Sofia walked to her home limping too much. She entered the house and was welcomed by silence. Even though she was habitual of silence sometimes she needed someone by her side. And it was one of those times. Her heart ached looking at the big Family picture in the dining area. Her mother was holding her with a smile. She continued her journey to her habitat.She was about to enter her room when a maid called her from behind.

"Oh my dear what happened to your foot? Oh my your pants are all bloody are you alright?"
The maid name Linda asked her worriedly.
She was her caretaker when Sofia was still a newborn. Sofia's eyes glisten with tears. The maid held her wrist and pulled her in the room.

"Younger Madam you sit here and let me bring something for your wounds."
The maid rushed out again.

Sofia shed a few tears, that's how she cried. She didn't even know how to cry.
The maid returned back and opened the bandages.

"You don't need to, Linda mam, they are done by a professional." Sofia spoke slowly.

"I know still this balm is a healing balm. I have used it since I was your age and trust me it heals burns, cuts and any wound that's not bleeding." She spoke and took a towel.

"I will just warm it up." She took the towel to the bathroom and made it all wet under running water.

After it was all wet she squeezed the extra water out of the towel and came back with a container of hot water and towel. She started to clean the previously bandaged areas.

"Does it feel good?" She asked softly.
"It actually does, thanks." Sofia spoke slowly and closed her eyes. She was about to let herself lose when she heard a knock.

"It must be Annie." The maid replied and opened the door to see the expected person.

"Mam I brought you warm milk." Annie spoke.

"Why?" Sofia asked, opening her eyes.

"Warm milk with nuts and turmeric helps in wound healing." Annie replied.

"I heard Linda running around because you got injured so I wanted to give you this." Annie was a nice girl who always paid close attention to her own work only. She was in charge of Sofia as a personal maid.

"Thanks Annie." Sofia took the glass and sipped the warm milk.
It all felt so nice and delicious at the same time. She drank the milk and returned the glass to Annie who happily took it back. The slow strokes with which Linda applied the balm and the milk she just drank made Sofia all cozy and in no time she was fast asleep. The dying sun rays left orange strokes in the sky that were welcoming the moon of the next month on the lunar calendar.

*In Lily's room*

"Oscuro now will you please speak? I have changed my clothes I have washed my face and am eating my meal." Lily was whining sitting on her study table in her pajamas while Oscuro was sitting on the chair near the table.

"So she was basically running downstairs during break time. And she tripped which caused her to fall down almost 7 stairs. Her knee started to bleed almost immediately. She tried to get up herself but her ankle got sprained so I helped her up and took her to the pharmacy for a bandage then she felt sleepy after some pills so I took her here. Her parents would have gotten worried." Oscuro spoke.

"She must be in so much pain." Lily was sad and had stopped eating.

"Ouch." Oscuro smacked Lily's head.

"Finish your food!" He spoke and walked out of the room.

Lily kept sitting there and after a few minutes placed her unfinished super in the fridge.

The next day:

*At the school*

Lily was sitting on her seat as usual but today she was super distressed. She was too stressed for Sofia. She just wanted to fly to her to see if Sofia was fine or not. She didn't mean to be harsh on her yesterday. She just hates it when Sofia lets people walk on her dignity with ease. She felt a soft corner for Sofia ever since she saw her. But after she volunteered to help her, Sofia became a shining star for Lily. And after that everything that bothered Sofia was bothersome for Lily as well.

On the other hand Layla was agitated as well. Not only Sofia just disappeared in the thin air yesterday. A freaking handsome boy came to fetch her stuff. Now she had taken a leave without any prior notice. Layla checked her cell if there were any texts from Sofia but nothing. It's not like Layla was going to reply to her. She just wanted to ignore Sofia's text but to ignore the texts there was something necessary  'the freaking texts'!!!! So both Layla and Lily were frustrated, for an entirely different reason but because of the same person 'Sofia'.

*At Reyes residence*

Sofia rubbed her eyes to get her vision clear. She tried to move her foot and that didn't hurt much. She was thankful to Linda for the balm and Annie for the warm milk she offered her the day before. She looked at the clock and couldn't accept the fact that it was 11 am which means she slept for 17 hours straight. She felt so light and relaxed. She surely was mentally and physically too much drained that made her sleep like a rock. It's 11 which means her parents aren't home. And that was better. Now she doesn't have to answer any questions. She came out of her room and walked to the kitchen.

"Good morning younger Madam."
Linda spoke while cooking something.

"Morning."
Sofia replied and opened the fridge.

"You can relax madam I will cook whatever you would like."
Linda spoke slowly.

"You know I make my own breakfast and lunch."
Sofia responded looking at the box she was holding in her hand.

"But today is different you are injured. And it will hurt if you keep standing or walking too much. The more you take rest the earlier your injury will heal."
Linda tried to persuade her and switched off the burner.

