MARIANNA

The sound of my alarm is what wakes me up from sleep. Eyes still closed, I lift up my hand to search for my phone on the bedside locker but it is not there.

The alarm is still sounding which means it has to be here somewhere. I hiss and I am forced to open my eyes. As I grab the phone from the floor, I turn off the alarm and place it to charge.

I throw off the sheets from my body and head straight to the bathroom to poo and ease myself.

The familiar sorrounding of my room feels refreshing. How I have missed this place. Six whole months away felt like six years.

Once I am done, I have my bath and just change back into my pyjamas since I don't have to go to work today. We have a week break before we are expected to resume and today is already day three.

I've been working on the
railroad to pass the time away.
Don't you hear captain shouting
Dina blow your horn
Dina won't you blow ×3
Your horn, your horn

I sing all to myself while I whisk some eggs for breakfast. No one knows I am back, well, asides at my office. I intend to pay some people and places a visit today, enough of sitting at home.

Suddenly, my phone rings and I pick the call.

"Hey, Mrs. Mancini." I say over the phone.

"Hey to you too, Marianna. Thank heavens your number connected today. What hole did you hide yourself in?" I chuckle at her last question.

"I had work." I state briefly, not willing to spill all the details over the phone.

"Work?" She asks.

"How about I come over to see you today." I chip in.

"Sure. My house is always open for you, Marianna." She states, calmly.

"Thank you. Love you." I throw air kisses at her even though she cannot see it.

"Love you too, dear." By the time the call is finished, my food is also ready. I joyfully eat everything on my plate.

I change into mum jeans and a white crop top with the inscription 'baby girl' on it. Placing my phone, cash, some essentials and my keys in a small black purse, I leave the house, making a stop at the library first.

Grabbing the emergency file I always keep, I step out and head into the library.

"Hey, Mason." I whisper, greeting the librarian. He looks up and smiles to me, waving his hand to return my greeting. Over the course of my research, we have gotten acquinted.

"Just checking on a few things. I will be out as fast as I arrived, one hour tops." I say to him. I come to the library because as odd as it sounds, there are some information that I can't seem to find online.

"You could always take your time." Now, here is the difference. While I am whispering to keep my voice on the low, he is talking perfectly with a calm low voice.

"Your card, please." He says with a smile platered on his face. I hand it over to him and he swipes it to give me full access to the library.

"Thank you." I head straight to the section that has details about cross-culture to finish up on one last detail for the project.

"There." I sigh in relief when I see the book I am looking for.

"I need that too." A voice says, stopping me.

"Excuse me?" I say, raising my eyebrows at him.

"You heard me. I said I need it." He replies. Rude much?

"There are other copies, I'm sure you can help yourself to them." I reply, giving him a stern look.

"I need the particular copy that you are holding." He shows me a yellow sticker on the top right corner of the book.

"I made that for reminder purposes." This man must be out of his mind. So, if he had not seen me taking it, would he have gone looking for who has it? This is a big library so what are the odds of him finding it?

"Well, unfortunately for you and fortunately for me, this one is occupied." I state, preparing to walk out but he holds my hand, stopping me.

"Please." He says. This disturbance is becoming irritating. I shove the book to him and force my hands off his.

"Have fun." I hiss and pick another copy, heading to sit and study.

I intend to be here for just 30 minutes so I set my timer and start studying. Once the timer stops at 0:00:00, I immediately close the book, satisfied that I am finally done with this and keep it back on the book shelf, check out of the library and head to my car.

As I turn on the ignition, a knock sounds on the door. I wind down to speak.

"Hi." He is the same person from earlier.

"Hi." I hesistate before replying him.

"What do you want?" I ask.

"Just wanted to apologize for earlier." He says, scratching the back of his head.

"Alright. Apology accepted." I say, stepping on the gas and zoom off.

Once I get to the Mancini mansion, I hesitate a little before getting off the car. What if he is here? It's a week day so I doubt. Recollecting myself, I heave a sigh before getting off.

Immediately, the door swings open to a happy Stella.

"Marianna!" She excaims, pulling me in for a tight hug before releasing me.

"Mrs. Mancini." I smile back. She links her hands in mine and together, we go into the house.

"How have you been?" She asks.

"Fine, just a little stress here and there."

"Girl, your skin looks so tan and beautiful. You said you were away because of work?" I chuckle at her utterances.

"Yes."

"So, how's work, Marianna?"

"Thankfully not piling up right now." I say, smiling.

"At least." She grins, shrugging her shoulders before releasing my hands to sit.

"Lucas says he hasn't heard from you. Please tell me he's lying so I can smack his ass."

"He's telling the truth. I didn't inform him of my trip."

"Hope you both are doing fine; no disagreements."

"Sure."

"You love him, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. It's been years now, Mrs. Mancini. I am tired of it." I say, looking down at my nails and playing with them.

Her hand covers mine, nudging at me to look at her. Slowly, I lift my head to match her gaze.

"Men can be so stupid. I wonder why Lucas is blind." She says, voice laced with concern.

"That's how they are; I'm not surprised." I say, shrugging my shoulders. With Lucas, expect no committment.

"I know what's going on between the both of you. It's as clear as day that you love him. However, I can't say the same for my son. So, I'll give you a piece of advice; always feel free to walk out if you are hurting. I love you like my own and I hate to see you this way." She ends it with a sigh.

"Thank you." I say to her, glad for the kind words.

"Where did you go? You were gone for five months." She puts off a dramatic front, lifting our entwined hands in the process.

"Eighteen countries." I reply, simply.

"Wow. That's alot." She says with wide eyes.

"So, you wanted to see me?" I smile, switching up the topic.

"Yes. I found something." Her countenance changes.

"I will be right back." She says and stands up to excuse herself. I watch her climb all the way up till she is out of sight. Nervously, I reach for my phone and keep looking at pictures to calm my mood because from how she sounded, one thing is sure.

This cannot be good.