"..."
Rena was taken aback by her words. Her brows closely knitted as she glared at her furiously.
"What are you talking about? Nothing was your fault. I willingly decided so!"
Mildred didn't agree. She sniffed as she stated firmly. "It was because of me."
That was the undeniable truth.
Infact, years ago their first meeting wasn't entirely on a good atmosphere.
Rena had just left her teacher's house, back to wandering on the streets.
It was a bright morning that day and the sun was particularly dazzling.
Rena was walking tiredly on the road until a peculiar weight clamped on her leg.
Shocked and frightened, she clung the silver needles on her hands as she prepared to attack.
On these rough shambled streets, the residents were of different characters — beggars, thieves, or even worse criminals. One needless to say had to be on full alert while on public spaces.
Rena had lived in these kind of places for years, so she quite understood it.
That was why upon feeling the unexpected presence she made no hesitation to defend herself.
But looking down, she saw the figure beneath her.
It was a girl trembling violently, with a tent of sweats dripping down her skin.
If you didn't see otherwise, one would have thought she had just taken a bathe or poured a bowl of water upon herself.
But her clothes were so dirty that the original color couldn't be seen. Rena's clothes weren't any better either but they at least were not as miserable as hers.
The girl afraid of being pushed away, quickly croaked out. "Pl...please w..ater."
Her throat were so dry it was painful to speak.
Rena paused.
She was not a generous person. Maybe formally she was but now she had learned to be stingy. Giving was a good thing but not here.
It could attract greedy eyes.
Once amidst attention, it would only bring misfortune.
Besides even food and water were hard to find in here, if she gives out, wasn't she going to die of hunger?
But staring at the girl's hollow eyes...
'Fine!'
Leaving the teacher's house, she had grabbed some necessities. She could afford to lose a few.
She gave the girl the bottled water she had hidden within her heavy shabby coat.
The girl surprised glanced at it.
She had begged but she hadn't expected to be helped so easily.
In these kind of place, living was a struggle. Everyone only cared about themselves. Even if you were dying in front of them, a few would only feel pity but would eventually walk away.
That was why she was nonplussed by the girl's action. She hadn't expected it to be so swift.
Her eyes moistened as she hurriedly devoured the drink.
But who would have guessed that wouldn't be all? Rena didn't leave.
Observing the girl's body, Rena had denoted in a short time what she was suffering from — malnutrition, cholera and an intense malaria.
For Rena, all these were easy to treat.
Rena didn't have second thoughts this time. She handed the herbal medicines she had done herself to the girl.
Even more shocked, the girl was also deeply touched.
Since childhood, her parents had died, leaving her an orphan to cater for herself.
No one had ever treated her nicely with no motives but this person had done so. The first one ever.
Watching her departing back, she vowed to repay her back in the future.
That day came soonest.
Rena had just registered for the highschool certificate examination. To be eligible for the college admission exam, one had to get this certificate.
Rena was still wanting to go to school and complete her studies, that was why she didn't hesitate to take the bus to the nearest town and register in the closest state highschool.
But Rena returned to her shabby apartment late.
Passing promptly through the streets, she unfortunately encountered some hooligans.
They surrounded her, attempting to assault her. Rena fought back with her silver needles which were infused with lethal substances but the last man standing was quite tough, gripping her neck and dragging her towards a dim corner.
But before he could succeed, a frail figure dashed out from nowhere hitting him with a fat stick on the head.
The man enraged stabbed the figure brutally with a knife.
Taking advantage of the man's distraction, Rena got the opportunity and injected him with a silver needle, rendering him foaming and unconscious.
Then she glanced at the figure. She was stunned. To her astonishment, it was the girl she had helped a month ago.
Rena had even forgotten her, if not for her appearance here, she wouldn't have remembered her at all.
But the girl laying on the floor groaning, with her stomach continually spiking out blood, weakly held her fingers, scratching softly on it as if telling her not to be afraid.
Rena immediately took her to the local clinic and received a report that she had had a deep cut, injuring a internal organ.
She might need surgery.
Surgery!
Rena had only a total of hundred dollars in hand, where could she find the thousands of dollars needed?
She could had abandoned the girl there. After all, she didn't even know her.
But the scene of her rushing towards her attacker and taking the knife because of her disturbed her sleeps.
Rena was not a heartless person. She was moved.
She worked hard, got enough money to buy herbs, made medicines for her and paid her bills.
She was almost exhausted to death. She even forwent the examination she had registered for.
The medicines worked as expected. Her wounded organ healed, her internal bleeding ceased and there thoroughly was no need for surgery, neither minor nor major.
During this period, the two of them got exceptionally close.
Rena even got to know much about her, including her name, Mildred.
After recovering, they did a couple of works and thus began their journey to the Capital City.
It's being years.
Rena never would have thought Mildred had this self-reproach in mind — blaming herself for her own sufferings.
It was quite baffling. Rena didn't hesitate to confront her sternly.
"If you say so..." Her tone ultimately softened at the end. "Then the knife should have stabbed at me instead."
Mildred was astounded. "No!"
"Why? Do you think you are the only one who feels guilty? You upbraid yourself for halting my studies and I blame myself for your wounds inflicted. It's quite fair!"
Mildred was speechless.
Rena continued. "If you hadn't saved me then, I would have been assaulted and killed. If you hadn't taken the stab, I would have been wounded instead. Either way, one of us was meant to face that misfortune. Either way, I was indeed meant to give up the exam."
Mildred was silent.
She was in thoughts.
Reasonably, Rena was utterly right.
Besides, if Rena had been the one injured, she would not have lived.
One, Rena knows medicine. She was the one who prepared the herbal drugs to heal her.
If Rena had been the one wounded, where would she have the strength to make medicine?
Mildred felt a chill in her heart at the thought.
She nodded. "I understand."
Rena mouthed. "Not being a graduate isn't all that bad. I have jobs now and as long as I can provide for myself, it's enough."
Mildred agreed.
A new topic was soonest brought up.
Mildred spoke. "For the catering competition, I had checked the registration site but it's still yet unopened. You should remember to check it yourself frequently."
"I know." Rena had kept her eyes on it.
Mildred sighed. "You would be visiting your family with Herman on weekend. Have you informed them?"
Rena paused. She had forgotten. It hadn't even crossed her mind.
Truly, it would be awkward to meet with them, especially with a boyfriend.
The last time she was taken away from home, it was because of a pregnancy by her 'secret' boyfriend.
Nonetheless, the first time she phoned them, they hadn't called back. It shows they weren't willing to reconcile with her.
She would be seeing them with Herman soon. It would be best to clear up some things before their arrival to avoid putting Herman in an embarrassing situation.
She voiced. "I would apprise them tomorrow."
The two ladies left the restaurant.
They each boarded a taxi to their different locations but just before Mildred could enter her cab, something clicked to her.
She immediately turned around and headed back to Rena.
She called. "Rena, wait! I have something to tell you."
Rena was a bit puzzled. She asked. "What is it?
Mildred answered. "It's about Lester."