{ *3:13 AM, Saturday 14th May}*
I woke up as early as usual to do my chores as usual. Well I could have woken up more later but, this house is not something someone would choose to start cleaning by 7:00Am and finish on time, and not to talk if it's just one pair of hands doing it all.
I started to clean and when it was 5:00am Sharp, I went to prepare hot water for each of everyone in the family to bath with. Uncle Rowan was already awake by then since he had to leave to work early. When it was 6:00am , the three little monsters were up from bed to prepare for their day!.
I quickly went to put the hot water in all their bathroom and rushed out to do other things.
By 7:20am , the family had all ready come downstairs for breakfast which I cooked earlier and served immediately before any complains was made.
I used that opportunity to clean their rooms as always since I always get bullied by them when I cleaned their room while they are still there.
I came downstairs as soon I was done to check whether any of them needed me at the dinning table.
And that's how my morning is as a full time amateur maid.
" Mom, can I go out to see one of my friends?" Elara asked her mother.
"Is your friend a boy or girl?" Auntie galenna said taking her eyes Off her food to stare at her daughter.
" Uhmmm...mom, does it really matter? If you want Orion can follow me". Elara Said.
" Sure mom, I have known Him for a long time and he is pretty much into studies." Orion defended his elder sister intentions.
" Okay, I have heard, and as long as you take your little sister for lessons, am fine with that.... The class teacher said something about Lyra grades descending, what is wrong? And how come? " She looked at her three children faces.
" Mom, I just don't get why, maybe the teacher just hates me" Lyra defended her self too.
" I don't care whatever you are saying Lyra, your grades were already bad before so that's why you go for lessons and now it's worsening and you are saying the teacher just hates you..."
Now ,this is what evil people deserve, hahahaha . I laughed in my mind.
" Lyra you are fourteen for god sake, please grow up and stop acting like an irresponsible child, I know how many times I had to hide your results from your father and how much I spent just for you to be promoted to the next class with your friends" she yelled at Lyra.
I was busy watching this family drama on going when I spotted Orion staring at me, even though I knew he can't see my face because I was commanded to always cover up my disgusting face from them and visitors.
I just acted like I didn't notice Him through the vail . Thank god that today they are all going out and I wouldn't be disturbed by any of them today.
" And also , I have already told your father that I am going to visit my elder brother today who's most elder son is getting married" auntie galenna said.
" Wow , that's so Cool mom, can't I come" Lyra pleaded.
" Yeah, congratulations to him mother, how old is he again?" Elara asked trying to remember how old her cousin was.
" Dominic is twenty five years old Elara, and don't ask me such silly questions, he isn't too young for marriage and anyways you too would turn nineteen soon so you to would get there" auntie galenna said.
" Mom, even though I was to get married, I would like him to be a wealthy tycoon and also he should be absolutely good looking."
Auntie galenna only just smiled about her daughter ambitions of getting married.
" For sure my daughter, you would always have the best".
" Mom can I still follow you, I promise I would read along the journey" Lyra said with puppy eyes.
" Fine you can Lyra" auntie galenna finally agreed.
One by one, each of them started to leave to where ever they were going too.
I just quickly packed the plates to the kitchen to wash. I can't still believe that it's my birthday and no one in this house even notices me and it's not like I need them to notice me anyways. And way before my parents whare still alive, this family was always invited to my birthday party but now it seems the table as turned so much that they don't remember me.
I spent my day looking at the birds outside the Attic window. And today Roy came to visit me , Roy is my white pet falcon. He comes by the window to check on me time to time and the best part is he likes me petting him, he's totally comfortable with me..
I spent the rest of my hours with him and the little book I could get my hands on since Elara has already passed that grade already. But I always promise my self when am done reading I would return the book immediately.
It was already 6:49 pm and only Elara was back home. She came back late than usual maybe because of her mom wasn't around and she knows her dad won't be back till Monday. And where is Orion ? Anyways I don't care! .... After eating her dinner, she went straight to her room since nobody was there to question her.
I waited till 7:00pm , since I did not see any sign of orion coming back home, and infact Elara didn't tell me to wait for him, I'm guessing he's not gonna come home then.
