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Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 Files
Continuation Fanfic Series
File #5: The Real Me
Part 3, Ch 23 - 25
by P. Kristen Enos
Posted 4/2/02
Special Thanks to my Beta Team: Greenegret, David & Templar
SPOILERS WARNING!!!
Most of these stories take place AFTER the TV Series! So DON'T blame me if I ruin the ending for you because you read these stories first!
Lesbian/Yuri/Shoujo Ai Warning! (Non-explicit -- at least in the "PG13"/"R" sort of way.) Just not written for children because they probably wouldn't get half of it.
All rights belong to JVC/AIC, ADV Films and the other creative powers that be. I just want credit for writing the story.
* * * * *
Chapter 23
Friday Night, October 28th
“Oh My God, Sylia!” Linna exclaimed in horror when she looked at herself in the dressing room mirror for the first time. “I can’t wear this to a wedding!”
She was in a light-green strapless dress that hugged every curve she had, and stopped at the top of her thighs. A short, dark green jacket gave the outfit a more formal, stylish look. The matching green pumps that would complete the outfit were still in the box.
Dressed in a pantsuit, Sylia opened the dressing room door and peered in. She arched her eyebrow appreciatively as she scanned down Linna’s form. With an amused look, she commented, “You’ve got a gorgeous body and the scars have all been surgically removed. I don’t see anything wrong.”
With a full blush in her cheeks, Linna frowned at her reflection as she tried to tug down the hem that was not going to go any lower. “Sylia, I have to wear matching underwear if I’m going to bow, much less sit down!”
“Well, I do sell those,” the other woman answered with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “But white underwear would do. And if you’re still concerned, just make certain you face me… relatively speaking.”
Linna narrowed her eyes at Sylia’s reflection in response. “And just what are you going to wear?”
“I was going to wear a tuxedo so we could go as a butch/femme couple,” she answered with a wink.
Linna just stared at her reflection.
Seeing that she was not getting a receptive response, Sylia then let out a dramatic sigh and offered, “If you honestly feel uncomfortable with the outfit, you can wear the only dress I have with a lower hemline, which is the one Priss wore. It’s the kind of style that would fit you even though you have a slightly smaller body frame than hers.”
Linna actually grimaced at the thought. It wasn’t so much the Priss association but the fact that the dress would not be a style she would wear under any circumstances.
Sylia giggled as if she was expecting that reaction.
Linna then returned her attention to her reflection. She couldn’t deny the fact that she liked the way she looked in the new outfit, even if it wasn’t appropriate for the event in question.
She almost jumped at the sudden feeling of Sylia pressing up against her back and wrapping her arms around her stomach. Her face now turned completely red from the sheer nearness of the woman even though they were both fully clothed.
“I will compliment whatever image you want to present. Even if you want to do a kimono, although I will admit I haven’t worn one since I was a teenager,” Sylia whispered into her ear, smiling at the way the other woman remained stiff in her embrace. “But keep in mind that everyone else will be dressed at their best, Reika included.”
The thought actually caused Linna to pause for a moment. Then a quirk of smile curled her lips as she settled into Sylia’s embrace and said, “I’ll think about it.”
Sylia broke out into a triumphant grin. “Keep the outfit even if you don’t wear it to the wedding. You could always wear it to work.”
Linna grimaced at another sore subject. “I am trying to downplay my femininity as much as possible, and it’s still not cutting down the romantic inquiries I’m getting in my email inbox. I have a document of prewritten cut-and-paste answers that I use with frequency.”
“It doesn’t sound like you’re fond of the attention,” the other woman remarked.
Linna shook her head. “They’re all men, Sylia. At first I thought I’m just not attractive to women. But then it dawned on me that perhaps any who are interested probably wouldn’t want an email trail back to her. And then I think, ‘how do I meet someone who might be remotely similar in interests and lifestyles if not at work?’”
Sylia tilted her head curiously and stared at her for a moment. “It sounds like you’re over Reika.”
Linna blushed again, but this time with a little bit of sadness in her expression. “I admit I’m scared of seeing her again. We haven’t talked since I moved out… But I also know I’m not going to get over her unless I make an effort to. The problem is I’m just horrible with this casual dating thing.”
“Hmm. Perhaps you just need to focus on yourself right now. After all, you’ve been through a lot. And sometimes romance happens when you least expect it,” Sylia offered with a half shrug.
