3 3. Alona Family

She stood up and went outside, looking at the wall clock. 7.45 am.

" It's late already for the morning assembly. I guess, I just take a sick leave and rest at home." Rira Alona mumbled, while sitting on the study desk's chair. Even though she accepted the rebirth matter into her heart, Rira still had to sort out any relevant information about the world, especially the country she reside in.

It's an Asian country, called Country M. The place she reside was at Province B, a big city called Camellia City. The living neighborhood was not that far from the high-school. There's also a local college in the city named Blue Camellia Academy.

Now, back to the family matters. Rira Alona is the second eldest daughter of Alona Family. The family's head, Rira Alona's father named Alric Alona. Her mother passed away two years ago because of sickness. Her name was Jane Arnold. Rira Alona's had two other siblings. The eldest daughter named Rita Alona, and now studying in city's academy. The only son of Alona's family, Raymond Alona, 15 years old and a third year student of Bloom-Camelia Middle School. As for Rira Alona, she's a second year student of Bloom-Camelia High School.

The family conditions could be said very good. A middle-class family. Alric Alona is a businessman with two stores as his focus. One is a beauty salon in the biggest mall of the city, Allstars Mall. Another one was her late mother store, a library-cafe. Rira Alona sighed, feeling a bit out of place.

Three knocking sounds on the door jolt Rira up from the daze.

" Rira, dear? Are you awake yet?" A soft, warm voice of man was heard. His tone latches with concern and worries, making Rira flustered and felt a bit guilty. After all, she was no longer the previous Rira Alona.

" Yeah. I'm awake. Come in." Rira shout back, giving permission.

Meanwhile, outside the door was Alric Alona. At this moment, Alric's shocked expression couldn't be described by words. Did she asked him to go in? Since his wife passed away, Rira banned anyone from entering her room. Especially, him. The two father-daughter relationships was very bad in these past two years.

" A...are you letting me in, Rira dear?" Alric asked, cautiously. He was happy, of course, but still very cautious of her wishes.

" Yes, father." Her soft reply turned the stunned Alric into joy. But, she calling her 'father' made his glazing eyes dimmed. Oh, child. Are you still mad at daddy? Alric sobbed.

" Then, I'm in." Alric cautiously push open the door and saw his daughter sitting on the chair, near the window. The picturesque of the lights and green leaves outside the window made Alric stood silly at the doorstep. A shadow of her late wife flashing beside Rira, smiling beautifully at him.

His eyes reddened at the thought of his late wife, Jane. He quickly regained his composure by wiping the tears that threatened to fell. Among his children, only Rira took 80 to 90 percent similarities of Jane's. Thus, make the mother and the daughter closer.

He looked around the room and felt satisfied that his children keep their own rooms in clean and orderly manner. He went off to sit at the chair that Rira left for him. She sat on her bed, looking at him with curiosity. Suddenly, Alric felt conscious about his appearance. Did he wore appropriately?

The two, father and daughter fell into comfortable silent. At least, it was for Rira. Meanwhile, Alric racking his mind to find some topics to speak. But, his uneasiness showed on his face instead.

" Are you alright, father?" Rira asked, breaking the stalemate first.

" Huh? Yes, I'm alright." Alric blurted.

" Oh, okay."

Silent.

" Uh...why don't you go to school? Are you sick, child?" Alric Alona asked in concerning tone.

Rira Alona smiled for the first time in two years, making Alric terrific and happy. His lips trembling, showing how intense his reaction was.

" I'm good, father. Just, I don't have a heart to go to school today." Rira chuckled at her father's reaction. It looks like their relationship was bad in this past two years. She made aware about this matter based on the past owner's memories.

" Oh, it is okay. Don't worry, daddy, umm, I mean, father won't be mad. Yes." Alric stuttered, feeling out of place.

Rira Alona felt the atmosphere a bit awkward and tense. In some sense, the person in front of her was this body' father by blood. As a person who growing up without familial love, Rira Alona have no experience how to treat this person properly. Forgive her for being ignorant, but that was the reality.

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