I locked the door shut.
At 7:30 pm , I could hear the sound of someone calling my name or shall I say whispering.
I came near the balcony only to see auntie Selena and Andy at the ground floor.
" Thank god you heard us quickly nicole, we couldn't shout just not to wake any one up." Aunt Selena said.
As soon as I saw them, I immediately felt a bit more happy, I gave a sign that I would be down stairs soon.
I was contemplating whether I should wear my vail but just decided to wear it in case of necessity . I went to the the little crack on the wall and took out my necklace, I decided to wear that too instead.
I changed my clothes as quickly as possible, I can already hear my heart beating through my ribcage. I was so excited.
My long Dread hair was tied to a ponytail, letting it lean on my back and covering the upper part with a Vail.
Tiptoeing down stairs more like running on toes , I quickly opened the back door and locked it through the inside.
_That's one of my tricks_
Aunt Selena and Andy met me at the front yard.
" How are you sweetie? Happy birthday to you, now you are sixteen, you are more stronger and not more weak, am happy you came to celebrate your birthday" aunt Selena said happily.
" Yeah, nicole happy birthday, we actually thought you were gonna back out at the last seconds, don't worry when I turn fourteen this year, am gonna take you along and we are gonna have so much fun" andy exclaimed with a beaming smile.
I just smiles at the both of them both sincerely.
" Thank you auntie and Andy , I really appreciate a lot".
" My pleasure dear" auntie Selena said.
We started walking to the nearest bus stop going to the main City. We got a cab immediately and we headed straight to Newark, new Jersey from harrison.
Everything seem to have changed since the past two years.
" The view here at night is rather beautiful, isn't it?" Auntie Selena said.
I and Andy nodded in unison.
After some time still in the cab , Andy felt sleepy and only I and auntie Selena was still awake, u couldn't miss this moment for anything.
" You are not sleepy nicole? This andy has already drained out all her energy at home out of excitement, she wouldn't understand how I managed to be awake , am guessing she should had thought going through night shifts was easy" auntie Selena said and laughed.
I smiled along with her. I feel so happy at the moment about going to this place, is it maybe I felt like am going to meet freedom.
The cab finally stopped at a high sky scrapper. We all got down immediately and aunt Selena paid the driver.
The place was filled with adoring fans, paparazzi, Fancy looking people who look absolutely wealthy, high built body guards all around, fancy cars and limousines.
" Wow, this place looks so awesome" andy screamed in excitement.
" Yeah, it does , let's get a closer look , and also don't wonder out of my sight, okay"
We both agreed on that . Auntie Selena held both our hands to make sure of our safety.
" It's good you brought your vail dear because it would be really eye catching if anyone was to ever see a snow lion wandering about" aunt Selena said and laughed.
" Uhmmm..... auntie, what is actually happening?" I asked scanning through the area.
" Dear..... It's actually the launching of this sky scrapper of what I heard....I heard it belongs to a wealthy family who wanted to expand their business to new Jersey and with the opportunity they decided to throw an opening party and many famous celebrities and known politicians would be here tonight." Aunt Selena explained.
" Mom....are we invited?" Andy asked.
" Oh no dear...we are just here to take pictures and see real life celebrities with our eyes and not on screen, okay"
We all talked for a while, recognized famous celebrities, saw a bunch of politician coming out of cars and followed by excorts , admired beautiful women and their dresses. Everything felt nice even though we were not a part of them.
" Mom, I gat to pee.... I tried already and I have held it enough" andy suddenly said.
" Why dear? Why didn't you tell me before?" Aunt Selena asked.
" Well, I didn't want to disturb the moment" Andy said.
Aunt Selena just pinched between her eyebrows.
" I saw a mobile toilet before, follow me, nicole please wait here for I and andy okay"
" Okay auntie" I replied while nodding my head.
Aunt Selena and Andy left and I continued to enjoy my view like without a worry in the world.
I heard girls screaming immediately which frightened me a bit , I looked at my left at what the commotion was all about.
I heard andy excited scream from afar.
