(Anabelle's POV)
My mom just stormed off. What happened to her? I showed her the ring I picked up after Mr. Harry left it at dad's grave. Then she became silent and just stormed out of the house.
What happened? The ring is still with me. I look at it again. It's design is not too intricate. It has a simple floral pattern with a shining diamond on it. It's similar to a wedding ring.
I wonder, was Mr. Harry planning on getting married? He said that he never married. Did he not propose to anyone?
This is all too confusing and I don't have to be so concerned about it. I mean, he is a total stranger to me. But my parents know him. It does pique my interest.
My mom went to somewhere. She didn't even take her phone. I was worried about her. That's when her phone rang.
It's grandma. My mom's mom. I answered the call.
(Hello, June, how are you?)
"Grandma, it's me, Anabelle."
(Oh, where is June?)
"Mom suddenly left. She didn't even take her phone."
(Where is that girl? What is she even doing leaving her phone at home? Did anything happen?)
"Well, this morning she met her childhood friend in front of the house. Since then, she has been acting weird."
(Childhood friend? Who?)
"You should know him. Mr. Harry?"
Grandma falls silent for a moment.
"Grandma?"
(So June met Harry this morning.)
"You don't sound well. Are you alright?"
(I am. I thought Harry died. So, he was alive. Did you meet him? How is he?)
"I was the one who first met him. He was accompanying Mr. David home. He asked me for directions. He is doing fine, I think. As a blind man, he is probably a little too well."
(Eh? Harry is blind?)
"Mom was shocked as well. Mom tried to invite him inside but he left in a hurry. He asked about dad and left."
(Evan was his best friend. Even so, Harry is alive. That's good.)
Grandma seems to be in a better mood now. What happened to her?
(Harry disappeared when his mother died. We never heard anything from him again. But if he is alive, that's fine. His mother left something for him. I am holding onto it. Tell June to pass this message to Harry.)
Grandma hung up. A message for Mr. Harry, my grandma told me to relay it to my mom and she would tell him. But what could it be?
The doorbell rang. Is that mom?
I open the door only find someone I totally wasn't expecting.
"Mr. Bruce, why are you at my house?"
I ask the man standing in front of me. Mr. Bruce is an associate professor at my university. I have English as my elective.
"Isn't this David's house?" (Bruce)
"No. It's the one next to it."
I think someone made the same mistake. He sighs. I see a motorcycle at our main gate. A gorgeous woman is sitting on it.
"That's my wife." (Bruce)
He said with a smug face. I had heard that he is married but his wife is totally gorgeous. I never thought he could be married to someone so beautiful.
I notice that his wife is walking towards us.
"Why are you laughing so much?"
She pinched his cheek.
"Ouch, sorry." (Bruce)
"Are you one of his students?"
"Yes. My name is Anabelle. I do attend his classes."
"So, how are they? I always wanted to see what his classes are like but he never took me to one."
"His classes are fine but he is always goofing around."
I tell the truth. When Mr. Bruce is teaching, he is good. He teaches well. However, he starts goofing around as soon as class ends.
"I knew it. We need to have a good talk."
"Now now, don't get mad at me. Look, David is coming here." (Bruce)
He points towards a walking Mr. David. He is walking this way.
"Bruce, stop disturbing the neighbor." (David)
"I know. Anyway, you are ready!" (Bruce)
"I had to find this suit but it still fits me. Are we ready?" (David)
"Yeah. By the way, where is your mother?" (Bruce)
"I don't know. She kinda just stormed off."
Mr. Bruce looks at Mr. David.
"I just told her the location. I don't know anything other than that." (David)
I am confused. Mr. Bruce's wife looks confused as well.
"So Natasha, we both are going somewhere. Henry is coming as well but is he bringing his girlfriend?" (Bruce)
"He said that he is. Why did you bring your wife?" (David)
"She was suspicious of me. Natasha, you can look after Ruby, can't you?" (Bruce)
"I can. But where are you going?"
Her name is Natasha, I think. I mean Mr. Bruce called her Natasha.
"We are going on a boys night out. No girls allowed." (Bruce)
They start bickering. Mr. David is wryly smiling as he watches the couple bicker. As for me, I am confused. A boys night out, no girls allowed. What does that have to do with Ruby?
And another guy approaches. I see another guy coming this way with a woman.
"Bruce, stop bickering this late at night moreover on the streets."
He stops the bickering. Thank goodness.
"Sorry about that Anabelle. You should go inside. Your mom will be coming back soon." (Bruce)
Mr. Bruce said. I just did what he told me. I closed the door and went inside. They probably went to Mr. David's house.
I sit on the couch and keep waiting for my mom. And again the doorbell rings.
I open the door again to find Ruby along with two women. I know Ms. Natasha since she was bickering with her husband just a moment ago. The other one arrived with the guy who stopped the bickering.
"Since we were left behind, how about you join us?" (Ruby)
"But my mom is still not back."
"Dad said that she will come to my house anyway. How about it?" (Ruby)
I think. This whole situation is kinda weird. I don't understand most of it. For now, I decided to go with the flow.
I went to Ruby's house. The second time I have come here in a day.
We all sit down on the sofas. There are four of us.
"You look like someone I know." (Natasha)
Ms. Natasha said. I get that a lot.
"Yes. Everyone says that I look a lot like my mother."
"Does your mother work at the E corporation?" (Natasha)
"Yes. She does work there as a section chief."
"I see. I am correct. Your mother's name is June, right?" (Natasha)
"Do you know her?"
"Well, she is our leader after all. I work in the same section as her. She has always looked after me since I joined. Didn't know her daughter is actually this big." (Natasha)
I flash a smile at them. Ms. Natasha is my mom's subordinate. That's something new.
