The park was calm like water whose serenity can be destroyed only by a single drop of stone and make still water into the currents of wave . The trees, covered in red flowers, swayed gently in the cool, playful breeze, scattering petals into the air, creating a mesmerizing sight. Nearby, a tiny bird perched on a branch, pecking at the bark as if searching for something hidden within. I heard Rhea's voice break the silence, steady and composed. **"Is this fight because of what happened yesterday?"** There was an unusual calmness in her voice. And if Rhea was calm, it could mean only two things—either she was genuinely worried, or the matter was serious enough to be concerned about. I fluttered my long lashes and glanced at her before whispering softly, **"Yes."** As those words left my lips, my face held no anger, just a strange serenity—an unfamiliar emotion I couldn't quite name. She swung a little faster on the swing and said, "So this is the reason? That's why you're wandering around like a thief after running away from home?"
There was mockery in her voice again. At first, her calmness made me think she was actually worried, but of course, this was Rhea.
I looked at her with eyes filled with both anger and pain and said in a hoarse voice, "Mom and Dad always think it's my fault. Why do they always have a problem with me? They always take Freya's side. Always! Why do they see me as the bad, rude, ill-mannered, and stubborn one? And why do they think Freya is the good, kind, and gentle one? Why?"
My voice was full of anger and hurt, and it felt like I might burst into tears any moment.
Rhea looked at me, slowing down her swing, then placed a hand on my shoulder and smirked, "Calm down first. Your face is as red as a tomato, like you just stopped a hot guy in the middle of the street and pretended to cough—uff uff!"
Then she winked and added, "You know what? I got scolded too."
I shot her a furious look, my eyes brimming with unshed tears, and snapped, "See? This is all because of Freya! It's always her fault, but everyone else has to listen to the scolding while she gets to be the perfect one!"
Just then, I heard Rhea's voice, laced with laughter. "You know what I said when my mom was scolding me?"
I turned to look at her, and she grinned before saying, "Nothing."
I frowned as she continued with a mischievous smile, "While she was lecturing me, I simply asked her for some 'waiting time.' And when the waiting time was over, I calmly handed her a glass of water and a BP tablet. Then, in the cutest, sweetest voice, I said, 'Mom, you really need to take care of your health. You're getting older, and if you keep getting angry like this, your blood pressure might spike.'"
Rhea's voice turned mock-serious as she dramatically added, "Then I gave her my best heartbroken expression and said—well, it was all an act—'Mom! I won't let that happen because you are my mother.'"
She clasped her hands together and gazed at an imaginary figure, "I held her hand, looked deep into her eyes, and said, 'You are my daughter—oh wait, wrong line—I am your daughter, Mom!'"
She let out a laugh. "My mom was so shocked by my performance that I swear, she just stood there frozen. I wanted to burst out laughing, but for the sake of my life, I held it in. My heart was racing like crazy, but then—ding!—her phone rang. She picked it up, and I took my chance. I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, said 'Bye, Mom!' and ran for my life. You should've seen her face when I left!"
As she spoke, an amused smile spread across her lips. And somehow, just listening to
I looked at her calmly and asked, "Aren't you angry at Freya?"
Rhea glanced at the red flowers with a small smile. "Well, I don't like Freya either, but honestly, yesterday was our fault. Besides, she scolded you more than me, so I don't feel the same way you do."
Turning toward me, she continued, "Yesterday, when we all went with Freya to the singing audition, all of this happened. Maybe it was our mistake because we were the ones bothering that girl."
I looked at her and said, "But was it really necessary for her to make me apologize to that girl? It wasn't our fault for bothering her. People like her are only meant to be made fun of."
I scoffed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "She couldn't even speak properly, stumbling over every word. And did you even see her clothes? She has no style, and yet she wants to be a pop star?"
I heard Rhea say with a sigh, "When will you stop fighting over such things? I don't like Freya either, but I don't let her get in the way of my happiness."
She winked at me and added, "Why don't you try being more like me?"
I didn't say anything to her. Then, after a few seconds, I heard my own voice, "Because Freya is always in a hurry to interfere with my family more than yours."
Rhea looked at me with excitement and said, "Oh!! Well, this reminds me—two days from now, we have a dinner at Freya's house."
It wasn't like I didn't know, but in the midst of everything, I had completely forgotten about it. I looked at her with red eyes and said, "I'm not going to her house, no matter what happens."
Rhea widened her eyes at me and said, "Should I tell you something?" She looked at me and then continued, "Alright, I'll tell you. I found out something about Freya."
I looked at her and asked, "Did you find out something about her boyfriend?"
Rhea got off the swing, picked up a fallen red flower in her hands, and smiled at me before saying, "Well, have you ever heard about Freya being in a relationship with anyone?"
Yes, it was true—neither I nor Rhea had ever heard of Freya dating anyone. As I thought about this, an odd thought came to my mind, and before I could stop myself, the words escaped my lips, "Does that mean Freya is a lesbian??"
Rhea looked at me with great astonishment and said, "Are you mad? She is not! But this isn't about her relationships. Listen—"
"Do you know that Freya doesn't like anyone entering her room? No one is allowed in, not even the house staff."
Hearing this, I felt both excitement and a slight shock. Something clicked in my mind, and suddenly, my anger turned into a strange, mischievous smile.