WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 68: A Visit to Leslie’s Home

Chapter 68: A Visit to Leslie’s Home

Rhea opened her eyes and stared at the wall clock. It was past eight already. She closed her eyes and adjusted herself to a comfortable position. She will be going to Leslie’s place by ten but she is still tired from the fun she had at the party yesterday.

She can also sleep more. She thought.

She heard a knock on the door and opened her eyes again. "Celia?" She called out.

"Are you still in bed?" Her father asked.

Rhea realized it was her father and not Celia. "Yes, Dad. Do you need me to do something?" She asked.

"No, dear. Breakfast will be ready soon. You should freshen up and come downstairs."

"I will, Dad," Rhea answered.

Her father left and she stood up from the bed. She had thought she would be able to sleep a little more but now she can’t.

Rhea went to the bathroom to take her bath, got dressed, and then found her way to the living room. Her father was seated on the couch, reading a newspaper.

"Hi, Dad," she mumbled.

"Did you sleep well," her father asked, his gaze still focused on the newspaper.

"Where is Celia, Dad?" Rhea asked.

Her father adjusted the newspaper in his hand and looked up. "She went out with Rosa."

Rhea muttered an oh. She had thought Celia was still in the house.

"Your breakfast is already served. Eat and I will drop you off at Leslie’s place."

Rhea found her way to the dining table and sat down. She opened the plate in front of her. It contained a few slices of toasted bread. Beside the plate was a cup of warm creamy coffee.

"Dad," she called. "Did you make breakfast?"

"Celia did," her father replied.

She must have left just a few minutes ago after she made breakfast. Rhea thought.

She began to eat the toasted bread and also drank from her cup of coffee. A few messages popped up on the face of her phone. They were from Louie, thanking her for being a good friend and for showing up at his birthday.

She picked up the phone and began to reply to Louie’s text messages.

They chatted for a while but when Louie had something to do, they ended their conversation. Rhea cleared up the table and took the plate and cup to the kitchen.

"Dad," she called, walking to the living room. "I am ready."

Her father dropped the newspaper in his hand and stood up. "Let’s go."

It was past nine when they left the house. They got to Leslie’s house and Rhea came down from the car. Maia was already waiting for Rhea. Rhea waved at her father as he drove off.

"Hi," Rhea waved at Maia.

"Hi," Maia waved back. "My mom is waiting."

Rhea followed Maia into the house. Leslie was in the living room waiting.

"Good morning, Leslie," Rhea greeted.

"How are you?" Leslie asked. "You looked so tired."

Rhea smiled. She was tired from yesterday’s fun. She would have stayed back at home to sleep if she had a chance but she did not.

"Maia, get Rhea a glass of milk," Leslie said. "Rhea, come and sit with me."

Rhea sat beside Leslie while Maia went to the kitchen to get a cup of milk.

"Welcome to my home," Leslie said.

"Thank you, Leslie," Rhea replied.

Maia returned from the kitchen and handed over the cup of milk to Rhea.

"Thank you, Maia," Rhea mumbled.

Maia pointed at the door. "I am going to meet April. I will be back soon."

Leslie nodded. "Send my regards to April’s mom. Tell her I will be coming to see her in the evening."

Maia waved at Rhea before leaving the house. There was silence in the room after Maia left. Rhea kept staring at her fingers.

Why is she suddenly feeling nervous? How is she supposed to start a conversation?

"Are you nervous?" Leslie asked and Rhea chuckled.

She is not supposed to be nervous but why is she?

She nodded. "I... I am."

"Are you scared?" Leslie asked.

Rhea shook her head. She isn’t scared. She is just eager to start up the conversation, and it makes her nervous.

"I am not scared," she replied.

Leslie nodded but said nothing afterward. Silence lingered for a while until Leslie spoke again.

"So tell me, how did you come in contact with the stone?"

Rhea explained how she dreamt about the sea before her birthday and also her encounter with Aquamarine.

"Aquamarine?" Leslie asked and Rhea nodded. "That is the first Aqua’s water guardian."

Rhea furrowed her brows. Aquamarine belongs to the first Aqua?

"I thought she disappeared with Aqua," Leslie mumbled. "What does she look like?"

"A water figure. She is made of water," Rhea answered.

