Tia sat in the room she supposed to be in and can't stop thinking about what happened.
"It can't be. There must be a mistake. She's not my mother... Right?"
Tia gaze toward the window and notice how weird it feels to be here. Everything doesn't seem to be making any sense, but still. Her being there too doesn't make any sense at all. It's frustrating.
What if everything they told her was a lie?
Just what if...
This was actually just a nightmare?
"I hate this so much."
Tia sighs in frustration as she flopped on the bed and a tear started falling from her other eye.
"What the heck is wrong with you now."
She was frustrated with herself. Slightly sobbing, she doesn't understand why.
"I'm sorry."
Tia cried as she suddenly remembered Chester smiling face, telling them he's going to be alright. It hurts to see him like that.
Although, they just get to know each other. Tia felt like they have been friends forever. She doesn't understand why she's feeling like that, it just happened as her heart was aching just by the thoughts of it. She doesn't realize until now how scary it is being alone. Tia curled into her blanket as she cries.
Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. Confused and frustrated. She doesn't want to open it. She doesn't want to meet the woman. She doesn't know what to do if she was the one standing in front of her door. Tia was scared of the thoughts meeting with her supposedly dead mother.
"It's me."
Xian call out from the other side of the door. Hearing that, Tia jumped out from the bed and bolted towards the door opening it. Relieved when she saw him standing there, alone.
"What happened?"
Xian had a confused looks when he saw Tia's puffy eyes. Tia doesn't say anything but pull Xian into the room and locking them inside.
"I'm scared."
She said as she sat on the floor burying her head. Xian sighs as he took a sit next to her.
"I can't say I'm not. It's terrifying honestly."
Xian said truthfully and Tia stared at him surprised. Since she never really expects him to say that.
"It feels weird to be here..."
"It is."
They both stayed silent after that and continue sitting on the floor for another minute until they heard a knock on the door. Both of them exchange looks like Xian was the one who decided to open the door.
"What is it?"
He asked the person who's knocking the door earlier, only to be surprised when he saw Aiden.
"Huh? Why are you here?"
Aiden raised an eyebrow as he saw Xian opening the door and Tia's peeking at him.
"Anyway, let's go. They're serving us food. You don't want to miss it."
He added as he gave Tia a reassuring nod. Xian and Tia decided to follow him and the started to walk to the hall.
"Just be careful, both of you."
Aiden spoke as he continues walking without making an eye contact with any of them. That was confusing.
"What make you say that?"
Xian urge him but Aiden didn't bother to reply to him.
"He's so annoying really."
Xian whispered to Tia as she can't actually argue about it.
"And so are you."
Aiden reply to him as he gave him a slight smirk before going off into the hall meeting with his friends. When Tia entered the hall, everyone was there. Except for Gally. Since she's still unconscious. Enzo and Kyran was there too.
"Hey guys, it's been a while since we have this. You should try it."
Kyran said as he munches on what it seems like pork ribs. Enzo just sat next to him eating quietly, he doesn't seem to have an appetite.
Almost like forcing himself to eat just to stay alive. Tia somehow feels terrible about it. For some reason, Tia doesn't feel like eating. She doesn't understand why since she was sure that she's hungry.
"I'm going to see Gally."
Tia mentioned as she bid her goodbye with the others. Xian offered to go with her, but she told him she wanted to go alone. It took a while for him to give in.
Tia notice Tammy looks livelier now that she's with Serina. They look so happy to be reunited again. Even Red and Aiden, they both look glad to be able to see Tetiana again.
Although it's weird, how Tetiana doesn't approach her at all. Not saying a single thing, Tia was glad at the same time.
She doesn't know why she wanted to avoid the woman so much. It just feels too unreal, and she still can't bring herself to accept that the woman is her mother.
When Tia arrived at where Gally was taken care of, she was relieved to see her doing well. She was smiling and was talking to someone. She looks happy. Tia wondered who it was.
"Tia."
Gally smiled as she noticed Tia approaching her.
"I can't believe you're the queen daughter."
Gally said smiling as she held out for Tia's hand.
How does she know that?
Tia stare at her in confusion but soon stop when she saw the woman. Sitting across from Gally, smiling at her. It's shocking.
"What brings you here my dear?"
The woman spoke as both her and Gally stare at Tia with confusion.
"I'm here to see Gally, I'm glad that you're okay."
Tia said as she was unsure whether to sit or leave them alone.
"Thank you."
