Silence fell in the room as Mr. and Mrs. Smith turned their heads to Avelina in surprise. Even Roxie turned to her, stunned. She held back a smile on her lips, waiting for them to leave so she could hug Avelina tightly for her words.
Avelina decided that she would not let her parents decide anything for her anymore. This was her life, not theirs, and she needed to realize that she had the right to do what she wanted at any time. She was already old enough.
The man smiled, though his expression faltered slightly. He managed a small smile as he spoke.
"I will take this as you need more time to think. We will not rush you."
Avelina and Roxie stared at the man with raised brows.
'What type of 'no' did he not understand? She said she didn't want to, so why was he making it look like it was a must to be a reverend sister?' Roxie thought to herself.
Avelina decided not to think deeply on it. She had made up her mind: she would not go to reverend school. She would divorce that man, and after that, she would face her life.
She could not let her life be controlled at all.
"Very well then," the man stood as he spoke with a smile. "Bless you all, I will be taking my leave now."
Avelina's parents nodded as they waved him off. Just as the door closed, Mr. Smith turned to Avelina with a frown.
"You need to learn the word 'manners.' If someone had just seen the way you acted now, they would never think you had been trained."
Ave stayed silent. She was used to her father's words, even though they hurt.
"You will have to think about this. I don't care. I will assume today you were not in the right state of mind."
Avelina raised her eyebrow at his words.
Right state of mind? Was this man joking? So saying her mind meant she was not in her right state? She managed not to say anything as she caressed Roxie's hands. Roxie was really itching to tell them her mind but knew that if she did, they might not let Avelina stay in her hostel tonight, and their plan would fail—something she would not want at all.
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith," Roxie finally spoke softly, and they turned to her with a smile. Only if they knew how hard she had tried to be very well trained these past minutes.
"The date for the exam payment has been moved to tomorrow early morning. Avelina was not aware since she is not in the group chat due to her button phone. So I suggest she stays at my hostel for the night so we can be among the first to pay tomorrow ."
Mr. Smith nodded before he spoke, as if realizing something.
"Will that even be important? After all, she is going to a reverend school…"
He was gently interrupted by his wife.
"Yes, honey, it would. Who knows what the future holds? At least let her get the degree. She has already come this far to back away."
Her father finally nodded, knowing it would be very helpful to him as well if he wanted to talk about his daughter to his people.
Ave was really being pushed to the wall; she could not even believe what her father was saying to her right now.
The door opened as the doctor stepped out with a smile.
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith, congratulations. The operation was successful," she said.
Avelina jumped up with a wide smile on her lips. Roxie did as well, they both hugged as they jumped up and down, while the nurse stared at them. She did not expect such childish behavior from two grown adults.
Avelina decided to see her sister before leaving. She walked over and opened the food cart. She took a food bag and arranged some snacks into the bag for Alor, as she knew Alor would love them.
Her mother gave her a warning look, as Avelina had been so caught up that she forgot she was supposed to wait for her father to eat first. But it seemed her father didn't mind, since what was there were mostly snacks and drinks, and he was not really into those.
That had saved Ave, knowing that if it were food, her father would have been shouting about how unethical she was as a lady. She then handed the bag to her mother.
"Mother, keep this for Alor," she said as her mother stood, taking it as they walked to the door.
"Are you not taking yours?" Roxie asked, surprised that Avelina, who loved eating, did not take anything. She was curious.
"If I eat now, I might eat a lot. I'll just wait and eat a normal meal. After the ball, I might bring lots of things and we would eat lots tonight," she whispered as Roxie's lips stretched wide.
She knew exactly what Ave was planning to do. Avelina was planning to take a sack bag with her, and since it was a wealthy event, people would not really eat the snacks and rich desserts. Whatever was left behind, Ave was prepared to take home. She was fully ready for tonight.
She could not wait.
They entered the room, and silence fell. On the bed lay her sister, her brown hair—similar to her mother's—lightly tied up, with a bandage wrapped around her forehead from the operation. She was still asleep. Avelina really wanted her to get well soon. At least she was glad things were going well, and soon she would be able to go out with her sister and Alor. She knew her sister was still too little to be in such pain.
"You two may go now so you can read as well," Avelina's mother spoke, and Roxie nodded. Avelina stared at her sister one more time before turning. She and Roxie stepped out, heading downstairs to leave.
☼☼
The car zoomed off, and a small smile rested on Ave's lips. She was happy that the hospital bills were cleared.
"Immediately we reach, we'll start getting ready," she spoke, and Avelina nodded. Not long after, her phone pinged.
"Ave, please check who that is," Roxie said. Ave nodded with a small smile, moving to unlock Roxie's phone. A photo had been sent.
"It seems your delivery has arrived," Ave spoke as Roxie raised a brow.
"Delivery? But I didn't order anything," she replied, confused, raising her brow again as she turned the car to the other side.
Avelina raised a brow too as she looked closer at the photo. Her eyes widened as she stared at the box and the paper attached.
"To Miss Billie Blue—Gown, shoes, and a mask."
Her lips parted, with no words leaving. At last, she chuckled in pure disbelief. She had never told that man her address.