Chapter 6 - Memorial service
Topaz O’Connell knew that people were hugging her, but she could barely feel their touch. She felt numb, just like the day the doctor announced her father had passed on, and the day he was being laid to rest. Even after all those years, the pain still felt fresh. Because even as they had gathered in what used to be Mr Arthur O’Connell’s favourite room, she could barely feel her presence, let alone the calm touches of those who tried to revive her mood.
Looking back at it, Topaz O’Connell could not properly mourn as she had yet to understand what happened. One minute, they were talking and laughing over something Unika had said when he suddenly fell to the ground, and the first thing the doctor told them when they got to the hospital was; “I’m so sorry, but it’s too late”. Then, the brunette looked at the doctor with a plain expression and the corners of her mouth lifted in a smile which quickly faded into something morbid when she saw that the stoic expression on his face turned into sympathy.
Something she couldn’t stand.
And that was the same look those who had bothered to show up to the Watford mansion for the memorial service were giving not only her but Giovanni as well, who by the way didn’t seem to have a problem with it, because he smiled at a few, shook hands with some and even acknowledged hug from the older persons. It was almost as if his breakdown at the cemetery didn’t happen.
Topaz O’Connell braced herself to once again receive condolences from shallow and hypocritical persons. She braced herself to receive their so-called kind words with a near-infallible script she had used during the wake keep and that lingered freshly in her mind.
“Oh hi! Yes, of course, I remember you… Thank you…yes, it still hasn’t settled in…. yeah, he was a great person… yes, thank you for coming”.
She knew at least half of the people who passed by her, after all, they were the same person spreading gossip about her father when her mom passed away. Although Topaz was barely ten years old, she remembered everything.
Some things never fade.
The blank look on Topaz’s face was replaced with a sweet smile when she spotted Gwendoline and Wren Austin walking hand-in-hand and making their way toward her. her heart fluttered at the sight of Gwendoline.
When Gwendoline’s gaze landed on Topaz, her face lit up, it was automatic and against her. the connection between both ladies was out of this world, and the tension that filled the air when they were together was so thick that it could only be cut with the help of a saw.
It was evident that they liked each other, but why they didn’t work on their feelings for each other was beyond Wren Austin, who by the way, was wishing she never showed because of the looks people were giving her.
“I hate you for making me come” Wren Austin leaned in and whispered in Gwen’s ear as her gaze landed on a hunk hairy man she remembered from a few days ago.
“Oh stop! You’re here with me” Gwen dismissed her as her gaze never left Topaz.
Out of all the hugs Topaz received, Gwen’s embrace was the only thing Topaz could feel. She couldn’t help but bury her nose in the crook of her neck and bask in the zesty smell of her natural skin.
"How are you?" Gwen questioned while still in Topaz's embrace.
Topaz pulled away from the hug and smiled shyly at her before replying.
"Great. Thank you for coming"
"Sure" Gwen replied. Wren Austin took that as her cue to pay her respect, so she gave Topaz a side hug that didn't last long like the one she shared with Gwen.
All three girls engaged in small talk, and it was the only time when Topaz felt genuine love.
As they talked, Wren Austin began to feel like the third wheel, almost as though she was stopping both girls from pouncing on each other and tearing their clothes off.
While she felt uncomfortable, she didn't dare leave. Not when she felt a gaze digging a hole in the back of her head from the room. She knew who it was, but she didn't dare turn, because there was a fat chance that their gaze will lock and that was the last thing she wanted.
Before coming here, the petit frame lady made it a firm conviction to stay clear from him, and she intended on keeping it that way.
Just then, the hunk hairy man Wren Austin recognised from a few days ago approached her and placed a hand on her lower back that made her flinch and sent a wave of disgust down her spine.
"Hey Wren" the man greeted Wren with a big smile plastered on his face. Gwen and Topaz turned the moment they heard his deep voice and Wren Austin abruptly pushed away his hand from her lower back before giving him a death glare, instantly scaring him.
It is because she respected Topaz and Nanna Denise that Wren didn't pounce on the hunk hairy man. She didn't want to cause a scene, but that didn't mean she didn't hate the fact that her "customer" was acting as though they were an item.
Once the hunk hairy man was gone, and as Wren Austin was about to focus her attention back on the girls, her gaze landed on Giovanni, indicating that he had seen everything that went down, which Wren hated, but she didn't hate it as much as she hated the smile he gave her.
Wren forcefully tore her gaze from Giovanni and focused her attention back on the girls, but she could still feel him staring at her.
Somehow, that didn't bother her, so long as their gaze didn't meet.
It was long until they had to gather in the common room at the mansion for a short service. The room was lit with candles and the picture of Mr Arthur O’Connell was placed on a small table in the corner of the common room and around it, were candles too.
Just as Wren and Gwen made it to the common room, Wren felt another hand on her lower back and this time, the young girl was ready to eat off the man's head, but her tongue got caught in her mouth when she turned and came face to face with beautiful greens eyes that made trees and leaves seem colourless.
Wren couldn't speak up, it was like she had forgotten how to use her speech and this made Giovanni pleased because the corners of his mouth lifted upwards to expose eye-blinding teeth.
Thankfully, Nanna Denise came to her aid and warned Giovanni off her.
"There is a time and place for this, and right now isn't. You can save this for later" the woman spoke mainly to Giovanni but Wren felt like she too was being scolded.
Wren Austin was upset. She hated how her body reacted to his touch, and she hated the fact that she couldn't tell him exactly what she wanted to tell him. She was upset with him and so, her body shouldn't react like that.
The young girl leaned into Gwen and excused herself to the bathroom. As Wren walked away, she felt his gaze in the back of her head and it made her legs go weak as she could barely keep her composure.
Just as the young girl rounded the exit corner of the common room, she felt herself let out a deep breath she hadn't realised she was holding in, but that didn't last long because she felt a hot breath on the crook of her neck and when she turned, she felt Giovanni hovering over her.
"How long are you going to keep avoiding me?" it was a simple question, yet Wren had no answer to it.