She let her go and stepped out of the dressing room. Once she was back outside in the empty shop, she called out, “By the way, how is the roommate situation with Priss going?”
“I’m worried about her, Sylia,” Linna admitted as she started to undress. “I think she’s going through a depression but she won’t admit it. You know how she is about things like that. She started to open up one night, but the next day she started spending less time at the apartment and not coming home until late. I thought it was because she was looking for a new place or practicing with the band, but she’s still coming home after midnight. I don’t know if it’s because she just doesn’t have her own room so I thought I’d wait to see how she is until after we move.”
“And how are the move plans going?”
“Everything’s set for us to start moving in tomorrow. It’ll be pretty easy since Priss’s new furniture is arriving later. So it’s mainly the living room, kitchen and my bedroom stuff.”
“I’m sorry I can’t help. And that we’ve used up Mackey as well.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Linna answered. “We know you have a tight deadline with his upgrade. I’m just glad you can spare Nene.”
“Well, her part of the project is mostly done. It’s just the equipment preparation and actual build work that need to be done. Besides, she’s becoming more and more... nervous the closer we get to her mother’s visit. I think the guys would appreciate not having her in the lab for a day.”
“Oh, so that’s why you’re willing to let her help us!”
Linna emerged from the dressing room, wearing her usual jeans and pullover shirt. She carefully held out the clothes. “So what kind of wedding gift should we bring?”
“I’ll take care of it,” Sylia said rather casually as she proceeded to box up the dress. “You’ve got enough to worry about.”
Linna stared at her friend for a moment and then asked, “By the way, how is Reika doing these days?”
The other woman paused and then said with a sad smile, “She’s getting by.”
* * *
Saturday Evening, October 29th
“I don’t remember you having this much stuff when you moved here in May!” Nene remarked as she sat on the floor and started dumping music discs into the box.
“Nevertheless, thank you for helping us, Nene,” Linna said, tactfully ignoring the dig as she taped up a box of books. “We also haven’t really seen you since you’ve been at the lab so much. How is the conversion going?”
“They’re putting the finishing touches on the stasis chamber. Once it’s done, then Nigel and Sylia have to remove Mackey’s inner organic parts so it can grow into the new shell.”
“That sounds… weird,” Linna said, deciding that she didn’t want to try to picture that. “Are you going to be there to help?”
Nene shook her head. “That’s similar to human surgery, which is totally out of my league. And I don’t really want to see Mackey like that.”
“Bet it’s going to be pretty weird for Sylia,” Priss commented from the kitchen as the noises of her packing dishes continued in the background. “Especially if she’s always seen him as a fifteen year old kid and never really as a boomer, even during the time of Galatea.”
“Well, she doesn’t have a choice since Nigel needs help to do it. But she seems okay with it,” Nene answered with a shrug.
“How long will it take for Mackey to, um, grow into his new shell?” Linna asked.
“Nigel calculates that he won’t be ready by the time Mom arrives. But we’re hoping that he’ll be ready to emerge before she leaves.” A small frown settled on Nene’s face but she didn’t say anything further.
Linna decided it was time to change the subject. “So have you seen that Lisa Vanette again?”
Nene’s impish smile returned with a spark. “Why? Are you interested in her? She is cute!”
“Wha -- ? NO!!!” Linna blurted even though her face turned instantly red. She also saw out of the corner of her eye that Priss’s head poke out of the kitchen door with a curious expression on her face.
“I’m kidding, Linna! Chill! She’s got a live-in boyfriend!” Nene declared with a hearty laugh. “Trust me, though, if I thought there was a chance, I wouldn’t hesitate in fixing you two up since you’ve got such a poor romantic track record.”
Seeing that Priss had disappeared back into the kitchen, Linna narrowed her eyes at the younger woman and stated through gritted teeth, “Thanks for the thought. But the reason why I asked is if she ever told you why she thinks she recognizes me.”
“We’re not planning to get together until Mom comes and visits,” Nene said. “I’ve been busy at the lab, and she’s doing some miscellaneous reporting assignments. But I think we can safely rule out the possibility that she recognizes you as a Knight Saber since we wear helmets.”
“True,” Linna said. “Still, I’m skeptical that it’s really me that she’s seen before. Otherwise, I think I would have recognized her, too, and she just doesn’t ring a bell.”
