WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 29: Something is not Right

Chapter 29: Something is not Right

Rhea packed her hair into a ponytail, staring at herself in the mirror. She was already dressed for school and only needed to check herself for the last time before picking her bag up and joining Celia downstairs.

"Rhea," Celia called, knocking on the door slightly. "Are you ready?"

"I am. I will be out soon."

"Actually... I want to speak to you. Can I come in?"

Rhea picked her bag up. "Sure, you can. The door is open."

Celia opened the door and walked in. She stared at Rhea in surprise.

"Where are your glasses? You are not going to..."

Rhea chuckled. "I almost forgot that. I will just..." She turned around to look for it and after a while, she spoke up. "I can’t find my glasses. Did you help me see..."

"Over there on the table." Celia pointed. "I will pick it up for you."

"Thank you, Celia."

Celia moved closer to the table and picked up the glasses.

"You should always keep it close to you. You know you can’t read clearly without it."

"I am sorry. I must have left it there yesterday, after doing my assignments."

Rhea knew she did not leave it on the table because of her assignments but because she was in a haste to find Aquamarine in the House of Seashells.

"I won’t let that happen again." She took the glasses from Celia and then wore it. "You said you want to see me?"

Celia nodded. "You know Dad’s birthday is coming up soon. Do you have a gift in mind yet?"

Rhea groaned slightly. She had been so occupied with the sea stuff that she forgot about her family’s important days.

"I..." She sighed. "I almost forgot that. I don’t have any gifts in mind yet. Do you?"

"I do not. That is why I am here. Should we get different gifts, or should we join hands together?"

"Let’s do the latter."

Rhea knew joining hands with Celia would be the best for her; they could brainstorm together and get a good gift.

"We have a week before the day. What do you think we should do?"

"I don’t have any idea yet but maybe when we return. We can..."

She paused. She needs to visit the House of Seashell.

"Can we talk about it tomorrow? We can use the whole of today to think of something. Then we sit down tomorrow to share our ideas and then pick the best."

Celia nodded. "That’s a good idea. I..."

Rhea’s stomach grumbled and they began to laugh.

"Don’t tell me you are hungry," Celia said.

"I think I am. What are we having for breakfast?"

"Cereal? I did not make anything. I woke up so late. I am sorry."

Rhea smiled. "You don’t have to be sorry. We can make do with cereal. Or should I make some pancakes? It’s easier to make."

"Let’s just make do with cereal. I don’t want you turning the kitchen upside down."

Rhea frowned. "Have I ever done that before?"

"Do you want me to walk you down the memory lane?"

Rhea scoffed. "I am not interested in that. I am leaving."

She left the room while Celia followed behind. They got to the living room and headed to the kitchen. Rhea got two bowls and a pack of cereal.

"I will get the milk... And sugar too," Celia said.

They got the things they needed and sat down to eat. Rhea stared at the wall clock; it was just a few minutes past seven.

Their father should be here soon.

They were done eating soon and they cleared up the table. They sat in the living room waiting patiently for their father. Celia brought out her phone to press while Rhea decided to take a short nap; she did not have enough sleep last night.

She had been thinking about going to the House of Seashell; Celia’s return had stopped her from going yesterday. She closed her eyes and lay down on the couch.

"What do you think?" Celia asked, tapping her slightly.

Rhea opened her eyes and sat up. "What?"

"Look," Celia pointed at the wristwatch on her phone.

"It’s beautiful. You like it right? Do you want to buy it?"

Celia nodded. "I like it. I am thinking of getting it for Louie. It’s for his birthday."

Rhea smiled. "Wow! That is so nice of you. I think he will love it."

"What do you plan to give him?... I shouldn’t be asking you that. He’s your..."

"I haven’t chosen what to get for him yet."

"You should. There isn’t much time left."

Rhea nodded. "I will think about that. Do you think Dad is coming home soon? It’s half past seven."

"I’ve been thinking about that too."

