Chapter nine 《Still mourning》

"Youth nowadays love movies with steamy hot sex scenes and romantic lovey dovey moments but that's not all it entails, a good movie is one that tells a compelling story, a good story through inspiration, mystery, action, understanding, romance and most of all gives out some lesson that can be used in our every day lives at the end of the day."

Diemos Macmillan, Velvette's Dad.

💕💕

|VELVETTE |

Kally engulfed me in a bone crushing hug the moment my feet landed on the cold tiles.

This girl just knew what I wanted even without me saying it.

Nobody understands my grievances more than she does because she lost her Mum to treacherous mother death at a very young age.

Apparently her Dad was having an affair with the cook. Her mother was oblivious to that until she was on her death bed.

The cook wanted him for herself so she poisoned Kally's Mum. She was just seven back then and she's still holding it against her father up to this day even though it was not entirely his fault.

Kally sat me on the sofa never breaking the hug.

"Let it all out, I'm here for you." She consoled.

A sob wrecked through me, I couldn't hold it in even if I wanted to.

I gripped her shoulders tightly and released all the pain and insecurities I felt through the tears.

What if I had sent the maid to bring the water instead of going for it on my own? what if I had come back a little earlier? what if we never planned that trip in the first place?. Then maybe he wouldn't have died. I couldn't help but blame myself.

It's for all these reasons that I kept crying, I cried and cried until all my tears were drained.

Kally kept whispering assuring words to me and I was grateful for that.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"Velvette,"

A soft voice muttered.

I opened my eyes to see Kally looming over me.

"Dinner is ready." She informed.

I nodded solemnly and quickly made my way to the bathroom to clean up.

I might have slept through the break down.

I looked into the mirror and a shriek left my lips involuntarily.

I looked like a scary antagonist in a horror movie. My hair was dishevelled and the mascara I had applied earlier today decorated my cheeks terrifically with black lines. Heck, I resembled a zombie at that moment.

Today was solely for Dad. A day of reminiscence. We go through the family pictures and videos, prepare his favorite food and also enjoy his favourite movies.

It's his anniversary afterall.

Dad's favourite foods are fish tacos and pork tenderloin sandwich.

He usually prepares it on his own claiming that nobody can do it as best as he could and that was undoubtedly true.

Dad's skills in the kitchen is admirable, no one would expect that from a strict and widely known business man.

With the fish tacos,

he grills the fish and adds shredded cabbage, crema, pic de gallo, and a squirt of lime. He then nestles into a double layer of corn tortillas.

He prepares the pork tenderloin sandwich by dipping the hammered pork in flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs and afterwards he deep fries it.

Trust me when I say it's finger licking good.

The delicious fragrance of fish tacos and pork tenderloin sandwich greeted me once I reached the dining area. The cook can do wonders with her hands but no matter how skillful she is, she can't compare her skills with Dad's when it comes to fish tacos and pork tenderloin sandwich.

The food was already served, the servants added meyer lemon margaritas and diane crump blackberry mint julep to enhance the appeal of the food.

I twirled the fork absentmindedly on my plate not bothering to take a bite.

The food was appealing but the appetite to eat was non-existent. I tried to force some crumbs down my throat for Dad's sake.

He wouldn't want me to neglect my food.

I took a quick glance at everyone's plate and they were struggling to eat like I was.

No one bothered to start a conservation knowing it'll be a moot attempt.

Mum was the first person to get up, she didn't even care to give a lame excuse.

"I'll go and fix the projector," I lied.

No one replied, I was wondering if they even heard what I said.

I went to my room and sat quietly on my bed, I was so deep in thoughts that I didn't notice Kally's arrival.

The bed dipped under her weight. She wrapped her arms around my waist and leaned her head on my shoulders.

"How are you feeling." she questioned.

"I really don't know. empty, hollow, void." I uttered flatly.

She didn't say anything. she just hugged me and silently provided me with the comfort I desperately needed.

.

.

.

.

.

Diemos Macmillan never had a favourite movie, he had some he watched frequently like empire strikes back, the shawshank redemption and game of thrones.

He didn't have a particular criteria, he prefers all genres combined in one package.

As I sat on the soft cinema chair enjoying the movie titled 'the shawshank redempton' a conversation I had with Dad about his choice of movies some years back begun to play in my ears.

It was a hot July afternoon, I sat on the sofa in the parlor munching on the chocolate chip cookies Mum made and also enjoying a romantic movie which goes with the title 'The girl next door'.

Dad came to sit on the armrest, he picked a cookie from the bowl and focused on the movie ahead.

"What's the title," he curiously asked.

"The girl next door, a romance movie," I hesitantly answered.

He arched is brows in amusement.

"Youths nowadays love movies with steamy hot sex scenes and romantic lovey dovey moments."

I visibly gulped at his statement and shyly covered my face with my cookie smeared hands.

"so what's your idea of a good movie?"

I pushed further, anxious to know what he thought.

He combed through his hair gripping it for three good seconds, it's kind of a habit. He does that when he's deep in thoughts.

"A good movie is one that tells a compelling story, a good story through inspiration, mystery, action, understanding, romance and most all gives out some lesson that can be used in our every day lives at the end of the day."

Kally's grip on my hand brought me back to my immediate surroundings. Tears freely flowed down my face at the bittersweet memory.

"why don't you go and get some rest," Kally suggested.

"Yeah you're right. Are you not gonna crush here tonight?" I asked her warily.

She shook her head in denial. "I have some errands to run early tomorrow morning."

I nodded my head in understanding, "Good night then."

"Good night."

.

.

.

.

I tossed and turned on my big queen size bed for hours sleep refusing to submit. The vision I had about my cousin replayed over and over again in my head.

Even my fluffy pillow couldn't lure me in slumber.

My nerves were all over the place, my mind was on edge and unsettling butterflies lingered in my stomach.

I took my Iphone from the stand, the bright screen showcased the time as '1:05am' .

I did the the only thing I knew would help me sleep unterruptedly. Checking on my cousin was the only solution.

I scrolled through my contacts and retrieved her number.

Me: Too much in love to even check up on lovely cousin?

She replied almost immediately.

Claudia: Still awake?

Me: Hope I'm not chatting with a ghost?

She sent an annoyed emoji and replied.

Claudia: No. I'm working on the painting I'll use for the Aesthetics awards.

Me: That's cool, How're you and everyone?

she sent an eye rolling emoji, clearly amused with my twenty questions.

Claudia: I'm fine, they're all fine.

I released a sigh I didn't know I was holding.

Me: Good luck and good night."

Claudia: It's morning already, good night though.

I was finally able to visit slumber land with the thought that my cousin was healthy and well.