The Wind of My Life

Meanwhile, elsewhere…

- (?) Let me get this straight… You, of all the people I can imagine, really thought you were going to hide something from me so easily?

- I can explain. It's not so much like that.

- No? I thought you were my best friend and that you would tell me everything, even the smallest of your problems. And now I discover this and you come to tell me that it's not so much like that? It changes a lot about us. That said…

*pulling something

- (Mary pulling Ellyn) WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU HAD A COUSIN THAT PRETTY?

- Can you make less noise? It's still early for my neighbors to hear your screams.

Even I'm wondering how it took Mary so long to find out that someone was living with me. I can even rephrase what I'm thinking, but in the end, it doesn't change much. Mary always sticks her nose where it doesn't belong, and when she does, she discovers the deepest depths of the soul of the person she wants to know. Exaggerated, but there's so much she knows about me that it would be dangerous for me to let her loose.

I don't remember much of what happened last night. Apparently, another girls' night ended with me, Mary and Nathaly drunk to the point that we'll only find out everything that happened after 1 week, and I don't even bother with that anymore, but the fact that I wake up at 9 am with Mary sitting at the dinner table with Ellyn by her side with an expression of extreme nervousness already tells me that I have to be quick in trying to find out what she knows… Or at least, what Ellyn said.

- (Ellyn) So, since she woke up… How about I prepare something to start the day, right? A little juice, coffee, bread and cheese…

- (Mary) I accept~~

- Ellyn, stay there. Let me prepare.

- (Mary) Ellyn? Isn't it Evelyn?

- (going towards the kitchen) Do you really think I'm going to call my cousin by that name when I can shorten it?

- (Mary) But you don't call me by a nickname. Not even a simple one without needing to be cute, fast and that marks my life~~

- Mary, your first name is already short, fast and marks the life of anyone if they were your friend or friend. Do you want me to give you one more reason not to give you a nickname?

- (Mary turning red) Wow~~ I even felt loved for a second after that.

- Right. Evellyn is my cousin. Time to discover bit by bit.

- (Ellyn) So, do you mind if I wash my hands first before I eat?

- (Mary) Sure, Ellyn~~ At your pleasure.

- (Ellyn coming towards me and pulling me) And Ella… Come here so I can help you make your face more presentable.

- (Mary) No need. I don't even bother with that.

- But, I yes. Even more so in front of a member of my family, don't you think?

- (Mary) Do you care about personal hygiene and basic social introductions, Ellyn?

Upon hearing this and pulling me towards the bathroom, Ellyn just looks at me as if to say "forgive me for saying that".

- (Ellyn nervous) Yes, and I would hate for my cousin to introduce me to a friend of hers so sociable to the point of embarrassing myself for looking like her and not being in the least tidy…

If I wasn't in a sticky situation, I'd hit her like I hit Jack for this.

- (Mary) Hope she likes you a lot because I predict a punch in the eye in a little while.

Without saying much, Ellyn and I head towards the bathroom and stop between the closet and the bathroom door.

- (Ellyn speaking softly) I'm sorry. It was not my inte…

- (speaking softly) What do I need to know?

- (Ellyn pulling herself together) R-Right. My name is Evellyn, I'm your age, I'm your cousin and I'm living with you temporarily because my parents don't really like my lifestyle.

- Right. And where's Jack?

Without saying anything, Ellyn just opened the closet door, and sitting on the floor, looking at me and giving a wave of his hand, I only see Jack giving a nervous smile before Ellyn closed the closet door.

- How did you convince her that you're my cousin? She knows my family tree better than I do.

- (Ellyn) This is bizarre to say the least. But well… I used magic on her.

- (screaming slightly loudly) WHAT?!

- (Mary speaking from the kitchen) I promise I won't call the police for reports of family abuse.

- (speaking loudly) Shut up!

- (Ellyn) Relax. It's not heavy. It's just a suggestion spell. She will believe this for a while, but then she will ignore this fact.

- How long are we talking?

- (Ellyn) If she is influential enough, it could last for weeks.

-Weeks???

