Chapter 28
"Is that all?" Claire asked after Charlotte was finally done talking. It was quite a long statement made by Claire.
"Yes…" Charlotte replied. "I have got nothing else but that. But isn't it strange enough? I don't count it as something normal. I don't know how you see it though."
"It's well, Charlotte!" Claire began. "How did I used to act? Is it very different from now?"
Charlotte sighed deeply.
"Very different, Luna…" Charlotte was still saying. "I mean no harm but you are truly strange right now. The transformation is too much for me to handle. I would have believed you are a totally different person if you had a twin somewhere! This is weird. Forgive me if I have offended you by this statement."
It took Claire a long time before she could talk. She could understand what Charlotte was saying but the reason she couldn't talk was because she didn't the statement she could make as a reply. Claire had to think hard before saying anything that could contradict things in the future.
"It's well, Charlotte! What you don't know is more than what you know! I don't want to say more than that…" Claire was saying. "Can we leave this topic and focus instead on something else if there is?"
Charlotte sighed deeply.
"Sure!" Charlotte answered. "We can always avoid this discussion if you want. What do you want to talk about, Luna?"
"Nothing…" Claire answered. "I don't want to talk about anything right now. I want to be alone. Leave right away!"
This statement hurt Charlotte but she could tell how Claire was feeling. As a sensible person, Claire knew more than leaving right away. Instead of leaving, she was going to stay back and mend things.
"I'm sorry, Luna…" Charlotte apologized. She was sober now and she wanted forgiveness from Claire.
"No! It's fine! I have accepted your apology but I want you to still leave. I need time for myself…" Claire noted. She was trying hard to be strong. That statement from Charlotte had weakened her resolve.
"No!" Charlotte replied. "You wouldn't tell me to leave if you have truly forgave me. Please forgive me. I want to stay with you."
"No…" Claire said again. "You can't understand what's happening. I really need time for myself. Try to understand what I mean!"
"But Luna…" Charlotte said again. "You are hurt right now and you need someone here with you. I want to be that person. We can always leave this issue and face something else. By doing this, you will be fine once again."
Claire smiled tenderly now. She looked at Charlotte carefully and then laughed.
"So, you are telling me now that you won't leave me to enjoy myself? That means I have no time to think about my life. That doesn't sound fair at all to me…" Claire said slowly. She had a smile on her face.
"Yeah!" Charlotte affirmed boldly. "You are very right, Luna. I will be with you and make sure you are too busy to have time to think and brood."
"I agree!" Claire accepted still with a smile on her face. "You can stay behind! I give you permission to be with me!"
"Thank you!" Charlotte said happily. "I'm glad you accepted!"
"No!" Claire said gladly. "I should be the one appreciating you instead. You have been a major influence in my life and I think I will always love to have you around. Let me give you a hug!"
Charlotte was shocked by Claire's last statement.
"A hug? I thought you hated hugging people?" Charlotte asked slowly. It dawned on her once more that the Luna she once knew had transformed.
But this time, Claire handled the situation with more wisdom and maturity. She knew what to do and how to do it.
"Yeah! I would love to hug you! Would you refuse me?" Claire asked slowly. She maintained her cool gesture.
"Sure!" Charlotte accepted. "It will be a honor for me to hug you!"
Claire opened her arms and Charlotte slipped inside. They hugged warmly like sisters. At last, they stepped back.
"It feels like this is a new you!" Charlotte said. She was smiling sheepishly.
"Really?" Claire asked. She also had a smile edged on her face. It was genuine!
"Yes, Luna. I felt different and it's so cool!" Charlotte said slowly. She sounded pleasured. She was looking deep inside Claire's eyes.
"Wow! Which do you love the most? The old me or the new me? Tell the truth!" Claire asked slowly. She was anticipating Charlotte's reply.
"The new you!" Charlotte answered easily. "I have never felt so comfortable and open to the old you like I am with the new you! This sounds so weird but I love it!"
"I love it too!" Claire remarked happily. She was excited about this new friendship or connection. She was sure it would go a long way.
"Well, we have spent so much time here discussing. How about you go take a bath now and dress up? We are running out of time!" Charlotte said slowly. She was still smiling.
"You're right! I have actually forgotten all about this. Let's go wash up then!" Claire noted. She didn't know the way to the bathroom and she didn't want to embarrass herself. She decided to wait till Charlotte make a move.
"Go ahead, Luna!" Charlotte urged.
"Nah!" Claire replied. "You lead the way, I will follow!"
Charlotte didn't argue. She moved along and Claire followed. They got to the bathroom in no time. It was very big and luxurious.
"Wow!" Claire couldn't help but say. "This is so huge and luxurious! It would have cost a lot to build this sort of bathroom!"
"But you have always bathed here…" Charlotte noted again. This was slowly driving her crazy.
"Yeah!" Claire quickly covered up. "I know, right?"
Charlotte made no other comments about this.
"Take off your clothes and get in the bathtub. Let me soak you with some fragrant leaves before washing you up!" Claire said slowly.