The doorbell chimed on cue.
“I’ve got it,” Linna yelled as she got up. “Well, just let me know if she says something.”
“Of course I will!” Nene promised.
Linna opened the door to see the three other members of Sekiria standing in the hallway, dressed for a few hours of manual labor.
With his trademark bandanna tied around his head, Maxon grinned and declared, “Mousy Country Girl! Your manly help is here to save the day!”
Resisting the urge to slam the door shut, Linna forced a smile and stepped back to let them in. “Come on in, guys!”
She turned to Priss, who had stepped out of the kitchen and muttered, “I’m leaving them to you.” She then walked back to the living room to continue her packing with Nene.
The singer merely smirked and said to the men, “You brought the van with you?”
“Of course,” Fox, the lanky guy with long blonde hair. “What do you want us to load first?”
“Follow me,” Priss said, “The bedroom is ready to go.”
“OOOH! We finally get to see the love nest!” Maxon remarked as they followed her into the room in question.
Priss merely said, “Jaid.”
The burly drummer obviously took his cue as a loud “smack” was immediately heard.
“OW!” Maxon blurted. “Shit, man! That hurt!”
“Would you rather Priss did it?”
Apparently getting the point, Maxon grumbled, “I’ll take the left side.”
The two women in the living room exchanged a gleeful giggle.
- End Chapter 23 -
Chapter 24
Sunday Morning, October 30th
“Irene, you look absolutely beautiful!” Linna exclaimed genuinely as she hugged the bride-to-be. They were in the waiting room filled with various female guests for the upcoming ceremony.
Dressed in a western-style white wedding gown with a long train, the other woman grinned and muttered, “You’re the first person who’s said that today that I honestly believe! And you look great, too!”
Linna blushed at the compliment as she stepped back to look down at her own simple baby-blue dress. “I feel so underdressed compared to everyone else who’s here.”
Irene whispered in her ear, “I assure you that I don’t even know over half the guests. Even though I’m only the second in line, a Chang marriage is a major political event. One of those attendance is mandatory for the sake of alliances.”
“Oh,” Linna responded, her attention now focused on scanning the large gathering of women who were mingling in the room with them.
Irene watched her for a moment and then said, “She’s not here yet. She was supposed to fly back yesterday but bad weather kept her from being able to leave. In fact, she might be late so we’re waiting to conduct the ceremony until she finally arrives. I had heard that she ordered the flight to take off early this morning even though the weather was still bad.”
“Oh,” Linna blurted again, embarrassed that her actions were so easy to read. She then noticed that there was a considerable amount of commotion among the group of women who were flocking around Sylia, addressing her as “upperclassman” while vying for her attention. “I had no idea Sylia would know so many people.”
Irene looked at the crowd and shrugged. “I went to the same school as her and Reika. And I forgot a lot of my older school friends would know them both.”
“So are you nervous about the ceremony?” Linna asked with genuine concern.
She shook her head. “I just want it over with.” She then leaned over and whispered, “I’m already two months pregnant.”
“Oh my god! Congratulations!” Linna exclaimed as she hugged her, causing some curious looks.
Irene flashed everyone else a pleasant smile as the cue for them to go back to their own conversations. She then whispered into Linna’s ear, “You and Reika are the only ones who know.”
Linna’s eyes widened as she whispered back, “You haven’t told Sho?!”
Now the bride rolled her eyes. “I assure you, he was the first to know. I just figured his knowing would be a given. But I’m happy… And I am honestly glad you came.”
Linna gave her a smile and said, “This day is for you. Don’t worry about me.”
Her friend gave her another hug and commented, “Easier said than done.”
* * * * *
Two Hours Later…
Linna stood out on the grass and stared at the koi pond before her. The church grounds were beautiful and provided a soothing atmosphere in contrast to the very noisy crowds in the nearby building.
The wedding had been delayed for an hour already, with a status announced almost every five minutes of Reika’s whereabouts to serve as everyone’s guide for how much longer they would have to wait. As head of the household and the Clan, the ceremony certainly could not start without her.
Linna had had enough of watching the crowd of clearly rich and powerful men and women of all nationalities chatting with each other about anything and everything that didn’t apply to a single woman who grew up on a farm. Sylia tried her best to stay beside her, but she was clearly a very recognized and popular figure, often being snagged by other guests for a brief conversation.
