Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Fathia didn't know how to act. Her body felt stiff, her eyes could only stare at Jess, who was lying weakly by the edge of the pool, gradually becoming blurry as tears welled up. Her hands were trembling fiercely. She desperately wanted to shout, "Jess, wake up!" But here, there was Kenzo. Busy attending to Jess since she hadn't resurfaced.

If only she hadn't daydreamed about other things, she would have realized that something was wrong with Jess's movements in the pool.

"Don't just stand there! Call Naomi!" Kenzo's urgency snapped her out of it.

The girl blinked frantically. Kenzo was right. Naomi. Yes. She needed Naomi. Without needing words, Fathia half-ran to find Naomi, wherever she might be. Luckily, she still remembered that she was pretending to be mute. Otherwise, she would have shouted for Naomi or anyone near her. Whether it was Dennis or Jack.

"Naomi, help Jess," Fathia panted when she found Naomi in the main living room, tidying up the ornaments in her mother's large glass cabinet. No, Fathia didn't shout. She was still considering many possibilities in case Kenzo suddenly appeared behind her. She didn't want to take that biggest risk.

"Miss Jess?"

Fathia nodded anxiously. "Quick. In the side swimming pool."

Without delay, Naomi followed the hurried steps of her young miss. She almost half-ran, as if the situation there was incredibly urgent. Naomi's mind suddenly grew worried because it wasn't like her young miss to look so anxious.

When they reached the pool's edge, Jess was already conscious. She coughed softly, leaning slightly against Kenzo, who was still looking at her with concern. When their eyes met, nothing was more relieving than Jess reaching out her hand to Fathia. Fathia wanted to say so much to Jess, but everything had to be folded with effort, as it wasn't possible to say anything in front of Kenzo.

"I'm fine," Jess whispered.

A frustrated click came from the man now sitting cross-legged in front of Jess. "You're saying this is fine? If you want to commit suicide, don't do it here!" he snapped.

This immediately made both Jess and Fathia look his way. Jess glared at Kenzo with irritation, but Fathia held her back. Fathia offered a small smile as a sign of gratitude. She wanted to convey a message, but Kenzo prevented it.

"Just tell your sister that she should warm up before swimming. So, her body doesn't get stiff. Just making everyone worried!"

Once again, Fathia nodded.

"Naomi, why are you silent?" Kenzo grumbled. "Get a dry towel. Don't let this kid get sick later." Then he stood up and hurriedly left them. Before his steps faded, he pointed at Jess. "You owe me, Jess. If it weren't for me, you'd drown and end up in a coffin!"

Jess initially wanted to argue, to throw back all the harsh words she had just received, but when they locked eyes, Jess knew that Kenzo's words were just an outburst of emotion from seeing her earlier. She blinked slowly, normalizing her racing heart. For whatever reason, Jess chose to nod slightly. "Thanks," she said.

Kenzo walked away with a grunt and a complaint, his shirt now wet. He tried to ignore the presence of the two girls, one of whom had already begun to steal his sanity. Jesslyn Rasopati. His intention was to playfully scold them, pretending to be angry while they seemed to be leisurely enjoying the day, but finding Jess flustered in the pool scared him. Helping her was the only thought that quickly crossed his mind, along with his movement of leaping into the pool.

Luckily, he wasn't too late. If he had been late in rescuing Jess, who knows what might have happened to her. Wanting to scold his sister, when he lifted Jess's body out of the water, her face was already pale. He couldn't bring himself to scold her.

Shaking his head slightly, he hurriedly climbed the steps to his room. He changed his clothes and maybe asked Naomi to prepare some food. He was hungry. After endless arguments at his main house, he was frustrated. He pushed open the beautifully carved door quite forcefully, causing a new commotion that he no longer cared about. He had also thought about throwing himself onto the large, soft bed to alleviate the frustration still lingering in his heart, but he remembered. His clothes were wet. Soaked.

"Damn it, Jess! Watch out!" he said, full of anger. He grabbed a towel nearby and headed for the bathroom.

Meanwhile, at the edge of the pool, with the assistance of Naomi and Fathia, Jess took slow steps. Many questions were voiced by Fathia, but Jess herself didn't know what had happened. Suddenly, her hands and feet were numb. Perhaps Kenzo was right about her not warming up enough. Or maybe it was because of the incident that her hands suddenly started to ache in the water. Jess wasn't ready to think too deeply. There was a terrifying fear creeping into her mind.

"Forgive me, Jess. Forgive me," Fathia sobbed, nodding towards Jess. Jess turned her head and saw Fathia wiping the corners of her eyes repeatedly.

"Huh, why?"

They had reached the front of the room. Assisted by Naomi to enter, Jess still held a puzzled frown directed at Fathia. "Why are you apologizing, Fathia?" Jess asked.

"If only," Fathia continued to sob. "If only I hadn't been daydreaming, I would have realized that something was wrong with you earlier."

Jess smiled meaningfully. "I'm fine, really."

