39 Eve's Barrettes

"I am really sorry for Li Chen's death which is why I'm here...."

"Don't want to hear it!" Scarlet said fixing her clothes, she now had on aprofessional expression.

She saluted and Anna turned around to see who it was, she was shocked.

"Hi, you must be Anna" her voice was gentler than Scarlet's, it was soothing and made her feel calm for the first time since she came here. Although, that wasn't the reason why Anna was shocked. The woman was a carbon copy of the general, she looked older than him by a few years but now Anna finally knew why Su Chen had blond hair when his mother didn't.

"Welcome to Eve's Barrettes. I am well, Eve"

Eve held one of Anna's hand and shook her head "You must have gone through alot dear, I'm sure my brother must have made it really hard for you"

Anna sighed "I deserved it Ms Eve"

Eve shook her head "Just call me Eve...we'll get along just fine"

Anna forced a smile, she turned to look at Scarlet who was still secretly glaring at her and sighed.

'Why do i always make enemies on my first day?'

"Come on, let me introduce you to everyone" Eve said to Anna.

Anna nodded and followed behind Eve.

Anna looked around and realized that the island didn't really feel like an island at all. There were just a few trees and every where seemed to be surrounded by people.

'Just how big is this place?' Anna began to feel that Chesa didn't tell her anything useful at all.

"Your room is located at the junior area, you'll stay there till you can walk" Anna didn't know why a shiver ran down her spine anytime that both said till you can walk.

Why was she feeling like she didn'twant to meet her physiotherapist?

It took at least thirty minutes to reach the area where her room was, Anna washappy to know that she had her own room but her expression so changed when she saw what it looked like.

It was completely dusty and both the windows and curtains were covered in dust making the room look dark and haunted.

On the dirty ground was a red....or pink? Couch and lying at the far end was a small bed that could only fit one person on it.

The bed was the only thing clean in that entire room.

'uh....at least they were considerate to leave me a TV' Anna thought string at the outdated television which she was very sure was older than her.

"I did a little cleaning up personally for you" Eve said her eyes hinting at the bed, Anna nodded in appreciation.

"This is a barrette custom. You're the person to clean and take care of your room your self. And maybe when you start earning points for missions in the long....long future, you can get enough money to buy new things to add or renovate. Scarlet will explain everything, don't worry"

Anna nodded and sneaked a peak at Scarlet.....she was smiling at her...not the warm type.

"Well, we'll give you a few hours to your self, please feel at home and we will come back with Dr Jon later and then you can finally start your journey of becoming a junior barrette" Eve said it warmly but Anna was shocked "I have to start today?"

"Do you expect us to wait for you to ne ready and happy?" Scarlet suddenly said.

"Scarlet!" Eve called out "If you're angry angry for breaking Li Chen's heart and leaving him when he needed it the most, don't take it out on other people. I can tell Anna is just as hurt as we are so don't take it out on her!"

Anna looked at Eve in awe, she was so so....so different from her brother.

"Yes Eve....I'm sorry" Scarlet apologized looking guilty, it seemed what Eve said was the truth.

Anna nodded, she really didn't know what to say anymore, but she was awed at how Scarlet could easily mask her emotions when Eve was turning to look at her.....for some reason she wanted to touch her face.

"Ok Anna, there are brooms in the wardrobes and a few trainee uniforms, the previous owner of this room did leave some clothes and I am sure the would fit you perfectly" Eve smiled at Anna one more time before leaving the room. Scarlet followed behind the woman, at this time her guilty expression was long gone.

"Take care of this room well. It holds a lot of memories for me..." Scarlet said to the girl before closing the door behind her.

Anna sighed "I guess she was the previous owner..."

She got the brooms and rags from the wardrobes and looked around the room planning....sort of.

She used to clean for money once a while when she was in the village, her clients were always satisfied with her. So even on a wheel chair, thus will be a piece of cake.

Anna dusted the curtains but the fast was unending she decided to just bring the whole thing down.

The window was big and as soon as she opened it, alot of fresh air was allowed into the room.

Anna looked out the window and realized that she was given the best room.

She could see the beach from here and she finally found those trees she was looking for.

"Li Chen...you would've loved this place" Anna said looking at those swaying trees.

She went to her lepton bag and pulled out a picture frame from it.

In the picture, Anna was in between Jason and Bai Sheng, Su Chen knelt down in front of her with a big teasing smile on his face while Li Chen was standing next to Bai Sheng holding Anna's shoulder.

Chesa was in the picture too, Anna felt like she was staring her family portrait. It was taken the day they celebrated her first month in base.

Li Chen suggested they took a picture before eating to seal the memory. Everyone in base was on that picture making Anna smile. Just like that.....she lost another family. She caressed little Ella's smiling face and tears ran down her cheek.

She wouldn't see them for a pretty long time....

She kept the picture on the cupboard at her bedside and continued her cleaning.

And it wasn't a piece of cake as she thought.