WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 71: Will wants to Talk

Chapter 71: Will wants to Talk

It was Monday morning again, and Rhea had to go to school, but since she had no birthday party to prepare for or any reason to go to school early, Rhea stayed longer in bed, and Celia had to come to her room to wake her up.

Celia did not wake up Rhea in the normal way. She had thought about the best way to wake Rhea up. Celia picked up a thread she had seen on Rhea’s dressing table. She picked out a few strands and tied them up.

Celia moved closer to Rhea carefully, not alerting her. She placed the tied threads in Rhea’s ear and moved it slowly. Rhea tapped her ear to drive away whatever was disturbing her sleep.

It persisted for a while and Rhea finally opened her eyes. "What is that?" She groaned.

"How long are you going to stay in bed? It’s almost seven," Celia answered.

Rhea stared at Celia and noticed the thread in her hand. "Were you the one teasing me with that?"

Celia shrugged. "Are you going to stand up now and go get ready for school or do you want me to try something different?"

Rhea groaned. "You are just being childish."

Celia moved closer to Rhea. "Maybe I should show you..."

"That will not be necessary." Rhea stood up quickly. "I am going to take my bath."

"I will be here waiting," Celia answered.

"Are you not going to make breakfast?" Rhea furrowed her brows. "We are..."

"Dad is going to make breakfast," Celia answered. "I want us to talk."

"About what?"

"Dad’s birthday. It’s this Saturday."

Rhea groaned slightly. How could she forget that?

"I will be right back," she mumbled and rushed into the bathroom to take her bath.

Rhea was done in a few minutes and she left the bathroom.

"I brought out your uniform," Celia said pointing at the uniform on the bed. "I do not know which shoes you would like to wear, so I brought out two. I have returned all your books to your bag. You don’t have to worry about that."

Rhea smiled. "You know you are the best sister in the world right?"

Celia nodded. "Of course I do. The more reason you should treat me well."

"Have I not been treating you well?" Rhea asked.

"Maybe you have but you should do better. Don’t you think I deserve a strawberry cake for this?"

Rhea scoffed slightly. "I should have known you wanted a gift for helping me out. But..." She smiled. "I can think about that."

Celia brought out her phone and moved closer to Rhea. "I already ordered one. You just have to make the payment."

Rhea furrowed her brows. "You did?"

Celia nodded. "Yes. Look."

"I only said I would think about it. Are you trying to scheme me for my money?"

"It doesn’t matter if you think about it. You are going to do it anyway. Why not do it now. I will get your phone."

Rhea shook her head. "I am not paying for that."

Celia smiled. "I don’t think you have any option here. I already paid."

"Celia!" Rhea yelled. "I shouldn’t have let you know my password."

"Did you not say that I am the best sister in the world? Do I not deserve a strawberry cake?"

Rhea groaned. "I am going to report you to Dad."

"Sorry to bust your bubbles. Dad left the house already."

Rhea furrowed her brows. "Did you lie about Dad making breakfast?"

Celia chuckled. "You won’t let me stay if I did not tell you that. I already made breakfast."

Rhea groaned. Celia is scheming. Is this really Celia or the bluestone playing pranks? Rhea stared at Celia. She does look and act like her sister.

Celia, in front of her, wasn’t trying to piss her off. She has been playful despite spending her money.

She has to be Celia. Rhea concluded.

"You should get ready, Rhea. We can’t be late for school."

"I will get back at you, I promise," Rhea said.

"I will be waiting," Celia answered.

Rhea went ahead to get ready for school while Celia sat down to wait for her.

"So what do you want to talk to me about Dad’s birthday?" Rhea asked.

She was done putting on her uniform and wearing her shoes.

"What are we going to cook?" Celia asked.

"Are we inviting people over?" Rhea asked.

"No, we are not," Celia answered. "Come sit. I will style your hair."

"I don’t want to style my hair. I am okay with my ponytail."

"I am not changing your style. I just want to add a few things."

Rhea furrowed her brows. "And what is that?"

"You will find out soon. Come and sit down."

Rhea moved closer to the chair but stopped. "You are not trying to play some pranks on me. Are you?"

Celia shook her head. "Of course not. Why would I do that?"

"Then tell me..."

"Fine. Did you see the new hair clips on my hair?"

Rhea moved closer to Celia. She had not noticed that Celia had new hair clips on her hair.

