Finding Love – Episode 18
CHAPTER 18✏
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“I’ll be fine mom!” Leona assured her mom for what she would describe as the umpteenth time “it’s late.. you should back home” Leona said, disengaging from the hug.. her mom sniffed with a shake of her head.
“I’m going to stay until Amelia comes” she disagreed obnoxiously, making Leona sigh.
Earlier, she had given Amelia a call while her mom helped stuff her clothes into her luggage, Amelia happy squeal answered her back as she delivered the news and since Leona had decided to leave on her own, she didn’t think taking her car with her was a good idea since her dad got it for her.. she didn’t want him to feel that she can’t survive alone without him or anything that’s his.. she’s willing to go that far to prove to him that she could. She didn’t know how tough the outside world can be but she already had her life planned down the few hours she spent bringing out her things. . Once she gets her own apartment, she’d get a job and start her life as an adult then once she saves enough, she would go to law school and start on achieving her dream.. As she dragged her box to the living room, her dad gave her a small scoff, as if mocking her and Leona gathered up enough strength to ignore him. .
“I’ll be willing to forgive you once I’m certain that you’ve realize your mistake and the fact that a daughter needs to obey her father no matter what” he said to her before standing up and walking away. Leona sighed out and walked out too, her mom following her with another luggage and a small box that had her toiletries. They were currently outside the gate, waiting for Amelia’s car to pick her up as she had promised and her mom refused to back to the house without assuring herself that her daughter was safe.. A minute later, the headlights of a car flashed towards their direction and a car pulled up in front of them, Leona knew it wasn’t Amelia’s and she got a bit alarmed about it but calmed down when the car door opened and Amelia stepped down, her mom stepped down from the driver’s, Amelia walked to her.
“Hi aunty,” she greeted Elisabeth who smiled at her.. “Sorry I’m late, my mom wouldn’t believe me when I told her I was only going to pick you, she thinks I was going to abandon her for a guy” she said, grabbing her luggage and Leona knew all the words she had said was directed to her mother in a sort of mocking way.
“I was only making sure that you’re safe Amy and I don’t think that’s a nice thing to me in front of your friend” Hilda says but Amelia only walked past her to the car.
“Hello Aunty!” Leona greeted .
“Oh hi Leona, how’ve you been?”
“Fine,” she answered “Thanks for letting me crash at your place for a while” “It’s okay. You’re always welcome” she said. Leona walked to her mom and took her bag from her but she engulfed her in a hug instead and Leona sighed behind her.
“I’m not going forever mom..We can always see each other. I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me” she said, pulling away “I’ll call you before I sleep. Take care of yourself, okay?” She said and her mom nodded. .
“You too” she said and Leona wiped her tears with her thumb before walking to the car. . Leaving her mom to talk with Amelia’s. She took her seat at the back seat..
Amelia’s mom came over later and started the car, driving them home. Leona saw her mom wave to her as the car started to move, she waved back and sighed. . The car stopped in front of a big bungalow, parking among the others and they got down.. Amelia grabbed her luggage for her while Leona reached for the boxes, they walked into the house. .
“I was really excited when I got your call about the news, I got the guest room ready first, nanny was doing the mopping and dusting. I’m sure it should be ready now” Amelia said to her in a cheerful tone. “Thank you Amelia” she said.
“It’s okay and besides, I’ve always wanted this to happen. So should I fix you something to eat or what?”
“No thanks. I’m okay. I just feel really dizzy from all that drama I had to face.. I could use some sleep” she said.
“Aw..sorry. I’m sure your dad will come around.. he’s probably still getting himself from all those days he spent in the hospital” Amelia said and Leona sighed. Wishing it was true.
She wish she’d be able to block all this from her head over the years.
“Follow me, I’ll take you to your room” she said and Leona followed her. She opened a wooden door by the knob and they walked in. . Leona checked the room out and turned to Amelia. .
“Why are there two beds, Am I sharing the room with someone?” she asked her. “Actually, that’s my bed. I’m leaving it here for tonight and maybe few nights from now” she said, giving Leona puppy eyes.
“Quit giving me that look” Leona rolled her eyes, taking off her shoes.
“Isn’t it cute?” She asked, winking cheerfully.
“Oh please Amy!” She flickered.
They both busied themselves with arranging her things, moving her bags to the closet, her shoes in the rack and her toiletries in the bathroom..
As she got herself ready for bed, Leona grabbed her phone and called her mom. . After a few minutes conversation between them, she laid on her bed, drawing her duvet up. They turned off the lights and she turned to her side.
As she started to close her eyes, a knock came on yer door, making her spring up..
the knock came again. Amelia and she exchanged looks.
“Are you sleeping already, Leona?” Amelia’s mom asked.
Leona gave Amelia a look..
“Open it if you want, I’m not getting up from here” Amelia grumped, turning back to her phone. .
“I’m coming aunty” she said, giving Amelia a wry look. She stood up and walked to the door, unlocking it and flinging it open.
“I brought you some blankets,” she said “I’m sorry, did I disturb your sleep?”
“No aunty Hilda, I wasn’t sleeping yet”
“Good then. Goodnight” she said before walking away. Amelia walked back to the hed, dropping the blanket in the cupboard. She went back to bed and as her body contacted the soft, comfy cushion, Leona found herself drifting to sleep.
**
“..I’m not a kid anymore!”
“I’ll agree on that when you stop acting like one”
Leona tossed on her bed, as if brushing off the bickering.
“And who do you think you are to agree on anything that has to do with me?!”
“Your mother”
“Oh please. . We both know you wouldn’t be here if you had work to do. . Stop trying to give me that motherly-figure talk!”
