Kalvin walked to the silver fence a tear falling down his cheek. He was staring at the sea while his heart was grieving when he heard the steps behind him. He turned around and saw Olivia's face staring back at him."What do you want?" he demanded, attempting to mask his true emotions." I was wrong about Bell. He has such a good and kind side. A good dad" Olivia stated with fury in her eyes. Kalvin stared at her with swelling eyes." You don't deserve such a kind dad" she spat with a vengeance in her voice. Kalvin clenched his jaw, turning back to face the sea."Leave," he commanded, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. Olivia gazed at the side view of Kalvin's face with satisfaction before turning and walking down the corridor. As she walked away, Melvin emerged from the room. In a firm tone, she addressed Kalvin,
"Bell didn't mean it. You know that."
" "I know what he meant better than you do," Kalvin retorted angrily as he walked inside the room. Melvin watched her brother walk away with a sense of sorrow.
"You'll never know," she murmured to herself.
On the next day, Kalvin, Melvin, and Olivia were feeling quite down. They spent most of the day staring into things, lost in their thoughts. Olivia's demeanour took Carl aback. When he saw her for the third time, gazing at her morning coffee like it was some foreign object, he reached out to her hand, saying, "Hey." Startled, Olivia was caught off guard.
"What's wrong? You're acting differently today," he asked in a friendly manner, looking at her intently.
"Nothing," she replied, forcing a smile, but Carl didn't seem satisfied with that answer.
"This whole voyage thing has been freaking me out. Maybe it was a bad call," she said, trying to change the subject."Oh," he said, smiling.
"For better or for worse, we can't change what we've chosen now," Carl said lightly.
"That doesn't help," Olivia replied, shaking her head slightly as she smiled.
"Well, think like this. whatever fate has in store for us, we will confront it side by side. Even in death, we will have faced it together," he said, his smile reflecting a mix of reassurance and determination.
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"That's a nice way to think about death," Olivia remarked, her eyes sparkling with a blend of admiration and resilience. Carl raised his eyebrow, adding a touch of playfulness.
" You Mr everything good in every day" Olivia smiled taking a sip of coffee.
" Most of us are here because we couldn't bear the chaos of Octagon Verenda's life anymore. So I don't think we should worry at all. It's better to die peacefully in happiness than dying every day in that garbage dump called 'octagon veranda' " Carl stated, his voice brimming with understanding.
"I can't disagree," Olivia said with a funny tone.
"You can't agree either," Carl said, smiling knowingly."You know, I have unfinished business left in that garbage dump," Olivia said, attempting humour, though inwardly she was jittery."Your mom," Carl said, nodding in agreement."Carl, do you think my mom deserves forgiveness? She did terrible things," Olivia asked, her troubled expression unwavering. Carl lifted his head slightly, raising his eyebrows, indicating the complexity of the situation."She is a chancellor. Chancellors make tough decisions in hard times. They are not personal choices," Carl explained thoughtfully, but Olivia interrupted.
"And that's not the only criminal your mom sentenced to death. The difference is, this time, she killed the man herself. Olivia, the issue is that you hate your mom, and you needed a new reason, and you found one." Carl explained. Olivia was a bit puzzled.
"You hate your mom for abandoning you after your father died. People bullied you because your mom was a chancellor. She was busy all the time saving others but wasn't there when you needed a mom. That's why you hate her truly Olivia. Sometimes you have to forget the past to embrace the future." Carl explained in a calm tone. Olivia was a bit perturbed, but she acknowledged the truth in his words. She gave out a heavy breath.
"It's not that easy," She said in a voice near to cry. Carl grabbed her hand softly.
"Stop Olivia, Stop abandoning your mom like she did to you. She needs you. You hate yourself for hurting her. I know, what is the hardest to forget yourself. But only you can free yourself. "Carl said in a gentle voice trying to explain to her the truth. Eventually, Olivia nodded a tear falling down her left cheek.
"It's not easy" She whispered nodding and biting her lip trying to hold back tears.
"That's why I'm here for you baby," Carl said squeezing her hand tight. Olivia smiled through tears.
Melvin suddenly appeared from a corner of the hall and hurried to Olivia. "They're ready," she said in a tenser voice, tapping Olivia's shoulder. Startled, Olivia quickly wiped her face, stood up, and tried to change her mood. Carl stood up in wonder and walked toward her. "Where are you going? What's going on?" he asked curiously, looking at Olivia and Melvin. "I'll be right back and explain. Don't worry, OK?" Olivia said firmly, kissed Carl's cheek, and rushed to Melvin. They both ran down the corridor. "Enemy girls together. Oh, that's weird," he whispered to himself as he watched Olivia leave.