I groaned as I was woken up with the pain still rumbling in my belly. I winced with the wet pool in my panties like I peed myself.

I rolled around, squeezing my toes, as Mamă shook me like a sausage.

"Wake up Reina, time for school," Mamă said, peckering me with kisses. I pulled the duvet over me but she tugged it away, and I shivered with the cold air rushing down my legs.

"Come my dear, you need to get ready for school," Mamă said. Once I sat up, she kissed my cheek and walked out. I moaned and slid out onto the floor. I held my belly and I went to the bathroom like as my hair fell over my face.

I pushed the door open and Raiden was already brushing his teeth. A smile pressed up my lips and I waved wildly and he waved back.

"Neață!" I said, dragging myself across the cold tiles. I hopped next to him and squeezed him into a hug. I kept yawning while rubbing my crusty, watery eyes. I peered at my foggy reflection but it was just a big, blurry mess.

"Reiny, I'm going to play fotbal after school with my friends. Are you coming to watch me?" he muffled while running his brush under the faucet.

"Nu," I said and his eyebrows shot down while making a bubbly frown and crossing his arms at me.

"Why not?" he said, "You're my twin, you're supposed to come cheer me on."

"I don't feel like it," I casually said and continued brushing. I glanced at him and he had a sour expression just glaring at me. I smirked and stuck my tongue out at him.

"Don't worry Ray, I'll come watch you play."

"Okay good," he said and grinned and we started swishing our heads in rhythm. I twisted my legs as I still had a sharp pain in my belly. I tried rubbing it away but it was no use.

"How long are you going to be playing for?" I asked curiously to distract myself from the pain that was biting me.

"Not for long. I don't want to be running too much in case I get an asthma attack."

"Oh yeah, that's true."

"Hei Reina, look," Raiden said. I turned to him and he stuck his foamy tongue out with his mouth filled with bubbly toothpaste.

"Ew, that's disgusting!" I spluttered out and shoved his face away. He started laughing and stuck his tongue out to try and lick me.

"Leave me alone!" I started running around the bathroom with him chasing me.

"Come here Reiny!" His arms were reaching out towards me but I ran. We leapt over the toilet and I knocked the toilet roll in front of him. He grabbed it and threw it in my face, knocking me down.

He came and tackled me to the ground with tickles. I kicked my legs while laughing hysterically.

"Stop—" I wheezed out, but he tickled me more and his long fingers climbed up my armpit like a spider.

"Say please."  Raiden grinned mischievously.

"Shush!" I cried out. Suddenly, I felt the urge to pee and crawled away from him.

"Get out. I need to pee," I said, standing up and catching my breath.

"Alright, miss bossy." He said. He rinsed his mouth and went out. I sat on the toilet and kicked my legs out. Once I finished, I was about to flush when I noticed something weird in the water.

I stared at it and my eyes widened when I realized it was blood spotted around like polka dots.

Where did that come from?

I looked down and screamed when I saw a puddle of blood in my panties.

"Why am I bleeding?" I yelled, staring at the toilet bowl as it looked back at me with a frightened face.

"Reina you okay?" Raiden knocked loudly against the door, making me jump. 

"Um da, I'm okay!" I said and quickly flushed the toilet. "Go have breakfast without me, I'll be out in a few minutes."

The cloudy water swished around as my eyes darted around the bathroom blue swirly walls. I swung open the cabinet and began throwing things out to find something that could help me.

"Come on, please..." I pleaded but I found nothing useful. I fiddled with my nails and started walking around the mess while crying. I still haven't found anything for the blood and now Mama is going to be so mad.

"What is happening to me?" I said and stared down at the blood. "Am I going to die?" I cried even more and ended up stuffing tissues in my panties and went out. I put my hair into a bun and dressed into my school uniform.

I grabbed my bag and crept out of the room. I clutched my straps with shaking hands while looking at Mamă seated at the table with Raiden. I took deep breath as I began walking down the hallway while staring at the different paintings. Until I reached the end and forced a big smile.

"Neaṭa Mamă," I said quietly and slipped next to Raidan. I patted his shoulder and pointed towards the cereal. "Give me," I said and he passed it over to me.

"Morning Reina. Is everything okay? I thought I heard you scream," she asked. I froze as the cereal continued falling out. She was looking at me, her pointed black nails digging her toast as she waited for an answer.

"Um, I—I just stubbed my toe," I stuttered and quickly ate a spoonful. She raised an eyebrow as I lowered my reddening cheeks into the bowl.

"Serios?"

I slowly nodded while my face burned up under her sharp glare, like she could see through my lies.

"But I'm fine now!" I forced a wide smile that stretched with the tightening pain in my tummy.

"That's good," she said. "Did you also sleep well?"

"Mhm!" I nodded again and stuffed my face. Once she finally turned away, I slumped down my arm and stirred my soggy cereal, still thinking about the blood as the images spun around in my brain.

