I was standing, leaning against the doorframe.
I was gazing at the doctor who was examining Kristina’s grandmother.
Her name is Audry.
She is seventy years old.
I am still wrapping my head around when I told Kristina about the hidden room and at the exact time Audry collapsed on the floor.
She was mumbling in her mouth.
“Michael.” A low rumble came out of my mouth.
My eyebrows rose when I heard the name.
But I kept my face straight and did not show any emotion.
Kristina looked troubled.
I noticed her hands were trembling.
And then I stepped forward, reached out to her hand, and softly squeezed it.
Kristina looked at me.
A small smile lit up on my face.
She made a claw around my hand and pushed it away gently.
I dropped my hands on my sides while taking a step back.
I noticed anger was visible on her face.
So, I stood leaning against the wall behind her.
Suddenly, a soft voice touched my ears.
“Kristina, you do not have to worry about her.
I think she passed out because of the stress,” George said while putting things in his bag.
“She will wake up soon.” He chuckled weakly.
“Give her soup, and she will feel much better.”
Kristina knitted her eyebrows together; it painted a question mark on her face.
“What do you mean?” Fear shook her voice.
“She was fine an hour before she collapsed, watching TV together and enjoying the evening.”
I was carefully listening to the conversation between Kristina and George.
A small smile lit up George’s lips.
George’s chest rose and fell with rapid breath.
“Kristina dear, I think you do not know that Audry and Abagail were best friends.” His voice was steady.
“And I think Abagail’s death took a toll on her.” George turned around and left the room.
Afterwards the eerie silence replaced the room.
I sucked in a big breath.
Kristina gave me a side eye.
“What are you still doing here?” She delivered her words with firmness.
I crossed my arm over my chest while standing straight.
I raked my finger through my hair.
“I am sorry for your loss,” I spoke with a firm tone.
“And also I thought I should apologize for my behavior.” I rubbed my hands together.
Kristina rolled her eyes while leaving the room.
I followed her outside the room.
Kristina spoke in a monotone, her disinterest visible in every word.
“Whatever.” I silently lowered my gaze.
My cheeks flushed deep red, the color of the glaring spotlight of my embarrassment.
I thought that it would be better for me to leave because I think I lost my chance to become her friend.
As I was walking towards the exit, Kristina’s voice echoed in my ear.
“Where are you going?” She yelled.
Her voice was excessively loud.
I turned around to face her and saw Kristina standing in the middle of the room with bags of snacks in her hand.
She motioned for me to sit on the couch.
When I saw that, my lips carved into smiles.
I walked over to the couch and sat on the couch.
Kristina gave me a bag of chips, sat next to me, and grabbed the TV remote.
I was simply gazing at Kristina.
“Do not judge me.” She spoke with a quiet tone.
“When I am tense, then I eat a lot.” I took a deep breath.
I dropped the bag of chips on my lap while raising my hands in peace.
“I will not judge you.” An edge of firmness in my voice.
“I know people have their own habits of dealing with loss.” I then looked at the carpet below.
I know life is unpredictable, and sometimes you face the challenges that break you, but you have to stand up and move on with your life.
I think hope keeps you alive.
When I was sunk in my deep thought, a loud voice pulled me back to reality.
I snapped and glanced at Kristina.
“What are you thinking?” I sensed concern in her voice.
I drew a long breath.
I crossed my leg in front of me.
I cleared my throat before talking.
I clicked my tongue.
“Do you notice when I told you about the hidden room, then your grandmother passed out?” My voice dropped to an audible level.
She stroked her chin, her fingers tracing the faint stubble as his eyes narrowed in contemplation.
An impatient laugh appeared on my face.
I rubbed my hands on my thighs.
“I was just saying I think she knows about the significance of the room; that is why the room was hidden.” Kristina’s eyes widened with a sudden jolt of surprise.
Her eyes then narrowed, followed by suspicion.
I scoffed.
“It was my wild theory.” My voice was barely above a whisper.
Kristina inclined her head in disagreement.
“Do you want to be my friend or not?” she asked.
Her voice was soft.
I sighed deeply.
I clicked my tongue.
“Of course, I want to be your friend, which is why I am here,” I said while extending my hand.
Kristine shifted her gaze from my face to my hand.
Kristina extended a firm handshake, the grip telling an air of confidence.
I tucked my hair behind my ear.
“So, tell me, what is Max doing here?” I asked with a quiet, resonant tone.
Her booming laughter echoed in the room; it was showing his joy to all presents.
“So, you met charming Max,” the sarcasm dripping from her voice.
“I know everyone fall in love with him.”
I sat straight while putting my fingers together.
I started speaking.
“You also love him.” I sounded urgent.
Before Kristina said anything, Audry’s voice echoed in our ears.
“Kristina, I am hungry,” she said, trembling lips.
Kristina dashed towards Audry and led her inside the room.
I then grappled the edge of the couch and stood up.
I left the house and barely made a noise while walking out of the house.
I proceeded down the porch stairs, and then my gaze fell at the entrance of our house, where I saw the door was fixed.
It stunned me that Aunt Agatha fixed the door in an hour because I thought she was not interested in fixing the door.
In the meantime, I saw a shadow reach me; I shifted my gaze to my right and saw Max was coming towards me.
“What are you doing here?” He asked while standing in front of me.
His face was inches away from my face.
I saw intense anger in his face.
The veins appeared on his neck, which indicated that he was fuming with anger.
I looked at him with a furrowed brow.
“Umm…
Kristina brought me muffins, so I thought I should thank her,” I spoke with a quiet tone.
I reached out, my hand lightly grazing him.
The touch was gentle, almost tentative.
As if I was afraid, he might withdraw.
Max remained silent.
He then shifted his gaze from my face to my hand.
Max cautiously took a step back while gently pushing my hand away.
Max then jammed his hands into his pants pockets.
“You did not tell…” Before Max completed his sentence, I cut him gently.
“No, I did not.” I nodded my head in disagreement.
“I told you what I saw that night.
I will not tell anyone about it.” My voice was unwavering.
Max pulled out his hands from his pants pocket.
He ran his hands through her his.
His voice was muted and penetrating, soft yet impossible to ignore.
“Sorry, I lashed out at you.”
Max then walked towards Kristina’s house.
I turned around and started speaking.
“Can you go with me to the party your mother is throwing tomorrow night?” I asked.
My voice was subdued.
Max halted midway and turned around to face me.
“Well, I can do this for you after what you did,” Max said while going inside the house.
I dropped my hands on my sides.
I took a deep breath.
A genuine smile appeared on my face.
I held my head high.
The answer Max gave me made me happy.
The night, which was silent before I talked to Max, was now twinkling.
Max spread the color in the dark night.
I approached the door, raised my hand, and knocked on the door, and the door suddenly flung open.
I looked around with knitted eyebrows.
It seemed Aunt Agatha was not home.
I heard a receding footstep; it seemed like someone was running away from the kitchen’s back door.
I dashed to the kitchen and saw the door was closing.
I sucked my teeth.
I suddenly noticed that a light in the room on the ground floor was turned on.
I went to the room, and my gaze suddenly fell on the folded piece of paper on the ground.
It was covered with stains.
My eyes expanded exponentially.