When it was announced that Reika had finally arrived at the airport and should therefore be at the church in half an hour, Linna took a deep breath and decided to get some peace and quiet outside.
“You look like you’re having as much fun as I am,” an unfamiliar male voice commented from behind.
Linna jumped a bit and turned to see that the speaker was an extremely handsome Japanese man in his late twenties. With combed-back hair and a trim mustache, he was dressed in a stylish blue suit. Her breath caught at the site of someone who was actually more striking than Masaki.
She blushed and answered, “Well, I’m a friend of the bride at her old job. Almost everyone else attending seems to be more… affluent than what I’m used to.”
He chuckled and strode over to her. “Those fuddy-duddies tend to forget the rest of the world doesn’t care about money or power. There are much more simple treasures that are often overlooked, like a beautiful woman alone under a clear blue sky.”
Linna blinked and turned even more embarrassed when she realized he was clearly talking about her. When he stopped right next to her, she stepped back a bit because he was in her personal space. “Um, well, thank you very much.”
He gave her a charming smile and reached over and stroked her cheek with his fingertip. “I’m just being honest. It’s clear by your blush that you’re not used to that kind of treatment, which is a shame. Are you doing anything after the wedding?”
Feeling uncomfortable at being touched by this completely stranger, Linna realized she couldn’t take another step back because of the decorative hedge behind her. She tried to blurt, “Um, well, no but -“
“My, I had heard the rumors,” Sylia’s amused voice commented, “But to see this in action is quite a site indeed!”
After an internal sigh of relief, Linna was amazed to see the stunned look on the man’s face and a rising frown as he turned to look at the other woman. She had never seen anyone react to Sylia like that before. Except for Priss, of course.
The man shoved his hands into his pocket and remarked, “Well, your timing is as perfect as always.”
Then as if something dawned on him, he glanced over at Linna, as if seeing her with a more analytical eye, and then smirked at Sylia, “Let me guess, did I tread on your territory again? You do have this knack of getting there first.”
“Not quite,” Sylia said with a cool smirk of her own as she stepped forward and stood next to Linna. “I think you run a bigger risk of Reika’s wrath than mine on what you just had planned.”
Linna blinked as the connection suddenly clicked. “Wait a minute!” she blurted, pointing at the man, “Are you Densuke?!”
With an indignant look, he arched his eyebrow at her and said, “I am. And just who are you?”
Ignoring the question, Linna yelled angrily, “You’re at her sister’s wedding and you’re trying to pick up a woman?!”
Now looking a little amused though still bewildered, Densuke asked frankly, “What does it matter to you?”
“You bastard!” Linna bellowed as she pulled her arm back to belt him.
Sylia snagged her arm in mid-motion and stepped between them, even though Densuke didn’t seem at all prepared to duck.
“Are you certain you want to do this? It is battery, after all,” Sylia seriously asked Linna.
Densuke looked highly entertained as he watched this interaction from only a couple of feet away.
“Yes!” Linna stated firmly, giving the man a death glare.
“Then, allow me, since I have greater protection from retaliation,” Sylia said to her with a wink.
Linna watched in amazement as Sylia whirled on her heel and nailed the man in the jaw with the back of her fist. Densuke spun and fell into the koi pond with a loud splash.
The noise drew servants and bodyguards to come rushing out to fish out the man now floating in the pond.
Linna barely suppressed a smile as she noticed everyone giving Sylia an acknowledging nod but keeping well away from her.
“That felt good,” Sylia commented with a smirk as she flexed her fingers.
* * * * *
An Hour Later…
“… I do,” Irene stated clearly for the hall full of attendees to hear.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the elderly priest declared. “You may kiss the bride.”
Everyone applauded as Sho lifted the veil and did as he was told.
Sylia gave Linna a wink as they sat quietly with the other guests.
No one had mentioned anything about the fact that Densuke had been quickly taken away in a limo, thereby missing the wedding of his future sister-in-law. Linna had kept her mouth shut about the event, but she had noticed that everyone seemed to know by the way they had given Sylia nods and smiles.
When they had finally seen Reika arrive, she wasn’t able to give either of them more than a look of acknowledgement since the ceremony was set to begin right away, but she had seemed to be disturbed by the lack of her planned escort.
And Irene had appeared even happier.
