Collin: Let's go somewhere. I want to show you something.
Rose: Huh? Where are we going?
Collin: Be a good girl and don't ask.
Mom: He said with a smirk.
Rose: What are you planning now? There is no end to what to expect from you. Why are you so unpredictable?
Collin: It's part of my charm.
Mom: He said jokingly.
Rose: Charms indeed.
Mom: I rolled my eyes in annoyance.
Collin: That's enough. Now come on.
Mom: I wondered where he was taking me, but I didn't probe further. Not like he was going to tell me anyway.
The past few days had been different because of him. He was annoying most of the time, but I quite enjoyed his company. I will always cherish your dad more, but at this point, when I wasn't close with Eugene, Collin was kind of a breath of fresh air.
Collin: Get in.
Mom: He gestured for me to sit in his car, which I silently did.
It was almost sunset, and as he drove, I rolled down the windows and felt the cool breeze brush upon my face. It was amazing.
I closed my eyes to savor it all in. When I opened my eyes, I realized he was heading towards the outskirts of town.
I turned to look at him and saw that usual smirk on his face.
Collin: Don't worry, baby girl, we'll be there soon
Rose: There you go again with those cheeky remarks.
Collin: What? You don't like being called baby girl?
Mom: He asked with a grin.
Rose: Well, I do, just not by you.
How about that?
Collin: Oh, you break my heart, baby girl.
Mom: He said sarcastically.
Rose: Just watch the road, will you?
Collin: Tsk... Your wish is my command, baby girl.
Rose: ....
Mom: I just facepalmed my forehead with that one. As I said earlier, he was pretty annoying.
Soon we were on a lonely street. The streetlights flickered as we passed, casting eerie shadows.
I started feeling uneasy and kept glancing at Collin, yet he looked unbothered. He was calm, actually.
Collin: We are here.
Rose: Here?
Mom: I checked our surroundings, and my curiosity was piqued. What lay before us was an old, abandoned mansion. It looked dark and mysterious, and I felt the chilly air that surrounded the place. It was gloomy.
Collin gestured for us to step out.
Rose: Where are we?
Mom: I asked as I stepped out of the car, following him.
Collin: Don't tell me you are scared.
Mom: He said sarcastically with a smirk.
Rose: I'm not scared. I'm just... um... wondering why we are in a place like this, that's all.
Collin: Yhhhhh... You're scared.
Rose: I said I'm not ok!
Collin: Heyyyy, chill.
Mom: He came closer and lifted my hands.
Collin: See?
Rose: ...
Mom: My hands were shaking. I didn't even notice.
Collin: Don't be scared. There's something I want to show you.
Mom: I just nodded and followed him, choosing to trust him.
As we stood right in front of the mansion, he held my hand. I was taken aback by the gesture and looked at him. For some reason, he looked serious, which was so unusual of him.
Collin: Rose.
Rose: Yes.
Collin: Before we go inside, I just want to let you know that,....
Mom: I waited patiently to hear what he was going to say, with my heart beating furiously in my chest
Collin: Gosh, you look so cute and adorable right now
Rose: ....
Mom: I couldn't believe it. And then again, what was I expecting?
I yanked my hand from him, and all he did was let out a teasing laugh.
He opened the door, which let out a creaking sound. When we finally entered the mansion, I was dumbstruck.
Rose: Is this hell?