9 THE UNKNOWN PAST

My eyes were not focused .

They became glassy ; blurry .

I can hear my unsteady heartbeat and faint calls of my girls who came to check if I was alright or not .

There was no denying it , I have seen pictures of my Grandpa and the statue is an exact replica of an image ; even better as the quality of pictures wasn't the best .

ALBERT WILLSON

I have heard that name before . I am pretty certain that's my ' Grandpa ' . The name sounds foreign to my mind . My dad never got into detail about his relation with his father , he always let it slide by saying that it is a story of another time . Only God himself , knows when this time will arrive .

Huff*

I think it's time to get some answers , and I am sure as hell , I am getting them today or ___________ . I will think what to put in that sentence when my mind starts thinking straight .

I was dragged out of my trance when my vision cleared and in came the happily blooming faces of the two people I love dearly .

As much as it hurts to not tell that what's bothering me , there smiles are WAY too precious for that . They are the light that can brighter any place they linger . Gosh , there happy faces are of million dollars , but am I going to tell it to them ? Hell nah !

There ego is already over the roof , I don't want to replace that with three times it was before .

Alright , let's get to that bloody library and spend my day there . But , hey !!!! The ice cream is worth it , dude !

" Yay , let's get boring ". I shouts in a fake cheerful voice .

" A sight to behold , don't you think ? The great Mia sitting in a library WILLINGLY ." Mia exclaims in the same tone as me which resulted in her getting a book smacked on her head .

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The day was soooooooooooooo good . We had so much fun today , sitting in the Library for five freaking hours and then eating large scoops of ice-creams from Beryland ice cream parlour . The lady was old but had a kind smile .

Aastha practically forced us to do one assignment of our homework saying ' we won't be able to complete it in time ' . So , here we are staring or more like glaring at the piece of paper like that would make it disappear . By we - I means Mia and me .....' A ' loves her homework too much for doing that .

" Okay , A - Homework or us ?" Mia asks .

" Let's see , you tell me - Terry or us ?" Aastha replies not even glancing up from her homework . Although , I can tell her eyes hold a mischief look .

" There's no way I am going to choose you guys over the love of my life ". Mia exclaims .

" Ahh , that hurts M ! It hurts . I helped you growing up and this is how you repay me ?" I sadly gulps wiping my fake tears .

" I guess Homework, it is ! You both are stupid " Aastha states .

" I am going in the living room . Anyone coming ?" I asks .

" Oh , my saviour angel ..... Take me away from this girl over here . Please . " Aastha shakes her head at her dramatics .

" You are a drama queen " Aastha whines .

" Thank you , I try !" Mia replies to which A rolls her eyes .

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CARLOS'S POV 🤭 :-

I am just back from my jogging routine and am making my vegetable smoothie as I like to call it . It's delicious for me but for anyone else it might look g-

" GROSS !" I turn my head to see Emily with her friend Mia walking down the stairs .

" Please don't tell me you are going to drink that " Mia finishes the sentence for her friend .

" It's actually tasty " I reply nonchalantly to them .

" You call that tasty ?"

" Are you out of your mind ?" They both said in unison , the last one coming out of Mia's mouth.

" Try it , kids , it's good !" I exclaimed trying to get on their nerves .

" Oh no no no no , I haven't lived even half of my live . And I don't wanna die so soon without meeting Tom Holland . I can't risk it with drinking that ." Mia rambles pointing at the drink in distaste.

" Dramatic much , little kid "

" You are the one to talk ? "

" Ohhhh , Carlos just got roasted by Mia !" Aastha whistles standing beside Emi . When did she arrived ? Not the point .

When the three of them are busy laughing their asses off , I take this moment to see Mia perfectly . She has perfectly tanned and glossy skin . Her slender eyebrows and big eyelashes that touch her rosy-cheeks are perfect . Her hair are coral-black that flowed over her shoulders till her waist . She has blossom soft lips , green eyes which holds a sparkle and a cheerful character . No doubt , she would have been that popular girl in her school who everyone wants to befriend . She is ambitious and striking !

" Take a photo , it will last longer " I hear someone remark to me catching me red-handed .

" Not really original , is it now ?" I playfully glare at them to which all three of them rolls their eyes .

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Emily's PoV:-

I have been following Aunt Wren around the house for a while now . I concluded it is the time of the day when I ask her about her father and my Grandpa . Uncle hasn't returned from his work yet and the other three are bickering around in the living room about some nonsense I don't even wanna know .

" Can I help you with something , dear ?" Aunt asks .

" Can I ask you something ?" I look up at her with innocent eyes .

" Sure , dear ! What is it ?"

Gathering all the courage I can muster , I politely says ," It's about my Grandpa Albert , Aunt . I want to know about everything he did ".

" Why this sudden question ?"

" I saw his statue at the Library today . And please don't lie , Aunt . I guess I am big enough to understand things "

With a deep breath she says ," I think it's time we give you some answer , you have been kept in the dark for a long time now . Please don't interrupt in between , All your question would be answered after , sweetie !"

I nod in understanding and we both take our seats on the couch .

" I am not sure if you know this or not , but we were 3 siblings - me being the girl and other two boys . And this is the Island where we spend the best days of our life , our childhood and teenage days were spent here . Our Dad , your Grandpa was a very loving man , he used to tell us all these good morals and how this world is a magical place and that everything has two sides , we just gotta see it from the right angle . The statue of his that you saw today was made in his loving memory . All the town praised him and came to him for all their problem . A wide smile always fanned his face . He was one of the most celebrated man on this Island .

Me , your father and our brother we used to roam around this place like we own it . We weren't like other siblings that fight all day long , no we loved each other to death . Both of them were very protective of me including our dad . The three of us shared a bond that not even devil of hell itself can break . I still remember those good time . How we would sneak out at night ! Go and meet our friends , stand by each other , play all day and most of that love each other. But does good things last long ? No , they don't .

Our Father went missing , the police , the investigators all of them tried their best to find him for months . But after not finding him , they told us he might have died . We all were a sobbing mess . Your father tried all in his power to keep us together , but even a blind man could see we were growing distant . Your father found a job out of town and he had to leave despite his will . After some months , I met your Uncle , we became close friends and everything seemed to be coming together once again . Then , our brother left home taking all his belongings with him . He couldn't take it anymore , he just left . I thought I meant something to him but I just found a note saying not to search for him and that he needed time to clear his mind . The once happy family was shattered in pieces with no one to pick them up and glue them back together ."