∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

MARIA

I must've been sick at least five times that day.

I came out of the public restroom, practically wobbling as I walked with a sullen look on my face while approaching Luna.

Her wide eyes met mine before she quickly placed her phone back into her pocket and gazed at me with such confusion that it made me realise how terrible I looked.

It had been a week since our holiday began.

Luna and I had spent a relaxing time sightseeing, gardening, going on tours and walks, taking in the countryside life. I was happy that I had spent time with my sister and had the opportunity to get to know her better. Luna was getting better, she didn't need her medication anymore and she was a lot more relaxed around me.

We had girls night in after a long day of walking, pillow fights and evening confessions to each other, did our makeup together in the morning, laughed, had our meals together. All the things I couldn't even dream of doing with Luna before. The weather had definitely gotten a lot warmer.

"Geez, Ria," Luna could only let out, her eyebrows knitted together as her eyes followed me while I trudged towards her. I groaned softly, slowly making my way out the bathroom with my hand against my flat stomach, surprised I was still able to puke anything else out of there. I hated being sick. "You look like a train wreck."

I felt extremely weak and exhausted. I had tried to maintain the high spirits Luna and I both were in, smiling, laughing, trying everything to get the image across that I was happy, that my stomach wasn't trying to kill me over the last couple of hours. But I could no longer fight my true feelings.

Drained and nauseous was the only way to describe how I felt. I needed sleep, I needed water and I needed medicine. The countryside wasn't even busy and yet I was over stimulated. All I wanted to do was sleep.

"Thanks, Luna," I sarcastically replied in a low and unsteady voice. I swallowed uncomfortably, feeling my throat tighten as I did so. My chest was stuffy and I felt like I was heavily breathing. I placed my toothbrush and toothpaste into her bag as she suggested, "why don't we head back? You must be really ill."

I shook my head, the whole world spinning as I did so. I winced before masking my discomfort with a smile. "It's okay, Lu. Let's find somewhere for lunch." The thought of food made me want to barf but I knew how hungry Luna was. It must've been the food truck we had been to the day before, Luna and I had two completely different meals. I had never regretted my food choices that much since that day.

We sat down after finding a place and I ordered a salad to be on the safer side. There was no way I was adding to the mess going on in my stomach. Luna dived into her pasta and extra sides and I smiled without realising as I watched her eat. Luna didn't restrict herself on food and I wondered what it was like to not constantly question food. My mind always ran through the calories, the protein, the fibre. I always questioned if I needed another meal that day if I ate too much, how much I'd have to work out to burn off what I'd ate, if I needed to stick my fingers down my throat to relieve the stress going on inside of me. It dialled down a lot after being with Leonardo for so long.

I thought less about what I was putting into my mouth and more about how it tasted. If I liked the food, I ate it. But I worried that would change again if I wasn't around him. Luna must've noticed my gaze and asked, "why aren't you eating?" I snapped out of my thoughts and smiled, picking up my fork and digging into my salad. It seemed to suppress the nausea in me despite my weariness.

Luna smiled and continued to eat. My eyes travelled down to her neck that held a pearl necklace around it. Her skin was bare but I could still remember the deep, purple marks running across her neck that stuck onto there for a while.

"Sometimes," I began, my mind going down memory lane. "Sometimes I think about the that night." That frightening night that I found Luna unconscious still haunted me. I hesitated before continuing softly, "and I'm glad that you're here and that we're okay now." Luna's smile extended and I was glad that I hadn't triggered her. She had definitely become a lot more open in speaking about it after time had passed. I felt my heart tighten in my chest even thinking about it. My regret, my agony, her pain.

"Me too," Luna replied, her grey eyes twinkling. "I was angry then. Angry over things that were completely misunderstood. I never want to be that person again. I'm glad you were there. I'll never forget what you and..." She stopped herself, realising what she was about to say.

I gave her an open look, "Leo?" I casually filled in. Luna seemed to try and avoid the topic during our time together. Her eyes studied my face to make sure that she hadn't pressed a button. I lightly chuckled, "Lulu, I'm fine."

Luna didn't seem convinced. Probably because during the first night, I came out of a thirty minute shower with red eyes. But it was true, I was doing fine. "I know it was hard for you," Luna mentioned, her tone cautious. It would be a lie to say that the thought of Leonardo didn't bother me but I knew how to manage it. My chest would always tighten and my mind would spiral thinking about him but I didn't let it affect me. Day by day, it got easier to let go of Leonardo.

I gently shrugged, "break ups are hard. But it's for the best." I couldn't pretend that I didn't think about him, that I didn't wish I could see him. It would take time, time to get over my first love. Luna gently sighed, poking her fork around her plate. I deeply inhaled, finding distraction in eating to stop myself from worrying about him.

"Well...I hope you guys get back together," Luna commented hopefully. I chuckled again, unable to reply. But the truth was that in my heart, I secretly wished the same.

I heard a small gasp not too far away and my eyes moved up to meet a pair of wide blue ones. As I swallowed, I scanned the person's unfamiliar face. A man with fair skin and dirty blonde hair was beginning to approach our table, his eyes stuck onto me. My face fell. Why was a stranger approaching me?