"It’s so beautiful," Rhea mumbled.

"Do you like them?" Celia asked with a smile.

"I do. Where did you get them from?"

"From the supermarket on Saturday when I went out with Rosa. I brought some for you too. I bought some ribbons too. I know how much you love ponytails."

Rhea smiled. "Thank you, Celia."

Celia folded her arms. "Now tell me, do I deserve a strawberry cake or not?"

Rhea rolled her eyes. Isn’t strawberry cake much more expensive than hair clips and ribbons?

"You did deserve a strawberry cake," Rhea said sarcastically.

"I can sense some sarcasm, Rhea."

Rhea rolled her eyes. "Can I have my hair clips and ribbons now? I do deserve them for buying you a strawberry cake."

Celia nodded. "You do deserve them."

Celia brought out some packs of hair clips and ribbons from her bag.

"I couldn’t give them to you on Saturday. And yesterday. We were both busy with our assignments, I totally forgot about them."

Rhea’s eyes widened in shock. Why are there so many of them?

"There are so many of them."

Celia nodded. "They were all so beautiful. I thought they would all look good on you. So I bought them."

Rhea pulled Celia into a hug. "You are such a cute big sister."

Celia smiled. "I know. I know." Rhea sat down and Celia helped her style her hair. "Done."

"Thank you, Celia," Rhea said.

"No. Thank you for helping me get that strawberry cake. I had totally forgotten that today is Rosa’s birthday and I promised her a cake."

Rhea furrowed her brows. The cake was for Rosa?

"You bought it for Rosa?"

Celia nodded. "Yes. But don’t worry. I will send back the money when I..."

Rhea shook her head. "Rosa has been a good big sister to me too. And you... You are the best big sister I can ever ask for. Just take the cake as me thanking you for being my sister."

Celia smiled. "Thank you, Rhea. Thank you very much."

"I should think of what to get Rosa," Rhea said, ignoring Celia’s numerous thank yous. "Do you think the mall will be open this morning? Or should I just order something for her? What do you think Rosa will like?"

Celia smiled. She could tell Rhea doesn’t want her to keep telling her thank you.

"You can get her a teddy bear. She likes them a lot. A black one will be a good idea. She doesn’t have one yet."

Rhea nodded. That is a good idea.

"I will order one and ask it to be delivered to her home. What do you think?"

Celia nodded. "That is a good idea. Let’s go eat breakfast. We are going to be late."

They left Rhea’s room and went to the dining table to eat. Celia had made some pancakes.

"You did not eat the last ones I made. I thought I should make some for you today."

"Thank you, Celia." Rhea smiled.

"Coffee or juice?"

"Coffee, please," Rhea answered.

"Do you want lots of milk and sugar in your coffee?"

"Lots of milk and a little bit of sugar," Rhea answered.

Celia prepared two cups of coffee; one according to Rhea’s preference. She brought them to the table and they began to eat.

When they were done. Rhea offered to clear up the table and do the dishes before they left for school.

"You were telling me about cooking for Dad’s birthday. Are we inviting people over?"

Celia shook her head. "We are not. It’s going to be just the three of us."

Rhea nodded. "We can make a list when we get back."

They left the house and boarded the bus to school. Celia and Rhea talked about a few random things on their way, and finally, the bus stopped at their school bus station.

"Down we go," Celia said, holding Rhea’s hand.

Rhea groaned. "Can you stop holding my hand? I am not a baby."

"I think you are," Celia answered. "I still do your laundry most of the time."

"You offer to help," Rhea said.

"And you agreed to it. That makes you a baby," Celia answered.

Rhea groaned. "I..."

"Rhea?" Someone called from behind. Rhea turned to see Will.

They were now in front of their school gate.

"Hi." Will waved.

"Hi." Rhea waved back.

Will moved closer to Rhea and Celia. "I don’t know if you are busy. I would like to talk to you about..."

"Sorry. I am with my..."

"Rhea, see you around. I am heading to class. I haven’t wished Rosa a happy birthday yet," Celia answered and walked away.

Rhea groaned. She was about to use Celia as a shield not to talk to Will.

"I..." Rhea sighed.

But what does Will want to talk to her about?

"I think I have a few minutes to spare," she mumbled. "We can talk while we walk to class."

Will nodded. That is a good idea.

"It’s been a while," Will began.

"I guess it has," Rhea replied and silence lingered between them.