REINALD pulled over in front of her house, but she stayed inside his car for a while. Selen was thinking of the best way to tell her grandmas what really happened without making their blood boil. But then she realized that whatever she says, it would not change anything. Once you get into trouble, there is no way to undo it.
Selen drew her breath as she tapped her chest to calm herself. She turned her gaze to her friend when he suddenly held her by the wrist. His eyes were telling her how worried he was.
“Do you want me to come with you?” he asked as if he was talking to his child that he was about to drop off at school for the first time.
She tapped his knuckles.
“I’m fine. I always manage to escape Nana Cora’s wrath.” Selen managed to smile.
But her friend still has that worried look in his eyes.
Selen freed herself from his hold and got off from his car. She mouthed a thank you to Reinald before closing the door. Then, she turned in their house’s direction. She sauntered towards the door without looking back. She wanted to look brave in front of her friend.
“I’m home,” she announced upon opening the door.
She expected that her grandmas would welcome her in the living room with scolding, but it did not happen. Instead, she found them having tea in the dining room.
“Come here and join us, Selen,” said Nana Violy.
She bit her lower lip, and with teary eyes, she joined them at the table.
Nana Cora poured another cup with tea and handed it to her.
“T-thanks,” she said without looking at them. Selen fixed her gaze on the cup of tea and sighed.
Her grandma’s silent treatment was killing her. Why? Because that was their way of tormenting her. She knew they were both waiting for her to confess what she did wrong.
“I…” Selen cleared her throat. “I did something wrong. I trespassed at Sage’s residence and he caught me,” she told them with a hoarse voice, but she managed to hold back her tears.
“Where did you learn to trespass in someone else’s home, Selen?” Nana Cora sipped her tea. “Did you know what’s the consequence—”
“He did not report me to the police. All he wanted was to keep my mouth shut by signing a contract,” she explained. “That didn’t happen because Rei dragged me out of the restaurant.” Selen paused for a while. “Wait… Why are we so calm?”
That was very unusual because they used to be so loud in times like that. She did not know that calmness could bother her like that.
“Well…”
She turned her gaze to Nana Violy. “What now?”
“I kinda get it why you did that. You’re concerned with what happened to Sage, right?”
She nodded agreeably.
“What you did is wrong, clearly against the law.” Nana Cora refilled her cup before turning to her. “You should be careful, Selen. We don’t want to see you in jail, dear.”
Her gaze shifted back and forth to her grandmas, who were sitting apart from each other. She could not comprehend where that conversation was heading to.
How come Nana Cora isn’t mad at me?
“Sage is that Sage Avelino, right?” asked Nana Cora.
“Yes, he is. The one I’ve been fangirling for years now.” Selen clasped her hands and sighed dreamily.
“You said you liked him so much,” Nana Cora added.
“I still do!”
“Make him your husband then,” her grandmas said in unison.
Selen’s eyes widened not in shock but in amazement. They gave her the blessing to choose Sage as her husband.
“A-am I dreaming?” She patted her cheeks exaggeratedly.
“You’re not. This is real,” said Nana Violy.
“But why did you choose Sage to be my husband? Does he fit your standards?” She could not help but wonder.
“Didn’t I tell you that if you get to meet him, then I will allow you to marry him. But…” Nana Cora raised her forefinger. “It won’t be easy now that you got on his bad side.”
“Yeah, right. He won’t talk to me now and he wants to get rid of me after I trespassed his residence.” Selen raised her head. “I’m doomed, right? Shall we look for another?”
They both laughed at her.
“Oh, dear…” Nana Violy snapped her fingers in front of her face. “What are we?”
“Witches.”
“Well, technically you’re not a witch,” Nana Cora chimed in.
Her grandma’s remark made her nose crinkle. “You cannot exclude me. It’s in my blood.”
“This is why I always tell you to study witchcraft.” Nana Cora sighed. “The time has come for you to make a love potion, Selen.”
“L-love potion?” Her mouth dropped open. “You mean I’m going to charm Sage?”
“Yes,” they said in unison.
She winced. “Can I just charm him in a natural way?”
“You shouldn’t have trespassed and poured soup on his crotch! How can you charm a man with that?” Now, Nana Cora was back to her old self, snarling at her.
She pulled the strands of her hair and groaned. It seemed that she could no longer escape her fate. Selen only wanted Sage. She had to do the best that she can.
“What if I fail to make the love potion?” she asked afterwards.
“Then, you have to do it again,” Nana Violy told her. “Don’t worry, dear. We are here to guide you all the way.” Her grandma patted her cheek.
“I THINK that’s too many for seven dozes,” said Nana Cora when she took a peek on her pot.
“Then, I’ll just throw it away,” she said as she continued to mix the dry mixture, she was about to dissolve.
“What a waste.”
Her grandma stood by her side and watched her make the love potion. Selen felt pressured because her Nana Cone was always a perfectionist. She did not like the idea of wasting time, ingredients, and opportunities. While Selen believes that it is okay to fail at first because no one is perfect, there is always room for improvement.
“Dissolve it now and let it boil on low heat,” her grandma instructed.
Selen did what she was told. But because she was tensed due to pressure, she put too much water on the dry mixture. Biting her lip, she turned her gaze to Nana Cora, who was now looking at her with narrowed eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she said in a low tone.
She started all over again. Good thing, she poured the right amount of water for the second time.” You have to pour this love potion on Sage’s food and drink once a day for seven days.” Nana Cora sauntered towards the cabinet and got seven small bottles. “You must find a way how you can get your hands on his meals.”
“I already have an idea.” She winked at her grandma.
Last night, she heard Sage talking to someone on the phone that he fired his housekeeper and needed a new one. Selen must get that job to be able to execute her plans.
“How?” her grandma asked with furrowed brows.
“I’ll tell you once I succeed. But for now, you better start looking for a helper because I’m going to be busy charming my future husband.”
Nana Cora sniffed consecutively and lowered her head on the pot. When her grandma raised her head, she turned to her with a disappointed look on her face.
“W-why?” Selen swallowed hard.
Nana Cora hit the back of her head.
“The love potion should be tasteless, colorless, and odorless. What the hell is that smell?” Selen lowered her head to check. She winced after realizing that her love potion smells like rotten eggs. Ah, she had to repeat it all over again.