" OMG , A SNOW LION !" She scream which made me to get a better look at who ever he or she was.
I _thought I am the only snow lion_ or should I just modify my statement and say _I have never seen any other snow lion apart from me_
I moved forward trying to get through the crowd but instead I was being pushed here and there and I couldn't keep up with my movement.
I stumbled upon something hard and I quickly used my hand to block it from hitting my face .
Immediately I made close contact I realized it wasn't something but someone, his perfume intruded my breathing space, I tried to move away quickly only to find my self almost falling to the ground.
I had already accepted my fate that I would fall hard but immediately I felt a strong grip on my hands stopping me from falling.
He held me tightly for me to regain my stamina.
" Are you okay?" He asked me, I could tell he was looking at me .
I dared not to look at him , infact I dared not to look at anyone. My eyes was on the ground.
" Am so...so sorry...I didn't mean to bump into you... So sorry" I Said out of fear because I am sure this person I bumped into may be someone popular or even if he was a body guard, thay would scar me more because of their over built muscles.
I steadily ozzzed my self out immediately from his sight without being noticed because of the large amount of crowd around.
When I got back to my supposed standing spot already feeling tensed with what just happened few moments ago.
_Why is my heart beating this way?._
" Nicole..... nicole...., Did you see him?...did you see the snow lion who ....ouch" andy spoke while coming to me before she mistakenly bumped into a man who is a linx, she quickly apologized and caught up to me " so.. did you see him nicole? ..I was so shocked seeing a first ever male snow lion with my bare eyes, he just walked into the building now... nicole did you see how he looked, he looks so handsome , when he arrived ; all eyes were on him directly but all they don't know is that you too is also a snow lion," Andy continued talking endlessly to me regarding the snow lion who I didn't see at all.
" Andy , I Didn't see anybody , when I tryed to move through the crowd, u only bumped into a linx man and I couldn't get to see a glimpse of him" I said already feeling sad.
__Wait, why am I feeling sad , it's not like I know him or anything_
Aunt Selena came to us now with snacks in her hand ..
" I know you girls should be feeling hungry already, so I bought snacks" aunt Selena said.
" Mom, nicole didn't get to see the snow lion " andy said sadly.
" It felt nice to see another snow lion except from you but don't feel bad nicole, at least you have seen other popular celebrities right" aunt Selena said.
" Yeah auntie" I replied.
"We should probably start going kids"
" But mom, I don't want too" andy whined
" If you stay here any longer the temperature would drop and non of us brought any sweater with us" auntie explained.
I saw a car dropped just right beside us, I'm guessing they are more news people. I saw my self on the reflection of the car's glass , my face was totally covered with the vail, no one here seems to care so I didn't bother much about it.
_Wait, my necklace_ ! I didn't notice my necklace on my neck again, I checked where I stood , still I didn't find it.
" What is it nicole?" aunt Selena asked
" I'm looking for my necklace auntie, I don't know where it fell down" my face was already full with anxiety.
I _love that necklace so much, how could I loose it_
" Maybe it fell in the crowd nicole, it's gonna be hard looking for it this night'" aunt Selena said in concern.
__It's true! The necklace must have fallen when I was in the crowd_ my tummy feels so heavy now, I could not believe I lost the little memory of I and my mother. I could feel my insides crumbling.
" So sorry about this nicole, I Know no one can replace how much that necklace means to you but we can't start looking for it now either, it's late already" aunt Selena explained to me.
For a moment I felt my feelings enter in a coma.
Auntie Selena got a cab for all of us to ride in .. the journey felt so quiet, I lost my total appetite, and why am I feeling so lonely after I left there, maybe it's because of the necklace I lost.
When we got back to Harrison , it was already 10:26pm .
Aunt Selena and Andy excorted me home and wished me good night before taking their leave.
I sneaked back into the house through the back door and already feeling so exhausted, I went straight to bed.
Now in the dark Attic room , I couldn't just fall asleep, I felt something warm touch my cheeks , _why am I crying?_ I felt a pain in my chest. I didn't even know when numerous tears wetted my face . Maybe this is how I actually ended my day then ... I cryed my self to sleep.*
_