The priest cleared his throat and then announced, “We have one final part of the ceremony that has been added as a special request by the bride and groom.” He turned to the guests in the front row and said, “Ms. Chang, if you please.”
Linna watched Reika stand as four servants carefully wheeled out a grand piano that had been waiting off to the side. With an embarrassed blush, Reika gave a bow to the audience and then seated herself on the bench.
“Reika plays the piano?!” Linna whispered in amazement to Sylia.
“She certainly does,” her friend answered with a deeply pleased smile as she watch the performance begin.
- End Chapter 24 -
Chapter 25
Sunday Afternoon, October 30th
Linna walked into the reception hall and was amazed at the number of guests, especially since she had thought the attendance to the wedding itself was quite large.
“Do you want something to drink?” Sylia asked, trying her best to stay close.
“Um, sure. A fruit juice will do,” Linna answered as she scanned the crowd, looking for the one person she had been both longing and dreading to see.
Just then, there was a gentle tap on her shoulder.
She whirled to see Kou towering in front of her.
With a kind smile that offset his very polished look, he bowed and said, “Miss Linna, I have come to ask if you are willing to have a private word with Miss Reika?”
She gulped and glanced at Sylia.
The other woman gave her a supportive smile and nod. She added with a wink, “Take as long as you want, I’m certain I find something to occupy myself with.”
“Lead the way, Kou,” Linna said in a weak voice.
After walking through a maze of hallways through the quieter section of the large building, the two of them finally came to a door which had three men in business suits patiently waiting outside. The men stood upon seeing them, giving an acknowledging nod to Kou and a deep bow to Linna.
Kou gently knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for a response from within. Instead of walking in, he bowed and motioned for Linna to proceed.
She entered what was apparently an elegantly furnished waiting room with an open balcony overlooking the gardens and ponds below.
As the door firmly closed, Reika rose from the nearby chair and gave a bow in greeting. “Linna, thank you for coming to see me.”
Out of habit, and uncertain of what else to do, Linna hastily bowed back and said, “I’m, uh, I’m glad you asked me to, Reika. H-How are you?”
“A little jetlagged from a very hectic and bumpy trip,” Reika answered with a wry smile. “Hopefully my performance didn’t suffer too much for it. I was already quite rusty as it was.”
“Oh no! Your playing was beautiful!” Linna insisted.
Reika chuckled and said, “But you were still shocked, nevertheless.”
Linna blushed. “Well, uh, yeah. I had heard piano music every once in a while when I stayed with - at the compound. But it was so infrequent, and I was usually under medication or sleeping so I wasn’t sure if it was a recording or the radio or something.”
Reika looked out the window and was quiet for a moment. Then she said softly, “I played the piano from age nine to age twenty. I hadn’t played it again until this year… I also have a horrible temper and can be extremely jealous. But to keep the peace, I take the path of least resistance more often than not, which just makes my temper and jealousy worse. I procrastinate when it comes to dealing with unpleasant issues. And I’d rather fight than admit I’m wrong… I’m certain there are more faults that I’m forgetting that Sylia will be more than glad to point out…” She stopped with a sigh and then looked at her guest. “If we had actually gotten involved, you would have learned all of this the hard way.”
Linna took a strengthening breath. She met her gaze firmly and said, “I’m sure the experience would have been worth it. After all, Sylia knows more of your bad side than I do and she still loves you.”
Reika winced at the comment. She said softly, “Yes, that may be true. But if you honestly felt that we still should try something romance-wise, then why did you leave my house without saying anything?”
Caught by the dreaded question, Linna blushed and shrugged. “I just… I - I guess that I didn’t really want to say good-bye after all. Not having closure still gave me a bit of hope of … something… could still happen… I guess…”
“You just spent the past few hours in my real world, the one outside of the peace and security of the Chang Compound,” Reika pointed out. “Can you honestly tell me that that’s a world you want to be part of?”
Linna stared at her feet, not able to deny the feelings of discomfort and dread at the people she had been surrounded with for most of the day.
Reika walked over to the balcony and leaned out against the railing as she looked at the peaceful view before her. In a quiet but firm tone, she said, “My primary goal is to be the head of the family and the Clan. I’m probably more motivated by the fear of failure than the willingness to succeed. In April I will marry a man everyone seems to hate in order to produce a successor.”
