SWEET ANNOYING FREINDS

They have always been like this—differing in some things and crashing here and there, but I guess that's what makes them solid. They always find a way to solve their differences and forget the past. I envy them in a way, for how they manage to resolve things and, more so, for being able to stand by me all these years despite my shortcomings. I mean, I have quite a temper, and I don't forgive easily—the complete opposite of them.


Wait, though, did I hear something right?

"Orders? From where or who?" I query, and they all look at each other.

"Your big mouth will get us into trouble someday!" Rose grumbles, scratching her skull.


What are they hiding from me? "Will you guys speak up or get out right now?" I ask with fury when no one says a word.

"Well, you see, it's...Damian. He asked us to keep you company and distract you so you wouldn't think about this whole thing too much. His idea was just to cheer you up and be with you all the time that he would not be around."


Damian!? Another point! I think I owe him a vote of gratitude. He is doing well and is thoughtful.

"He cares for you, Ellie. More than anything. His love for you is on another level," Grace says.

Forget about love for now. How did he reach all three? How did he find Rose and Sherry?

"I know he has Grace's contact information, so I won't ask how he contacted her, but you two? How did he know about you and even reach you?" I ask.

"He used my brother," Sherry says.

Shoot! Who?

Leo?

He asked for help from Leo. And Leo accepted to help Damian? As far as I remember, those are two devils who can't stand each other even for a second! Leo even has a restraining order against both me and Damian. What did he do to pull this off?

"Hang on! Where is Leo, and how did Damian get him to agree to help him?" I curiously ask:.

This sounds merely impossible, if you ask me. Totally impossible. Damian, are you going to Leo for help? That is the newest wonder of the world.

"We don't know that, Ellie," Sherry explains, her voice faint and sadness, etc., on her face. She must be feeling for her brother. 'All that Leo said when he called was that you needed us and that a man named Damian would call us. When Damian called us, he requested that we come to the hospital, but we came so late because you two had left, but he had left his instructions with your driver, Mark. He drove us here," Sherry explains.

Sweet, right? I mean, for him to care this much. To go through all that trouble of asking for help from Leo, of all the people? Their last encounter was chaotic, and I thought the next time they would meet, one of them would end up six feet under while the other would end up in the hospital with broken bones. I hope Leo is alive, but only for the sake of the humanity in me. I hope Damian didn't kill him just to get the information he needed from him. I didn't know he would step on his ego that much just for me. Terrific! Another tick!

"Where is Leo now?" I ask again out of curiosity.

"Probably wandering in the streets? I don't know, and I didn't care to ask. After I confronted him for what he did to you and after the threat your father gave us, we have never seen my brother face to face, and we didn't talk until this morning," Sherry responds.

What? Papa threatened them. With what? I think Damian understood my father better than I did. He did suggest all these things that were unfolding to me before.

"What do you mean by my father threatening you? What did he do?" I ask. At least I don't see any bruises on their faces, so that confirms that it wasn't something physical.

"Three days after you eloped, your father paid me and my brother a visit," Sherry starts, earning my whole attention. 'He was furious, desperate, and hurt. He swore to make Leo's life miserable for sleeping with Nelly, and I only escaped his wrath because I promised to help him search for you. Somehow, he believed in my sincerity that Rose and I didn't know your plans or where you were, but Leo's life wasn't spared. The next morning, Leo lost his job, and before he could start a job hunt, he was barred from this city."

Excuse me! He What? OMG! My father did all that for me. He had Leo driven and locked out of the city. I am speechless!

"Damian was right!" I bitterly smile, not so much because of Damian nor because of the fate Leo underwent for breaking my heart, but because once again, I am reminded of how wrong I was about my father's love. He cared deeply.

It was immense and immeasurable. He could go to any depths to avenge me, yet I didn't see that. I only saw his bad side and his flaws, and I never tried to understand his actions in depth. I was so blinded by my desire and rage. I was a bad daughter to him!

"About what?" Grace asks.

I emit a bittersweet smirk, smirking at my stupidity. "About everything. I wish I saw beyond my blinding rage. Things wouldn't have come this far," I murmur.

"Don't feel bad, Ellie. You are a human, bound to make mistakes. Each of us has had a fair share of our shortcomings, you know." Rose comforts.

"Yes, Ellie. And that chapter is closed now, and a new one has opened for you to amend what can be amended. Your father loved you so much, only that his way of portraying his love to you was different, and you weren't an angel to understand it all. But this is a chance to right all the wrongs, Ellie." Grace's words echo with a soothing, relieving sensation, but her words would have hit right home if my father were still alive.

But he is not! I drove him to the grave with my rage and resentment!

"We have got your back, Ellie! Whatever you want to do to make things right, we are here for you. It is never too late until there are no more opportunities, and as long as the sun is still shining above you, you have a chance for any change that you want. The Riccaford legacy is all in your hands, and all the lights of the entire world are shining on you to see what you will do with it. You can make things right by doing this."

A smilting flicker appears on my gloomy face. Maybe?