WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 79: Visiting Leslie

Chapter 79: Visiting Leslie

Just a few days into the break, Rhea was already feeling bored about it. Unlike Celia who visits Rosa and they get to visit so many places Celia did not know existed, Rhea is always in the house. Their father had returned fully back to work now, leaving just Rhea.

"Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?" Celia was always asking before she left the house and Rhea would always insist that she wanted to stay back.

For Rhea, sleeping for a few days was the best option for her. She wanted to relieve herself from the stress that had accumulated during the last semester.

Every morning, she wakes up, takes her bath, eats, talks to Louie for some time, and then goes back to sleep. At noon, after she wakes from her sleep, she eats, reads a book, or watches a movie. She then goes back to sleep if she feels sleepy or listens to music if she doesn’t want to sleep. Sometimes she takes a short stroll while avoiding Reece.

Rhea did not expect to feel so bored on the third day already. When she woke up a few hours ago, she had carried out her usual routine; took her bath and then headed downstairs for breakfast.

"I think you should come with me today," Celia said when they were done eating, and as usual, Rhea insisted that she wanted to stay back.

She had thought she could carry out her usual routine but it was noon already and she couldn’t sleep. Not only did she not sleep, she wasn’t interested in reading books or watching movies either.

She returned to the kitchen to eat some cereal and when she was done, she returned to the living room. Rhea stared at the wall clock and it was just ten minutes past twelve. It seems the time was moving too slowly.

It’s going to be a long boring day. Rhea thought. She should have listened to Celia and gone with her.

Rhea decided to take a stroll. She needed to leave the four corners of the house and receive some fresh air.

Maybe she can visit Aquamarine. She thoughts.

She picked her phone and earphones up, and stared at the clock for the last time, before stepping out of the house. The sun was too hot, the heat pressed down on her, making her skin burn. Rhea realized going out was nothing but a bad idea. With a sigh, she turned back.

This isn’t worth it. She thought. She had better return to the house.

"Is that you, Rhea?" Rhea heard Reece’s familiar voice. "Are you home alone?"

Rhea groaned slightly. She had tried her best to avoid meeting with Reece for the past three days.

How did he see her? She sighed. Maybe talking to him is not a bad idea now. He can help ease her boredom.

"Hi, Reece. Do you have a problem with me being alone in the house?"

Reece shook his head. "Of course not."

"Do you want to spend some time with me?" Rhea asked.

She had asked genuinely but Reece found it a bit odd.

He shook his head quickly. "That sounds creepy."

Rhea sighed. Reece doesn’t want to spend some time with her. She shouldn’t force it.

"Then why are you bothered?" Rhea asked.

"I am just wondering why you decided to stay at home instead of having fun with Celia and Rosa. I saw them at the Amusement Park. They were having so much fun."

Rhea groaned. Why did she not go with them?

"You do enjoy boredom. Or are you finally bored?" Reece smiled. "You must be bored. I see you stopped to talk to me. Haven’t you been avoiding me?"

Rhea furrowed her brows. He knew she was avoiding him?

"I... I am not avoiding you," Rhea mumbled.

"It’s not a problem. You can keep denying it. I think you should head back to the house now. After all, you would not have spoken to me if I did not speak to you."

Is Reece holding grudges against her? Rhea sighed. She would have done the same.

"Would you like to take a stroll with me? We don’t have to walk together, though. What do you think about..."

Reece furrowed his brows. "Were you not trying to take one when you realized that the sun was too hot? Are you trying to burn my skin?" Reece shook his head. "I am not letting you do that. I will advise you to go in and have some rest... I guess you can’t do that." Reece sighed. "I can’t invite you in for a chat either," he mumbled. "How about you visit Maia or April?"

Rhea stared at him. His suggestion sounds like a good one but how would she get there? She did not tell her father about it either.

"Thank you for your suggestion but... I will pass," Rhea answered. "I will just head back inside and take a nap."

