h4Chapter 237: Life In Esteria/h4

    (Author’s POV)

    "So, sis, how was your lunch with Fabian?" Wendy questioned Myra and Yelena as they all sat down on the dining table.

    Myra smacked Wendy’s forehead with her spoon as she said, "He is your professor, Wendy. Call him Prof. Stephens."

    "iOww!/i That hurts, sis," parting her newly styled hair bangs she rubbed her forehead as she turned around and asked Yelena, "It has turned red? I can feel a bump forming already," she pouted, her voice pitiful.

    Yelena the tip of Wendy’s nose yfully and spoke, "Drama queen, aren’t you, sweetheart."

    Wendy clicked her tongue yfully at Yelena then inquired once again, "So, how was it, ’the date’? Where did you guys go?" When she said the word ’date’, her eyes shifted to Myra’s face.

    Myra gave Wendy a side eye as she enunciated each word carefully, "How many times have I told you? It was not a date, Wendy. Stop reading those trashy novels. They are making your mind filled with nonsense thoughts. We are good friends, nothing more."

    Wendy mimicked her sister’s words funnily then added, her voice barely audible, "As if. You are way too clueless. How can you be, such a fool, when ites to romance and stuff like this, huhh? The signs are right in front of you. It is you, who can’t see them."

    Yelena chuckled at Wendy’s words and gave her a sneak peek about their outing, "The lunch was awesome, the food there was, ..... imuahhh/i, scrumptious! As a restaurant chains owner’s granddaughter, I was thoroughly impressed. Do you want to know where we went to, umm~ ..... umm~?"

    Wendy’s ears perked up as she asked, enthusiastically, "Where, where?"

    "Take a guess," Yelena smiled widely at her. She was enjoying pulling Wendy’s legs.

    "iAye/i, Yelena sis, don’t tease me," Wendy puffed her cheeks as she said these words.

    "Hahaha, you look like a chipmunk when you do that. Should I feed you some acorns?" Yelenaughed out loud at Wendy’s antics as she continued, "The three of us went to the most popr restaurant in all of Esteria."

    "WHAT THE~ .... You guys went to ’Blissful Abode’? iAein/i, That’s not fair. Why didn’t you guys take me with you? iBoohoo/i ...... that’s not done, I have been dying to have their ravioli," Wendymented, her voice full of exaggerated disappointment.

    "Didn’t we ask youst night, whether you wanted to join us for today’s lunch?" Myra spoke casually. "And what did you say then? You said, you already had movie ns with your college friends."

    "But I didn’t know you guys were heading to ’that ce’. If I knew~," Wendy’s shoulders slumped as she uttered these words with dejection.

    Yelena patted her shoulders infort, "Next time, sweetie. There is always a next time. I will take you there."

    William shook his head and smiled at the lively conversation that was going on between the kids. He asked Myra and Yelena, "So, how is Prof. Stephens? Why didn’t you ask him toe inside for a cup of tea?"

    Yelena replied, "We did uncle William, but he said he was busy with some paperwork."

    William nodded as Myra asked, her parents, "How was your day dad, mom?"

    "Ohh~ ...... it was hectic to say the least," Sandra answered with a sigh.

    "I totally understand. But everyone at the cafeteria loves your special rolled omelet and vegetarian spring rolls, Aunt Sandra. They are always queuing up when those are on the menu for the day," Yelenaplimented Sandra. Sandra didn’t say anything but her eyes were filled with genuine pride at her praise.

    One year ago, when the Miracle’s came to Esteria, the ones who had a hard time adjusting were William and Sandra. For both their kids, they had school and college to attend. But for the two adults, the new ce and unfamiliar faces, they struggled to adapt initially.