I cried silently as Raiden eat peacefully while talking to Mamă. I didn't want to say anything to him so he wouldn't to start worrying about me, and I couldn't tell Mamă because she probably wouldn't care.

When we finished, we followed Mamă to the car and I decided to ask Jenny, my old foster mother, to see if she has any idea of what to do. I texted her for help in English, and to reply quickly when she wakes up because she was still sleeping in LA.

I quietly played a cat simulator game while leaning on Raidan. I didn't wanna suddenly die and stop going to school with him or not see my friends anymore. I really hope Jenny replies to me quick.

****
Mona's POV

I strolled through the dreary street as I held a box of cupcakes. The gray clouds drifted over me as I held a strawberry cupcake that lit up my day like a firefly. Since I had completed all my chores, I decided to treat myself and surprise my kids with them.

I nibbled the icing as it kissed my cold cheeks. My tongue glided across my ruby sparkly lips, gently licking it off so it won't stain. My footsteps pierced the surroundings with fierce clacks along the pavement. I was glued to their movement as I suddenly collided with someone.

I screamed as the tray of cupcakes almost slid off my hand. But I caught it in time and landed with a thump so none of the cupcakes came out.

I growled as the pain stung my ass and shattered my moment of pleasure against the hard concrete ground.

"O îmi pare rău!" The person profusely said sorry. But I felt a ring of heated anger around my eyes as the sugary taste was replaced with a pulsing pain that beaten my forehead.

I saw a glimmer of their hand waving through my blurry vision. It was heading towards me, raising my hairs in alarm and I quickly smacked it away.

"Don't—Don't touch me," I grumbled, my voice laced with bitterness and stamped my hand down. "I got it," I said and pushed myself off the ground, letting out a deep, familiar groan.

"Again I'm very sorry, are you okay?" They asked as their crispy words flowed smoothly like honey, rattling my ears with suspicion, sounding too sweet to be genuine.

"Fine," I mumbled while scowling and dusted myself. I then caught a brief glimpse of his face and recognised it was the guy I spoke to yesterday.

"Hei didn't I speak to you the other day?" I asked. He peered closer at me. I stiffened under his wandering gaze. My heart thumped hard with anxiety building in my mouth, wondering if there was any specks of dust against my blush.

"Yeah, I remember you." His lips subsequently lifted into a smile. "How are you?"

"Alright I guess." I shrugged. "Just heading home now. Is your headache gone?"

"Yeah it's all gone now," he said, letting out a light-hearted chuckle with his chest moving in sync. "What about yours? Even though I think I may have accidentally caused another one. Sorry about that."

"Eh don't worry, mine is also gone," I said while caressing my hair. "Now I'm going home to wait for my kids to come from school, so they can have these cupcakes."

"That's nice. Well, I hope you enjoy your cupcakes with your kids."

"Mulțumesc." I said and brushed away a strand of hair. I twinkled my hands goodbye and went on my way.

Once I got home, I placed the cupcakes down and settled myself on the couch as I could rest comfortably in my slippers.

I glanced up at the clock, and it was 2:50 so Raiden and Reina should be finishing in the next hour. Since I had some time before getting my computer ready for work, I might watch a movie. So I grabbed another cupcake and turned the TV on.

While it was loading, I decided to scroll through the album I had saved of my childhood moments from my dad's phone before he died. There's one where we went to a waterfall near where we lived. I was around three and vibrant trees hovered over us like umbrellas; where I plucked up a flower near the slippery rocks and stumbled back to my dad and showed him what I found.

I stared dead at the chubby cheeks I had as a low murmuring rush of water played a nostalgic tune in my ears, gushing down the rocks and lapping at my feet. All while my dad held me tight and we had biscuits with home-made apricot jam.

My fingers tensed as I stared at my father's face. My heartbeat quickened as a sickly feeling rumbled my stomach. My mouth filled with bitter worry over my tati's proud face shadowing over me. I didn't want to think of him as a monster, but I'm afraid of the more I'll uncover, that's what he'll turn out to be.

I set my phone down as my eyes started prickling with water. I turned to the TV and got Disney plus on. I chose Beauty and the Beast since it's always been my favorite Disney movie since I was a kid. I remember when my dad and I would watch it every Sunday night to end the week.

Once it started, I tucked my legs in and wrapped myself in a blanket. I allowed the sound to seep peacefully into my ears, revealing the beautiful garden and the twittering birds.

Sometimes I wished I had a special someone in my life like some of these princesses. But I hardly think that's possible now with the only relationships I've been in being nothing but a cruel, heartless lie.

Anyway, I cuddled myself into my blanket as I peacefully watched the movie.

A/N: Hey I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Mona's relationship with her daughter is so broken that her own child asks for help from someone whose halfway across the world 😭😭😭