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A beautiful mediaeval mirror caught my eye, in it I saw myself. It was a mirage of the unhealthy sleep patterns, of someone who could have been striking to see. The wall where it sits, embedded with strange repeating patterns made of some kind of metal, chipping to a greyish tone. The light poured in through the window, illuminating the white walls.
Back at the apartment, in the city, I rested at my real home even if only in a blip of my imagination. Mornings, authentically a battlefield, fighting over who got to shower first or who got the last pancake. Here, in this spacious room with its bathroom, I felt a sense of loneliness.
When I arrived in the living room, a scene was already unfolding. My parents, amid a pleasant conversation with an older couple. Claude, the boy from the garden last night, stood beside them, next to a bulkier, older version of himself.
They approached me slowly. Claude sported a playful smile, entirely different from the uncertainness from last night, while his brother appeared closed off due to the tightly crossed arms.
"Hello, we are the Olive family," the older one said, gesturing to his parents. "I'm Anthony Olive, and this is-" He pushed his brother closer to him.
"I'm Claude Olive and I can speak. You don't need to speak for me," Claude said with a grin, pretending to be mad at his brother, who shrugged and muttered "Whatever." Claude turned his attention to me and winked. "What's your name?" He offered his hand for a handshake.
The situation was peculiar, but I went along with it. "Nice to meet you guys. Call me-"
Before I could finish, Lily appeared beside us. "Harriet!" Lily squealed, linking her arm with mine. "Good morning! To you too, Claude but what are you doing here?" She glared his way, discomfort evident.
Claude's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Just here with my family, catching up on things. It's good to see you again, Lily."
Anthony stepped forward with a polite but stiff nod. "We haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet. I'm Anthony, and this is my brother Claude. Our family helps manage the estate."
Lily looked uneasy but maintained a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Anthony." Her gaze turned towards Claude. "But weren't you in the library?"
"Weren't you there too?" He raised his eyebrows "Anyways... Just checking in on my parents and catching up with old friends." Claude added, "And making new ones, it seems," with a smile directed at me.
Lily leaned closer to me, clearly uncomfortable. I took it as an opportunity "Lily, can we talk?" I asked, trying to pull her aside.
"Later, Harriet," she said, her eyes fixed on the door. "I need to ask him something." She pointed, flicking her finger in the fountain's guy's direction.
I noticed Theodore nearby, finishing apple slices my mother had given him. Unaware of any of this.
"Lily, please," I insisted. "We need to talk now."
"Alright. Then Claude." She called him. "And Harriet. We have some things to resolve." Said Lily with a bitterness I had not known until now.
***
Only when we found ourselves on the side of the building, she stopped. Letting out a sigh, "Claude. Did you say something to my sister?" She crossed her arms and glared at him.
"Well... She did ask about it." He gave her a half-smile, shifting uncomfortably under her gaze.
"So is it true?" I said, lowering my voice. "Were you seeing Claude while Theo was gone?" I turned to face her fully, my arms mimicking her posture.
"Wait, did you not believe me?" Claude looked at me, certainly feeling betrayed.
"It's just I believe my sister more than a random dude," I said deadpan, my eyes narrowing as I watched Lily's reaction.
Lily's face flushed, and she glanced nervously at Claude. "Harry. It's not that easy." She bit her lip, avoiding eye contact.
"Your face sometimes is louder than your words, dear sister." I said, sceptical of her words.
"Oh, it was that easy. Answering my messages, not ignoring me in school, and just being honest about what you want." Claude blurted out, his expression unreadable.
She went silent, looking down into the grass, her shoulders slumping.
"I feel this is not my place to be." I said lightly, taking a step back. Maybe this was not the right moment to talk with Lily.
"It seems it's not mine either." Claude stormed off into the back of the house, his footsteps heavy and angry.
"This is funny." Lily said, crossing her arms tighter. Her attention turned to me, her eyes red and puffy.
My eyes widened in surprise. "What is funny?" I asked.
"You are. Do you think I don't have eyes? That I don't know you more than anyone in this house?" She said, tears streaming down her face.
"You are talking about Theo." I said, realising my mistake. I was the oblivious one in this situation, just as Leon had said. Indeed, everyone knew.
"Who else would be? Claude? It seems you also got acquainted." She spat the words out, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Lily, you are being unfair. I was suspicious you knew about me and him. But you never said anything." I looked into her eyes and for the first time, I didn't see myself. It was an unfamiliar sight. A side of her that had been hidden from me. "And I met Claude yesterday briefly. Not that it's any of your business."
"I did everything right. From the moment we broke up, I tried to fix myself. Then why is it you that he chooses?" She started pacing around.
"Lily, I understand and I am sorry I took you as a fool. But you can't decide that for someone." I reached out to touch her arm, but she pulled away.
"Why didn't you tell me then?" She demanded, her voice cracking.
"It was as simple as the fact that I didn't want to hurt you." I sighed. "And it became a bigger thing than it should have been with time."
"You failed all my tests. Did you think I woke up so early in the morning for fun?" She screamed so loud, I could hear commotion inside the house.
"Are you serious? In any of those moments did you stop and remember I am a person too?" I shouted back, my patience wearing thin.
"Did you think about me, Harriet, when I watched you guys yesterday in the corridor?" She wiped her tears angrily.
"Lily, I apologise. But we can fix this together." I extended my hand, my voice softening.
"It's so easy for you. You get everything, always. Why did you have to mess up my relationship with Claude?" She stomped on the floor, resembling a kid throwing a tantrum.
I felt a pang of frustration. "This is unlike you. Do you remember what you told me when I first went to live with you?"
"That we were sisters for eternity, no matter what anyone said. But the truth is we are not." Lily stopped pacing and looked at me, her eyes glistening with determination. "I won't give up, Harriet. By any means."
Her stubbornness hit me like a slap. For the first time in our lives, we were truly at odds. "Fine, Lily. Have it your way. But be prepared for what the consequences may be."
Before she could respond, Theodore approached us, confusion on his face. "What's going on?" he asked, his brows furrowed.
Theodore looked between us, then at Claude and Anthony, who were both observing the scene from afar. "Everything okay?" he asked.
Leon, along with the older adults, approached. No signs of Grandma or Cadie in the party of worriers arriving.
"Nothing." Lily smiled with her whole teeth, her eyes evidently still red.
"We thought we saw a giant hornet..." I shot back at the group, forcing a grin.
"Turns out it was a bumblebee." Lily grinned, wiping away the last of her tears.
"Still, we were so scared. Lily even cried."
"Right. I am sorry for worrying you guys." She went towards mom and dad. The whole procession headed towards the house.
"What happened?" Two voices said in front of me.
Theodore looked suspiciously at the ginger guy at his side.
"If it was because of me you guys fought, I didn't mean for that to happen," said Claude with that same nervous tone from last night.
"No. It had nothing to do with you." It had a little to do with him, but that's beside the point.
"Then did you have that conversation with Lilian-" Theo tried to ask.
"What conversation?" Claude asked, looking at me with his giant puppy dog eyes.
"I don't want to talk about this now. Do you have any idea where Cadie is?" I asked Theodore, trying to change the subject.
"Are you guys going somewhere?" said Claude with a sudden grin.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82OwZgcA3J
