My Perfect Lady

She didn"t have to think much either though, for Rebecca did most of the work. While Miya stood in complete astonishment, staring at her as if she had seen a ghost, the older woman dragged her inside a small parlour to the side of the reading section. She then quickly went out, shut the entrance to the library and hung a "Closed" sign outside the door.

When she came back, Miya still stood rooted to the spot, looking thunderstruck.

The woman chuckled at the girl.

"Fifteen years," she sighed, folding her arms across her chest as she stood directly in front of the girl, "And you still haven"t changed. Except for the dress sense. I like it now. It was pretty bada.s.s back then too, though. How"ve you been, little sister?"

It was perhaps the familiarity of that voice, or the kindness underlying that deep, threatening tone that Miya was brought back to reality. She gave the woman in front of her a quick glance, and then shyly looked at the floor. She didn"t dare match those eyes.

She did however say in a low voice, "I"ve been okay… And it"s been thirteen years, sister Becky, not fifteen."

Rebecca beamed at the precision of the reply.

"Ever the mathematician, huh?" she said with a grin, "I missed you, junior."

With that she spread open her arms.

Miya pressed both her hands together, and looked at the woman before. That smile was so gorgeous, she couldn"t help but let go. She immediately walked into the woman"s embrace, albeit a bit hesitantly.

Rebecca kissed the top of her head, which reached only up to her own chest, and then relieved her of the hold.

"Sit down," she said. Miya followed.

Silence ensued, as Miya didn"t know how to respond to her unexpected appearance. She kept looking at the table between them, feeling shy and uncertain. She hadn"t expected to meet Becky here, of all places.

Becky understood those emotions.

"I"ve been good as well, since you didn"t ask," she said amusedly, and Miya"s eyes shot up at her words. She immediately looked guilty.

Rebecca laughed.

"You"re still so cute," she mumbled, and then took out a cigarette. The parlour was a separate room, and Ben was still visible from the window, though he wouldn"t be able to look inside unless they switched on the lights. Becky glanced at the boy, who was still immersed in his books, and then offered a cigarette to Miya.

Miya was extremely conscious of the act.

As much as she wanted to smoke, it had been months since she had taken a drag. It was mostly because she didn"t want Ben to watch her do stuff like that, but even though she tried hard, she hadn"t been able to quit completely. Also, she knew she would never be able to relax completely before sis Becky, if she didn"t smoke.

Cautiously, she took one, taking a small peek at Ben. He was busy reading.

When the smoke hit her lungs, it was freedom that Miya felt. She closed her eyes and leaned against the chair, breathing out a curl of smoke in the air. She felt her entire body jolt at the feeling, and then she sagged in relief.

Rebecca did the same.

For minutes, the two didn"t talk. When Becky spoke again, Miya"s entire being was at ease.

"You still read like a maniac, punk," she breathed.

Miya smiled.

"Is that how you recognized me?"

"Yeah. No one else I"ve seen reads that fast. That… and when you said you were reading crime novels. And of course, that cute smile of yours."

"Don"t flirt, sis Becky."

Rebecca laughed again. She was finished with her first smoke, so she took another one. Miya was still enjoying her first.

"How come you changed so much, Becky?" Miya asked, remembering the time when all those years ago, Becky was a spoilt brat with extremely short military style hair and a wild, unruly smile. She"d dress up in the most offensive clothes around and stir up trouble all over the place.

Becky smirked.

"Time flies by, little one. Things happened. You say. A babysitter now, huh?" she asked, motioning towards Ben.

It was Miya"s turn to laugh.

"You wouldn"t believe he"s mine, eh, sis?" she said with a grin.

It took time for Becky to register Miya"s words. When she did though, her eyes almost rolled out of their sockets.

"Your son?!" she almost howled, and then looked back at Ben, "But when? Where? How?!"

Miya shrugged.

"Five years ago."

Becky frowned at Miya"s short reply, and then observed the little boy reading. She looked at the boy for some time, smoking slowly. He looked familiar. He had features of someone she definitely knew. Finally, realization dawned on her, and she looked back at Miya in surprise.

"That b.a.s.t.a.r.d Kasu"s?" she shrieked again, while Miya looked fixedly at the table and made a small nod.

It was almost as if Becky had been knocked out cold.

"You"re still together?" she asked, to which Miya looked at her quickly and shook her head.

Even though Becky wanted to sigh, she was instantly p.i.s.sed off.

"Are you saying, that sh*ta.s.s knocked you up and then left?��

Miya"s mouth went dry.

"Where is he?"

Miya pressed her lips. She looked at Becky with wide eyes, with an expression that the older woman couldn"t recognize. She was still feeling angry though. Lighting up her third cigarette, whereas Miya couldn"t even remember to breathe, she asked sternly:

"Don"t you defend that a.s.sh*le, Miya. Tell me where he is! I"m going to find him out, and then kick that sorry a.s.s of his, till his ba –"

Miya swallowed. Her breath was short, and she quickly put the cigarette to her mouth.

"Sis Becky," she then mumbled carefully, "He didn"t leave."

Rebecca"s eyes shot up in fury.

"Then? Sent you away?"

Miya shook her head.

"He died," was all she could say.

A cold silence arose.