Huxley Family Residence
"So...?" Edward asked.
Alfred crossed his legs, staring at the face of his friend who became anxious with worry.
"Don't worry, she'll be fine," Alfred replied casually. Edward looked at Alfred with a cold gaze.
"Let me guess ... you like that girl don't you?" Alfred started to guess, and Edward, who was silent, only moved his eyes. Does his attitude show if Edward likes Ella?
"Never mind, I don't want to discuss it. Don't you want to play chess with me?" Said, Edward.
"Don't change the subject, I have something to talk to you about." Alfred starts playing with his chess pieces and moves his pawns.
"Thank you for driving Ella and her mother, and also for today," Edward said as he watched Alfred's pawns step.
"It doesn't matter, anyway I want to meet you. Yesterday I saw Laras do a medical checkup." Said Alfred watching Edward who was also moving his pawn.
"Hmm ..?" Edward looked up and looked at Alfred's face with serious observation. "What do you mean, Alfred?"
"Lung cancer, stage three. Looks like she just realized it, that's what I got after I seduced an administrative employee to read the results of her medical test." Alfred replied.
Edward's hand suddenly stopped moving the chess pieces. His eyes began to move irregularly, Alfred doesn't know what he was thinking.
"Does Ella know about her mother's condition?"
"Does not seem," Alfred replied briefly.
"I think you should know, maybe you will help Laras. You must know the medical costs are not small." Said, Alfred.
***
Ella had come back from the hospital, she was tired of being there too long. Fortunately, Alfred permitted Ella to come home that day, even though Ella did not come home alone.
Arriving at the Huxley Family Residence, a friendly welcome was given by the servants who were working at the time.
"I love your new costume, Ella." Frank quipped, seeing Ella who had just arrived at the soup kitchen.
A gypsy brace for her neck, right hand, and left leg. Still attached to her body.
"Thanks, Frank, I'll give it to you later as a memento," Ella answered with a grin.
"Alvin ..." Ella exclaimed in a high voice.
"Don't you miss me," Ella said and stretched out her left hand, hoping that the man would hug her.
"Hahhhhh ... Ella you startled me!" Alvin said, looking closely at Ella. "Does it hurt?" He asked again.
"No, it doesn't hurt. You want to try it." Ella attacked again.
"We will go to see you today. But you got home early. Are you sure you're okay Ella?" Frank asked still in disbelief because Ella had come home too early.
Alvin was already sneaking deeper and took the coffee cup that he had been looking for. "Maybe I should consider a new uniform for you, and your current costume ... I think it will match your uniform later." Alvin quipped.
"Alvin .. !!! No, she no longer takes care of Huxley's horses. From now on, you have to find new workers to help Jason." Laras had just appeared, carrying some porcelain utensils.
"Ya ... yeah ... yeah ...." Alvin just rolled his eyes, his tapering fingers still holding the lobe of his coffee cup.
"Gosh ... Ella ... You're home ..." Belinda just came in with Floretta carrying a basket of fruit and vegetables.
"We just talked to go today to see you, Ella," Floretta said the same thing.
"It's okay. I'm better. Look." Ella pointed to herself. Floretta seemed to disapprove.
"You're going to spend the rest of your vacation like this, Ella?" Floretta asked again.
"Ahhhh ..... No really ..." Ella suddenly said irritably and tightly.
"What is wrong?" Laras asked confused.
"Mother ... tomorrow is the event prom night .. and look at me ... is it better if I not? Just need to attend?" Ella started to show a pained expression.
"Hahh ?! The problem of young people today." Alvin started talking again.
"Young people are very strange now, for example, you Ella. You can suffer from a prom night even, but not suffer from your life that almost floated." Alvin had put down his coffee glass and walked over to Laras.
"Give it to me, I'll put it down," Alvin said asking for porcelain utensils, making Laras immediately gave them.
"Don't listen to her, Ella! Alvin was born to be old, so he doesn't know what it's like to feel a raging young soul." Frank said stifling amusement towards Alvin.
"Shut up, Frank! Floretta, please help me!" Alvin said irritably, and together with Floretta left the kitchen room.
"I don't even have my dress yet." Ella sat on a tall bar stool, as she put the crutches beside her. Her mind wandered again.
***
The next day.
Ella and her cane walked carefully, that morning she walked towards the flower garden.
She was still thinking about Prom Night even, taking the cellphone from her pocket thoughtfully. Does she need to text Ron, and cancel their plan?
The Huxley family's flower garden was so beautiful, Ella began to touch some of the flowers that were already blooming.
Her mind had concluded because it seemed that the Huxley family, including Edward, did not care about her returning home.
"Why they need to care with me, who am I for them?" Ella said irritably while accelerating her footsteps. But Ella wasn't careful, and she felt the ground she was stepping on become slippery.
Instantly Ella thought that she would slip and hurt herself again, but someone caught her and caught her from behind.
Edward Huxley already grabbed Ella tightly. Ella certainly couldn't see who had saved her, because the neck brace she was still wearing restricted the movement of her head.
"Are you going to destroy your body again?" Edward said, he also helped Ella up properly.
"Hold my hand!" Edward ordered.
"Huh? What? Hold what?" Ella was surprised.
"Hold on to me, so you don't slip again," Edward said, giving his arm so Ella could hook her hands.