6 Her fate (1/2)

In the most rarely visited section of the library, Devi familiarly went on the corner and sat on the ground. Her back leaned on column while her feet stepped on the side of the book shelve and on her left side is a floor to ceiling window with a width of half a meter that has a view of a small pavilion surrounded by acacia trees. She opened the book that rested on her thighs until she have flipped the pages almost half the book.

'The perk of reincarnating is being able to continue reading the page where I've left in the last lifetime.'

Devi found this spot on her 2nd lifetime when she needed to review for her midterms but the seats in the library were fully occupied so she plan to review beside the bookshelves and found this spot instead. It wasn't there in the past but the library moved the bookshelves and so the spot became available.

An hour has passed and her eyes started to get tired so she lifted her glasses and rubbed her eyes. After that, she took a look outside the window to refresh her sight with the greeneries but her eyes dimmed instead and a slight pain passed through it.

Her eyes lingered on the two people sitting inside the pavilion oblivious to the stares the students were directing at them. They were talking intimately with each other, her sister wearing a bashful face as she talked while her fiancé have a slight smile on his lips and the look in his eyes looked warm…. Something she can't ever have.

Her heart felt a slight squeeze and she immediately focused back on reading but that proves to be useless as her mind wandered back 3 weeks ago.

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3 weeks ago…

It was past 10:30 in the morning when Devi went out of her bedroom to eat early lunch as she didn't want to eat together with her sister.

When she sat down in front of the table she immediately ate her lunch that she requested to be served.

Half of her lunch has been consumed when she heard a mellow voice called her out.

"Onee-san…"

She looked at Angelica's direction and started cursing her fate… this event she can't avoid.

"Onee-san, you are already eating… why didn't you call me?" Angelica said, her voice have a tint of sulking. She sat on the chair opposite of Devi and ordered one of the maids to serve her lunch.

Devi didn't answer but instead took a last bite, chewed and gulped it quickly. She emptied her glass of water and used a napkin to wipe her lips, stood up and prepared to leave.

"Eh? Onee-san where are you going?" asked Angelica in confusion.

"I'm done eating you can eat by yourself."

"but…but you haven't finished half your meal yet." she reasoned.

"I'm full." Devi replied curtly and made her way out of the dining room.

Angelica looked uncomfortable, feeling hesitation as she watched her older sister nearing the exit.

"w-wait!"

Devi stopped as she got startled. Never in her past lives have she heard her sister shout like that.

"I… I want to.. ask something…" Angelica started fidgeting.

Devi then composed herself and started walking again. 'I don't want to hear this.' Her lips pinched in a straight line.

"I just…w-want to kno-…ahh! Onee-san!" Angelica then started following Devi as she realized Devi walking away.

"Onee-san!... Onee-san!... Onee-san!!!" Angelica repeatedly called out Devi.

Devi couldn't help but get irritated. "What?!"

Angelica got startled and has an aggrieved look on her face. "I-I'm sorry. I j-just…"She steeled herself. "I just want you to tell me what Tan is like at school."

Devi laughed bitterly in her mind. 'Ha! Chasing me just to ask this again, you're quite persistent my dear sister!'

There was a silence between them as they stare at each other.

"Don't get me wrong! I just want to know what type of man onee-san will marry!"she justified.

Devi's right eyebrow subconsciously lifted. 'oh. So you know he's my fiancé.'

She mocked in her mind. 'But you know him better than I do.' Her heart tightened again as she felt the pain it brought to her whole being.

The silence stretched out and it started to get on Angelica's nerves until her older sister replied.

"If you want to know, then go to school yourself." Angelica felt that her sisters' voice felt cold but shook it out as she felt troubled by what her sister suggested.

"but..but I can't do that…Mom and Dad won't allow me to go out." There was sadness on her face.

A feeling of bitterness spread over Devi. She wanted to say that if she asked their parents they would agree as she is their favourite daughter anyway and they can't say no. But she pushed it at the back of her mind.

Devi took a last look upon her sister, on her face was a look of 'it's your problem not mine.' She then turned and went back to her bedroom.

Angelica didn't pursue her as she was left contemplating on what her sister said.