Chapter 3 My best friend

I twirled by the mirror, checking how I looked.

Day 1 of my job hunting, Dear God, please help me. I am as nervous as hell right now.

Yesterday I stayed up late praying and rehearsing.

This is the first time in my life that I would ever have to look for a job. I took over mom's salon as soon as past. Thank goodness, I learnt the skills before she died. The salon has been sustaining us even when dad was alive, his income wasn't enough for the family. When he died, it became worse even if his income weren't much at least, there were coming. It became worst when Joyce finished high school, there was no money for college. I had to drop out too, I just hoped I got a chance but who would employed a drop out over graduates.

I felt something wet on my cheek

"Oh my God, I didn't realised I have been crying" I chuckle

I quickly wipe my face. I can't afford to have my face swallowed

"Who is the hell is home? I heard from the sitting room

Instantly, I knew it was my bad ass friend. She doesn't respect the no cursing principle Mom set. She and Mom had never gotten alone but when Mom died, she cried her eyes out refusing to be console, one could think she was the one who lost her mother.

Beatrice and I are two opposite personalities, how we got along, no one can explain.

"Hey B" I heard Joyce said

"If it isn't my favourite kid sis" I imagine her spreading her arms wide to engulf her a motherly tight hug. She does that anytime she visit, it become a regular stuff ever since Mom died

"I am your only kid sis" Joyce said. Yup, Beatrice is an only child

"How is my baby doing? She asked

"Great, you? Joyce voice echoes in my ears

"Awesome, what of my favorite little brother?

"He went to school" She replied

"Wow, so early"

"Your late coming didn't rob on him" I imagined a small smile playing on her lips as she said that

"Oh, you are right, I kinda of groom him well, I am good mother and I am super proud of my self, what do think, I should given an award for best young mother or best parenting as a teenager or something beautiful with a sophisticated name, what do you think? She asked

Beatrice has always been a talkative, she could for hours none stop.

I have a feeling that my job hunting is cancel already

"Well, something like that" From Joyce tone I figure she is bored already. My clue to go to her rescue

"I am thinking of..."

"Did you come to see me or to bombard my little sister? I asked interrupting her

"Oh, if it isn't my sweet wonderful friend" She coming to engulf in a hug

My sister threw me the tiniest smile of gratitude. I nodded my head to acknowledge.

Beatrice squeezed me, I could hardly breathe

"Too tight" I managed

"Oh, so sorry girlie, I thought you needed it" She said

"Just say you needed it" I said smiling

We may be two different persons but no one understands her like better than I do not even her own

"Whatever, I am in your room" she scowl

"Alright, catch you in a bit and DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING" I stressed. Beatrice can walk into a perfectly arranged room and the next minute, the room would be scattered, completely unrecognizable

"Joyce, can you do me a favour? I asked turning to face her, I met her intently watching her favourite program. I doubt if she heard me

"Joyce!!! I called a bit loudly

"I heard you the first time, just spill" She said eyes focus on the TV

"I doubt if I would stop by the salon today" I said

She turned and face me, her screaming what do you mean

I just pointed to the door of my room, mouthing 'Beatrice'

All of a sudden, her program was forgotten, she came close to me

"What happened to her? She asked whispering

We all loved Beatrice even tho, she is extremely different from the way mom bought us up.

She stood by us when mom died, her constant cheerly kept us going. She had become a part of the family and we hold her really dear in our heart.

"I don't know but I can feel it, she isn't her usual self" I said whispering back

"But she doesn't look like it" She said

"You know, Beatrice has learnt the act of keeping her emotions bottled up, it becomes very difficult to read her or know what she is feeling at time" I said

"Well, except that person is you"

"Yup, except that person is me, we grew up together, her dad leaving left a huge gap on her" I said recounting how she had cried that night when she can to tell me ever seen then, she always masks her fears, sacred to be vulnerable in front of others

"Yeah, that's right" Joyce said

"So..."

"So? She asked

"So, the favour? I asked

"Oh, consider it done, just do whatever it takes to bring her back to normal even tho she looks pretty normal to me"

"Thanks sis, you are the best" I said

She hummed back to sit on the couch,

I smiled, I got the best siblings in the whole world

I entered the room to see Beatrice laying on the bed her legs folded together, she looked like a cute baby

"Are you okay? I asked

My questions were met with a huge block of silence.

"B, you okay? I asked

She turned to face me, I saw tears threatening to drop from her eyes

"B, what happened? I asked alarmed evident in my voice

"J" She called

I instantly went to sit beside her by the bed. I held her hands in mine

"What happened? I asked a little bit calmly

"He..." Tears chocked her voice

"It okay, B, you can cry it out" I said pulling her to my arms

Her gentle sob filled the room. By the time I turn to look at her again, she was fast asleep.

TBC.