- (Ellyn) I use this magic with maximum strength precisely because I don't know if the person is suggestive of receiving information or not. I'm not a mind control expert to differentiate…

- Okay, don't complicate. We are cousins, you live with me in favor. Anything else I should know?

When I asked that, I noticed that Ellyn had a serious expression, far from the nervousness related to Mary's presence.

- (Ellyn) Yes, but we can only talk about it when she leaves.

- C-Right.

- (Ellyn) Now.. Go wash your face. You looks like a petite farmer lefting for a hallucinogenic party with druids.

- Don't compare me to you, forest cousin~~

…

After a few minutes of washing my face, Ellyn and I walked back into the living room. Mary just kept laughing as if she knew we were talking about something secret of hers and that she would find out at any moment, while Ellyn went to prepare something in the kitchen and I just followed her to make sure she didn't do something wrong. After a few more minutes, the 3 of us started eating an improvised x-salad with pineapple juice.

- (Mary) So, Ellyn… Since when have you been here?

- (Ellyn) It's been about 15 days, more or less. I don't remember exactly.

- (Mary) Were you able to hide her for 15 days? You're getting good at keeping secrets from me, Ella.

- She's here wasn't a secret. I just didn't want her to meet you anyway.

- (Mary) Cruelty, huh. See, Elyn? I'm good with her, I carry her here and that's the treatment I get.

- Wait… did you carry me?

- (Mary) Of course! Did you think I was going to leave you alone drunk with Elijah?

- (Ellyn) Elijah was the guy you came along with, wasn't he?

- (Mary) Himself~~

- One minute… You, Mary. Did you sleep here?

- (Mary) Yes. Ellyn let me sleep on the couch. Sleep like an angel.

When I look at Ellyn, I see her make a gesture well hidden from Mary moving her fingers, just as she explained to me about that suggestion magic about Mary. And I thought Ellyn wasn't as naughty as Jack.

- Has Elijah seen you, Ellyn?

- (Ellyn drinking the juice) No. I saw the three of you going up the access stairs, but before he saw me, Mary pulled you up and brought you here. He left and that's when I answered the door to let you two in.

- (Mary) I met Ellyn this morning when I woke up. Ah… My name is Mary and I'm best friends with that pest you call a cousin, Ellyn.

- Nice to meet you properly, Mary~~

- (Mary placing her hand over Ellyn's) The pleasure is all mine~~

- … Mary, less. Please.

- (Mary taking her hands away) Don't cut my high.

- Anyway… Do you remember what happened after we left the bar?

- (Mary) Let me see… We made Belchior take us to Remfield Park, we stayed there for a while with some drinks, then… Nathaly almost got to making out with him and he kept refusing her advances. It was funny and cute~~

- Right. Something else?

- (Mary placing her hand on her face) Hmmm… No. Just asking Elijah and Belchior. They didn't even drink and took girls' night seriously. Only the girls had fun~~

- (Ellyn) Sounds like fun.

- (Mary) If you want, next time, you come with us.

- (Ellyn) Oh, thank you, but I don't like to drink.

- (Mary) Really? You look like you enjoy these funnier ways to enjoy life. Knows how to mess with plants or drink questionable tea.

*holding back laughter

- (Ellyn disconcerted) No. I'm not that kind of person, if that's what I'm thinking.

- (Mary pointing) You just look like it, I'm not saying you are. Even I wouldn't believe that this girl here likes to drink vodka if I hadn't recorded this once.

- If you tell that story, I'll kill you right here, Mary.

- (Ellyn laughing sarcastically) I-I'm better off not knowing that. Save that story for when she's not around.

- (Mary) I already liked you, girl~~

Different from what I imagined, Ellyn and Mary are getting along well. If it weren't for the suggestion magic, I bet they would get along, even though Ellyn isn't as chaotic as Mary, which honestly... It would be the same kind of friendship that Mary and I have.

