CHAPTER 18: THE PAINTING ON THE WALL

Belle was staring at Anne with expectations, her ears were tingling in excitement as she waited patiently for Anne to spill the beans.

Anne was still in sock, she had never encountered anyone as blunt as Belle before, although apart from Tina Tina was just being hateful and cruel, full of disdain while Belle was just being curious.

Anne was a bit reluctant to say the truth, it wasn't easy for her to say something as brash as that without feeling shy or uncomfortable.

Coco saw how hesitant Anne was, so she decided to intervene, "Belle, Anne must be feeling tired."

Belle smirked, she wasn't going to let Anne go easily without hearing the truth, "Coco said she went to the restroom to ease herself after taking care of her business, she came back to the bar stand expecting you to be there but you were missing," Belle explained not minding the irony behind Coco's words.

Anne shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, "you could have called the police."

Belle narrowed her eyes and said, "Don't you dare change the subject, Coco searched for you everywhere, she later found out that you left with a guy from the bar attendant, so spill."

Anne didn't want to talk, she was feeling shy and reluctant to tell Belle and Coco that she slept with a man she just met.

Anne knew Belle wasn't going to let her be, she would keep on asking, fine! I spent the night with a guy I met in the club, I was drunk but not too drunk to remember what happened," Anne said resignedly.

Belle was just messing around with Anne, sometimes, she can be somewhat intrusive, especially with those she believes she can trust.

But right now, she was the annoying fly in Anne's perfume.

Belle laughed in her usual mischievous laughter, "Don't be shy in discussing this kind of matter with me, there is nothing wrong with nightstands especially if the experience was satisfying and enjoyable."

Coco scoffed, "the queen of nightstands has spoken," Coco said mockingly.

Belle shrugged her shoulders at Coco's words.

"So was he good?" She said to Anne, her voice laced with curiosity.

Anne nodded her head shyly in affirmation, she placed her hands on the table, "he felt so good and he looked so familiar yet strange, I had to force myself to leave."

Belle sighed dreamily, "I know how you feel, we've been down in that lane before."

"You guys work in Astro World games, so what are your positions there? Anne asked, trying to shift the attention from herself.

"We are both game developers," Coco said simply.

"Are you sure you are a staff of Astro World? Belle asked.

Anne was thrown aback by Belle's question, she wasn't expecting such a question.

Belle felt almost insulted that Anne didn't know about them, " were you living under a rock before coming to Capitol? Coco and I were the ones that developed the Psych machine."

Anne was amazed, "seriously! That is great, I know about the game, it was so good I played it for hours,"

Anne wasn't keen on gossip and petty talks, not that she had many friends that she could gist with, she was mostly left alone even in the previous branch.

Belle flipped her hair regarding Anne's praise, " Of course, we are the best," slightly bragging.

Coco rolled her eyes, Belle was a total praise-eater, her eyes were glowing with pride, and her chest puffed, and she was urging Anne to keep on talking.

Coco cleared her throat slightly, "Later in the afternoon, Belle and I will be going out shopping for new clothes, I don't know if you would like to join us?" Coco asked Anne.

Anne laughed sheepishly, "No I can't go with you guys,"

Anne wasn't ready to spend money, the money she had in her account, instead of buying new clothes that she wouldn't wear, she would use that money to buy something more important than clothes.

Belle frowned slightly, "Why not?"

Anne shrugged her shoulders, "I have enough clothes to wear, I don't need new ones for now."

"The clothes you are talking about, are they similar to the ones you wore when you arrived yesterday? Coco asked suddenly.

Anne innocently nodded her head in affirmation.

Coco immediately burst into laughter, her laugh so infectious that Belle joined her without knowing the reason for Coco's laughter.

Anne was looking at the duo in confusion, she was clueless.

"Can you ladies stop laughing and tell me what is wrong?" Anne bellowed aloud.

"I don't know why I am laughing but Coco's laughter sounds like a hyena," Belle said in between laughing.

Coco playfully smacked Belle's hand for calling her a hyena.

Coco took a deep breath to calm herself, it wasn't long before she felt giddy once again.

"It's not funny," Anne deadpanned.

These ladies are something else.

Coco placed a hand on her tummy, "I am sorry but if the rest of your clothes look like the one you wore yesterday, then please throw them in the trash, you will be resuming on Monday as a staff in Astro World, the world biggest game company, you have to dress the part,"

Anne didn't see anything wrong with her dress and didn't see the need to get new clothes.

Belle smiled brightly, "And the crazy part, we get vouchers as special staff, we don't worry about the expenses because it is covered by the company, is it not mind-blowing?

Wow! Anne mouthed in disbelief.

Coco's mouth curved in a smug smile, "So are you coming?"

Anne was amazed, in the Capital Q branch, there was nothing as a voucher for staff, it was something unheard of.

It was different in the head branch, the best of the best developers were the ones employed here, maybe that's why they were giving special treatment, Anne thought.

"Well, if the company is paying for it, I would love to join you guys," she said gingerly.

Belle applauded, she was gradually getting used to Anne's hesitant nature, "the best decision you have ever made.

"But I rather not," Anne said suddenly.

Belle's smile dampened immediately.

Anne could see the disappointment on Belle and Coco's faces but she just wanted to stay in today, "I want to rest today, maybe I will join you guys when next you go shopping but not today, sorry," Anne said simply.

Coco nodded her head in understanding, knowing that Anne needed a break, ever since she arrived they have not allowed her to breathe, but Coco would have loved it if Anne had gone with them.

"It's fine if you don't want to go but please stop making that sad face as if you committed a very offense," Coco said with a smile.

After Coco and Belle went out, the apartment felt so empty, that she became bored, she decided to go around and inspect the apartment.

The apartment was cozy and appeared well taken care of, she knew it could only be Coco, Belle wasn't the home type.

Anne saw that the door to Belle's room was open, and even though it felt wrong and intrusive, she was curious about her housemates, she wanted to know more about them.

She reached for the doorknob, she hesitated for a few seconds before pushing it.

When she entered the room, "Wow! She muttered under her breath.

The room was messy, clothes and shoes could be seen scattered on the floor, it seemed like Belle was the messy type, and even the makeup table in the room was scattered with all sorts of skincare products placed oddly.

The bed wasn't arranged, empty bags of chips littered the surface of the bed.

This wasn't the first time she was entering Belle's room, she was there last night but this was the first time she was entering during the day and it was a mess.

There were two paintings on the wall, one was the image of a wolf breastfeeding its young, and the other was the image of a woman embracing a wolf, they were lying on the grass with bright flowers, creating a surreal atmosphere.

She shook her head and stepped out of the room, closing the door beside her.

She moved away from Belle's room and walked to Coco's room, the door to the room wasn't locked, she entered the room.

It was a clear contrast to Belle's room, it was well arranged and everything was placed in order.

Belle and Coco were opposites of each other yet she could feel the bond and the love between them.

The bed was neatly made, and clothes weren't scattered all over the floor but what caught her attention was the big painting on the wall.

It was the image of a wolf in a cage, fire filled the entire cage, and the wolf was howling in pain as it burned in the flames of fire, the fire consumed the wolf whole, and there was nowhere to escape.

Somehow Anne felt troubled by the painting, it looked so real as if the artist saw the scene first-hand.

She couldn't fathom the meaning behind the paintings in both Coco and Belle's room.

She left the room but she couldn't get rid of the troubled feeling that settled in her chest.

"