"You're Maria Amante? Aren't you?"

A fan. Not a stalker. I pushed the corner of my lips back up into a polite smile.

I hoped my face looked alright because he had already pulled his phone out for pictures.

I hadn't realised how big my name had gotten on social media after the kidnapping. My story was out there and I had sparked in followers. Iris made it clear that I didn't want any interviews or to be a part of any shows. Things blew up even more when people found out that Leonardo and I's 'engagement' had ended. Iris informed me that we were a 'loved' celebrity couple and that people were shocked we ended.

When Luna and I had explored the rest of the history of our holiday spot that took over the majority of the day, we found ourselves tired and decided to head back to the airbnb to rest since we were going to head back home the next day.

I was driving the rental car when I found myself getting nauseous again. It came out of nowhere and the more we were going over hills and bumps and passing the same fields and sights, my mouth got drier as my stomach continued to flip inside. I swallowed in discomfort, repositioning myself on my seat.

My hands gripped onto the steering wheel as I blinked rapidly, trying to keep myself calm and breathe through my throbbing headache. It was getting worse as the journey progressed; my eyes felt heavy and would go blurry every couple of minutes. I knew something was wrong and as Luna was telling me some more about the history of the area, I pulled over to the side safely and turned off the engine. We were surrounded by a couple of small houses with some good greenery in the area. The car was over on the side where crops seemed to be growing. It looked like a peaceful little neighbourhood for families to live in.

I raised my hand to my forehead and winced, closing my eyes. "Sorry, Lu, I need a minute, I feel so sick." Luna gazed at me in concern, taking off her seatbelt.

"Ria, are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?" Luna fretted, her eyes wide as she gazed at me.

I gave her a weak but reassuring smile, "I can manage. Don't worry." My pounding head rested for a few minutes against the steering wheel. I could feel myself grip onto the desire of sleep despite having a full night's rest the evening before.

I sighed and pushed the door open to get more air in that the window just wasn't delivering. Luna unscrewed a bottle and handed some water to me. Gratefully, I gulped down half the bottom and exhaled, leaning my head back. "Geez, that burrito really took you out," Luna commented, helplessly watching me.

"Oh, fuck," I mumbled a few minutes later. I quickly got out of my seat, feeling the bile rise in my throat again. I got out and managed to make it a good distance away from the car and threw up whatever my body was forcing me to release into some bushes with some unladylike sounds coming from me.

My whole face scrunched up at my own action. I felt disgusted in myself and all I wanted to do was go home, shower and sleep. Luna handed me a couple of tissues and water that I used immediately to sort myself out. I sighed, placing my hand against my forehead and groaning. It did help. I did feel slightly better, but I was beginning to consider seeing a doctor. I had a feeling that it wouldn't be the last vomit.

I was ready to head back into the car and escape back when Luna suddenly gasped beside me.

I turned to face her in confusion at her sudden sound. Her whole face was struck with shock, she was frozen, her hand covering her mouth. Then she dropped the water bottle beside her, her other hand shaking as she stared in horror afar. "Lu?" I questioned, standing straight and going closer to her. I didn't think much of it at first until she let out a shaky whisper, "Ria..." Then her hand pointed forwards in a straight line, tears spilling down her cheeks.

In alarm, I stared at her in concern, confused as to why she was so upset all of a sudden. "What's wrong, Lu? What are you looking at?" I couldn't initially see anything in the distance. Just a couple of families enjoying the sun in their gardens. All the houses were facing the other side.

My eyebrows knotted together in puzzlement, squinting a little as I tried to see what was causing the sudden panic in Luna. She was breathing heavily, her hand reaching out and clutching onto mine as her eyes continued to stick to whatever had caught her attention.

"What is it, Luna?" I probed further in concern, my eyes flickering between the houses and my sister in utter uncertainty. My heart began to race inside. I didn't know whether to panic or not.

"Look properly, Ria," Luna's frantic eyes finally tore away from the houses and met mine, filled with dread. The fright in her words sparked my anxiety. I blinked at her in bewilderment, completely unaware of what was right in front of her eyes. "I'm not going crazy, am I?" Luna let out in a fright, her shaking eyes unable to stop darting around.

"Lu—"

"I haven't seen her in a long time—I was little. I could barely remember what she looks like but—" Luna rambled agitatedly, her hand tightening and gripping hard onto mine. My eyes expanded at her strong hold, desperate to know what it was.

"Who, Lu?" I asked again, shaking Luna's hand. Her grey eyes met mine again as she whispered, "but she's dead, Ria—she's dead, isn't she?"

"Luna," I firmly said, pulling her hand a little and forcing her to look at me. "What are you talking about, bambina?" I tried a little more gently, hoping she'd come out of her trance. Then all colour drained away from her small face as she finally told me.

"She's right there, Ria!" Luna bursted, moving her eyes back to the houses. "Mammina—she's right there!"

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

~ Author's Note ~

Mammina? Is Luna seeing correctly?

Keep reading to find out what or who exactly is making Luna so upset!

Thoughts on this chapter?

Please vote, comment, share and follow.

Please tag users you think will be interested in NEPENTHE!

Thanks for reading!

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