"Fine, how? Because earlier... earlier..."

"Actually, I'm fine, Fathia," Jess interrupted, attempting to convince herself that the horrifying fleeting thought had to disappear. She was sitting here now, with Fathia. Despite the chaos and the growing chill as she started shivering. "I think I need to take a shower."

Fathia nodded slowly. "Okay. You go shower."

"I'll prepare some hot tea for you, Miss Jess."

"No need, Aunt Naomi. I'll go to the restroom—"

"No, miss. Just stay here. I'll make you a warm drink, for sure. Don't take too long in the shower. We don't want you catching a cold. If you feel feverish, we'll just go to the doctor, okay?"

Jess quickly shook her head, refusing.

"No objections, Jess. What Naomi said is true. If you're running a fever, we'll head to the hospital," Fathia interjected while wiping away the remains of her tears. She didn't mind Jess now giving her a frustrated look. Allowing Jess to step into the bathroom, Fathia decided to change her slightly damp shirt, as it had supported Jess's steps to her room earlier.

As Jess finished her shower, Fathia patiently waited, gazing at a map and a notebook with her mother's name on the cover. Fathia admired the beautiful handwriting of her Mommy, silently praising it in her mind. She gently wiped away tears, imagining her mother's smile that was as warm as the sun. That comforting look that always filled Fathia with spirit when she felt overwhelmingly sad and alone back then. Suddenly, she reached for an old photo carefully tucked behind the portrait that always accompanied her.

The photo of her mother and her uncle. Taken in 1982.

"What did you find, Fathia?" Jess asked softly, skillfully drying her wet hair. She had changed into more comfortable clothes, carrying the scent of eucalyptus oil from Jess. "My stomach feels a bit queasy. That's why I used eucalyptus oil. Aunt Naomi is taking a while, isn't she?" Jess explained, noticing Fathia's raised eyebrow and puzzled gaze.

"Ah, this... is what I was talking about earlier." Fathia then showed the book and the map she had brought. Jess glanced at them and nodded slightly. "I want to see what's inside. Do you think Mommy would get mad?" she mused.

Jess chuckled. "Definitely. Her child reading her notes, you know."

This made Fathia smirk. Choosing a spot she liked near the window, she began to flip through the handwritten pages, slightly slanted to the right but neatly legible.

"For you, who's always in my heart, Alef Walker.

I'm writing this, not with the intention of letting go of this love story, but... as a reminder that we once shared a story. I hope that someday you'll understand why I'm letting go of everything. For you.

Rossie."

Fathia trembled as she read each word on the page. It meant... the story was true. Her mother had indeed shared a love story with another man. She turned to the next page, eager to unravel the underlying connection to everything happening now.

November 1982.

I've closed all the chapters with you, Lif. Find happiness with Laras. There's nothing wrong with trying. Just like how I'll try; to forget you, to someday accept someone new to love. Just as I loved you, Lif. I still keep your photo. A testament that my heart was always true to you, Lif.

Fathia blinked slowly, gently opening a photo of her family. She retrieved the aged photo and matched it to the year it was taken. 1982. Her mother's smile was radiant, brimming with sincerity, beside a man who returned the same affection. Fathia still couldn't quite find the exact correlation, why they all had to be separated if they truly loved each other.

And her father?

Oh, God! Fathia vividly remembered how her father always looked at her mother with love. Could it be... No, no. Fathia dismissed her negative thoughts. Hastily, she turned to the next page.

February 1983

Congratulations on your marriage, Lif. I'm okay. I'm okay. Be happy. This is the best for both of us.

Fathia knew the date and year of her parents' second marriage. It was a day they never missed celebrating every year. Fathia always remembered the many celebrations in their home throughout the year: her birthday, Mommy and Papa's birthdays, not to mention her beloved Kak Felice's birthday, and the anniversary of her parents' second marriage. Oh... and not to forget the two major holidays they celebrated with joyous enthusiasm.

July 17, 1985.

On every July 17th, her parents held a party at Group Azure. Attended by many unfamiliar faces to Fathia. She always hid behind her big sister's back. Or rather, she was perfectly hidden by her family. Kak Felice often said, "They just smile sweetly in front of us, Fathia. Behind our backs? Not so nice." This was a warning deeply ingrained in Fathia's mind.

That's what made Fathia choose to stay close to Felice or her parents. Considering this, it meant her parents married after her uncle got married. And perhaps... yes, that could very well be true. Her mother was starting to forget her uncle. Why not? Especially since Fathia remembered the story Naomi had shared with her.

That her parents truly loved each other until the end of their lives. That was the truth. Her uncle was her mother's past. Fathia nodded in assurance now. Once again, she gathered the courage to turn to the next page which... was blank?

But why?

Again, until maybe ten pages later... all empty. Then,

January 2, 1885

I accept your proposal, Alvin. Even though it feels strange to marry a friend, I can clearly see your sincerity. Hopefully... you'll accept me, who still hasn't been able to forget Alef, until the moment I accept this ring of yours.