For a few minutes, we were more talking than eating. As the idea is to make Mary accept that Ellyn is my cousin, the three of us talked about the fact that Ellyn is a girl with a different mindset from my family, her personal tastes and creating a story that would make Mary believe this lie. I find it strange that Mary is accepting this false story precisely because she can tell when someone is lying or not, so is she so influential to the point that Ellyn's magic is working well? Not that I doubt Ellyn's ability, because I've never seen her spells in an active way, but Mary is the type of person who is hard to deceive... Who would have thought that I would have such a doubt?

- (Mary) Look, it was good. Already earned points with me, Ellyn~~

- (Ellyn) Glad you liked it.

- (Mary) Well, as much as I would like to spend more time, I have to clean my house or my landlady will be mad at me.

- (laughing wryly) So did anyone get the ultimatum?

- (Mary disconcerted) Hey! It's not my fault my roommate uses the place as a mach test drive...

- (Ellyn) It's not good to talk so openly about the people you live with, don't you think?

- (sighing) Better get used to it, Ellyn. Subtlety is the last thing you'll see of her.

- (Mary getting up from the table) I hate to admit it, but it's true. Anyway, until next time, Ellyn.

- (Ellyn waving) Bye~~

- (getting up from the table) Wait, I'll go with you to the entrance.

Quietly, Mary and I left my house and started walking towards the entrance slowly.

- (Mary stretching) She's really nice.

- Did you think everyone in my family was such a m*********** to anyone?

- (Mary) I expected something more spoiled, you know?

- Kindness and humility are Ellyn's last names.

- (Mary) If you're saying it, I'll believe it.

*silence

- … Elijah tried again, didn't he?

- (Mary) Huh?

- You left me at home because you were afraid Elijah would try to hit on me when I was drunk, didn't you?

As we were walking very slowly, we ended up stopping at the first step of the stairs to the entrance. Only Mary's stop already confirmed what I was in doubt when Ellyn said that she had seen Elijah but that Mary took me to my apartment.

- (Mary turning to me) Not only hiding someone from me but realizing my intentions is becoming your specialty apparently.

- Mary, as drunk as I was, I still would have turned him down if I'd tried anything.

- (Mary being ironic) Hmmm, there would be a lot. One push and you would have kissed him.

- Serious?

- (Mary) Of course not! Do you really think that just because Nathaly and I were drunk, we were going to let him ruin the girls' night out?

- To spoil? You yourself said that she went after Belchior and that didn't spoil the ride.

- (Mary) Yeah, but it's one thing for them to be admitting they're together after everyone knows, but you and Elijah? You can't imagine the heavy atmosphere it would get if he tried something with you and the next day people say he took advantage of you.

- Mary, remember we're talking about Elijah. The same Elijah who avoids talking about dating and avoids spoiling the pleasant atmosphere our group has.

- (Mary) With all the respect I have for him, just because he's like that doesn't mean he's going to avoid thinking or acting like a guy who wants a girlfriend. Even if he's the most respectful boy we may know, he'll take whatever chances he thinks he gets, and honestly, I don't think the two of you together would be a good thing right now, especially with David having to rekindle the "relationship" he had still think it exists.

- (looking surprised) Wow, I didn't expect that from you.

- (Mary) What did you expect? Me saying "go ahead" or "follow your path"? Even I think about it because I don't want to… you know, lose that vibe that we have.

*laughing lightly

- (Mary) I saw no reason to laugh.

- I'm sorry, it's just… If I were shameless enough, I'd say you're jealous of him.

*silence

- (Mary looking at me with a smile) And if I do? What are you going to do?

In that moment, I felt like I was being confronted by something I never thought was a possibility. Mary jealous of Elijah even though she knows I won't give him a chance...

- (Mary) I don't like to believe in the possibility of something separating us. And honestly, I would hate for Elijah or anyone else to do that.

- … You know that even if I was mad at you and rightly so, that wouldn't make us break up. You know it.

- (Mary going back downstairs) … Yeah, you're right. And I hope that never happens. Imagine me having to apologize for something I did.

- Of course it wouldn't happen~~

After going down the stairs and to the entrance, Mary just said goodbye and left for the dorm where she is.

*silence

I think it's best to believe it was something like a crisis of need... I hope that's what it was.

...