"Could she be the same Aquamarine?" Leslie mumbled.

"You know Aquamarine?" Rhea asked.

Leslie nodded. "I heard about her from my mother. I just did not know that she still exists."

Could this be a good time to ask Leslie if she is a descendant of the Queen’s best friend? Rhea wondered.

"Do you have a question for me?" Leslie asked.

She could tell from Rhea’s face that she needed clarity on something. Rhea nodded, though she wasn’t sure how to tell Leslie the question.

"Just tell her if she has any information on those who left that Blue Sea," Sapphire suggested.

Would that work out? Rhea wondered. What if Leslie says nothing about the Queen’s best friend?

"You can tell her you are curious about those who left. You can start up a conversation with that," Sapphire suggested again.

Rhea thought about Sapphire’s suggestion and was okay with it.

"Rhea?" Leslie called. "Are you okay?"

Rhea nodded. "I am."

"Do you have a question? You can ask me about it."

Rhea shook her head. "It’s not a question though. I am just curious. Those who left the Blue Sea. How are they now?"

Leslie smiled. "A few of them had died already. But their daughters have given birth to daughters who have given birth to daughters. A lot of generations have been birthed through them."

"Can I know which descendant you are from? You don’t have to answer if..."

"My mother is Leslie," Leslie answered. "Her grandmother was Queen Imani’s best friend."

Rhea blinked. So Leslie is indeed the descendant of the Queen’s best friend.

"Do you have more questions?" Leslie asked.

Rhea shook her head but nodded immediately. "I do have a question," she said.

"What is your question?" Leslie asked.

"Why did you tell me the story of the mermaids? I am curious about it. You could have said it to anyone else, but you chose me."

Leslie smiled. "I have always thought that you look so much like my best friend."

Rhea furrowed her brows. She looks like Leslie’s best friend?

"I do?"

Leslie nodded. "Most of the time, I thought you could be her missing daughter."

Rhea shook her head. Unfortunately, she isn’t.

"I am so sorry for that," Rhea mumbled.

"Why should you be sorry?" Leslie asked.

"That I am not your friend’s lost daughter?"

Leslie smiled. "That isn’t enough reason to be sorry. It’s not your fault her daughter got missing."

Rhea sighed. She feels sad for Leslie’s friend though.

"Can you tell me about her?" Rhea said.

"Do you want to know about her?" Leslie asked and Rhea nodded.

She would love to.

Leslie smiled. "Her name is Sanara. She is such an amazing soul. You remind me so much about her. You are just like she was in her youth."

Rhea smiled. Sanara sounds like an interesting person.

"Her daughter went missing sixteen years ago just a few hours after she was born. She has a mark on her waist."

Rhea furrowed her brows. She also has a mark on her waist. It was just a birthmark so she never asked her mother about it.

"She should be sixteen now," Leslie continued. "After her daughter went missing, Sarana had been the shadow of herself. She wanted to call her Ocean because she wanted her to be independent, adventurous, and strong. She wanted her to be free and travel around the world. Too bad that did not happen."

Rhea sighed. How she wishes Ocean was living the life that her mother wanted. She feels so bad for Sarana and her daughter Ocean.

"Do you think she is still alive?" Rhea asked.

"I think she is," Leslie answered. "I hope she is."

"How is Sarana now?" Rhea asked.

Leslie sighed. "She is fine. She has refused to leave the area where Ocean went missing. She won’t be leaving until she finds Ocean. She believes Ocean will come back to her someday."

Rhea sighed. What if she never finds her?

"She has another daughter now, though," Leslie said. "Her name is Luella. She also has been trying her best to look for her sister."

Rhea smiled. Leulla is such an amazing sister. Ocean will be happy to have her as a sister.

"Ocean will be happy to have her as a sister," Rhea said. "Do you think they will ever find her?"

Leslie nodded. "I think they will. Just a few days ago, Leulla informed me she had been able to see her sister, though that did not last for a long time."

Rhea smiled. That is good news.

"How did she do that? Was Ocean able to see her?"

Leslie nodded. "Ocean did. Leulla was so happy about it. She has been able to see her twice now. Both times she saw her in the class. I think the first time, she called her sister, but the second time, she could only wave. Her sister was busy in class and her homeroom teacher was in class."

Rhea blinked. Why does this sound like her?