She took a few steps to the door but Reece stopped her. "Rhea, if taking a nap was an option for you, you wouldn’t have come outside. I will do a little favor for you though."

Rhea furrowed her brows. How is Reece planning to help?

"What favor?" She asked.

"I am going to call Leslie and speak to her about you. I am sure she would be glad to host you for the day. She can call your dad and ask for permission too. I can tell that is one of the reasons you don’t want to go."

Why would Reece go through all that trouble for her? She wondered.

"You don’t have to do that. I can..."

"I insist. It’s your choice to go or not go," Reece answered. "Did I not hear Maia and April talk about a music festival coming up today? I think someone’s idol will be coming but I guess she will be missing that," Reece said in a low voice but Rhea could hear him clearly.

Could Reece be telling the truth? Rhea wondered. What if he is playing some pranks on her?

"Are you..."

Reece left before Rhea could finish up her sentence. As she watched him close the door behind him, she sighed.

Maybe what he said is not real. She thought. She had better go into the house.

She entered the house and sat on the couch wondering what she would do. Rhea stood up to pick up the remote.

Maybe she can try to watch a movie. She thought.

A few minutes into the movie, she became bored. Rhea switched off the television and lay on the couch staring at nothing. Her phone began to ring and she stood up to pick it up from the table. It was her father calling.

"Dad?" She cooed.

"Rhea? Are you in the home alone? Is Celia back?" Her father asked.

"Yes, Dad, I am in the house alone. Celia is not back yet," she replied.

"Do you want to visit Leslie? She called to ask after you."

Rhea furrowed her brows. Did Reece call Leslie like he promised? Or it is nothing but a coincidence?

"Rhea, are you there? You don’t have to go if you don’t..."

"I will go, Dad," Rhea answered.

She is very happy she gets to have fun. She is bored already.

"I will call Leslie and tell her that. She will come and pick you up... Rhea..." her father said.

"Yes, Dad."

"I might be away for a few days. The company wants me to attend a conference. I am thinking of saying no because of you girls. I..."

"Do you want to go, Dad?" Rhea asked.

"It’s a good opportunity to get promoted but..."

Rhea smiled. "Dad, you can go. I will talk to Celia about it. You don’t have to worry about us."

"But I can’t leave you girls in the house alone."

"Dad, we’ve always stayed in the house alone. What are you afraid of? You really do not need to worry about us."

"I have to go. We will talk about it when I get back."

"I will also talk to Celia about it. Bye, Dad."

The call ended and Rhea jumped up happily. The thought of being in the house alone until Celia returned was already weighing her down.

Thank goodness Leslie will be coming.

Rhea waited impatiently for Leslie’s arrival. When she finally heard the horn from a car, Rhea rushed out quickly. It was Leslie.

"Did I keep you waiting?" Leslie asked.

"No, you did not. You came just in time."

"Hop in. Maia and April can’t wait to see you," Leslie answered. Rhea entered the car and they drove off. "So what have you been doing in the past three days? Why did you not visit?"

"Sleeping," Rhea mumbled. "I thought that was all I needed to kill off the stress that had gathered during school days."

Leslie nodded. "It’s a good thing to take a rest but that shouldn’t stop you from having fun."

Rhea nodded. She couldn’t agree less.

They got to Leslie’s house. Maia and April were already outside waiting.

"Rhea," they waved at her.

Rhea stepped out of the car and ran to meet them.

It’s a good thing to see them.

"I just got some beautiful seashells. Do you want to see them?" Maia asked.

"My mom made some cakes with different flavors. Would you like to taste them?" April asked. "We can watch some mermaid movies too."

Rhea smiled. It’s good to be here.

"I would love to see the seashells, enjoy those cakes, and watch some mermaid movies too," Rhea answered. "I don’t mind having some orange juice mixed with pineapple juice for a drink."

Maia stared at April. "Don’t you think she is acting different today?"

"I think she is. And I love this new her," April answered.

Maia chuckled. "Me too."