5 Presence

Days went by with Ava helping her father with his medical stuff. She was improving her skill under her father's guidance. Ava was someone who would learn things very fast, doubting people whether she already knew everything.

"Ava, I will be out for a week. I need to buy some herbs unavailable in our village" Coal informed her about his trip to the other capital. He had to negotiate for the ingredient he needed to prepare the medicine and could only do that by traveling to the other place.

"Father I too want to join you. I don't want to get bored all alone at home" Ava would love to join her father as she had this insect to learn new things and travel to new places exploring other capitals along with her father.

"This time, I need to sea travel. It's not near that we can reach with the cart" Coal informed us that the travel was too long and it would even take him some time to return.

"You should stay here and handle the patients here for me. What if someone needs a doctor here" he patted her head when he saw her upset face.

Coal knew his daughter was that eager person who would get excited with little things in life. The adventure was what she craved.

"Will take you some other time, promise" he assured her to take her with him the next time she traveled.

Ava smiled, listening to her father's words. She was just eighteen but was too mature for her age. She had been more sensible from a very young age and helped her father when she started learning medicine.

"Promise next time... I don't want a no, okay" she asked when Coal nodded their head, making her smile.

She helped him pack his luggage which he needed with him to carry. After ensuring everything was packed, she went inside to make some food for him to take along.

Coal was a picky person related to food. First, it was his wife's hand-made food he loved to eat, but after her demise, he was left alone with two-year-old Ava. As she grew up, she started helping him with household chores, from learning to cook to cleaning the house.

She was a replica of her mother both by look and nature. It would always remind him of his late wife whenever he saw his daughter.

"Father these are your medicine, don't neglect your health while taking care of other people" she passed him his medicine bag.

"Thank you...and be safe. Don't get out at night. I heard from people talking bout some animal roaming at night."

One of the villagers had seen a wolf roaming around at night. He was lucky enough to run out from the animal's sight. But they still don't know whether the animal was safe or not.

"Okay father.." she assured her father and followed him outside the wooden fencing where his horse carriage had arrived.

"If you feel alone then visit uncle Leonard's house, Karissa would give you nice company" he cupped her face and kissed her forehead.

"Father will be back soon" Coal sat inside the carriage and waved his hand before leaving.

This was not the first time Coal had left leaving her alone, but his sudden departure was not making her feel right. She didn't know why this time, his leave was bothering her. She could only pray her father would come back soon.

Getting back inside the house, she continued with her work. Felix had asked her to meet in the market as he wanted to buy some dresses for his sister. She and Karissa were his only friend in the village, and he preferred taking suggestions whenever he purchased women's stuff.

Completing her work, she got ready and went to Karissa's house. The three of them were going shopping.

On her way to Karissa's house, Ava felt someone's presence behind her, but when she turned back, she found no one. For the past few days, she felt someone was following her. At first, she felt it was her imagination, but then the presence felt so strong that the person was standing next to her.

She didn't tell her father about this, thinking he would get scared for her safety and would stress over her protection. But today, when she stepped her foot outside, she again felt someone's eyes following her steps.

Ava brushed her thoughts and strode as fast as she could, ignoring the presence that felt even strong than before.

After reaching Karissa's house, she went inside. Ava didn't feel this scared in her life. But this invisible presence was bothering her.

"What happened? Why are you sweating?" Karissa saw her friend panting as if she had run from her home.

"Pass me some water first," Ava asked, breathing heavily, and she went without questioning her further.

Gulping down the whole glass of water, she felt her voice coming back. Ava looked up to watch Karissa's concerned face.

Will she believe her? Is she saying some invisible force was following her? Or will she think I'm talking something rubbish? Ava didn't understand how to talk to her.

What if she makes fun of her for not believing her words?

After playing their eyes games, Karissa finally opened her mouth to speak. Ava's silence was disturbing her, and she wanted her to open her mouth to talk, but this stupid girl just kept looking at her without uttering a word.

"Are you going to speak? What made you run all the way here?" she stood, resting her hand on her hips, waiting for her reply.

Ava thought she should not let her know about this as she didn't have any proof to make her believe in her words.

"That...I... I thought to know how many steps it takes for me to reach your house" she knew her excuse was lame, but still, she prayed for her to believe her words.

"What?" she frowned at her answer. This girl just ran from her house to count the steps it took her to reach here.

Ava nodded her head, making her gap at her. She knew maybe she would trust her reason.

"You just ran to count steps?" she again asked in disbelief. No doubt she was the craziest one in the group. Even Felix didn't understand her sometimes.

"I was right... you surely lost your brain somewhere" she shook her head and got ready, questioningly looking at Ava. There was no way she would ever understand this girl.

They knew this girl was a total nut and would end up doing weird things just to get her doubts clear.

"Girls, I've made some fresh orange juice. Just have it before you leave," came Juliet's voice. She was Karissa's mother and Leonard's wife.

Juliet was a very loving and caring woman. She never took Ava as another daughter but treated her as her own. Ava was born before Karissa when she lost her mother, and Juliet lost her friend. Juliet took Ava as her daughter from that day and became her godmother. She loved both the girls and treated them equally.

"Yes, a mother coming," both girls shouted in unison.

When Ava got out with Karissa, she didn't feel the presence. Sighing in relief, she walked into the market where Felix would meet them.

Spotting the man outside the Dress boutique, they made their way inside the shop.

The shopkeeper showed them a different variety of dresses. Felix had a younger sister who was ten years old. He wanted to gift her a dress for her birthday. He was there for her birthday this year, and he thought to make it more memorial by celebrating it with his family and friends.

"Sir, this is the latest design that arrived in the shop," the shopkeepers said, showing the new arrival.

"I think this will suit her," Ava said, picking the pink frock with golden embroidery.

"Yes it looks beautiful. Selene will surely like it," Karissa agreed with Ava's choice.

Agreeing with the girls, Felix took the selected dress and walked out of the shop. They decided to take a look over the market just for fun. It was so long that their friend roamed together like this.

Stopping at different stalls, the girls looked for different accessories that went along with their dresses purchasing them one by one.

Felix could only follow them without voicing his thoughts. He knew the girls would go mad if he said he was getting tired of their shopping and stopped them by saying they were wasting their money on silly things. He simply followed them until they got tired.

"I think it's enough for today. I've already purchased enough. Mother will surely scold me for spending so much" Karissa sat on the bench of the small juice stall when Felix came passing them one glass each.

"I was thinking the same. You both went overboard in spending money

"Even I think I've shopped enough books. Father will surely think I've gone mad for purchasing so many books" she took a sip from the juice, clearing her thirst.

"Your husband will surely going to cry for making them so out of money" he sat next to Karissa and continued," Look, I won't be spending this much money on your shopping after marriage," he said, making her frown.

Yes, Felix and Karissa loved each other but were waiting for the right time to get married. They both were still young to settle down, and Felix worked hard to meet her father's expectations.

"See you're tired of me now only, what will you do after we get married" she looked away. Felix pouted his lips and tried coaxing her anger.

Ava kept looking at their bantering. These two will never grow up. They were like this, always fighting and then coaxing each other. Felix loved teasing her and also loved soothing her anger.

She hoped they would stay like this with each other, showing their love and affection for one another.