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Chapter 2

  • Not long after they reached the grocery store. As Emmie decided to get a basket to put their groceries there, Mrs. Crawford insisted on pushing it instead. She had mentioned that a pregnant woman carrying or pushing a cart may be too much of a workload. Now, as they were busy putting some stuff in their basket, a woman the same age as Mrs. Crawford suddenly came to greet them.
  • She had locks of hair curled upward until her shoulder length.
  • "Helen, is that you?" the woman asked, one as though she is unsure and sure at the same time. The woman squinted her eyes a little while pointing at Mrs. Crawford while on the other hand, Emmie was trying to distinguish where she might have seen the other woman beside her. She recalls familiarity with her face yet for some reason it is only at the tip of her tongue.
  • "Maurice," her teacher replied. The two old women then embraced each other in a tight hug while giggling while she continued to stare at the seemingly familiar woman. She was dressed in an all-floral dress with a petite body and long wavy hair dancing across her back.
  • "Oh, Helen, this is my daughter-in-law. Veron, Veron, this is Mrs. Crawford, the mother of Zoren's best friend," the woman introduced.
  • The moment she heard the name Zoren, Emmie's heart beat immediately pounded hard. Now she remembers seeing this two women before: they were the ones she encountered at the time in the cafe.
  • Wow, it sure feels like fate was playing her.
  • As she feels uncomfortable seeing the two people, she unknowingly held her companion's arm.
  • "Hi, Veron, nice meeting you, this is my daughter Emmie," Mrs. Crawford said which made her stunned. What got into her mind to say such words?
  • "Really? I didn't know that Jamie was already married," Zoren's mother said.
  • "They're engaged but no worries, soon I will invite you guys when the wedding is fixed," Mrs Crawford replied. "So nice meeting you again, Maurice however, we need to get going. If we have time we can play mahjong again at the same place." And the two women giggled.
  • "Sure dear," Zoren's mother replied after they both went their separate ways.
  • When the two finally bid their goodbyes, she couldn't help but to look at the women's back. She remembers the time when Zoren was talking to the two of them and how she manage to leave the cafe without the man persuing her.
  • She shook her head. Its not like it matters anymore, anyway. The woman named Maurice mentioned 'daughter-in-law' so she's assuming that Zoren's already married to the other woman.
  • She stroke her stomach once again when she felt Mrs. Crawford walk. She was still holding onto her forearm which makes her automatically follow.
  • "Do you know that Veron was my son's first girlfriend?" the woman suddenly narrated. It looks like she wanted to open up her thoughts regarding the women earlier. "My son Jamie and Zoren were best friends since kindergarten and have been inseparable ever since, not until they were in college. My son met Veron when he was a first year college student and despite his preparedness to propose to her soon, she manage to slip with Zoren which made it awkward," she added.
  • Upon hearing those words, Emmie couldn't help but wonder. If Zoren was courting Veron despite the woman being in a relationship with his best friend then why was his reaction that day irritated as though he did not want to see the two women at all?
  • Just as she was pondering to herself, she heard the woman speek again.
  • "Come on sweetie, take this bag and let me hold those bag full of fruits," the wiman said which dragged her out of her own deep thoughts.
  • Emmie took the plastic bag filled with bread and biscuits as they exited the grocery store and went to the parking lot for Mrs. Crawford's car.
  • Just as they stopped at the door of the vehicle, she opened the back side of the car and put her stuff inside while on the other hand, Mrs. Crawford opened the other side to out hers. Once they were done, they headed inside the car and was about to starr driving when she felt her ohone vibrating. It was none other than Oddette, her best friend, calling her.
  • She looked at Mrs. Crawford for a second before she stared at her phone.
  • "Your phone was vibrating. Why don't you answer the call?" Mrs Crawford suggested.
  • "It's Oddette," she replied.
  • "Answer it, maybe it's important," Mrs. Crawford suggested. She's about to swipe the answer button when the call suddenly ended.
  • It looks like it was nothing important– her phone vibrates again signifying for her to answer it.
  • "Hello Emmie," Odette said. She can sense that there's something wrong based on her tone. What may have happened to cause her distress?
  • She creased her forehead, thinking to herself before replying.
  • "Yes, what's wrong? Is everything okay?" she asked her best friend. For some reason, she doesn't feel comfortable with the tone of her voice and how she breathes.
  • "Yes and no, because there's an ambulance and police outside of your house," Oddette said in a worried tone which made her furrow her brows.
  • What does she mean by that?
  • "Wa...what do you mean?" she asked. She couldn't help but widen her eyes out of shock as to why there are people like those in her residence.
  • Did something happened to Miranda and Alfred? Did a burglar came inside her apartment while they were staying there or… she couldn't help but gulp. She hopes that the couple are safe despite the risk and authorities found in her outsider her house.
  • "Earlier, we heard the sound of a gun from your house, and not long ago the sounds of ambulances and police stopped in front of your house.
  • Once she heard those words, her heart pounded hard for a second. Gun shots? Who would even bring a gun insider her home?
  • As she was busy listening to her best friend's explanation, she felt the gentle touch of Mrs. Crawford's hand followed by an interruption.
  • "Is everything alright?" the woman interrupted. She looked at her teacher and then opened her mouth to reply.
  • "Oddette said there's an ambulance and police outside our house. They heard banging sound from a gun which made them call the authorities," she explained.
  • "You want us to go and check what happened there?" Mrs. Crawford mumbled. She then followed her words by saying, "I don't know? Is it advisable for us to go there, or should we wait until tomorrow?" her teacher added.
  • It looks like she's also somewhat worried about the state of the matter.
  • "Or maybe, we should wait for the police to call me?" she asked her teacher.
  • "Yes, you have a point, it's difficult if you involve yourself, especially with your condition. Don't stress yourself," Mrs Crawford replied which made her nod her hand.
  • As much as she wants to go there and be of help of some sort, she can't help but go for her safety first, for the sake of her soon-to-be-child. Despite being fatherless, she's unwilling to abort nor abandon this child growing inside of her, that's why she needs to prioritize her health.
  • Since they chose to go straight to Mrs. Crawford's home, she only asked her best friend to keep her updated. This is the only way for her to keep up and cooperate with the authorities.