decision is yours, not mine, remember that."
"Alright."
After that, Maria smiled, slowly but surely she started to forget what had happened for a while, but the conversation that had happened would definitely always be in her memory and stick to her tightly.
But for now, her desire to play with her brother was stronger. Making that memory fade for a while because it wasn't needed by her at this time.
Since that day, the Harrington family home had never had more than two people in it. While waiting for news from their parents, they continued to do their usual activities every day.
Geschenke
-- Geschenk
erhalten Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein