Beneath the Surface

Alise had been pretending to be okay, but in truth, everything had crumbled, overwhelmed by a turbulent sea of emotions due to betrayal, and she wasn't ready to confide in anyone.

Sharing the humiliating truth was out of the question, especially with her parents. Her instinct screamed for an escape from the stifling room, but her father persisted, digging deeper into her life since her return.

She responded with short, evasive answers, hoping to end the conversation swiftly. Eventually, her father gave in, his annoyance clear as he leaned back in his chair.

Thinking he had finally relented, she stood up, but he interrupted her, demanding, 'Where are you going?' Feeling surprised, she retorted, 'I thought you were finished.

He didn't believe he continued and said The wedding was in two days. She blurted out Two days, are they even going to have enough time to set up, he brushed what she said aside, saying, 'Don't concern yourself with that.

Sighing in resignation, she asked if there was anything else before making a hasty exit.

Her stomach rumbled with hunger, and she glanced at the clock after confirming it was 6 o'clock. She decided to head to the kitchen, where a delightful aroma enveloped her, instantly captivating her senses. Approaching one of the kitchen staff, she politely inquired about the evening's menu.

The staff member smiled warmly and revealed, 'Steak served in a rich red wine with golden potatoes and asparagus on the side.'

Her heart leaped with joy at the mention of steak, her all-time favorite. She couldn't resist the temptation and admitted, 'I'd prefer to dine in my room. Could you please have one of the maids bring my meal there?'

The kitchen staff member readily agreed to her request. 'Certainly, we'll bring it to your room shortly,' she assured her.

With a grateful smile, Alise left the kitchen. As she walked by, she couldn't help but gaze at the pictures of them as kids hanging on the walls, enveloped in nostalgia as she made her way to the staircase.

Ascending the stairs, she reached her room, closing the door behind her, trying to find some solace as she thought about her hasty wedding.

However, her moment of solace was interrupted by a knock at the door. She opened it, assuming it was a servant, but to her surprise, it was her sister. She stormed in, hands on her hips, her eyes mixed with disappointment and a hint of sadness.

Her posture was resolute as she sighed, 'We're angry with you.' Alise was already stressed and more problems came after another.

She met her gaze and quizzically replied, 'For what? Because I left? You all could have done the same. Why are you all being selfish?' Her disbelief was palpable as her eyebrows shot up. 'Selfish?' she exclaimed.

Sadness crept into her expression, and her voice grew louder. 'Alise, you think it's all about you. It wasn't about you leaving; it was because you cut us off.

Her words struck Alise hard. She hadn't considered how oblivious she had been, and her mind raced with thoughts of their unspoken feelings. The weight of her ignorance pressed down on her; she realized they had issues that ran deeper than she thought.

She paced back and forth, contemplating how she had assumed they couldn't tolerate her pursuit of her dreams. The burden of her presumptions weighed heavily on her as she realized all they wanted was a bridge to mend the gap she had unintentionally created.

Regret washed over her like a tidal wave. She understood that they needed a conversation to resolve this. Deep in thought, she pondered what to say or do.

She found herself stuck, unable to move forward, recognizing that she had never been good at expressing her feelings. But she knew she couldn't delay this any longer. Waiting would only strain her relationship with them further, and with her wedding just three days away, she was determined not to leave any unresolved issues between them.

Summoning whatever courage she had left, she began heading downstairs. Along the way, she noticed a maid carrying her food to her room. 'Excuse me,' she said, intercepting the tray, 'I'll take this from here.' With the food in hand, she continued to pass through the living room, as she walked into the dining room.

She sat down at the table, and she could feel everyone's curious gazes on her. They were likely wondering why she wasn't eating in her room. The silence in the air was thick, almost suffocating, and she knew she couldn't let it linger any longer.

Their puzzled faces spoke volumes; their unspoken curiosity and hesitation hung in the air like a heavy shroud. With a deep breath, she finally broke the silence. After dinner, I need to talk to you three.

Their glances darted between one another, expressions shifting from confusion to surprise. The tension in the room was palpable, and she braced herself for their response.

Silon, with a straight face, intervened, not necessarily as the voice of reason but as someone wanting to avoid further strife. 'Come to my room after dinner, and we'll talk.'

Gratitude washed over her as she managed a thankful smile. Her words weren't necessary; the expressions on her face and the warmth in her eyes conveyed her appreciation.

Turning their attention back to her, Sincere exchanged a meaningful glance with Silon, giving his silent affirmation. Neva, however, continued eating her meal without uttering a word, her reluctance apparent in her actions.

She stammered slightly, overwhelmed by their unexpected support, but her heart felt lighter as Sincere and Silon were willing to engage in this conversation. After finishing dinner, Sincere, Silon, and she left the dining room and headed up the stairs to Silon's room.

As they finally got there, she stood while they settled into the chairs, and the room's atmosphere grew heavy with unspoken tension.

As she collected her thoughts, preparing to speak and address the situation, Neva burst into the room with a determined stride.

She settled in a chair next to Sincere and Silon, but her body language conveyed her reluctance and unresolved anger. She crossed her legs and turned her head away from Alise, refusing to make eye contact.