In Alina's room.
The room was dim, the only source of lighting was the lamp… And the sky, blocked by clouds. But the sun's brightness wasn't much bothered by it.
Alina: Her cheeks were flushed and bloated from holding them puffed out. Eyes never leaving Gracie as her tongue probed inside of her puffed cheeks.
Gracie: Seeing the small time to time bumps on her cheeks, [... Umm, what is she doing? That's her tongue right?] Her lips parted as she was about to say something… But she didn't. She just watched with curiosity.
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[It's too quiet in here, right now… For how long is she gonna do that?] Gracie straightens up, "Um, Miss Alina—" The tongue movements were pretty… Unusual…
It was like she was pressing shapes inside her cheeks. Shapes of letters or characters.
[Is she forming a word!?]
Alina: She stopped and opened her mouth, blowing air out of her mouth and looked at Gracie with seriousness in her eyes, "What?"
Gracie: She froze because of the sudden change.
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…
Gracie: Blinks. Blinks. Blinks.
Alina: "Tch. Are you giving me a silent treatment, huh?" She pouts.
Cold air rushed in through the window and Gracie coughed, she sat properly on the bed and brought her legs up from the cold floor. Her hand clinched the warm blanket.
Gracie: Still stunned and speechless, [I think it's time for her medicines.] She clears her throat, "Miss Alina. I think it's time for your… Medicines." She said concern crawling up to her face.
Alina: She leans back, then abruptly leans forward. "Why should I? It's not like I'm a patient." She raises her left eye brows. "And I'm perfectly fine."
Gracie: [No you're not. And yes you are a PATIENT!] Her mind was brewing and cooking up words that she couldn't speak. Not out of fear but embarrassing her…
Maybe both.
Alina: She again starts playing with her skirt smiling to herself. She giggles as she again tears her skirt… A bit more.
Gracie: [What is she thinking now?] She sighs, [How should I convince her to take her medicines…? Sometimes she's so serious and actually listens, but now what?] Her expression still had that concern intact to it.
[Never had I thought I'd see someone near her thirties act like this… It's fun though.] A smile formed on her lips as she leaned forward.
"Miss Alina. Your skirt, you're tearing it."
Alina: She didn't even glanced towards Gracie and continued playing with her skirt. "No worries, I have more…"
Gracie: Hearing that Gracie frowned, "You… Meaning to say… Mine?"
Alina: She stopped playing with her skirt and turned her head to Gracie, after cracking it, "You do realise we both share the same." The softness of her voice was no more.
Gracie: [Oh… She's having mood swings again.]
Alina: She lets out a long sigh, each second was suffocating for Gracie… It was 3 seconds before Alina started coughing. "Shit…!"
cough
COUGH
cough
Take small breaths. "You were talking about some medicines right? What kind?"
Gracie: "Head—"
Alina: "Tch." She interrupted Gracie "Not interested." Cough "When did I get a cold?"
Gracie: [The window is open and it's raining outside! The winds are cold!] She bites her lower lip, then opens her mouth, "Miss Alina. The windows are open, it's probably the wind…" She licks her lower lip.
Alina: Snaps her fingers towards Gracie, "Then close it."
Gracie: She got up from bed, but before she went towards the window she noticed Alina's other hand was shivering, while the other, perfectly fine and pointed towards her. [... She's weird]
With that in mind she closes the window and goes back to sitting beside Alina, a bit closer and her own legs tugged beneath the blanket.
With the window now closed the room darkened and Gracie felt a shiver run through her. She noticed Alina was looking right at her… Gaze unshaken.
…
[Please don't say anything weird.]
Gracie cups her neck out of instinct, to which in response Alina leaned in and lightly elbow Gracie's neck.
Alina giggled.
Gracie: Her eyes widened a bit, she closed her eyes [Miss Alina. I just… Can't seem to understand you.] She opens them back only to be presented by Alina's amused grin.
Alina: She leaned in too close and too fast that her forehead crashed into Gracie's forehead. She leans back, "Oh my, Dear! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to."
Gracie: She rubs her forehead and shakes her head, "No problem."
Alina: She still had that grin on her face, "Thank fully you aren't hurt. Right?" Gracie was about to say something but Alina continued, "Hey, I had this in mind."
"A fishing trip. As a family. Catch something!" She said it with much energy in her to surprise Gracie and enough to shock her.
"How about tomorrow. If the sky is clear." She again giggled. "Think about what we might catch! You're with me, right…? Dear?"
What followed after Alina's energetic planning was nothing but silence and the clear need to feedback in Alina's eyes.
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Gracie's shoulder dropped in awe, lips apart taking in low breaths. [Wow...It's been two. Whole. Years, and I'm still shocked seeing you like this. As if we've just met… How couldn't I connect to you all this time?]
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[... Miss Alina… Why are you so different? Strange. It bothers me.]