"I should introduce myself as well. This is the first time we are meeting but I am Noe. It's nice to meet you." (Noe)
The other woman whom I didn't know introduced herself.
"It's nice to meet you too. Was that your boyfriend you were with?"
It's a bit nosy of me but I asked anyway.
"Yes. Although we are thinking of getting married soon." (Noe)
"Oh, that's news to me. So, when did it happen?" (Natasha)
"A week ago. He said that he should meet with my dad and explain everything." (Noe)
"But, wouldn't it be difficult?" (Natasha)
"He said that he will convince dad somehow." (Noe)
"That's gonna take a lot of work." (Natasha)
Is her father against their marriage?
"Is your father against this marriage?"
"I won't say against. My situation is kind of special. That's why Henry is taking extra care of me." (Noe)
"Again with the love struck maiden face. Must be nice being together practically all the time." (Natasha)
"It's not like all the time. But yes, we do spend majority of our time together." (Noe)
"Bruce and I try to spend more time together as well. He even said that once I get pregnant, he will take an extended leave from work to look after me." (Natasha)
"What did you say?" (Noe)
"Well, I told him there's no need. I mean, it's not like it'll be too difficult for me. But he insists saying he wants to spend more time with me and the baby." (Natasha)
Their conversation is something I can't get in. I never thought too much of marriage and children. I think if I feel like it and find someone right, maybe one day. I am not too keen on it.
"Must be nice. My dad became even more distant than before. It's hard for us to spend time together." (Ruby)
We became silent. Ruby said something that could mean many things.
"Ruby, is Mr. David not home most of the time?"
"He is. But he spends it in his room. Whenever I try to get in, he sends me away. Isn't he being too cold?" (Ruby)
"He must feel awkward." (Noe)
"Probably. I mean, when I was your age, I couldn't stand my dad. I guess it's the opposite in your case." (Natasha)
Noe and Natasha say wryly. But I am curious.
"Ruby, you said something about marrying your dad. Was that a joke?"
"No. I am dead serious." (Ruby)
"Nonono….it isn't right! Why would you want to marry your own father?"
This girl is making a face like what's wrong. Everything she said is wrong. How is marrying your dad alright?
Why isn't Noe and Natasha saying anything to admonish her? They are looking at her like they can't say anything to refute her.
"It's totally alright because he isn't my father. He didn't give birth to me. He just raised me. So it's totally fine for me to marry him." (Ruby)
What is she saying? Mr. David isn't her father? This is something I am having a hard time believing.
"The look on your face says it all. I know it's kind of hard to believe but it's true. I have confirmed it. My parents died when I was 1 and he adopted me as his daughter. So what is wrong with me marrying him?" (Ruby)
"I mean, ethically, socially. Think of this, how would everyone react if they hear that you married your own father?"
Even if she isn't his own daughter, he did raise her. Why would she even think of marrying him?
"Why are you two acting normal? Is it not abnormal to you?"
I ask both Natasha and Noe. They are acting totally normal. Like this doesn't bother them in the slightest.
"Well, it did bother us but thinking calmly, she is not wrong. You can marry anyone if he is not directly blood related. She can marry him as long as he wants to. It depends on both sides." (Natasha)
"Yeah. You can't force things like marriage on others. It needs to happen naturally or it might cause problems." (Noe)
Ruby seems like she is thinking. What they said wasn't wrong. It also depends on Mr. David. I am sure that he will talk some sense into her.
"You might try to understand what is happening but you never will."
An unfamiliar voice spoke. We all look at the direction of the voice and find a woman. She has a petite build and her straight black hair is kinda scary. She looks young. I notice that she is holding someone in her arms.
"Mom?!"
I say because I recognize the person she is holding. Why is she holding my mother? And like a sack of potatoes at that?
She puts mom down on the sofa and heaves a sigh. I am vigilant. But Natasha and the others aren't so surprised or vigilant.
"Who are you?"
I ask the intruder. Well, she suddenly appeared so intruder isn't the correct way to address her.
"I am the cause of everything. I am surprised that you three are handling me quite well."
She looks at Natasha and the others and says.
"I have a feeling that you are involved with my husband. So, who are you?" (Natasha)
"Bruce must have told you how they were summoned to another world. Well, I am the goddess who summoned them to another world."
I don't understand what she is saying. But it seems that Natasha and Noe have an idea. They seem angry.
"You four gathering together was a good idea. But, Anabelle, you should have stopped your mother. Now look, she is so shocked that she fainted."
She moves her head sideways like she is tired and disappointed.
"What are they doing?" (Natasha)
"A send off. After all, Harry will die tonight. As his younger brothers, they are giving him a send off. It was rude of June that she snuck into that. So I took her and left. Let the brothers have a moment."
She sits down on the sofa beside mom. Nothing is making any sense.
"On another note, Natasha, be careful. You are already pregnant. Don't do anything reckless."
Natasha's eyes widen. She must be shocked. But she smiles. Noe and Ruby are congratulating her.
"However, Bruce is still hiding something from you. And you totally should know about it. What do you say?"
"If he wants to hide it from me, I don't mind. I am not the insecure type of woman." (Natasha)
"If I say that he has another woman, would your answer be the same?"
"….."
A silence ensued. Natasha has a freakishly cold face.
"No need to be so angry. It's not wrong to say that he has another woman. But that also means that there is another Bruce."
She is confusing everyone. When will this confusion end? I don't want answers. Just leave my house. That's what I want to say but I can't in this situation. How long do I have witness these awkward moments?