She let out a sigh. “And through it all, there’s a part of me feeling like I’m watching some bizarre dream that will end at any moment. I’ll wake up in my tiny Los Angeles apartment and walk down the street to the local convenience store for a bottle of soda and a bag of chips, without any care other than satisfying a guilty craving and avoiding muggers.
“Yet, the dream continues, where the reality is that every time I’m in public I have to tell four grown men when I have to pee, with the expectation that they’re going to follow me to the bathroom. I’m just relieved that they don’t actually come inside… And to think that my grandfather didn’t believe four bodyguards would be enough.” Reika stopped and looked at her guest with a sad smile. “That’s not a life to which I want to subject a woman I care about. And it’s certainly not a life for Linna Yamazaki. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Linna stiffly walked out onto the balcony and stood beside the other woman. She was afraid to say anything, feeling tears starting to brim at her eyes and the throb of a pain in her chest. She gave a simple nod in response.
She gasped when she felt Reika turn and hug her. But she hugged her back, feeling the quiet strength and peace this hug had to offer.
Linna cleared her throat and tried to speak despite her shaky tone, “I do want to say one thing though: Densuke is the most disgusting example of jerkdom that I have ever encountered in my life.”
Reika stiffened and then took a step back. Even though tears brimmed in her own eyes, she smiled and said, “Should I be concerned that you’re telling me this so you’ll steal him from me?”
“Wha - ?! No!!!” Then realizing she was being teased, Linna giggled and shook her head.
The jest kept her from crying. Barely.
* * * * *
Later…
“Have a wonderful time on your honeymoon!” Reika said as she hugged Irene in the entrance of the still crowded reception hall.
Now dressed for the flight to Hawaii, Irene squeezed her tightly and said, “Mrs. Takeuchi told me you and Linna had a talk. Are you going to be okay?”
Reika nodded. “I think we’ve had our closure, which was long overdue.”
“And how are you feeling about it?” Irene asked, barely hiding the fact that she wasn’t happy at all with the entire situation.
With a passive smile, Reika shrugged and answered, “I’ll be fine. After all, I’ve been hurt worse.”
* * * * *
That Evening…
Linna stopped before the farmhouse and paused. It was hell to walk the gravel driveway from the bus stop in her high heels but she was still dressed in her wedding guest outfit. She didn’t have anything with her other than her purse, since she had told Sylia to drop her off at the train station.
Sylia hadn’t said or asked anything after Linna’s talk with Reika, but she had made certain that it was clear she was there to comply with any request or need her friend had. She hadn’t bat an eyelash when she was asked to take Linna to the train station.
On the trip home, Linna made two calls, one to her boss to arrange for the next few days off work, and one message to Priss to let her know that the apartment was hers for the same amount of time.
She frankly didn’t know how long this visit was going to last, but it something she needed to do. It would either be the shortest trip home, or the longest.
The farmhouse was quiet, but the light was on in the family area, as to be expected since her parents were probably finishing dinner and watching television.
Standing before the front door that she knew would be unlocked, Linna slipped in and took off her shoes. She took a deep breath and then announced she was home.
“Linna?!” her mother Nomi responded in surprise as she stepped into the hallway. “We had no idea you were coming home!”
In the background, her father appeared, looking equally concerned and bewildered.
Linna gave them an apologetic smile. “I, uh, hadn’t planned on it myself until this afternoon. But, Mom, Dad, I just need a place with some peace and quiet in order to sort myself out.”
“What happened?” Nomi asked her daughter urgently.
Linna looked at her nervously and then at her father. She took a deep breath and answered, “Mom, Dad, I’m, um, I - I…”
She stopped and cleared her throat. Taking a deep breath, she tried again in a firmer tone. “I’m dealing with having my heart broken by another woman… I’d really like to be here while I pull myself together. But if you wish, I’ll pack up my things and leave within the hour.”
Her parents stared at her in silence. Then Nomi looked at her husband, who scowled.
He snorted and remarked, “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth, girl. This is your home. Now go change out of your clothes while your mother fixes you some leftovers. I’ll bet you haven’t eaten either.”
Without waiting for a response, her father turned on his heels and returned his attention to the TV in the other room.
Stunned, Linna stared wide-eyed at her mother to confirm that she had heard the same thing.
Nomi merely chuckled and hugged her daughter, “I told you he cares more than you’re willing to give him credit for. Now, he’s right, go change…”
- End Chapter 25 -