"Do you think we should leave?"

"Let’s wait for a few minutes. Maybe he will call," Celia said.

Rhea nodded in agreement. "Okay?"

Celia stood up. "I think I left one of my books in the room. I am going up to get it."

Rhea nodded but said nothing. Celia returned to her room to get the book and then returned to join Rhea who was now standing by the door.

Rhea had noticed a strange pink cloud in the sky and was tempted to look at it.

"Rhea?" Celia called. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," Rhea answered.

She opened the door slightly and peeped through it to see if Alan and Reece were outside. When she saw no one, she opened the door widely and walked out. Celia followed her.

She looked up to the sky. "Celia, do you think..."

"Why were you peeping?"

"I do not want to risk Alan or Reece seeing me."

Celia chuckled. "I can’t believe you are doing this."

"What? I am only trying to avoid their trouble," Rhea replied.

"I don’t think they have one."

"This is because you are in love with them."

Celia blinked. "In... In love with who? Them? Of course not."

"And you want me to believe you?"

"You can believe whatever you want. But that is the truth."

"You don’t love any of them?" Rhea asked, her eyes furrowed.

"Am I supposed to? I am only crushing on their beautiful faces."

Rhea sighed. She had thought Celia was in love with one of them, because of the way she supports them.

"Okay, I believe you. Did Dad call you yet? We are about to leave the house and he is not back."

"Maybe he has lots of work to do."

Rhea sighed. "Then I think we should leave. You can just text him to let him know. We don’t have much time left."

"That is a good idea. I did not think that."

Celia texted their father to let him know that they had left the house already; he didn’t have to rush back home.

Celia poked Rhea slightly. "Do you think they are in?"

"Who?"

"Your classmates."

"You mean Alan and Reece?"

Celia nodded. "I haven’t seen them since the last time I saw them."

Rhea frowned. "Do you have a business with them? Why are you asking after them."

"They are our neighbors. Can’t I..."

"You can’t. Except you are in love with one of them or even both.". Celia scoffed but said nothing. "Can we leave now? Are you going to meet Rosa?"

"Rosa is coming to pick us up."

Rhea smiled. "That is nice."

"She should be here soon."

They waited for Rosa’s driver to come and pick them up. As they waited, Celia began to tell Rhea about what happened in her class.

"How is Sasha?" She suddenly asked.

Rhea furrowed her brows. "Sasha?"

"The bully in your class. I haven’t heard you talk about her."

"I don’t talk about her. Do I?" Rhea murmured. "Why are you asking after her?"

Celia shrugged. "I am just curious to know. She seems to be quiet these days."

"Maybe she turned a new leaf."

Celia scoffed. She doesn’t think so.

"How about Will?" She asked.

Rhea groaned. "Can you stop asking me about them? I have no business with them."

Celia chuckled. "Come on. I am just asking. No hard feelings."

"Do you think Rosa would come?"

"Of course, she will. Look..." Celia pointed. "It’s her car."

The car stopped in front of them and they entered.

"I thought you weren’t going to come," Rhea said.

"I am sorry. Something came up," Rosa answered.

"What could that be?" Celia asked.

"There is a community..." Rosa paused when her phone began to ring. "It’s my dad," she mumbled. "Hello, dad."

"Your Principal just sent me a message. There won’t be school today. You should go back home."

Rosa furrowed brows. "Why? Did he say why?"

"I can’t tell you the details. Just return home."

The call ended and she faced Celia. "There is no school today."

Celia furrowed her brows. "Why?"

"I do not know. My dad won’t tell me the..."

Celia’s phone began to ring too. "It’s Dad, Rhea," she mumbled. "Hello, dad."

"Have you left the house yet?" Their father asked.

"No Dad. But we are about..."

"You don’t have to leave the house. I am on my way already."

"Okay, Dad," Celia mumbled. "Dad wants us to go back home."

Rhea sighed. Something doesn’t seem right.