While making call upstairs, I stood and walked over to the window. There were still children around, playing in their costumes. I thought it would be nice for me to record them with my phone hence I navigated through the phone and launched the camera app.
The moment I began recording them, my phone beeped. It was a text message from Jessica. Gosh! I tapped on the text's notification and read the message, "Turn on your data, Laura, I just sent you some pictures through GreenApp. Thought you might like them"
Pictures? What pictures? I quickly turned on my mobile data and launched into GreenApp. There were many offline or rather, unread chats but I ignored them and focused on Jessica's. As soon as I tapped on the chat, I saw about 25 pictures... worth 17mb.
I tapped and waited for the pictures to load, and when they did I watched them one after another. Jessica and her friends in a jewelry store, they snapped while wearing different kinds of jewelries. They weren't even smart, they took off their masks.
I didn't even know when I opted to call her. "Hello, what the fuck are you guys doing there?" I queried the moment she picked the call.
"Chill, sis, we were just taking pictures" she responded, giggling together with her friends.
"Taking pictures? With people's ornaments? And you guys didn't even care to wear your masks, what if they have hidden cameras there?" I bellowed.
"If they do, that won't be a problem too since we aren't stealing anything. No one is taking anything out, isn't it guys?" she said and then spoke to her friends.
"Yes, sure!" I heard them chorused in the background.
"You see, no one's taking anything. In fact, I will make sure I frisk them all before we leave" she said as they all expressed their displeasure by uttering, Ohh! – "Chill, guys," she addressed them, "I will make it snappy..."
"You guys should leave there please" I snapped at her, "It's not safe, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you"
"Thanks for the love, sis, but we are not done here. You can come and join us, this is your only chance. Some of these items are too expensive for average citizens, you may not be able to wear them in your lifetime if you miss this opportunity" she said, trying to convince me.
"I would rather miss the opportunity than get myself into trouble, I hope you guys are aware of the danger you are pulling yourselves into because if anything happens later with all those ornaments even the Count won't be able to save you" I warned them.
"Is that a threat? Wait a minute, since when did you care about County life?" she misunderstood me.
"Look Jessica, I am just trying to say..."
"Are you coming or not?" she snapped at me.
"Hmm, I am not coming. I hope you don't get mad but I don't think I can. The RC store you talked about earlier is far better than this since..." she quickly ended the call without waiting for me to complete my words, what exactly was wrong with her? I didn't expect such craziness from her.
"Is everything okay?" I heard Aunt Vicky said from behind. Her sudden interference freaked me out but somehow I was able to hold myself.
"Yes!" I pretended, wearing a crooked smile on my face. There was no way I was going to just tell her what was going on, what if she ended up losing her mind on Jessica, "Everything is just fine" I added.
"Hmm, Laura..." she walked over to me, "your expression says otherwise"
"My... what? Expression?" I uttered pretending as if I didn't know what she was talking about.
"Yeah," she nodded her head in affirmative, "so tell me, what's going on. Is it Jessica? Or is it Frank? I do hope it's Frank though" Her words made me scoffed. "What?" she lifted a brow, demanding to know why I scoffed.
"Nothing, just that... it's not Frank"
"Then who is it, is it Jessica? Tell me what's going on, Laura" she pressed further, and seeing how her mood suddenly changed I decided to show her the pictures Jessica sent me. But as soon as I checked our chats, I found out Jessica had deleted the pictures already. For everyone. "What's this? Your chat with Jessica? It's empty"
"Yes, actually," I cleared my throat, "she told me to come and meet them at the... other side of the street. They are planning on going, uphills?"
"Oh, I thought it's something" she rolled her eyes and huffed, "So, did Frank called? Or did he messaged you?" she asked. I didn't just know why she was so interested in Frank, was it because he appeared rich to her because I can't remember telling her who his father was. Frank didn't reveal that to her too. I guess he thought it wasn't that important or perhaps he just wanted me to do that for him.
"He... didn't call, and we didn't chat yet. I think he's still busy, Aunt" I walked past her to the couch and fell wearily.
"You think he's still busy? This means you are not sure, Laura" she walked over to me and sat on the couch's armrest, "I think you should check on him"
"Like seriously, check on him?" I muttered unbelievably.
"Yes, don't be silly. You have better odds of winning his heart when you show him how much you care about him" she said, rendering me speechless. I was so annoyed by her persistence but there was nothing I could do. She was my aunt and I respected her.
"Okay, I will contact him but I would like to give him some time first. He talked about making a video call with someone and sending some documents to the person before leaving, he probably didn't want to be disturbed right now" I explained and hoped she doesn't press the issue further.
"Fine," she withdrew from the couch's armrest, "make sure you don't forget, okay? I will be in the basement. I have some screenings to do"
