Blessing or a Curse? 3

"It's tougher for her, Sir." The brother politely corrected from the other end and upon hearing this, the driver happened to see from his rearview the poor lady at the backseat turned into a curveball, hugging herself with one hand, and sinking half of her face to her knees as she stare blankly at the floormat inside the taxi while extending the phone to him.

"We're near the place now, Sir." His annoyance turned into pity.

"Please return the call to her." The brother requested again.

"Your brother wants to talk to you this time." The driver said to Maia so she she's back again to her senses, a bit, and put the phone back to her ear.

"Brother? What will I do?" She worried.

"Listen, Maia, he will drop you at the Weekend Supermarket, in that place, wait for Kitty at one of the benches there, do not go anywhere." He instructed Maia this time.

"Okay, but what's going on?" She asked in fear and confusion.

"I will-... Wait, I have an incoming call. Just do what I said. I'm hanging up for a while." *Beep. He hanged up.

"Brother?"

"We've arrived, Ma'am." The driver interrupted but on a considerate voice and slowly stopped at the unloading area in front of the Weekend Supermarket.

Maia got off the car and pulled out her wallet from her bag to pay for her fare but a woman of the same age as her suddenly appeared just 15 meters away behind the taxi.

"MAIA!!!" The woman holding a phone to her ear called her attention and jogged towards her creating a beat of clacking heels and clanging keychains. "Brother Aldrin, I already spot her, I'm hanging up, I'll update you sooner... ... Okay, bye." The woman said on the phone.

"KITTY!" Maia anxiously exclaimed but Kitty just passed her and talk straight to the driver through the passenger's seat.

"Excuse me, Sir, I'm sorry to what happened, here's my QR code, I'll be paying her fare." She said as she presented her phone screen to him.

"Okay, Ma'am." The driver answered as they made a transfer of money but the driver was shocked when she gave more than what to pay. "Ma'am, I think you pressed the wrong set of numbers, it has excess amount." The driver noticed.

"The guy you just talked to on the phone wants to tell you to just consider it as a compensation and a tip, he really is sorry." She relayed.

"How did you know, Ma'am?" The confused and curious driver asked.

"I just had a talk to him after you." She enlightened him. "Drive safely, Sir!" She exclaimed as she took herself out through the passenger's seat and closed the taxi's door.

When the taxi was out of sight already the to ladies looked at each other as they stood at the pavement.

"Maia?..."

"Kitty?..."

After calling at each other's name they were silent for two seconds and their faces suddenly turned emotional.

"MAIA!!!..."

"KITTY!!!..."

The two wailed as they hugged each other tightly.

"WUAAHH!!!... Kitty!... I thought I'll never see you all again!... Waahh!!!..."*coughs, Maia bawled as she embraced Kitty. "I'm confused!... I just want to buy snacks but why is this happening?!..." she added.

"I know... I understand... I understand Maia..." *Sniffs, Kitty coaxed her.

It took them a while but they finally got separated but Maia's mind is still cloudy.

"Wait, Kitty, didn't you said that brother called you?" She asked.

"Yes, I wouldn't be here if not, and we have a lot to talk so let's get home." Kitty responded as she invites her to go back now to the apartment they are renting nearest and cheapest next to the University.

"You even managed to dress up and wear heels before getting in here..." Maia described as she examines Kitty's outfit.