Through the car window, Maveth glanced at a dangling green signboard with the words "4th Avenue" printed on it. With the sudden jolt of the car, she averted her gaze to a shop's storefront glass.
And right above it, the letters 'FLOS INSULAE' stood out against a steely dark background.
Her eyes squinted behind her thick lenses, trying to make out the shop's interior. She saw a peculiar man in oversized glasses, a bouquet suspended midair, and a pale man in an orange suit.
Her line of vision was then obstructed by her father who opened the car door, carrying her luggage.
"Did you put sunblock?" Mr. Lezori asked as he clicked on his key fob.
"I did," Maveth replied while her eyes wandered around. "Does Benni really live here? I see no houses."
Ruben remained silent as he held an umbrella over her daughter's head. The sun blazed before them, and with her daughter's condition, he couldn't let her stay under the heat for too long.
Maveth silently walked beside her father. With pairs of eyes occasionally meeting with hers, she kept her head down as they passed by several mid-rise buildings. The amount of people made her heart race; both because of her enthusiasm and crippling anxiety.
"How odd." Maveth commented as soon as they stopped in front of a thin building, which was only two meters wide.
Looking above her head, she gazed at the glittery glass windows etched against the gray concrete. It was elegant, she thought.What about painting buildings for the next time round?
"C'mon, we'll climb to the 4th floor."
She followed her father's footsteps and ascended the stairs.
When they arrived in the 4th floor's hallway, large glass windows were further installed on each side of the walls, inviting natural light inside the narrow passage. As they walked until the dead end, they came across a dark wooden door carved with simple lines and squares.
Knocking, Mr. Lezori called for his niece who, unknown to them, was still asleep.
"Haah?" Benni's groggy voice was muffled by her pillow.
Upon realizing that she has guests for today, Benni panicked amidst the mess in her room. Newspapers strewn all over the mats, empty energy drinks on the table, random utensils stuck to her couch, and the vibrator on her mattress.
Aahhhh!!! He should've called!!! Damn Ruben Lezori!!! Just die, ah–
"Benni, are you there?" Ruben's voice echoed throughout her room from the intercom.
Grabbing a pitcher, Benni bathed herself in mineral water. With another hand, she pulled a bathrobe and a towel, wrapping her naked body and green hair in them.
"I'm sorry, I was in the shower,” she swung open the door in her post-shower outfit. To hell with this old uncle!
"No worries, I'll be off too. Take care of your cousin just as agreed." Ruben put down Maveth's luggage and patted her head, "Call me, only when it's the end of the world! Otherwise, try to solve problems yourself."
And with a nod and good-bye kiss from his daughter, Mr. Lezori left.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Just as he disappeared from their view, Benni's face deformed into a disgusted expression. "When it's the end of the world?! How can he be so dramatic!"
"I miiissssed you!" Maveth bent down to hug her five foot cousin as her lips broke into a huge grin.
“Ye, ye… stop hugging me,” Benni removed the pair of albinic arms around her neck. “I stink.”
When Maveth dragged her things inside, she stood in full view of Benni’s room. Scanning through all of the mess, she had seen what she deemed were ‘condoms’, and right away, she went to it and picked up the sticky stuff.
“Ya!” Benni stood dumbfounded when Maveth smelled the used condom in front of her.
“So this is semen, huh? It doesn’t smell so bad.”
“Haahhh?!” Benni’s voice cracked. Her facial construction was now worse than it was minutes ago. Maveth, engrossed in her discovery, didn’t bat an eye on her and inspected the plastic closer. If I’m not wrong, this goes into a woman’s vagina too. Must’ve felt silly, I bet.
“Anyway,” Benni dismissed. “Don't touch anything until I'm back." She entered the bathroom and left her cousin, who returned the wet thing on the couch.
Maveth then looked at the newspapers on the floor, and most of them had highlights or red circles scribbled. Curious, she looked closer to see the words highlighted. As she knelt closer, the same synonymous terms were marked.
SUICIDE
suicide
suicidal
missing body
SUICIDE
SUICIDE
...took his own life
assisted suicide
suicide
August 20th,
suicidal
roses
SUICIDE
Taking a deep breath, she paused reading and helped herself on the couch. After having seated, her hands slipped to rub her throbbing temples, feeling a bit dizzy.
Just what are those?...
crreeakk-
Twenty minutes had passed when Benni finally went out of the bathroom. To her surprise, “Mavi”, as she calls her cousin, was sulked into one corner of the couch fast asleep. Her lips were half-opened, knees curled up to her chest, and her arms dangled freely above her head.
Unknowingly, her eyes began to ache and little beads began to form. Tears were already flowing. She dried them quickly and went to dress herself, but her eyes grew hotter, and consequently, loud sobs escaped her lips.
Awakened by her cousin’s hoarse wailing, Mavi peeked through her white lashes. She spotted Benni cramped to herself. Although somewhat confused, she heaved her legs towards the woeful creature, enveloping her in a warm embrace.
Yet to her surprise, her cousin’s sobs only intensified.
“Shit, shit, shit!” Benni cried out.
Her lover hugged her just like this, and he slept just like Maveth on the same couch. How could I cry over these trivial things? Ahhh-
Meanwhile, Mavi remained still. Her pale arms still enveloped her cousin, keeping herself silent despite a lot of questions. Who did she have sex with? What are those ‘newspapers’? Why does her room seem like a dumpster? And why was she crying?
A little later, Benni started laughing. “I’m sorry, Mavi. Forgot to take my meds,” and she went on laughing.
“Hmm… it’s alright. I’m already here, and don’t even think of committing suicide.” She replied in a low solemn tone.
Benni burst out into another raucous laughter, “I’m scared of dying. How could I even slit my own throat?”
Mavi raised her brows, wondering.