    Esteria was entirely different from Damona. Damona was mostly a sub urban ce, especially where their house was located. The people living there were mostly elderly people, who were quite friendly and supportive. Inparison, Esteria was a big city with countless skyscrapers and rich, fancy people. Although, the people here weren’t rude but they weren’t particrly friendly either. Most of their neighbors were Red Stone University’s professors or teaching staff who lived with their family. They were the type of people to mind their own business and didn’t interact with others.

    But that wasn’t the only problem for them. The most troublesome thing for them was their livelihood. Though, Myra’s schrship money was enough to cover most of their basic expenses but they didn’t want to sit idle and do nothing.

    At first, they thought, they would just rent a shop and open a convenience store but in Esteria and especially near the university, there were several such stores and the rent of these stores weren’t cheap either. So, they had to drop that ideapletely. Then, for two whole months they tried to find either a part time or full-time jobs, but that too was hard, due to their age and limitation (they had no vehicle of their own).

    But one day, when Myra forgot an important project file at home and Sandra came to the main campus to give Myra her document, she came across a notice, ’Help required’.

    Although, she was hesitant at first, but she went inside the ce, it was the main campus’s cafeteria. They were in urgent need for few new cooks as one of the old ones has resigned due to some personal reasons and the other was sick and hospitalized.

    Luckily, or you could say, due to her cookery aptitude, shended the job. The cafeteria was short of staff, so William was hired too as amis chef. They soon blended well with their colleagues because of their helping and friendly nature and the university students loved the food, so soon their jobs became permanent.

    Yes, it was tiring for both of them to work all day long but they thoroughly enjoyed it. They loved how people beamed and savored the moment as they enjoyed their food heartily. How some of them left notes topliment the dishes, expressing their appreciation. It gave them satisfaction and a sense of joy.

    After having their dinner, Myra did the dishes while Yelena cleaned the table. William and Sandra were exhausted. They retired for the night and went back to their room while Wendy had an assignment she had to finish, so she too returned to her room.

    Wendy was now a freshman at Red Stone in the department of Fine Arts. Just like Myra, she too had earned a schrship, though it was only partial.

    Myra and Yelena finished their tasks, cleaned up the kitchen and went outside for their ritualistic, post meal walk. They took a leisurely stroll, talking about anything and everything.

    Remembering something, Yelena questioned Myra, her tone casual, "So, are you still in touch with Nora?"

    Myra’s steps halted at Yelena’s words, she counter questioned with much hesitation, "Why~ .... Why do you ask about Nora out of the blue?" Her mind buzzed, ’Why is she asked about Nora? Did Nora go to Yelena to fine me?’

    Yelena, who was still walking, realized that Myra wasn’t beside her, so she tilted her head and said, "No particr reason. I just came to a sudden realization. Ever since you came from Kimberg, you hardly ever talk about her ... what happened, why are still standing there?"

    Myra snapped out of thoughts and answered, "Ahh~ ... sorry." She started walking again as she continued, "We lost contact. She is busy with her life in Kimberg with her family and I am busy with mine," her voice turned a solemn.

    "Did something~ ... did something happen in Kimberg? I mean, did you two ... had a falling out or something?" Yelena asked, her tone serious. She has seen Myra and Nora’s friendship closely. They were close knit, doing everything together. She knew how much Nora meant to Myra and vice versa. So, she has always found it odd that Myra, aftering back from Kimberg, never mentioned anything about Nora.

    Myraughed awkward as she started making an excuse, "hahaha .... What are you saying? What could possibly happen to us? It is just as I said, she is busy with work and her studies. You know how her adoptive pa~ ... how the Smiths treated her. Now that she is with her real family, she is busy adapting to life there."

    "So, you guys do not talk? Is that correct?" Yelena probed further as she asked directly.

    "Uhh~ you can say that," Myra answered as she looked at the bright and clear, crescent moon.

    Yelena sighed andmented, "I don’t know what exactly happened between you two, but still ...... you guys have been friends since your ... your orphanage days. You were each other’s heart and soul. So, it would be way too sad if you both had a falling out."

    To Be Continued . . . . . . . .