"Okay. Make me my favorite pasta. Neither red sauce nor white sauce, a simple recipe with some extra spice."
Sofia explained the recipe to Linda.

"Any sauce you would like to add?"
Linda asked jotting the notes.

"Yeah just a little bit soy sauce would do nothing more and yeah one last thing don't make it too much dry. Let a little sauce stay when you serve."
Sofia completed her word and walked out of the kitchen.

"Good morning mam you could have called me it's not good to walk in this condition try to rest as much as you can." Annie spoke slowly.

"Morning Annie. I am better and yeah when Linda is done cooking can you bring it to my room for me?"
Sofia asked softly.

"Sure mam! You need my help to take you to your room?"
Annie asked with a smile.

"Sure." Sofia smiled.

Within the next 20 minutes Sofia's meal was already placed on her table. It smelled appetizing. Sofia already asked Annie to bring the breakfast but Linda had tagged along because she wanted to know the outcome of the new recipe she tried.
"It's really the way I wanted it to be. You did a fabulous job Linda." Sofia's words brought a wide smile on Linda's face. She nodded and with an extremely happy heart she walked out.

"Annie you can leave as well."
Sofia spoke without even looking at her.
Annie walked out silently.
Sofia thought about herself while eating her comfort food.

*Sofia's pov*

Any person who knows me thinks of me as a weirdo. A person who belongs to a low class family. Basically a poor family.
Because of my attire. And the way my stuff is all old and never changed. Evelyn is a type of friend everyone need to flaunt to the society. So they can show how superior they are from the rest. But Evelyn herself isn't an ideal friend. Nobody looks for good in a person these days. And except for that Evelyn has it all. She is pretty, she is smart, she is tall, she has a figure the society approves and admires. She always get good grades. She just looks like she is the definition of perfection. So such people has so many individuals around them that spotting a better person is almost impossible.
Why the hell am I thinking about her the first thing in the morning?
Sofia just ignored the raising thoughts in her brain and for the very first time she didn't inform Layla about her disappearance and neither Layla asked if everything was fine, that was a little hurtful. It's not like she ever asked but still it hurted.
Sofia just lay down on her bed and closed her eyes. She felt something strange all of the sudden. Her body started to get that crawling feeling again. She immediately sat up. When it increased she opened the door and rushed to roof top. Looking at the open sky made her breathing a little better. She started to take longer breaths.
Her breath got stuck when someone hugged her from behind. She freed herself and turned around to see Lily again.
"Lily?!"
Sofia looked at her cell phone at almost 1 pm.

"Hey..."
Lily smiled at her. She was still in her uniform.

"You bunked the school?"
Sofia asked her with wide eyes.

"Nope! Lectures got cancelled. Board members had the important meeting so they let us out and I thought you might be here so I came upstairs as soon as I got home."
Lily looked so happy to be there.

That's when Sofia noticed that she was hyperventilating. She was also sweating so she basically ran towards home just to see her. Sofia's heart melted to a puddle and she smiled a big one this time.

"You wanna come inside?"
She asked softly.

"Can I?! Oh my dear yes!!!Is it even a question."
Lily was flooding in happiness. She hugged Sofia's arm.

"Let's go!"
Lily looked at Sofia with hearts in her eyes. They started to walk downstairs.

"Here! this is my room."
Sofia spoke and closed the door as Lily walked in.

"Woah I never thought you are this organized Miss. Reyes."

"I am not. It was a maid who cleaned up my room last night only."
Sofia explained. Lily has seen her bag lying on the floor every day so it's safe to say no lie was required.

"I see. My room is also messy."
Lily spoke in a lower tone as if she was revealing the biggest secret.

"Anyway Miss. Sofia Reyes if you have no issue can I change into one of your pajamas?"
Lily asked standing in front of her cupboard.

"Sure!" Sofia gave her a new pair of pajamas.

"Thanks baby girl."
With that Lily rushed to the bath.

"I am going outside to get some snacks for both of us."
Sofia announced and walked out of the room.

"Mom?"
Sofia looked at her mom when she was on her way to tell Annie, to make some snacks and drinks for Lily and her.

"Sofia? You didn't go to school today I received the text of your absence."
Her mother asked, drinking water.

"I got my ankle sprained yesterday so I couldn't go today."
Sofia spoke looking down.
She knew what was coming for her and she wasn't wrong.

"Excuses! You could have asked me, a driver would have dropped you to school and took you back home as well. Do you even care about my reputation or not? How many times I have to repeat that you are the sole heiress of the Reyes. You have to be perfect. You aren't a normal human who can sprain her ankle and stay home for this stupid reason. You seriously despise me."
Her mother left after delivering her lecture or depressing her, which pinched Sofia's heart but it didn't hurt much cause it's not the first time she said this.
She has said much much more than this.

"Annie, prepare snacks and drinks for two. After you are done bring them to my room. Make them quickly."
Sofia spoke after her mother left and walked out of the kitchen and servant's mummers increased. But she ignored them and rushed to her room. Due to constantly climbing stairs her ankle started to hurt again.

