As Gia muttered to herself, Mariana looked at her in confusion.
“A strange woman?”
“Yes. Mom, if that woman comes again, you must kick her out!”
Seeing Gia speak so firmly, Mariana frowned.
“No, how can you kick out a guest who came to visit?”
“You have to make up an excuse.”
“An excuse? How?”
“I just happen to have something to do. Sorry, but I’m not feeling well today. Well, if you think about it, there are plenty of excuses.”
As Gia animatedly explained with gestures, Mariana couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“But that woman acted really friendly with Dylan. She seemed to have quite a bit of interest in him.”
“They’re not close at all. Big Brother doesn’t even care about that woman.”
Gia waved her hands strongly. Mariana tilted her head in confusion.
“They’re not close, yet she comes to the house?”
“That’s why I’m saying she’s a strange woman.”
As Gia said this, she irritably let her hair down. Mariana began to braid Gia’s hair neatly.
“Since Big Brother is so handsome and successful, it seems like pesky women are drawn to him.”
“Pesky women?”
“Yes. So, Mom, why did you have to give birth to Big Brother so good-looking?”
“Oh my!”
As Mariana was braiding her hair, she lightly tapped Gia’s shoulder jokingly.
“Did your mother come?”
Lola, who had approached without them noticing, greeted Mariana politely. As soon as Lola appeared, Mariana and Gia seemed to have made a pact and didn’t mention Aliza again.
“Oh, it’s Lola. Come sit down quickly.”
Just as Mariana finished braiding Gia’s hair, she gestured to the seat next to her. Lola sat down to Mariana’s left.
“Seeing you two here feels different. You both stuck together like shadows in high school, and now you’re working in the same hospital. It’s really nice to see.”
Mariana gently caressed their hands, expressing her deep emotions. Lola and Gia smiled simultaneously.
“Every time I see Lola, I wish I had another daughter like her.”
“Huh? Was I not enough for you, Mom? You greedy woman.”
“Oh! You were not enough.”
Mariana playfully pinched Gia’s cheek, making Lola smile softly.
“I’m so happy that Lola has this connection with Dylan.”
“Thank you, mother.”
Lola leaned against Mariana’s shoulder and smiled.
“I’m more grateful.”
Mariana replied with a benevolent smile. Seeing the two of them together made Gia beam as she linked her arm with Mariana.
“By the way! How about we all gather for dinner tomorrow evening? Are you both free?”
Mariana suddenly suggested, looking back and forth between Gia and Lola.
“I’m free tomorrow evening. How about you, Lola?”
“Yeah. I’m not on duty, so it’s fine.”
“Then let’s have dinner together.”
“Yeah, mom. That sounds great.”
“Lola, you should come with Dylan too.”
“I will, Mother.”
The three women sat side by side on the bench, looking up at the blue sky as summer was coming to an end. An airplane flew overhead, and nameless birds flapped their wings and soared into the sky.
It was a beautiful and harmonious scene.
*******
Sitting at his desk in the office, Dylan was carefully reviewing the investigation records when his phone on the desk rang, causing him to frown. When Dylan didn’t pick up right away, the phone rang several times, stopping and starting again as if protesting.
Dylan picked up the phone with an irritated gesture. His expression soured as he checked the caller ID. It was really persistent at times like this. Even his future wife wasn’t this insistent when he didn’t answer or took a while to respond.
So,
“What?”
Without the usual formalities, his voice came out bluntly. However, the person on the other end seemed to have already adapted to his brusque demeanor and didn’t protest.
-Big Brother, that girl Aliza or whatever came to our house?
Without any pleasantries, Gia jumped straight to the point.
“And?”
Her serious question received a calm response, leaving Gia dumbfounded. The sound of her sighing grew louder over the line.
-‘And’ what? Isn’t it a serious issue if that strange girl came to our house? I think it’s crossing the line!
“My future wife isn’t saying anything, so why are you getting so worked up, Gia Eve?”
-What? Worked up?
“Lola knows, too.”
-What…? Lola didn’t say anything?
“Lola doesn’t think like you do.”
-Even if she didn’t say anything, I’m sure Lola was really upset. What are you going to do? Mom said that girl seemed like she’d come again. She looked like a leech.
“So, I’m planning to get married.”
-What? What? M-marriage?
“Yeah.”
-So, marriage. With whom?
As Gia asked back, Dylan couldn’t hide his astonishment.
“Who else would I marry?”
After a long pause, a surprised voice came through the receiver.
-You’re marrying Lola?
