Chapter 150: Voices in the Silence

“Frel! Are you okay?” someone shouted in panic.

At the same time, I heard many people gasp and cry out in restrained shock. Tomi tried to reach for me, but Kenn moved faster.

“Let me help you stand,” Kenn said anxiously.

I refused the help by holding back Kenn’s hand. I shook my head, hoping he would understand that right now I did not need anyone.

With the remaining strength I had, I crawled closer to the two shrouds in front of me. I stopped and stayed still for quite a while when I was right beside them.

“Grandpa, Grandma…,” I murmured in a voice that was almost gone.

My hands trembled as I was about to uncover the cloth, while my heart pounded loudly. Slowly, I opened the cover from their faces.

I stood stunned when I saw Grandpa and Grandma’s faces, so pale and stiff. Tears flooded my cheeks again, this time spilling uncontrollably.

“Please wake up,” I whispered in despair. “Forgive me, please don’t leave me alone.”

A few seconds later, I let out a small laugh while shaking my head in disbelief. “Grandpa and Grandma must be joking. I know you must be pretending to sleep like when you were angry with me before. You’re deliberately not talking to me, right?”

“Come on, stop this act,” I whispered hoarsely. “I know Grandpa is holding back his laughter behind his silence, right? And Grandma too, usually you would immediately pinch my arm when I start getting noisy.”

I lifted my head and blinked for a moment, then roughly wiped away the remaining tears with the back of my hand.

“All right, Frel is sorry. I yelled at you earlier and didn’t want to obey your request. Frel admits her mistake. Frel regrets it. Frel promises that after this, she won’t yell anymore, won’t get angry anymore, won’t leave, and won’t be naughty anymore. Frel will obey everything you say. Now, you’re not angry anymore, right? Come on, wake up now.”

Fear began to creep in when there was not the slightest movement from them.

“Grandpa? Grandma? Come on, wake up,” I begged again. “Wake up, I’m begging you! Don’t just stay silent like this, I’m scared!” I screamed, starting to grow hysterical when silence was the only answer to my plea.

I shook their arms with the remaining strength I had. “Why are you sleeping here? Come on, Grandma, wake up. Grandpa, don’t just stay silent either. Oh, were you waiting for me to come home? Look, I’m already home. Now Frel is in front of you. Come on, open your eyes. I came home because I love you. Don’t joke around, this isn’t funny at all!”

“Frel is here, Grandpa! Look at me!” I shook Grandpa’s shoulders hard. “Didn’t Grandpa say you missed me when I was gone for a long time? Now I’m back, why are you closing your eyes instead?”

Tomi approached me, intending to help me stand, but I immediately brushed his hand away. “Move away, Tomi!”

“Don’t you dare touch me!” I threatened in a trembling voice. “They’re just sleeping, can’t you see? They’re just tired!”

I stared sharply at Dara when she also seemed about to come closer. “Don’t come near, Dara.”

As usual, Dara and Tomi immediately obeyed my words without arguing whenever my emotions took over.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked them, breathing heavily. “Do you think they’re gone? No! They’re still here with me!”

The whispers around me grew louder. Maybe they were talking about me with pitying looks, or perhaps they thought I was crazy while mocking my behavior. Once again, I didn’t care about their reactions.

“Quiet! All of you, be quiet!” I shouted at the crowd. “Stop looking at me with those pitying eyes! I don’t need your sympathy!”

I focused my gaze on Grandpa and Grandma, who remained unmoving. Panic began to take over my soul. I shook their bodies alternately.

“Grandma, don’t just stay silent. Please wake up. Don’t leave Frel. I promise I won’t be naughty anymore or tease you again. I also won’t hide your dentures anymore. Do you remember when you told me to learn how to cook so my food could be as delicious as yours? Come on, teach me now. Frel promises this time she will study seriously.”

“Grandma, the chicken soup,” I whimpered, my voice beginning to break. “Who will make me chicken soup if you keep sleeping? Who will scold me when I put in too much salt?”

I kept shaking Grandma’s body. “You promised to teach me how to make the most delicious chicken soup in the world. From now on, I promise I will seriously learn, Grandma. My cooking won’t fail anymore. I also won’t disturb you in the kitchen. Last week you gave my fried rice a score of seventy, this time I’m sure I can get a hundred. Come on, Grandma, wake up.”

Tears burned my eyes and melted down my cheeks.

“Wake up, Grandma! Give me that hundred right now! Don’t cheat by sleeping like this!”

Seeing that Grandma still did not respond, I turned to Grandpa. “Look, Grandpa. Grandma is being stubborn, she doesn’t want to listen to me. Now you wake up instead, I’m sure Grandma will wake up too. Come on, Grandpa, wake up. Please don’t leave Frel alone. I can’t live without you. You always said you would always be by my side and take care of me, right?”

“Where is that promise, Grandpa?” I demanded sadly. “Where is the promise that said you would take care of me until I grow up? Wake up right now!”

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