C3 HOME SWEET HOME

"Mum!! , we're home" Betty cried out from the door as she sauntered over to the kitchen where Solidad was busily preparing supper.

Nicole , Lilia and Aims went to Nelson who was watching television in the hall. They hugged and greeted him with kisses because they missed him.

Nelson was mostly busy in his farm so they were not able to spend time together. He always leave early in the morning and return tired and stressed up in the afternoon.

"Hey , how are my pumpkins?" He welcomed them with smiles and Lilia was the first to speak up

" Cool papsi , just misses" She answered wittily in her charming smile and she took her position beside him. Nichole and Aims also settled next to him at the left side of his hand.

"Good dad, just miss time together" They chanted.

"Don't worry guys , I'll treat you guys this weekend" He hinted and cheered happily. They were so happy to hear this since they hardly had a good family time together. They all gave him a big hug and left to their respective rooms to change up. Aims instinctively pulled Lilia to her room to have a little girly chat.

Just after they had settled in her room, Aimscious laid bare her worry which kept haunting her.

" Li, I've been having this funny feeling and nightmare about dad , tragedy and stuff ." She stuttered with a nervous gaze. "Girl, i don't know what to do about this dear."

" Don't worry girl everything is fine love. Just cheer up. I don't think is something you need to worry about." She affirmed . "But hey I've got something to tell you" She instinctively leaned closer and whispered.

" I've got a crush on Mart"

Aims eyes spontaneously flew wide with a slightly dropped jaw. "What!– You don't say." She nearly exclaimed to which Lilia quickly pressed her hand over her lips, begging her to keep it low and she briskly nodded.

"Since when? " She finally asked after Lilia had freed her lips. Before she could answer, a gentle rasp on the door intruded, drawing their gazes to the door.

" Girls ,come down , everyone is already seated– waiting for you. Food is ready." Solidad's voice followed. They quickly dashed down happily without hesitation since they were already famished.

DOWNSTAIRS

Everyone was already seated when they got there. They happily joined in, and soon they all lapsed into silence while they dived into their supper, leaving the cutlery to do the ceremonial talk.

After having their dessert , Lilia and Aims joined Betty and Solidad in the kitchen to clean up. With Solidad doing the listening,the two kept ranting on their days activity at school which made her smile from ear to ear.

"By the way, Lilia,how is your mum doing?" She popped in a question,finally drawing their them to settle. " Heard she returned yesterday."

"Yes...she's great." She answered with a smile.

Soon they heard Lilia's dad's horn outside. He was in to pick Lilia up since she asked him to pick her from Aims' end. They went to the door to see her off.

***********************

Fire!, fire!!, fire!!!!!

Nelson shouted with a loud knock on Betty's door which alerted her out of her sleep– she instinctively sprung out of bed with the voice which hit deep into her sleep. Her room was filled with thick smoke which made it hard for her to see. She felt dizzy and spontaneously bursted into a profound cough as she sauntered off the bed to the door.

"Dad!!! , Dad!!!! , Dad!!!" She called admits cough and on an impulse, exclaimed. " Help me !!!!! – I can't see anything." Her voice faintly penetrated through the wooden door and she fell to the flood, choking with the heavy smoke which was gradually turning thicker.

Betty! Betty! Betty!!!

Nelson and Nicole called but there was no response. Without further options, they broke the door and found her on the floor almost lifeless.

"Betty!!! " Nicole shouted as he rushed to her aid.

" Betty, Betty , please wake up."

Nelson called shaking her but to no avail– her breath was off. Nicole swiftly scoped her into his arms and dashed out with Nelson, tailing after. They made a dash to the door in an attempt to flee the flame which was determined to consume the house but the fire had already caught up with them.

The smoke made visibility quite difficult for them which made Nelson slip and fell from the stairs– he got stuck under a huge wood which had fallen earlier, unable to move.

"Ouch!" He groaned, hit by the faith of his kids, he shouted. " Nicole!, get yourself and Betty out of the house. " His voice was a little faint and weak voice.

"No dad! – i'll get you out of there!" He objected and dropping Betty on the floor, he went to the aid of his father. With much effort, he went pulling him out–just then, the unexpected happened.

"Dad!!– Dad!!" Nicole screamed with terror.

Is her dream coming to reality? READ MORE TO FIND OUT