Gally smiled as she told Tia to sit with them. Tia doesn't understand the uneasiness she felt being with them. It was uncomfortable.
"Um, actually. There's something I want to talk about. With you. Alone."
Tia said as she looks at the woman. Gally just smile at them as she said she wanted to have some rest. Tia leaves the room with the woman as they start walking to a garden. It was awkward, it made Tia feel uncomfortable. When they both sit on a bench, The woman started the conversation.
"How's everyone? Your dad?"
Her eyes were sad as she said that. Tia notices it too as she started to feel guilty.
"He's doing great."
Tia replied as she remembers her father face, smiling and laughing. It hurts.
"What is it that you wanted to talk about?"
The woman spoke as she took Tia's hand into hers. Tia was hesitant for a moment.
"I need your help."
Tia stared into her mother's eyes as she squeezes their hands.
"What is it my dear?"
"NīRVANA. Where is it?"
Tia said as she noticed the woman expression turned sour. She took her hands away from Tia as she stared at her as if she's telling her a joke.
"What are you talking about?"
The woman raised an eyebrow at Tia.
"I need to know where it is. I need to get there."
Tia started trembling when she said that. "It's impossible. Why would you want to go there?" The woman sighs as she stared at Tia in confusion.
Hearing that made Tia world crumble into pieces. It can't be. After all this time, in the end it's just another meaningless journey?
It can't be.
"Why would you want to go there? We're finally together now. Isn't it enough?"
The woman spoke as she touches Tia's face.
"I want to go back to my family."
Tia replied as the woman slapped Tia leaving her shocked and dumfounded.
"I am your family. Why would you leave me?"
Her expression turned dark as she sighs in frustration.
"Do you not love your mother, Tia? I'm the one who gave birth to you? Why are you leaving me? Please don't leave mommy. I'm sorry. Please don't leave me. Don't go back to the woman. She's not your mother. Your sister is here too. You don't have a younger brother. You father is a bad man. He already forgets about your existence. Mommy is sorry. I won't hit you ever again, please don't leave me. Tia, please stay with me."
The woman embraces Tia in a hug and keep rambling. This was the time Tia realize how she doesn't want to be here any longer.
It was terrifying.
How does she know about her stepmother?
About Ian.
How did she know about Tia's life before she came here?
It's impossible.
It's disturbing. . .
Her blood runs cold, when she finally realized that the woman in front of her is not her mother. It's impossible. It doesn't make sense at all. She stayed silent as the woman keep on talking about how she loves Tia so much she doesn't want to lose her anymore.
"Mother, when is my birthday?"
Tia spoke as the woman went silent. It was terrifying how not a single sound is made but could make one blood run cold. The woman didn't reply to Tia as she just sat there looking at a blank space. Tia was terrified. Who is this woman? How does she know about her? Who is she really?
"Who are you?"
Tia asked as she took a step backwards from the woman. A liar. The woman lurks her eyes as she creepily smiles at Tia.
"Ah, I shouldn't have told you about that. Now everything is a mess."
The woman said as she started laughing. Tia stared at her in horror before running off to her friends. Worried that something might happened to them.
Tia finally reached the hall when she saw Xian and the others eating, looking well. She run off to them and was about to tell them what have happened before but stop dead in her tracks when she saw the woman there, with them. Talking and smiling with them.
"How is this possible?!"
Tia sprints off to their direction making the others confused.
"What's wrong my dear? Did something happened?"
The woman spoke looking confused.
No.
You liar.
Stop acting.
Tia stare at her in confusion. Shocked. She was having a hard time catching her breath.
"What's wrong?"
Xian had a worried expression as he stares at Tia. Tia wanted to scream, she wanted to tell him what happened earlier, but she couldn't utter a single word. The woman has a confused look on her face too, she looked worried.
"Mother, when is my birthday?"
Tia question suddenly surprised everyone. The woman was smiling too. Tia was confused with what the woman did. What the heck. "You were born on 15 August, the same as Tetiana. What's wrong?" The woman spoke as she gets closer to Tia to touch her forehead.
"Are you feeling sick?"
She added as Tia stared at the woman terrified. Who is the person she met earlier? How could this be possible? Is she playing a trick on me? Tia was lost in her thoughts.
"Mother, where is NīRVANA?"
Tia replied as she studied the woman expression. She didn't look angry nor confused.
"I've been waiting for you to ask that, since you are all here. I'll explain it to everyone. Come here."
Tia stared at her in horror. If she's willing to tell them about NĪRVANA...
Who was the person she met earlier?