"Hey? You aren't out? What's taking you so long? Are you alright?"
Sofia knocked at the bathroom's door.

"Yeah I am fine. Just a moment."
Lily came out looking fresh as a spring flower. 

"I feel so relaxed."
Lily exclaimed with a smile on her face she raised her arms and stretched her body a little.
There was a knock on the door.

"Mam I have prepared everything you asked for."

"You can come inside Annie."
Sofia spoke loudly.

"Hello mam!" Annie greeted Lily.

"Hi! Annie."
Lily spoke and gave her a famous smile.

"You can place them all here and put the trolley near the door."
Annie did exactly the same and walked out of the room.

"Oh wow I was so hungry. Thanks Sofia." Lily looked at the mouth watering sight of snacks which included chicken nuggets, sandwiches, instant noodles, potatoe fries.

"You are welcome." Sofia was feeling oddly good. As if the presence of Lily has illuminated her life a little. She found Lily cute with all those sparkling stars she had in her eyes, whenever she, talked to her.

"Come on sit down with me Sofia darlin. And first of all tell me how is your injury? You look better and fresh. Oscuro told me everything that happened yesterday I am so sorry that I spoke harshly with you. I didn't mean it I was just mad at your trashy friend. Wait. She shouldn't be called a friend!"
Lily huffed and took a bite of the sandwich.

"Lily she is my friend." Sofia spoke walking towards the bed after turning on the television.

"No you are her friend but she isn't your friend. She is trash for you. You are wasting yourself on the people who don't know your worth."
Lily spoke still chewing.

Sofia looked at her and shook her head a little. She remembered something and spoke.

"Anyway your cousin he appeared as an angel yesterday and I couldn't even show my gratitude to him. It's been almost 24 hours and now I feel horrible."

"That's not a problem. Give me your cell."
Sofia gave Lily her cell.

"Here! I added his contact to your list now you can easily talk to him."

"But why would I talk to him? I just wanted to thank him that's all."
Sofia explained looking at the newly saved contact.

"Baby girl you can treat him to drinks or something. And for that you need to know if he is actually free that day. To know his schedule you need to contact him."
Lily shrugged chugging water.

"Okay."
Sofia replied timidly.

"I am playing a movie if that's fine by you."
Lily spoke and played a movie.

"Sure."
Sofia was sitting next to her which didn't last long as Lily pulled her down and she was half laying while Lily was laying flat.

"This position is much much better."
Lily spoke and hugged Sofia's arm.

Sofia was a little awkward but it would be too much to say she was uncomfortable cause she wasn't.
They watched the movie for a while until Sofia heard little snores from Lily's side and she switched off the TV.
She let Lily sleep and kept laying down herself. Sofia didn't know when she fell asleep but she woke up due to constant ringing of mobile.
She picked it up without looking at the contact.
"Hello who's there?"

"Seriously Lily who's there? Where the hell are you? I have been calling you since forever. Where are you?" It was a male voice yelling on the call. Sofia's eyes widened, she had accidentally picked up Lily's call. She looked at the screen, it was Oscuro. He must have been worried when he couldn't find her at home.

"Um hi. I am Sofia actually Lily is at my place."
Sofia replied.

"Oh hi. I didn't know it was you. I am sorry for yelling can you please give her the call?"

"She is asleep. I will tell her as soon as she wakes up."
Sofia was biting her lower lip in nervousness.

"Ok. And yeah how's your injury?"
Oscuro asked.

"I am good thanks for asking."
Sofia was getting even more nervous she wasn't habitual of talking with men.

"Okay good bye."
Sofia hung up. As soon as she hung up she remembered she was supposed to thank him for his help.
She slapped her forehead and again lay down.
Lily woke up after a little while at first she was confused to see an unknown place but when she looked at Sofia laying by her side she realized where she was.

"You woke up?"
Sofia asked slowly.

"Yeah and it was a perfect nap."
Lily smiled.

"Your cousin was worried sick for you. He called multiple times but we were asleep. And.....and I accidentally..... picked up his call."
Sofia was now sitting.

"It's fine. I will just go home now."
Lily replied and took her cell phone from the bed after stretching her limbs a little.

"Let's go to the roof!"
Lily spoke with overflowing excitement.

"Roof? There isn't a need to do so you can use the main gate."
Sofia suggested.

"But I won't like to walk much it's already 5 pm. I will just go to my roof and within seconds I will be home. You can stay assured as well."
Lily tried her best to persuade Sofia and she succeeded.

"Okay let's go."
Sofia spoke and walked out.

Lily messaged someone and started to follow Sofia with a smile on her face.

"Sofia you didn't need to walk me out cause you are already injured."
Lily spoke looking at her bandaged ankle.

"It's really fine."
Sofia smiled but her smile was changed to her nervousness when she saw Lily's cousin walking towards them.
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