Leona woke up with a slight grimace, she didn’t need anyone to tell her Amelia and aunt Hilda were in an argument. Amelia had always told her about their usual quarrel routine but Leona never expected or thought it’d be this big.. She sighed and stood up, waving off the rest of their huge words, she walked to the bathroom and brushed her teeth, staring at the mirror. .
She searched for her face wiper and realized she had left it at home, she could just get another. She washed her face and grabbed a towel to wipe it. Walking out of the bathroom, she walked to her bed, glanced at the time.. it was just few minutes
close to seven. She set the towel aside and grabbed her laptop, she turned it on and went to the internet, typing what she needed, she scrolled through the list of self-contain apartments that appeared on her screen.. searching for a more comfortable and affordable one. The door opened and Amelia walked in, her eyes had flickers of anger as she banged the door. She walked up to Leona, calming down. “You’re up” she said, sitting beside her “what’re you doing?”
“Searching for a cheap apartment” she answered.
“But you just got here. And you’re very much welcome to stay for as long as you want”
“And be stuck in the middle of you and your mom’s quarrel? Thanks, but I’ll pass” she said.
“Why are you in such a hurry? You’ve spent only a night here”
“And very soon I’ll start working, I’ll be needing all the rest I can get and besides, I already had this in mind.. it’s never too late to start now you know”
“Okay then. I’ll just move in with you, I’m sure mom wouldn’t mind” she said. “Breakfast’s ready, mom asked me to call you” she said before moving to her bed. “Okay”
“I need to take my bath, see you at the dinning” she said before walking out of the room.
After breakfast, Leona and Amelia helped with the dishes after Leona practically forced her to. Leona pulled into a skinny jeans and small top after having a bath, she went back to her laptop and searched for job offers before sending out her reuśmè, she closed it after it and prayed that she gets an offer soon.
Leona grabbed her purse when Amelia insisted they take a drive around, she could as well get a new wiper while at it. Amelia informed her mom who reminded her of the curfew and she rolled her eyes to it, dragging Leona along.
“Don’t worry aunt, I’ll mak sure we get home before then” she assured her before giving in to Amelia’s pressure.
They got into the car and Amelia started it.. Few minutes into the drive Leona
spotted a shopping mall and asked Amelia to drop, she did and they both walked
into the mall. Leona quickly picked two packs of the wipers and a refill for her
lotion.. Amelia stood by the door, waiting for her. She walked to the payment stand
and gave her credit card.. The lady on desk commenced with the pay up process. .
“Miss, looks like your account has been frozen” she said, giving Leona a confused
look.
“W-what do you mean frozen?” Leona asked, a deep frown on her face.
“Here, see?” The lady showed her “your card was refused” she said.
Leona gulped at the revelation, moistening her lips that had suddenly gone dry from embarrassment.
Noticing the frowns and small talks, Amelia knew something wasn’t right so she walked up to them..
“But how?” Leona asked rhetorically and the answer hit her, she sighed and faced the lady who still had a confused expression.
“I’m so sorry about this, I had no idea that my account was frozen. I’ll just return this” she said..
“Or you can just use mine” Amelia stepped in, stretching her own card to the Lady. Not finding her voice, Leona only gave her a thankful look and let her settle the bills. She collected the bag and they walked out of the mall. They quietly moved back into the car.
“You don’t have to say anything about what happened back there if you don’t want to. I understand” she said and Leona smiled at her. “Thank you, Amelia” she said.
“And you’re not allowed to wear that face in my car” she said with a straight look.
“We’re going out for fun girl.. Be cheerful!” She nudged her and Leona smiled.
“Okay” she deepened her smile.
“Good girl” Amelia said before starting the car.
*
After the whole fun moment that somehow drove Leona’s mind off her problem for a while, Amelia drove them home and once she entered the room she was given, her problems rushed back to her. After dinner, they both went back to the room and while Amelia talked to Jackson on phone at a corner of her bed, Leona was on the reading table, checking her laptop for any responses on the five job request she sent out.. She went to the first, no response. A little sad, she clicked on the second; no response. She scrolled to the third, no response. With slight hope left she clicked on the fourth, no response. Leona shut her eyes and prayed inwardly before going to the fifth, still no response. A short sigh passed through her Lips as she shut the laptop. She glanced back at Amelia and realized she was still on the phone, a deep grin rested on her face.. Leona turned back to her front, resting her chin on her open Palm while her elbows stayed on the table, supporting the hold on her chin.. Leona drove into thought..
It was just the first day since she moved away from home and she was almost getting fed up, she knew her dad would go any length to her that he’s right but she
didn’t expect him to go as far as freezing her account.. He was the only one that had access to it since he opened it for her.. He’s practically leaving her helpless, probably smiling to himself and waiting for her to come back to him crawling and pleading.. What will she do without money?. She had promised herself to do this on her own, she didn’t want to start collecting money from her mother this early.. She’ll think she’s helpless and desperate and plead with her to come back home and that was something Leona wasn’t going to do.. She still found it hard to believe that her dad can be selfish to this extent , he doesn’t even care about her survival before going ahead to freeze her account, obviously, he’s doing all he can to get her back..
She knew she did the right thing by walking away, it’s something she should’ve
done a long time ago and her heart response, showed that it supported her but now
Leona doubt that she’ll be able to survive it.. She had planned it to be easy but it
was already hard on the first day.. She just wish she doesn’t lose hope and give up
halfway through this path she had chosen.. She felt a warm liquid splash on her
chest, making her jerk back to reality, she sniffed and touched her wet cheeks, she
was crying and she didn’t even know it.
