"Vesper!"
Saskia barged into the room, rushing over to take Vesper's hand, concern written all over her face.
"How do you feel now?" she asked, not settling for the fact that Vesper was at least awake and smiling at her.
"I just have a light headache. Other than that, I'm very fine," Vesper's voice sounded faint, likely because she had been lying down for so long. She looked weak and drained as well.
"Great then," Saskia gasped. "I was so worried."
"You don't have to be," Vesper rubbed the back of her palm, which made her smile more. "Where is Khalan?" she suddenly asked, making Saskia's expression turn cold.
"I'm right here," Khalan walked in, looking very excited. "How are you, Ves?" She went close and cupped Vesper's face with her right palm.
"I'm just a bit tired…" Vesper moaned softly at the feeling of Khalan's gentle touch.
"And the burns?" Khalan kept her palm on Vesper's face, happy that she seemed comforted by the warmth.
"I feel them no more," Vesper smiled at her.
"Wonderful," Khalan chuckled. "Are you feeling hungry? Do you need anything?"
"If she needs anything, I'm here, Khalan. You don't need to bother at all," Saskia cut in immediately, no longer okay with the whole scene of Khalan showing Vesper way too much concern.
"I can take care of Vesper. You've done enough, thank you." Saskia pulled Khalan's hand away from Vesper's face and covered her properly with the duvet beside her.
"Get some more rest, Vesper," she continued, not minding that Khalan just stood there looking at her in awe. Her actions surprised not just Khalan but Vesper too, but they both silently decided to wave it away. Vesper's condition should be their priority now, not Saskia's petty attitude.
"Once you're fine and stronger, we'll go home together. Okay?"
Vesper nodded at what Saskia said, but Khalan did not seem okay with it.
"You still plan on leaving?" Khalan looked at Vesper with sad eyes. "There's plenty of room in the mansion. Why don't you both live here from now on?"
"We appreciate the hospitality and care, Khalan, but this is not our home. We still have to return home, return back to our lives," Vesper replied. She knew Khalan had grown fond of her and hoped she would understand. The mansion wasn't their home, and though they felt comfortable here, they knew deep down that certain circumstances kept them lingering, and once those were resolved, they had to return to their own home.
"But I like having you both around," Khalan held Vesper's face again. "You two are the first visitors we've had here, and I'd really love for you both to stay. Let's all live together and be happy."
"Nonsense!" Saskia hissed.
"Saskia?" Vesper could not tolerate her harsh tone toward Khalan.
"You just want us to depend on you? To live here and keep you company for the rest of our lives? We have a whole life ahead of us, Khalan, and meeting you or coming here was never part of the plan. We're very grateful you took us in, and we will never forget your kindness. However, that won't make us remain here and rot away like you."
"Saskia?!" Vesper strained to speak but knew she had to call Saskia to order before she said something she would regret.
"I mean, look at you…" Saskia poked a finger at Khalan, making her stagger back two feet. Khalan just stood there listening, unsure what to say, but calmly pieced everything together and finally understood what had happened earlier in the greenhouse when Saskia abruptly wanted to leave after instinctively mentioning they were friends now. She now knew Saskia didn't like her. But why? She couldn't remember doing anything to hurt her. Yet, she was forced to endure these hurtful words.
"You've never experienced real life hardships firsthand. You just stay here, sit pretty, and brush your hair all day. From what I've seen, you've been confined to the mansion all your life. That's why you're so desperate for our company. Well, that's never going to happen, because once Vesper regains her strength, I'm taking her with me, and we're going home!"
"Stop it now, Saskia!"
"Well, you're not wrong. I have been confined all my life and haven't experienced real hardships," Khalan finally spoke. "I haven't known many people honestly except Nathan and you both. Maybe I am being selfish, but I just feel like we could all get along together. I mean, Ves seems to like me too. Why can't you at least tolerate me?"
"Her name is Vesper!" Saskia snapped, clearly disgusted by the whole 'Ves' nickname.
"I actually do like being called Ves," Vesper said quietly, her words piercing Saskia's heart.
"Oh, so you prefer the nickname she gave you to your real name?"
"She's the first person to ever give me a nickname, Saskia. Honestly, it sounds really cool," Vesper smiled slightly, hoping to calm Saskia, but it only enraged her more.
"So what now? You prefer her over me?"
"I never said that," Vesper corrected.
"You're going to choose her as your best friend over me?"
"That's never going to happen, Saskia," Vesper reassured her, but Saskia wanted more than that. She wanted her best friend back — the one who belonged just to her, not one she'd have to share with a stranger.
"Then promise me you'll never let her call you Ves again!" Saskia blurted.
"What?" Vesper sat up a bit, doubting she'd heard right.
"You know how much I like that name," Saskia's eyes looked sad.
"What's wrong with the name?" Khalan finally spoke up, feeling she'd been silent too long. "Ves likes it, and it sounds really cool."
"For the last time, Khalan, her name is not Ves; it's Vesper! You don't get to change my best friend's name at will and expect me to be okay with it. You just want to pull us apart, and I won't let that happen. NEVER!" The thunder in Saskia's voice scared both Khalan and Vesper. Not just them — even Hal and Nathan came to find out what was going on.
"We heard loud noises," Hal began. "Are you ladies alright?" He went straight to Saskia and began checking if she was okay.
"We were just talking," she replied, her breathing fast from all the yelling.
"Are you alright?" Nathan went to take Khalan's arm. Neither Saskia nor Vesper mattered to him; the one he was truly concerned about was Khalan.
"I'm fine," she assured him. "We're all fine." She turned to Vesper, who nodded.
"Saskia, can I talk to you alone?" Khalan asked, moving away a bit from Nathan's side, but he held her back.
"What are you doing?" His tone was calm—very calm—but the look in his eyes was full of dread. He already knew what was going on and was aware Saskia did not like Khalan and might try to hurt her. So, he was definitely not going to support her speaking to Saskia alone.
"I can handle myself, Nathan," Khalan said firmly, understanding his worry, but she needed him to trust her.
"If you plan on flicking those pretty eyes and getting me to accept you like Vesper did, then you're wrong. I don't like you, Khalan, and I never will. So, I advise you to stop trying!" With that, Saskia shoved Hal aside and walked out of the room, leaving Khalan hurt and feeling rejected while Vesper was simply sad.
She watched Hal go after Saskia and just rolled her eyes at the sight. 'She gets to have a lover, and she can't even make a friend?' Saskia was way out of line, and Vesper knew it was because Saskia was jealous of the bond she shared with Khalan. But what did she expect? 'That they would never let anyone else into their lives? That they'd stick to each other forever and never have any other friends?' Being friends with Khalan took nothing away from the love she had for Saskia. She still loved her the most and just wished she could make her understand that. She had a big heart, and there was room for all. She wasn't letting Khalan go, and neither was she letting Saskia go.
"I'll go talk to her," Vesper tried to stand up, but Khalan held her down quickly.
"You're still very weak. Get some rest first."
"No," Vesper insisted, getting off the bed. "I know Saskia better than anyone in this world, and I love her so much. I'm going to talk to her, and after that, everything will be alright. Just trust me, okay?"
"Okay," Khalan nodded, finally letting her leave while she retreated into Nathan's arms…