Rose: Ouch
This guy is surely getting it from me when I see him.
How could he just leave me here like this?
Me: Lol, Mom, what were you expecting?
Mom: Yh yh. How stupid of me. But wait for it.
I hit my leg on something that was blocking my path. I couldn't see what it was because of the darkness, but some things fell due to the impact and caused a ruckus.
They sounded like metal plates. How I wish I had my phone with me, but I left it in the car when Collin and I stepped out. As I was trying to figure my way out and cursing Collin, I saw a glow. It was faint but stood out due to the darkness. I decided to follow it.
The closer I got to it, the more it glowed, getting clearer and clearer till I reached the spot.
It was a porcelain doll placed on a wooden shelf.
Me: Wait, Mom, like the one on the door?
Mom: Yes, but bigger. The glow I saw was coming from the eyes of the doll. It looked dusty. Everything on the shelf was dusty. I tried to pick it up, but it wouldn't move, and for a while there, I actually forgot about Collin, but before I could give up on the doll, the head tilted.
Shocked, I let it go. The glow dimmed, and then I heard a crack. Something was shifting.
The shelf was moving. I took a step back in awe, and for some reason, I wasn't afraid
Me: Well, I'm not surprised, Mom. It's so like you not to show any fear.
Mom: What do you mean, Juno?
Me: I mean, I have never seen you show any fear. You are so bold and strong. I watched you every time we trained with Dad. You seem so fearless.
Mom: I'm happy you think that way of me, Juno, but truthfully, I do feel fear. It's because of that fear that I push myself so hard to be strong. For you and for your little sister.
I always want you to see my strong side, Juno, because I want you to be strong as well. Things are not going to be easy from now onwards, and I want you to be prepared.
Me: I love you, Mom.
Mom: I love you, too, Juno.
They then shared a tight embrace.
Mom: Now let's get back to the story.
Me: Mmhm
Collin: Rose! Rose!
Where the hell is she? Rose!
He hears the sound of the shelf shifting.
Collin: No, no, no, Rose!!!
Mom: The shelf shifted away, and the entrance led to a room, but before I could step inside, I was pulled back.
Rose: Collin?
Collin: What do you think you are doing?
Rose: What am I doing? What are you doing?
Mom: That's when we realized the intimate position we were standing in. He was hugging me from behind, and I could feel his chest rising and falling frantically.
Collin: Ermm, sorry.
Mom: He said, and pulled away, then I turned to look at him.
Rose: Where did you go? Why did you run off, leaving me here by myself? Were you trying to play hide-and-seek or something, huh?
Collin: Hey hey hey calm down
Mom: He raised his hands in a form of surrender.
Rose: Calm down? CALM DOWN, you say? Oh, I'm perfectly calm.
Collin: Ok, I know I shouldn't have left. I just wanted to see your reaction. Thought it'd be fun.
Rose: Oh, really?
Collin: Ok, I went overboard. Let's just leave, ok?
Rose: Why did you bring us here, Collin? And what's there in that room?
Mom: I pointed to the open entrance.
Collin: It's nothing, just one of the offices in the mansion.
Rose: Right? with a secret opening? You know what? Let's just go. Take me back.
Mom: From that answer he gave me, I knew there was something more to this mansion, and also Collin was hiding something. I understand there are things he'd like to keep, but I had questions.
Up until then, he still felt like a stranger, regardless of the time we had spent together. And then it hit me that even after all this time, I still knew nothing about him. Was the mansion his? Where was His family? Who was he really? And how come we were suddenly in a place like that with porcelain dolls and secret rooms, I thought were only seen in movies?
Collin: Hey, wait up.
Mom: I paused and turned.
Collin: Look, I brought us here to have a good time. I did say I wanted to show you something, so just trust me, ok? Come.
Mom: I decided to trust him again.
Me: ....
Mom: I know I was naive. He took my hand and walked me up a staircase that I didn't even notice was there. At the end of the staircase he opened up a door.
We were on the roof.
I looked around and saw a lovers' bench and a tent.
Collin: Come.
Mom: Surprised, I just followed to see where we were going with this.
Rose: Err, Collin, what is this?
Collin: What do you think? You like it?
Rose: Popcorn and drinks? Of course I like it.
Mom: The spread blanket in the tent looked so cosy and comfortable. I immediately sat down.
Rose: Why are you smiling like that?
Collin: I'm just glad you liked the scene.
Rose: Is this what you wanted to show me?
Collin: Yes, and this.
Mom: He pointed out the tent, and I followed his line of direction only to see the beautiful, bright full moon with the stars spread out in the sky.
It was breathtaking, unlike anything I had seen before.
As she kept looking, Collin stared at her and noticed her every reaction. She looked so beautiful in his eyes.
Collin: I love you.