Chapter 36 – How Is She Going To Open The Door?

Chapter 36 – How Is She Going To Open The Door?

Raynelle and I sat there in silence, with the only occasional movement coming from Raynelle having to brush Ava’s hair out of her face to stop her from chewing on it while she slept.

I was tempted to continue drawing but just couldn’t get myself to with Raynelle’s eyes watching me. I just couldn’t get into the right mindset to pick up where I left off.

...

Am I supposed to... leave them alone?

...

Where would I even go?

...

Should I go sit in their room until Ava wakes up?...

Am I even allowed in there?... They’ve never let me in...

...

“Um...” Raynelle started to speak, quickly bringing me out of my thoughts, “I see you’ve held on to that notebook I gave you...”

“...”

“The drawing you showed me before was quite good...” She paused, “Have you drawn anything else?”

I looked down at my drawing of Raynelle and Ava sleeping. Slowly moving from detail to detail, almost tracing the process of drawing it in my mind, until I eventually got to a broken line.

It’s not finished yet...

...

Should I show it to her anyway?Nnêw n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com

It is a drawing of her...

...

She is also the person who gave me the notebook in the first place...

...

Maybe...

“...Mhm,” I responded while avoiding eye contact.

“Can you show me one then?” She asked immediately.

...

But what if she doesn’t like it?...

What if she’s insulted?...

...

M-maybe this can be... a test!

...

If... if it’s really that bad I... I...

I shouldn’t show it to Ovia...

Slowly, I turned the notebook around, gradually moving my gaze up to Raynelle's face as I did, bracing myself for her reaction.

But she didn’t say anything. Her face didn’t change. She just silently stared at the drawing.

What does that mean?

Did I get ahead of myself?

Why did I think this would be okay?

I quickly shut the notebook with a loud slap and brought it in close to my chest. As soon as I did, Raynelle’s eyes immediately shifted back to me.

“I... was just a little surprised,” She said, “... For some reason, I really didn’t expect to see a drawing of myself in that notebook of yours... Especially one that good... The last time I had a portrait done was probably...”

Her expression darkened for just a moment, but she was quickly back to smiling as if nothing had happened.

Did I do something wrong?

Just... Can someone just tell me what I’m supposed to do?

...

I don’t want to be in this situation.

“Well, we got a little bit off track there, didn’t we?” Raynelle asked, “But back to what we were talking about. Does your little friend here have a name?”

Umbra’s tail started to sway back and forth when she said that.

...

“...U-Umbra!” I blurted out before quickly turning around.

Is that what you wanted?!

...

“So, it’s Umbra then... Well, Umbra, thank you for helping Kierra out,” She chuckled a little, “And I guess I also thank you for helping us out as well, even if you didn’t mean to, don’t know how long I would’ve been able to hold her if you didn’t help her calm down.”

If it was that bad, why did you do it then?

It doesn’t make sense...

...

There was no reason for you to get hurt like that...

Tears had started to form in my eyes, but I couldn’t understand why. I wasn’t sad, or in pain, or sick, at least that’s what I thought, but the tears still wanted to come out.

What’s wrong with me?

...

At that moment, I felt Umbra jump into my shadow behind me before immediately jumping back out of it in my lap and trying to lick the tears from my face.

...

You really just do whatever you want... don’t you...

Despite what I was saying in my head, I lifted Umbra up and hugged them tightly as I waited for the tears to stop.

...

I had expected Raynelle to say something to me, but she remained silent right until I turned back around to face her.

“Hey, look... I think I’m going to take Ava back to our room so she can get some proper sleep,” Raynelle lifted Ava up, gently cradling her in her arms, “If you want, we can continue talking afterwards. Or maybe we can make some other plans for the day? Whatever you feel like.”

“...” I didn’t respond.

“Oh, come on, don’t be like that. There’s got to be something you want to do, even if you don’t quite know what it is yet.”

...

I know what I want to do...

I just... can’t do it yet...

“Hmm... Actually, before that, there’s something I was supposed to give you. I’ll bring it all here in a bit... But maybe I should wait for Ava to wake up first... Nah, it’ll be fine. She’ll understand.”

What do you mean something to give me?

You’ve already given me enough.

You gave me a dress and a scarf already...

...

That’s already going to be hard to pay back... So if you give me more...

...

“Come back here!” Ava suddenly shouted, somehow still fast asleep.

“Guess that’s her way of complaining that I’m taking too long,” Raynelle walked over to the door but abruptly stopped, “Um... can I get a hand with this?”

I didn’t say anything and carefully set Umbra down on the floor before getting up and opening the door for Raynelle.

“Thanks, just give me a minute, and I’ll be back,” She called back as she walked through the hallway.

...

How is she going to open her own door?